Matthew is a great Discipleship Guide. I am learning a lot from it. In Matthew 5 Jesus talks about the supernatural attitudes needed of his followers before they can become fishers of men.
And Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)
And then he taught them saying…(Matthew 5:1)
Supernatural Attitude # 1: Humility -“Blessed are the poor in spirit”
What it is NOT?
The “poor in spirit” are not the poor of society.
What Jesus said was revolutionary and always caused uproar even as it does still today, but Jesus was not a Socialist, Liberation theologian, or more closer to home a social or prosperity gospel preacher. Jesus often refused to feed the poor because they just weren’t getting the propositional truth message that he was the bread of life. That day, thousands left from following Jesus. Most of them were poor and hungry.
The “poor in spirit” are not those of a wise melancholic personality.
Some of the proudest of heart are those most submissive and silent in their rebellion. Paul and Peter were born with power personalities but like the rest, they had to possess humility. People are not born or bread with humility. Humility is not something conditioned by culture. While Asian culture has some pretty cool stuff, they are far from “poor in spirit” because they bow to each other and know when to be quiet. We hear of tyranny and torture everyday in these cultures. Be careful never to confuse race, culture, or personality with being “poor in spirit”.
The “poor in spirit” are not the religious monastics.
Someone made the observation that the modern evangelical church has lost the vision for true Christian spirituality in that it is a pure reaction to ancient monasticism. Monasticisms taught that self-suffering and self-humiliation would bring the attitude of humility to the soul. The soul has to be brought under subjection by self. This religion and Law not Grace! And now, in the 21st century, the total opposite, but rather, the same thing in a different man centered package. Instead of “Discover the Worm in You” of monasticism it’s “Discover the Champion in You” of the modern gospel. Where’s the balance? Both are only taught as man centered means to true happiness and the Blessed life in Christ. Look at all the self discovery books on the market. We soon discover that neither the Monastic Gospel or the Prosperity Gospel really functions in the real world. They didn’t tolerate it in the early church either (Colossians, Galatians, 2 Peter, Jude).
What is Humility?
Humilty is the Supernatutal Attitude of the Word filled believer.
Isaias 66:2 – “This is one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word”.
One author says, “Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness”
This is to be “poor in spirit” without which no one will have real fruit in reaching the lost for Christ or entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
We won’t take the time to flush that out but one furthur thought about humilty and witnessing..
So, Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus wants to make his men fruitful. It is interesting how Jesus will talk about “Removing the mote from your brother’s eye”. I think we need to use that phrase to describe evangelism to new Christians in the local church instead of the traditional “soul winning”. I think there would be a lot more fruit because “Mote Removing” requires that the disciple follow Jesus and be taught and transformed by Jesus before he is commissioned to go and tell about Jesus. Now that‘s “Personal Evangelism”! The person is Jesus and following Him you become e powerful witness that knows how to do spiritual mote removal on others. Man, the eye illustration is POWERFUL! No one in history has ever said anything better that that. Jesus is so practical.
