Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

[The following is the first "guest post" on Pastor's Corner: The Maine Idea! It is the text of the Sanctity of Life message preached last Sunday at Boothbay Baptist Church by Bob Conn.]

1.     The signers of the Declaration of Independence risked their lives and fortunes for defying British rule and declaring in 1776: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

2.     The founding documents and many early laws of the United States were grounded in principles of Biblical law including: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, 6  Constitutional Amendments, and laws on sodomy, divorce, religious education, anti-trust, the Sabbath, public service, and criminal sentencing.

3.     Despite the rich heritage from the founding fathers and the early church, the right to life has been taken from nearly 60 million boys and girls since 1973 - when state laws prohibiting abortion were struck down by the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe vs. Wade.   CDC statistics indicate that in 2013 there were 200 abortions for every 1000 live births.  If children and grandchildren had been born to those whose lives were taken, the loss to-date could potentially total 120 million! 

4.     A young woman faced with a crisis pregnancy consults a doctor, nurse or counselor looking for help.  Except for Christian pregnancy centers, like CareNet, she will likely hear “abortion is very common today, a good option.  All expenses are covered by insurance or government funding, a judge can excuse you from parental permission requirements, it will be over quickly, and you can get back to your life - as if nothing happened.” 

5.     She isn’t told about the precious child growing in the protection and nurture of her womb.  That she and her child belong to God.  That God knew her child before the womb and made him or her in His own image.   That God has plans for their well-being, to give them a future and a hope together! She hears nothing about the deep psychological harm that follows such a decision.  Nor is she informed of the potential risks to her own health and her ability to bear more children.

6.     In the 80s I picketed abortion clinics, marched streets in Houston and Austin, and lobbied Congress by sending members “The Silent Scream” - an ultrasound video of a dismemberment abortion.  Family relations can be set against one another over such issues, but Jesus said: ”Anyone who loves these more than Me is not worthy of Me.  …”Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”   (Matt 10:35)

7.     As I began to work on this sermon, my wife interrupted with news that one of our daughters was in labor with our grandson!  He was born later that day in perfect health – though a year earlier our daughter was told by her previous doctor that her heart couldn’t withstand the stress of pregnancy.  We were so thankful for our grandson’s delivery and our daughter’s good health!   

8.     My wife’s expression suddenly changed and she said there was also news from our daughter overseas.  Our grandson in her womb had passed the day before!  His deceased body had been delivered within 2 hours of his cousin! 

9.     The day after I was asked to deliver the sermon this Sunday, this grandson was found to have no brain tissue and other severe developmental issues.  The doctor pressed our daughter to abort him, but our daughter and her husband chose to love and protect their son. 

10.  God sets a limit on the number of our days, and He took this little boy into His presence on His terms.  Before the prophet Samuel was conceived in her womb, Hannah prayed: “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.”(1 Sam 2:6)   God told Jeremiah “before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” (Jer 1:5)  God has a purpose for every life – which is not for man to judge.  This little boy touched us deeply in his brief lifetime and I’m consoled by David’s words about his dead son “I will go to him when I die.” (2 Samuel 12:23)   I believe the unborn and small children have grace to inherit eternal life – until they reach the age of accountability.

11.  Though no longer a crime under U.S. law, abortion violates God’s commandment against murder.  The Ten Commandments were given to Israel over 3200 years ago and are recorded in Exodus 20.  They are a timeless and priceless revelation concerning sin and holiness – a schoolmaster for all peoples - to lead us to Christ. (Gal 3:24)  The law of Moses was the equivalent of “case law” to be used by ancient Israel to apply the Ten Commandments.  In Ex 21:22-25 the law of Moses addresses the accidental death of an unborn child or children.  It states that “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman so that her children come out if there is harm, you shall pay life for life…”  

12.  Only on God’s terms is it lawful for man to take the life of another human being.  “A time to kill” of Ecclesiastes 3:3 is legitimate warfare, capital punishment and self-defense.

13.  Jesus said “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matt 5:21-22)  Jesus was providing updated case law to apply the commandment against murder. 

14.  I was 24.  The Lord had wooed me since I could remember.  He had proved His love for me over and over.  I was actively seeking to be led by the Spirit, often inquiring of others.  I just hadn’t yet found anyone equipped and willing to disciple me.  I hadn’t received salvation – and had no idea what it was!  

15.  Listening to a Christian radio broadcast by Scott Ross one night, I was broken and desperately crying out for God’s grace as I sat in my little apartment in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  I truly wanted to start over!   I was totally wretched!  My sins condemned me.  But God’s peaceful, loving presence surrounded me. 

16.  I heard with great hope and relief “Repent of your sins! Believe in Me! I went to the cross for you!  You are forgiven - now and forever.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.  Come, follow Me!”   The burden of my sin and shame lifted away and I had perfect peace!  For the first time in my life - I experienced what it was like to be free from the distresses of sin!   I was secure, knowing I belonged to God, and He loved me.  

17.  I had broken the commandment against murder – for my anger, contempt and insults toward others.  Under God’s law, I was surely a murderer, thief, liar and more!  Yet while an unrepentant sinner, I had been wooed by God’s enduring love.  Finally, I had come to the end of myself.  You might think Bob was more wicked than I.  He deserved judgment reserved for the wicked - and you would be right!  On the other hand, if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  (Rom 3:23)

18.  Anger alone isn’t sin, but a powerful negative emotion that cannot accomplish the righteousness of God.  My anger warns me that my heart is not right and I need to STOP immediately!  Before speaking, acting or even thinking another thought – it prompts me to ask God, and wait, for peace and self-control I need to focus on bearing the fruit of the spirit in that moment - rather than letting my anger harm another person - in sin.  Though no longer in bondage to habitual sins, not so long ago I became angry with an unhelpful customer service representative.  The power button on my new, fully-charged tablet was only working sporadically and the manufacturer’s representative I spoke with hadn’t any idea what could be done about it.

19.  She asked for the serial number, then began to ask for a lot of information unrelated to my problem - that I had already given to another representative.  She correctly surmised that I was getting angry, and she warned me “if you get unprofessional with me I’ll hang up!”  She then said she would transfer me to someone who might be able to help me.  After being on hold 5 minutes – my call was dropped!  I was due in less than 30 minutes at a church function and my music was on the tablet!  

20.  I repented before the Lord, called the manufacturer back and apologized for the way I had treated their representative. I was tested and I failed.  While the work of salvation in me was  done 42 years ago, it seems some days that the work of sanctification, of becoming more like Christ, has just begun!   Jesus commissioned us to make disciples, teaching them to obey all He commanded - until He comes.  Each day should begin with putting on the new nature which is His righteousness (or in simple terms, right relationships - with God and others). Then I am ready to take up my cross, and follow Him.  

21.  So how, after nearly 200 years of God’s manifest grace on American shores, how could the church standby powerless as civil authorities took an axe to our nation’s roots in Biblical law?  How did the church lose its vision and its redemptive influence?

22.  The temptation to water down the gospel, to be a friend to the world, seems to have led “contemporary” Bible teachers to compromise the authority of God’s Word with the rationale that because a believer is “dead to the law”, grace has made God’s commandments irrelevant or out of date.   As churches embraced this teaching, dismissing the relevance of God’s law to the church and the world, the house of faith became divided against itself!  Morally progressive politicians seized the opportunity to free man to do what was right in his own eyes. 

23.  Today, most civil laws rooted in Biblical law have been repealed, and many outward appearances of Biblical Christianity are under attack.

24.  Rousas Rushdoony, was a theologian, historian and philosopher.  He fathered Christian Reconstructionism – which hailed back to a Christian doctrine and worldview that preceded our modern era.  A quick reference to Wikipedia (not the final authority!), credits Rushdoony with inspiring the homeschool movement, independent Christian schools and the independent involvement  of the Christian Right in politics. 

25.  I was discipled in the 70’s.  God gave me a pastor thoroughly equipped and willing, soon after I was born again!  With hearts on fire for the kingdom of God, we sought the increase of His government and peace in our lives - and in the world around us.  Works by Rushdoony, Watchman Nee and others were given to me as examples of how to apply God’s word in these times.

26.  Rushdoony’s magnum opus, The Institutes of Biblical Law, was published in 1973.  The same year Roe vs. Wade was decided, the Wisdom of God was calling aloud in the street!  The  introduction (pp 3-4) states “The expression “dead to the law,” is indeed in Scripture (Gal. 2:9, Rom. 7:4), but it has reference to the believer in relationship to the atoning work of Christ as the believer’s representative and substitute; the believer is dead to the law as an indictment, a legal sentence of death against him -  Christ having died for him, but the believer is alive to the law as the righteousness of God.”…. “Man’s justification is by the grace of God; man’s sanctification is by the law  of God.”… The purpose of grace is not to set aside the law but to fulfill the law and enable man to keep the law.”

27.  Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:17-20) 

28.  The Pharisees’ oral law and traditions were intended as a hedge against violating God’s law – instead they were a ritualistic counterfeit that had replaced God’s law in nearly all of Israel at that time.  When the promised Messiah came violating the Pharisee’s law and traditions, not only did they not recognize Him or see their need for a Savior, they angrily judged Him, and sought to kill Him! 

29.  Neither failing to be convicted nor ritualistic compliance could ever begin to satisfy God’s law.  There are two aspects to each commandment – violation and fulfillment.  Illumined by the rest of God’s word, each is a revelation of righteousness, that can pierce the old heart or transform the kingdom heart with holiness.      

30.  When asked “which is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  (Mk 12:28-31)

31.  The greatest commandments shine light on fulfillment of the other commandments.   Taking murder, briefly, for example – fulfillment of the commandment would include promoting human life and valuing it as precious - to rescue, deliver, protect and nurture - the poor, the weak and the oppressed. (Is 58)

32.  No wonder David said “Blessed is the man ….(whose) delight is in the law of the Lord, … on His law he meditates day and night.” (Ps 1:1-2)   Jeremiah prophesied “… this is the covenant (which means binding relationship) I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  (Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10)

33.  Jesus said “If you really love Me you will keep My commands.   And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.“  (John 14:15-16)  All other helpers fail!  But this Helper has a capital H.  The Spirit guides and empowers us to keep the commands, and though we fail at times, He helps us overcome and will never forsake us!

34.  Despite modern day church teachings and the decay of U.S. civil law, God’s law hasn’t ever been more fully intact than it is at this very moment.  It stands forever as the basis for man’s death sentence; the divine justice by which the blood of Christ is able to redeem sinful flesh; and it is the righteousness of the kingdom of God! 

35.  Nicodemus, also a Pharisee, ruler, and teacher of Israel, came to Jesus alone at night, to avoid being exposed as a disciple.  He saw Jesus as a rabbi come from God. 

36.  He didn’t recognize it was God right in front of him!  Evidently, he was confused by Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom that “You won’t be able to say, “Look, here it is” or “there it is” for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

37.  Jesus told Nicodemus “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, and unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)  Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, was mystified by the words of God!  Perhaps because he too was so rooted in the Pharisees’ law and not God’s law.  He struggled to understand that the kingdom of God within you is a condition of the heart!

38.  Paul said “God will render to each one according to his deeds eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil….” )Rom 2:6-11)    James, speaking of God as the Sovereign Judge of every man, said “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (James 4:12)

39.  Speaking of believers, Paul said “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor 5:10)   This is the first resurrection, at the dawn of Christ’s millennial reign, when believers are promised to receive imperishable, glorified bodies and when we see Him we shall be like Him!    

40.  Those who do not believe in the One God sent, will also be raised from the dead (but in the second resurrection, at the end of the millennial reign).  They will face a Great White Throne of Judgment to be judged according to their works.   “…the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars…” (Rev 21:8)   “…anyone whose  name is not found written in the Lamb’s book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire, the second death.” (Rev 20:11-15)

41.  As recorded in Revelation, believers who overcome will “eat of the tree of life”, have “authority over the nations…” in the coming kingdom, and partake of many other thrilling promises!  (Rev 2:7)

42.  Down through the ages prophets have cried out to the wicked “repent and live”!  No matter how wicked, God promises if we repent and do what is just and right, we will live and none of our sins will be remembered against us! “  (EZ 33:15-20)

43.  Consider the story of the rich young ruler seeking Jesus’ counsel – which Pam read and is printed in your bulletin.  (Mark 10: 17-22)  Notice, the young man didn’t realize he was in God’s presence – He was spiritually dead!  We can’t see the kingdom until we are born again, until we believe in the One God sent.  Jesus answered his question “what must I do to inherit eternal life” by essentially telling him “keep the law” – but his pride blinded him and he was not convicted of his sins.  Despite outward appearances, he was clothed in filthy rags, condemned by his sins and without hope!  Yet Jesus looking at him, loved him - just as He loves each of us!  He looked into the man’s heart, seeing that he treasured his possessions more than God, then Jesus told him what he must do to change the direction of his life – this was not to be required for all men - as you can tell from the reaction of the disciples!  But just as it is impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, a man cannot be forgiven His sins and granted eternal life - apart from God’s gracious intervention and the believer’s total surrender.  And this man was very stuck!   Jesus promised His disciples that all they had left behind to follow Him would be restored a hundredfold in this life, with persecutions, and in the age to come they would have eternal life. 

44.  He came to give us abundant life - now and in the age to come!  He said there would be persecutions  - but believers can testify how He causes those to work to our benefit in our witness and sanctification.  Many who in man’s eyes appear first in this life will be last, and many who appear last will then be first.  He will reward those who take up their cross and follow Him.

45.  Jesus said "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". (Matt 16:25)  The poor in spirit are ready to entreat their Savior with crying and open arms because the poor don’t find cause to try to save what they cannot keep. The rich are those who trust in themselves, their possessions, or their human relations – not seeing them as gifts of God, entrusted for use in God’s work. 

46.  To be rich in the Biblical sense doesn’t require any wealth at all, just enough resistance to putting our trust in God alone.  God gave each of us imperfections, weaknesses and vulnerabilities - that are truly precious gifts.  God hates pride, arrogance and lawlessness.  Thorns in the flesh have a way of bringing us to the end of ourselves, confronting us with our desperate need for God’s grace.    When dangers, infirmities or rejection by others are a daily reality, man is more ready to cry out for God’s grace – and God hears us, and loves us and promises to supply all our needs!  Most of us feel closer to God in failure than we do in success.  This is the blessing of weakness. 

47.  The weak are not deceived by strength, beauty or possessions – which will pass away but can also be restored a hundred times over.  Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”  (Matt 5:3)

48.  So what, after all, is the Maine idea of this sermon?  All men, our lives, possessions, and relations belong to God.  We can’t keep them no matter how hard we try!  Only through deep conviction of our moral failures and spiritual poverty can our eyes be opened to see our desperate need for God’s grace.    God knew each of us before He placed us in the womb, and we were made in His image!  He has plans for our well-being, to give us a future and a hope!  (Ps 24:1; Matt 5:3; Jer 1:5; Ps 139:16; Eph 2:10; Jer 29:11)

49.  “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”   (1Cor 13:4-8)

50.  God determined the period of your life and the exact place you should live – so you might seek Him and find Him.  Yet He is actually not far from anyone of us. 

51.  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

52.  Do you love something or someone more than God?  Jesus said if you do you are not worthy of Me.  But don’t be disheartened and turn away!   He gave you your life, your possessions and the people in your life – for the purpose of His kingdom not yours.  Humble yourself as the poor in spirit!  If you haven’t received salvation - ask Him to forgive you and grant you repentance and faith to put your trust in Him and follow Him.  He hears the cry of the broken and contrite heart! 

53.  If you have trusted Him, but you are still entangled in sin, discouraged by loss or failure, or no longer take up your cross, ask Him to grant you repentance and renew a right spirit within you – that your obedient service would evoke His “well done my good and faithful servant” when you come before the judgment seat of Christ.  

54.  He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest needs and empower us to the righteousness, peace and joy of loving one another as He has loved us!