1. Through the years many books and articles have been written on how to be happy. Some of these writings have been excellent and beneficial, and others have been sadistic and have caused much harm.

2. Years ago Jesus gave the perfect formula for happiness. He gave eight beatitudes, statements of blessedness.

• Each of them begins with the Greek word "makarios" meaning "blessed" or "happy."

• Listen to the Lord's formula for temporal and eternal happiness. (Matt. 5:3-12). As I read these timeless verses I will substitute the word "happy" for the word "blessed."

3. This lesson will begin a series of lessons on these beatitudes uttered by Jesus. The beatitudes are a vivid description of what every person must be like to be happy and be saved.

1. The first beatitude reads, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3).

2. The beatitude teaches that as important as are faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and good works, something else is necessary before the kingdom of heaven belongs to an individual.

3. A person must be "poor in spirit" in order to have the gift of eternal life. (Matt. 18:3,4; Jas. 4:6).

1. By the words "poor in spirit" Jesus did not means that it is blessed to be poor spirited.

• God has never looked upon the pessimist, with little zeal and faith, in a favorable light.

• God condemned the Israelites to wander 40 years in the wilderness because they were poor spirited. They cried out that the Canaanites were giants and they were as grasshoppers in their sight. God was appalled by their negative attitude.

2. By these words Jesus did not mean a poor person is automatically on the way to heaven.

• Some people believe this.

• One man who was too lazy to get out and work hard said, "Well, I would rather be poor and go to heaven than be rich and go to hell."

• I would too, but a man doesn't go to heaven simply because he is poor, nor does he go to hell simply because he is rich. Faith in Christ is the thing which opens heaven's door, both to the rich and to the poor.

3. The word "poor" in this beatitude come from the Greek word "ptochos" which literally means "a beggar with little or no substance."

• This same word is used in Luke 16:20 to describe the beggar who laid the rich man's gate.

• The person Jesus is describing in this beatitude is a spiritual beggar. He realizes that he is a sinner and that his own righteousness is but filthy rags in the sight of the holy God. He realizes that birth, family, wealth, morality, education or anything else of this nature will not save him. He understands he can only be saved through the unmerited mercy of God manifested in the blood of Jesus on the cross.

1. Those who are "poor in spirit" are humble when they approach God in worship. (Psa. 51:17).

• Many people upon reading this verse have alleged the Bible contradicts itself. They point out that other scriptures require sacrifices and teach they are well pleasing to God, but this verse teaches sacrifices are "a broken spirit" to God.

• Those who know and love God's word, however, know that a contradiction does not exist here. The harmony of these verses is this. In the entire Jewish age God demanded animal offerings, but He would accept them only if they came from worshippers with humble and contrite hearts. A thousand fat sheep together with a proud heart were abominable to the holy God.

• This is also very true in the Christian dispensation. Unless we approach God with humbleness in our hearts, our worship is not pleasing to Him. We must approach God in worship with the same attitude Isaiah and the publican had. (Isa. 6:3,5, Lk. 18:13, 14).

2. Those who are "poor in spirit" do not measure themselves by their own standards.

• A little boy once came to his mother saying, "Mamma, I am as tall as Goliath; I am nine feet high." The surprised mother asked, What makes you say that?" The little boy said, "Well, I took my shoe and measured myself with it."

• There are many people who follow the little boy's method and measure themselves by some rule of their own. God teaches that a person who does this is not wise because it gives him a false sense of pride. Our measurement is not God's measurement. (Jere. 10:23).

A little tree, short but self-satisfied

Glanced toward the ground, then

tossed its head and cried,

"Behold, how tall I am and how far from the earth!"

And boasting thus, it swayed in scornful mirth.

The tallest pine in the forest raised

Its head toward heaven, and sighed the while it gazed,

"Alas, how small am I, and the great skies how far.

What years of space twixt me and yonder star."

Our height depends on what we measure by--

If up from the earth or downward from the sky.

3. Those who are "poor in spirit" are teachable.

• They are not conceited or a "know it all."

• We have some excellent examples in God's word of those who were teachable and willing to accept the truth.

• Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).

• Apollos (Acts 18:24-28).

4. Those who are "poor in spirit" do not seek to gain recognition for themselves. Their prime concern is to bring glory to the Father and the Son.

• One day a woman, who was crossing the street, became confused and stepped directly in front of an approaching streetcar. People on both curbs were sick with horror at her sure fate, but suddenly a powerful man rushed forward and rescued her from the approaching streetcar. A policeman said to the hero, "I'll have to report this incident, sir, and I ought to mention your name for valor." "There will be no necessity for mentioning my name." The policeman insisted, "But I must put down something, sir" The man smiled and said, "Just put down that a black man did it" and disappeared into the crowd.

• This man possessed the poverty of spirit that the Christian must possess. The spiritual beggar would have said, "Just put down that a Christian did it" and then disappeared in the crowd. (Matt. 5:16).

5. Those who are "poor in spirit" are not too proud to do humble tasks. (Jno. 13:15, 16).

• Some have though that Jesus meant the church is to practice foot-washing. This is not at all what Jesus had in mind. He was teaching that if the Son of God would take the task of a slave and wash the dirty feet of men how much more should we be willing to lower ourselves in God's service.

• There are some in the church who would lead prayer, wait on the table, preach or teach that would not be willing to clean the build, care for the lawn or knock on doors and tell others about Christ. Those who possess this attitude have forgotten the words of Jesus. (Lk. 14:11).

6. The "poor in spirit" do not wear religious titles. (Matt. 23:8-10).

• There are some who become very insulted if you do not call them "Rabbi" or "Reverend" or "Father" or by some other religious title.

• The "poor in spirit" do not wear such titles because Jesus condemns them and because of the realization of their unworthiness.

7. Those who are "poor in spirit" are not too proud to confess their sins.

• There are many Christians who are so filled with pride that they will not confess sins before those they have wrong. They will not even confess their sins before God.

• Every Christian needs the humble attitude of David who poured out his heart to God. (Psa. 51:1b-4a).

• The man of the world is often too proud, too arrogant to admit he is lost in sin and depend on God's grace to save him. He would rather burn in hell than swallow his pride and come to Christ saying, "I am wretched sinner. I cannot save myself. God, I must have the blood of Christ applied to me. Please save me."

1. Don't be guilty of this sin wretched sin of pride! Don't let your pride keep you out of heaven.

2. Humble yourself and give yourself to God. Confess your faith in Christ, turn from your sins and baptized for the forgiveness of sins. God promises to save those who humbly come to Him and do His will. Come as we sing the hymn of invitation.