It will be well with the poor in spirit: You are blessed. We think our poverty hinders us, but it is the door to blessing, because Christ helps the poor, and He is merciful.

First, we are foolish to stand in our own strength, because we don’t have any. It is false: our strength is to SIT STILL and be saved - to have God provide everything.

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. [Jer 30:18]

When you are reduced to nothing, then you’ll trust the Lord, and He’ll work in you powerfully! When you have no strength, then He’ll be all the strength that you need.

He gives power to the faint

and increases the strength of the weak. [Isa 40:29]

Likewise, when we have no righteousness, then He clothes us with a perfect righteousness imputed, even the righteousness of faith [Rom 4:5].

Do not fear because you are poor, but confess your need, like the leach, and live on Christ Jesus. Take from Him, and take, and take.

Secondly, the poor must still suffer!

“Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people” [Jer 52:15]

Being lowly in spirit does not mean that we escape difficulty, and God makes no such promise! Some of the poor stayed in Jerusalem, but others were carried off captive. Like Daniel, made a eunuch, they had to look to Christ from afar, in the lion’s den, or in the fiery furnace. God was with them and exalted them, but they suffered trials, and many afflicted children of God go to their graves mourning illness, with disobedient children, or unruly spouses. They have NO DELIVERANCE in this world, but the promise is greater.

“They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, [Heb 11:38-39]

We must never preach an easy life as the consequence of following Christ: that is a doctrine of devils and of men destitute of the truth.

“Useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." [1Tim 6:5]

The godly suffer, the meek are afflicted, and the humble are harrassed by Satan.

Thirdly, are you poor in spirit? Do you confess yourself a sinner, and do you know your need? Do you have nothing to give and lean on Christ continually? This is the ONLY way to live. He says,

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you without money,

come, buy, and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost! [Isa 55:1]

Never outgrow this or be puffed up in pride. Self-confidence, human ability, and man helping himself is a fair show in the flesh, and it is not of God. He abandons the proud, and we will fall. He takes the candlestick from those who don’t need Him!

If you are an “expert” in grace but don’t need the gospel, then you are wrong! Grace is not a footnote in the sermon, like, “Remember, we can only do this by grace,” but it is the instruction of life. We believe before we do, and we look to Him before we love others.