Category Archives: Poor in spirit

Post Easter reflection

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Wisdomforlife

I wish gentle therapy for the self would work, but it requires… Continue reading →

Posted in Cross of Christ, Cross of Jesus, Poor in spirit, Salvation, Sanctification, Spiritual transformation, The cross of Christ | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The life-giving power of God’s Spirit

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Wisdomforlife

The life giving power of God’s Spirit is effective only in those who… Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Spirit, Poor in spirit, Spirit filled, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual growth | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The amazing sequence in the beatitudes

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Wisdomforlife

Does it not follow inevitably that my attitude towards everybody else must be completely and entirely changed? Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Poor in spirit, Sermon on the Mount, Teaching of Jesus | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sin, Sorrow, and Salvation

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Wisdomforlife

The indwelling presence of God’s Spirit at salvation brings comfort and joy, but… Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed are those who mourn, Godly sorrow, Poor in spirit, Sadness | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An unnerving truth about heaven

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Wisdomforlife

Many of us want to say, “Only those who accept Jesus as Savior go to heaven.” Or, “Only those who believe in the gospel go to heaven.” These are not necessarily wrong statements, but they possibly conceal what Jesus revealed. Continue reading →

Posted in Disciple-making, Discipleship, Fruit of the Spirit, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Humility, Poor in spirit, Pride, Salvation, Security of salvation, Spirit filled, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Walking with God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Unless you become like little children?

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Wisdomforlife

Becoming childlike is not a reference to being “innocent as a child” or having the “simple faith of a child”. So what does it mean? Continue reading →

Posted in attitudes of unity, Church Leadership, Community, Disciple-making, Elders, elders in the Church, Emerging Leaders, Humility, Kingdom, Leadership, Love, Poor in spirit, Pride | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s not the way you think it is

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Wisdomforlife

Delusional self-confidence based on self-accomplishment is not far removed from self-righteousness. It’s an insidiously deadly poison that can be… Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Blessed by God, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church, Church Leadership, Church membership, Deception, Following Christ, God's Heart, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Greatness, Jesus Christ, Judging others, Kingdom, Legalism, Love, Meaning of life, Mercy, Missions, Personal thoughts, Poor in spirit, Pride, purpose, Radical love, Repentance, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Spiritual inventory, Teaching of Jesus, True Christianity?, Walking with God, Worldview | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Meet the citizens of heaven

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Wisdomforlife

It might surprise some to meet the true citizens of heaven. Many religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said of them,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ….You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:14-15). Jesus said to these religious leaders, “religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. …Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31). Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Blessed by God, Born again?, Christian worldview, Christianity, Cliches, Comfort, Cross of Christ, Cross of Jesus, Crucifixion, Death of Christ, Depravity, Disciple-making, Elentics, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evangelism, Faith, Fear of death, God's Heart, God's Love, Godly sorrow, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Greatness, Heaven, Human depravity, Humility, Jesus Christ, Justification, Legalism, Main problem, Matthew 7:1-6, Meekness, New Creation, Pharisees, Poor in spirit, Proud, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Religion, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Searching, Security of salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Selfishness, Sin, Spiritual inventory, Teaching of Jesus, The cross of Christ, Unbelief, Walking with God, Witness, Worldly sorrow | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A closer look at repentance

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Wisdomforlife

Repentance is not merely feeling bad about our sins. Repentance is sorrow for what we are in our deepest beings…. Continue reading →

Posted in Human depravity, Jesus Christ, Poor in spirit, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Therapeutic vs. True Gospel

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Wisdomforlife

Jesus Christ died for my sin and the most vivid expression of my sin is my willful self-preoccupation. A gospel message that invites me to stay at the center is not the true gospel. Listen closely to the emphasis when you hear someone invite people to follow Jesus. Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church Leadership, Church Planting, Confession, Depravity, Disciple-making, Doctrine, Evangelicals, Evangelism, Evil in the world, Faith, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Hamartiology, Kingdom, Poor in spirit, Pride, Reconciliation, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments