Are you Poor? Who are the Poor?

Good morning insert your name! I really want you to know that I am writing to you because God, who is sovereign (absolutely in control of all things), knows you and it's not by accident that you are joining me here today.  Welcome insert your name.

Yesterday I spent an hour or so with Ivor in a coffee shop (drinking an Americana for the first time) discussing this ministry and also spending some time in prayer.  I'm sure there were some people looking over saying to themselves, "What in the world are those two dudes doing?"  Praying in public can be a bit uncomfortable but I realize that we come to God when and where we are but that's a topic for another post.  We were talking about the I-61 Project and what we are to be doing.  We began to look at the Scripture that inspired the name of the ministry: Isaiah 61.  We began to read the verses slowly and pick them apart carefully.  I want to share with you one part of the scripture and show you what the Lord revealed to us.  Here is the verse.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor."  Isaiah 61:1

Firstly we understand that there is no greater purpose in any ministry than to preach the Good News.  (i.e..  Jesus came to die on our behalf so that, by faith, we can be made right in the sight of God and live forever with him).  Just a quick interlude here.  I think that God does have a sense of humor.  Don't misunderstand me.  I know he is all powerful and can breathe out stars with the word of his mouth but there are times when he makes me smirk.  Do you have a typo that you make almost every time you type a certain word or phrase?  Nearly every time I type the words "Good News" it comes out, "God News".  I always think, "Yes Lord, you are right in saying the the Good News is God News."  It makes me smile.  But I digress.

When Ivor and I looked at this first half of the first verse of Isaiah 61 we had a question. Who are the poor?  Who are these people that God sent Jesus (and subsequently his disciples) to share the gospel with?  Was it the people who lived in poverty?  For sure.  Was it the people who were poor in spirit?  For sure.  So we looked into the Word to see to whom Jesus shared the Good News and also looked to see who Jesus described as "poor". 

The Bible mentions the word "poor"178 times and most often uses the word to describe the physically or financially poor and it certainly directs us to reach out and relieve their suffering but it also describes a person whose spirit is impoverished and whose soul is famished.  Isaiah wrote these words from God in chapter 41:

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.   But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them."

Are you hungry?  Thirsty, maybe?  Is there a part of you that has sought pleasure, happiness, joy but no matter what you do it seems to pass through your fingers.  Every time you think you have a firm hold on it it vanishes like a mirage on a hot summer road.  Are you rich in your finances but your heart seems poor and lacking?  Maybe you are rich and you say,"Nope.  I'm rich and I'm just fine.  No hunger here.  I have all I need."

Jesus, in revealing himself to John, spoke these words to the church at Laodicea (and subsequently all of us):

"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked . . . " Revelation 3:17

Jesus reminds us that no matter what our IRA or savings accounts look like we may indeed be poor.  Pick up the latest "People" magazine (just once because it has little value except to reveal the truth of the words of Revelation).  Look at the lives of the "rich". Tiger Woods, Lindsey Lohan, et. al.  In God's eyes, "poor" is a thing that lies well beneath the skin, the clothes, the roof of our homes, and the covers of our financial portfolios.  

I was rich once.  I had a big bank account, a big career, and a big ego.  Under it all I was starving.  In the family album I looked like a man with a full plate, a full belly, and a healthy smile.  The portrait of my spirit (if it were painted on canvas) would have shown me sitting in the dirt with a rounded belly of starvation, holding an empty bowl, with a tongue failing to wet my cracked lips.  I was poor.

Here is the good news.  When we are touched by God and begin to see our spiritual portraits we have an opportunity to do what the poor did in Isaiah 41, "search for water".  It's when we begin to understand our need for God, our spiritual poverty, that we seek him.  The Bible says that when we seek him we will find him.  It says that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.  It's like a man lost in the wilderness who is seeking a way out and at the same time there is a rescue party seeking him.  

With that said, I want to conclude today but sharing with you the rest of the words of Jesus to John in Revelation 3:

"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So, be earnest and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me . . . "

Last week we talked about wedding clothes.  Jesus reminds us here again that he is the one who provides the covering for our shame.  He reminds us that his gold is the only true wealth.  He reminds us that it comes through fire, through trials, and through discipline.  He reminds us that we need to repent.  He reminds us that he loves us.  And, finally he tells us that is it up to us to open the door.  He won't barge in but if you are hearing his voice today (and I pray you are) then open the door.  He will feed your soul.  I promise.  

If you are blessed by this Blog I want to ask a favor.  Would you pass the link to your email list or share a link on your Facebook page or on Twitter.  I know there are some who are "poor" in spirit among your family and friends who might need some good news.  Thanks!

Peace insert your name,

David