ÿWPC, mQcZál…Öàl…¢3ÎÈU°=¯Ù·¾ï¨‚[N84ÙiÃf‡¿†û›ô cTð•2îdqmÍêK±(®ÒlÖ¯TÃF~2$:d·;»…Ð>ú)œé<íE·¡~EˆK èÝÀûþuAĹŸeÂwkÇZi õ*˜ŽfC»Ó ೋÆ sÞl×uÿ´â&£+@ý¾mAL¬4V‰_àóSÇ cEgNã£It­k,¶¹½€¨Z-™Þ¸ÜXƒY£îž;¥9‘©o7Ôh\8ZDFWÝ?da­RÕþã)¢Žõ±Z¡Er"y DÍûŸ{ð†.á–÷õ=¦Ÿ„*‹§UßèóÎK¹±ìr?å1f1­¾¯HhÙ:p7$wvm¯Èeøû*ò§¡cÂòÀdh/«Øà EæÏ°=,¡R o¸)ãÕl ð¹˜$"çú–c˜6EýbkZÙ ŽãÐÚ©g¢/<º ´ ŸÙôÅ—‡x«œ´V8]2wacåT†à€Œ~%n/WY¾ù@Òn©dùå~«B“±…¦.'S­k)Ýqec,O@:§.kDcÉùÎ&O)¶©:¹Ü¸Y¶Ñ‡ÿ@©‹6È(M˲~nsT[•IS²Ü-#ÉvUN? % 0:“U@ÍU @  0cM 0c°^  w 4# 7 F mH U0_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0X ®ç —• ˜HP LaserJet 5/5M PostScriptÈØØÚÚØÈØ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô.Ú%ˆ$ p`‹(CenturyRegularTT(ÀÊO Z‹(Times New Roman (;3u$©©Ý ƒOˆ!ÝÔ‡ôÊòòôÔÝ  Ý(;3u$ªªÝ ƒOˆ!ÝÔ‡ôÊòòôÔÝ  Ý÷³Í4Þ ëuÃ4ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ.ŸXpZ‹Century ‚Ö±«:Crouch BkletBooklet printing for Crouch lessonsÑÖd3Ø'PØ'ðXXXXCrouch LessonÒ&Ÿ((h —nHt„Ô%´``HÖH°°°°ÖÑÑTRž®Ø'3Crouch Lesson3Ø' Ø'3Crouch Lessons Ü Ø'PTÑÑ7€ÂÂd·7ÑÓ*XX’,ÈX°›X*ÓÑ þs ÑÔ‡ô/ßôôô/ßÔÔ‡/ßôô/ßÔ ¤Ý ƒu)ÝÔ€X¹XXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà€( (  àÔ‡5yXX¹Ôò òThe€Sermon€on€the€Mount€„„€Lesson€1ó ó Ý ƒu*ÝÔ€X¹XXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡5yXX¹Ôò òBlessed€Are€the€Poor€In€Spiritó óÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÝ ƒ(±«ÿÝÑÖd3Ø'PØ'ðXXXXCrouch LessonÒ&Ÿ((h —nHt„Ô%´``HÖH°°°°ÖÑÑTROàØ'3Crouch LessonXà3Ø' LetterØ'3Avery 5198 Audio Tape Landscapeÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÑ8€XXdìdÈ8ÑÓ*XX’,ÈX°œX*ÓÑ þs ÑÔ€X¢«XXXÔÔ€~`XX¢«ÔÝ  ÝÖ€+ÿÿÖÖ€,ÿÿÖÔ€Ü~`ÔÔ€5yÜÔà@ÇÇ ¨ àò òTHE€SERMON€ON€THE€MOUNT€„„€LESSON€ONEó óÔ‡¼îí.»5yԈРX Ðà@TT ¨ àò òòò"Blessed€Are€The€Poor€In€Spirit"óóó óˆÐ ø  Ðà@ ¨ àÔ#†5y.»¼îíÔ#ÔÔ‡ôJñ3ò5yÔòòMatthew€5:3óóˆÐ ¸ ÐÔ#†5y3òôJñ’#ÔÔ€ôJñ3ò5yÔÓfæÓINTRODUCTION€ð"ðР؀ ÐÌI.à0 „ àThe€greatest€sermon€ever€delivered,€by€the€greatest€preacher€who€everÐ >æ Ðlived,€began€with€the€words,€"òòBlessed€are€the€poor€in€spirit...."óóÐñ™„ø„ø ÐÌII.à0 „ àThe€multitude€Jesus€saw€on€that€mount€in€Galilee€in€the€first€century€wasÐ Wÿ Ðnot€likely€much€different€from€any€multitude€he€might€face€today.Ð  ²  Ð(Matthew€4:25;€5:1,2).н e „ø„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àAn€inner€circle€of€disciples,€the€casual€curious,€and€the€critics.€€AÐ p   Ðgeneral€cross€section€of€mankind:€€Successes,€failures,€literate,Ð # Ë  Ðilliterate,€the€disappointed,€sorrowful€and€others.ÐÖ ~ °ø°ø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àAll€alike€were€seeking€the€same€thing:€€Happiness€or€contentment.Љ 1 °ø°ø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àHe€was€moved€with€compassion€and€spoke€with€authority,€for€he€wasÐ < ä  Ðthe€greatest€authority€who€ever€spoke€on€the€human€predicament.Ð ï —  Ð(7:28,29;€8:1).ТJ °ø°ø Ðà „ àD.à0 ° àHe€is€still€the€greatest€authority€on€human€happiness€and€he€wouldÐ Uý  Ðstill€speak€the€same€true€words€with€the€same€compassion€andÐ °  Ðauthority.лc°ø°ø ÐÌà0 „ àà X àIII.€€POVERTY€OF€SPIRIT€IS€THE€FIRST€KEY€TO€THE€KINGDOM€OFÐ !É ÐHEAVEN,€AND€ALSO€A€KEY€STONE€IN€THE€CONSTRUCTION€OFÐ Ô| ÐCHRISTIAN€CHARACTER€AND€JOY€(Matthew€20:25„38).Ї/„ø„ø ÐÌDISCUSSION€ð"ðÐ í• ÐÌò òI.à0 „ àWHO€ARE€THE€TRULY€BLESSED€PEOPLE?ó óÐSû„ø„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àHappiness€is€not€born€of€outward€circumstances€or€conditions€(LukeÐ ® Ð12:15).йa°ø°ø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àNeither€is€it€a€result€of€what€one€fails€to€have.Ðl°ø°ø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àBlessedness€depends€primarily€upon€ò òwhat€we€are.ó óÐÇ °ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àNot€the€house,€but€the€man€who€lives€within€it.ÐÒz!ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àNot€the€garments,€but€the€woman€who€wears€them.Ð…-"ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àNot€the€car,€but€the€person€who€drives€it.Ð8à#ÜøÜø Ðà „ àD.à0 ° àJesus€said,€"òòBlessed€are€the€poor€in€spirit."óóÐë“$°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àYou€may€say,€"Perhaps€he€is€right;€but€I€cannot€work€up€muchÐ žF% Ðenthusiasm€for€it!"ÐQù&ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àBut€you€are€surely€half€convinced:€€"Wretched€are€the€proud€inÐ ¬' Ðspirit!"€(Revelation€3:16„18).з_(ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àPerhaps€our€dullness€of€interest€is€because€we€do€not€understandÐ j) ÐJesus.Ð Å*ÜøÜø Ðò òÌII.à0 „ àPOVERTY€OF€SPIRIT€IS€A€QUALITY€POSSESSED€BY€ALLÐ ƒ!+, ÐTRULY€HONORABLE€PERSONS,€FOR€IT€IS€A€QUALITYÐ 6"Þ- ÐWHICH€PRECEDES€HONORó ó€€(Proverbs€18:12;€Matthew€23:11,12).Ð#é"‘ .„ø„øþY #Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àIt€is€"the€state€of€being€humble€in€spirit;€freedom€from€pride€andÐ X Ðarrogance."Ð ³°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àIt€is€to€be€"lowly,€unassuming,€unpretentious."оfÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àIts€synonyms€are€"lowliness,€meekness."ÐqÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àThe€opposite€of€"pride,€arrogance,€conceit,€vanity."Ð$ÌÜøÜø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àOne€who€is€full€of€himself€and€self„sufficient€cannot€be€called€poor€inÐ × Ðspirit.Њ2°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àAugustine€and€others€have€named€pride€as€the€greatest€of€all€sins.Ð =å ÐWhy?Ðð˜ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àIs€pride€the€devil's€greatest€device€(2€Cor.€2:11)?УK ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àò òPride€destroys€the€right€relationship€between€God€and€manó óÐ V þ  Ð(Psalm€10:4;€Romans€1:21,28;€etc.).Ð ± ÜøÜø ÐÌà0 „ àà X àò òIII.€€GOD'S€VIEW€OF€HUMILITY€IS€VASTLY€DIFFERENT€FROMÐ o   ÐMAN'S.ó óÐ" Ê „ø„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àWhat€he€ò òrequiresó ó€of€his€children€includes€humility;€Isaiah€55:8,9;Ð Õ }  Ð57:15;€62:1;€Micah€6:8;€Matthew€23:23,24.Ј 0 °ø°ø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àHe€desires€that€we€think€soberly€and€honestly€of€ourselves:€€Enough,Ð ;ã  Ðbut€not€too€much€(Romans€12:3;€etc.).€€Jesus€revealed€the€worth€ofÐ î–  Ðthe€individual€(Matt.€16:26),€and€ò òeach€child€of€God€should€have€aÐ ¡I  Ðwholesome€self„respect:€€Not€self„contempt.ó óÐTü °ø°ø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àChristian€humility€is€ò ònotó ó€a€cowering,€crawling,€fawning,€toadying,Ð ¯ Ðgrasshopper€attitude€of€faithless€base€humility€toward€men€(NumbersÐ ºb Ð13:33).€€Humility€must€flavor€our€character€but€not€dominate€it:€Ð m ÐChristian€humility€ò òis€to€be€childlike€and€teachable:ó ó€€To€know€andÐ  È Ðfeel€our€own€unworthiness,€insufficiency,€deep€needs;€and€to€beÐ Ó{ Ðwilling€to€learn€and€lean€upon€a€higher,€wise€and€divine€power.€Ð †. Ð(Philippians€3:12„15).Ð9á°ø°ø Ðò òÌà0 „ àà X àIV.€€EXAMPLES€OF€HUMILITY€CAN€HELP€US€UNDERSTAND€ITSÐ ŸG ÐMEANING.ó óÐRú„ø„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àMoses,€who€carried€the€reproach€of€Christ€(Exodus€3:11;€4:10;Ð ­ ÐNumbers€12:3).и` °ø°ø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àThe€ten€spies€came€back€with€a€sense€of€littleness€(Numbers€13),€butÐ k! Ðwere€merely€ò òfaithless€and€poor„spirited,€not€poor€in€spirit.ó óÐÆ"°ø°ø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àThe€one€talent€man€was€trusted€by€his€master,€but€was€full€of€prideÐ Ñy# Ðand€cowardice€(Matthew€25:24).Є,$°ø°ø Ðà „ àD.à0 ° àThe€older€brother€was€a€case€of€"abundant€spirit"€(Luke€15).Ð7ß%°ø°ø Ðà „ àE.à0 ° àThe€publican€who€prayed,€not€the€Pharisee,€was€poor€in€spirit€(LukeÐ ê’& Ð18).ÐE'°ø°ø Ðà „ àF.à0 ° àGeorge€Washington€helped€soldiers€move€heavy€timber€(òòMinister'sÐ Pø( ÐMonthlyóó,€8/66).Ы)°ø°ø Ðà „ àG.à0 ° àJesus€Christ€carried€the€sins€of€the€world€(Matthew€11:29).ж^*°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àò òIn€His€lifeó ó€humility€was€a€wonderful/powerful€keyÐ i + Ð(2Corinthians€8:9).Ð!Ä,ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° àà Ü àa.à0  à"òòSon€of€Man€hath€not€where€to€lay€his€head"óó€(Luke€9:58).ÐÏ!w-øø Ðà „ àà ° àà Ü àb.à0  à"òòI€can€of€myself€do€nothing"óó€(John€5:30;€Phil.€4:13).Ђ"* .øø Ðà „ àà ° àà Ü àc.à0  àòò"I€have€given€you€an€example...A€servant€is€not€greater€thanÐ X Ðhis€lord"óó€€(John€13:3„17).Ð ³øø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àò òIn€His€teachingó ó:€"Friend,€Go€up€higher"€(Luke€14:7„11).оfÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àò òIn€His€deathó ó:€€His€greatest€humiliation,€and€the€supremeÐ q Ðexample€of€all€(Philippians€2:5„11).Ð$ÌÜøÜø Ðò òÌà0 „ àà X àIV.€€ESSENTIAL€ELEMENTS€OF€THE€POVERTY€OF€SPIRIT€THATÐ Š2 ÐENRICHES€US.ó óÐ=儸„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àò òTo€know€one€is€poor:ó ó€€Be€conscious€one€is€needy,€insufficient,Ð ð˜ Ðlimited,€without€spiritual€power€and€strength€(Jeremiah€10:23;€1PeterÐ £K  Ð5:6,7;€"I€Need€Thee€Every€Hour;"€etc.).ÐV þ °ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àSee€room€for€improvement€and€recognize€human€need€of€God'sÐ  ±  Ðhelp:€Awareness€of€human€frailty.м d ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àTo€be€childlike,€teachable,€willing€to€learn€(Matthew€18:3,4).Ðo  ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àThe€Bible€says€pride€blinds,€deceives,€defiles,€keeps€many€fromÐ " Ê  Ðbecoming€God's€children,€condemns,€and€generates€havoc€andÐ Õ }  Ðchaos,€not€harmony€or€unity.Ј 0 ÜøÜø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àò òTo€be€attentive€to€God's€voice,€submissive€to€his€authority,Ð ;ã  Ðresponsive/obedient€to€his€will,€in€conversion,€salvation,ó ó€in€worshipÐ î–  Ðand€in€life€(1€Peter€5:6,7).СI °ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àOur€wills€must€be€obedient€to€the€will€of€God€(Matthew€7:21).ÐTü ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àWhen€Ben€Franklin€signed€the€Declaration€of€Independence€heÐ ¯ Ðsaid,€"We€pledge€our€lives,€fortune€and€sacred€honor."кbÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àWhen€we€become€God's€children,€we€must€pledge€even€more,Ð m Ðour€all,€to€Christ,€God's€Son.€(2€Corinthians€5:15).Ð ÈÜøÜø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àò òTo€be€"òòa€living€sacrificeóó:"€€A€willingness€to€live€and€serveÐ Ó{ Ðaccording€to€God's€purpose€and€willó ó€(Romans€8:28,€12:1,2).І.°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àThis€requires€a€willingness€to€be€inconvenienced,€and€ò òto€placeÐ 9á ÐGod's€will€above€self„interest€as€the€primary€motive€forÐ ì” Ðactionó ó€(Philippians€2:3„5).ПGÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àWilling€to€carry€the€burdens€of€others€(Galatians€6:2;€LukeÐ Rú Ð14:11).Ð­ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àWillingness€to€take€second,€third,€or€tenth€place,€because€God'sÐ ¸`  Ðwill€has€been€placed€above€self„interest€(Matthew€26:39).Ðk!ÜøÜø ÐÌò òV.à0 „ àTHE€BLESSEDNESS€OF€SUCH€POVERTY€OF€SPIRIT.ó óÐÑy#„ø„ø Ðà „ àA.à0 ° àJesus€said€it€is€the€key€to€happiness€(Matthew€5:3).Є,$°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àDo€you€say,€"I€cannot€get€excited€or€enthusiastic€about€it"?Ð7ß%ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àò òWhat€are€the€reasons€why€it€is€the€first€key€to€blessedness?ó óÐê’&ÜøÜø Ðà „ àB.à0 ° àIt€unlocks€the€door€to€salvation€from€sin€(Matthew€18:3,4).ÐE'°ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àIt€makes€hearing€and€obedience€possible€(Philippians€2:5„8).ÐPø(ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àIt€precedes€repentance:€Must€no€longer€trust€self€above€God€andÐ «) Ðhis€word€(2€Chronicles€7:14).ж^*ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àIt€leads€to€justification€(Psalm€149:4;€Luke€18:9„14).€€One€full€ofÐ i + Ðhimself,€who€is€self„sufficient€and€self„satisfied,€is€not€and€canÐ !Ä, Ðnever€be€full€of€Christ€(faith).ÐÏ!w-ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à4.à0 Ü àGod€dwells€with€the€contrite€and€humble€(Isaiah€57:15;€66:2).Ђ"* .ÜøÜø Ðà „ àC.à0 ° àPoverty€of€spirit€is€essential€for€effective€prayer:€€It€can€improve€theÐ X Ðbeliever's€life€if€an€act€of€surrender€to€God's€will,€and€it€is€a€necessaryÐ  ³ Ðcondition€of€acceptable€and€powerful€prayer€(Proverbs€28:9;€LukeÐ ¾f Ð18:9„14;€1€John€5:14,15).Ðq°ø°ø Ðà „ àD.à0 ° àIt€is€essential€to€produce/maintain€unity€(Phil.1:27;€2:1„4).Ð$̰ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àòò"Each€counting€other€better€than€himself"óó€(2:3;€Romans€12:16).Ð×ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àLowliness€and€meekness€produce€harmony€and€peace€(EphesiansÐ Š2 Ð4:1„3)Ð=åÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àIt€is€therefore€a€bulwark€against€discord€and€division.Ðð˜ÜøÜø Ðà „ àE.à0 ° àIt€enables€one€to€render€his€greatest€and€most€godly,€righteous,€joyfulÐ £K  Ðand€rewarding€service€(Matthew€18:4;€John€13:17).ÐV þ °ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àVIP's€James€and€John€sought€pride€of€place€(Matthew€20:21„28).Ð ± ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àThere€are€many€barriers€to€Christian€service,€but€poverty€of€spiritÐ ¼ d  Ðhelps€us€to€overcome€those€barriers€and€fit€us€for€effectiveÐ o   Ðservice€in€God's€kingdom€(2€Timothy€2:24„26).Ð" Ê ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à3.à0 Ü àThe€largeness€of€our€ability€to€serve€depends€upon€the€spirit€thatÐ Õ }  Ðfills€and€rules€our€hearts:€i.e.,€pride€vs.€true€humility€(GalatiansÐ ˆ 0  Ð6:1,2).Ð;ã ÜøÜø Ðà „ àF.à0 ° àIt€is€the€grace€which€enables€us€to€be€finally€exalted€(Psalm€138:6).Ðî– °ø°ø Ðà „ àà ° à1.à0 Ü àWe€thereby€avoid€God's€displeasure€and€receive€his€rich€divineÐ ¡I  Ðgrace:€"òòGod€Ô_ÔresistethÔ_Ô€the€proud,€but€giveth€grace€to€the€humble"óóÐ Tü  Ð(James€4:6,€10).Ð¯ÜøÜø Ðà „ àà ° à2.à0 Ü àHumility€precedes€honor,€exaltation€and€makes€possible€the€mostÐ ºb Ðglorious€hope:€Resurrection€to€eternal€life€with€God,€Christ€andÐ m Ðthe€angels€in€heaven€€(Philippians€2:9„11;€Luke€14:11;€18:14).Ð ÈÜøÜø ÐÌCONCLUSION€ð"ðÐ †. ÐÌI.à0 „ àWe€may€never€reach€perfection€on€earth€in€humility,€or€the€other€ChristianÐ ì” Ðgraces.€€But€an€extremely€important€question€is,€Are€we€striving€toward€itÐ ŸG Ðwith€òò"all€diligence"óó€(2€Peter€1:5„9)?€€Are€we€truly€going€that€direction€andÐ Rú Ðgrowing€wholeheartedly?Э„ø„ø ÐÌII.à0 „ àTo€the€proud,€haughty,€self„sufficient,€the€first€beatitude€may€mean€littleÐ k! Ðor€nothing.€€But€to€a€meek,€lowly€believer,€going€the€second€mile€andÐ Æ" Ðturning€the€other€cheek€are€important€duties€and€wise€responses€to€evilÐ Ñy# Ðduring€crucial€tests:€€"òòWhy€not€rather€take€wrong?€€Why€not€rather€beÐ „,$ Ðdefrauded"óó€I€Cor.€6:7)?€€Does€this€seem€out€of€step€with€your€mentalÐ 7ß% Ðoutlook€and€manner€of€life?€€Do€you€prefer€to€defraud€or€be€defrauded?Ðê’&„ø„ø ÐÌà0 „ àà X àIII.€€If€we€are€"wise€and€understanding,"€we€will€remember€that€only€the€poorÐ Pø( Ðin€spirit€enter€God's€kingdom,€are€fitted€to€serve€in€his€kingdom,€andÐ «) Ðqualified€to€remain€in€his€kingdom€where€we€are€guarded€and€kept€byÐ ¶^* Ðfaith€so€as€to€be€welcomed€into€òò"the€eternal€kingdom€of€our€Lord€andÐ i + ÐÔ_ÔSaviourÔ_Ô€Jesus€Christ"óó€(James€3:13;€1Peter€1:3„9;€2€Peter€1:5„11).Ð!Ä,„ø„ø Ðà€¢¢øàòò„„Charles€E.€Crouchóó