MARKETPLACE FACTS
THE POOR IN SPIRIT Module 406 A Mario Denton Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Overall purpose of this series on Marketplace To understand and learn from various marketplace facts so that you can: • Be more effective and anointed wherever you are in the marketplace. • Adapt and benchmark your marketplace practices and principles discussed in this series. • Use these material to facilitate the work of evangelism.
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT • Jesus informed us that such people are in line to inherit his kingdom: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:3)
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT • By 'poor in spirit' Christ meant the spiritually destitute. • Those who acknowledge their utter helplessness, spiritual poverty and lack of superiority before others. • People who are painfully aware of their deadness before God. Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT • The 'poor in spirit' recognize that they are no better, no richer, no more superior to the next person regardless of what they have achieved in this world in terms of fame, fortune or power.
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT • Dallas Willard describes the 'poor in spirit' in street level terms. They are "(the) unblessed and unblessable-the physically repulsive…the bald, the fat and the old…the flunk-outs and dropouts and burned outs, the broke and the broken, the drug heads and the divorced, the HIV-positive and herpes-ridden, the brain-damaged, the incurably ill, the barren and the pregnant toomany-times or at the wrong time, the over employed, and under employed, the unemployed, the unemployable, the swindled, the shoved aside, the replaced…" Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
THE POOR IN SPIRIT • Brennan Manning refers to the 'poor in spirit' as 'ragmuffin' believers: "(They are) the unsung assembly of saved sinners who are little in their own sight, conscious of their brokenness and powerlessness before God, and who cast themselves on his mercy. Startled by the extravagant love of God, they do not require success, fame, wealth or power to validate their worth. Their spirit transcends all distinctions between the powerful and powerless, educated and illiterate, billionaires and bag ladies, hightech geeks and low-tech nerds, males and females, the circus and the sanctuary." +++ Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Thomas a' Kempis' prayer • "How can I bear the miseries of this life unless your grace and mercy comfort me? Turn not your face from me, defer not to visit me. Do not withdraw your comforts from me, lest perhaps, my soul become as dry earth, without the water of grace and, as it were, a thing unprofitable to you. Teach me, Lord, to fulfill your will, and to live humbly and worthily before you, for you are all my wisdom and learning. You are He who knows me as I am‌" Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
• Now if you happen to be a 'together', well-oiled business or professional person who is enjoying 'success' and the esteem of your peers, the above descriptions of the 'poor in spirit', 'ragmuffin' types could easily offend your sensibility and sophistication. Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Questions That Matter 1. Would the 'least' among your friends and associates view you as a person who is 'poor in spirit'? Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Questions That Matter 2. Discuss James 4:10 in light of humility.
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Questions That Matter 3. Read Luke 14:11 and discuss practical steps for humbling oneself.
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Questions That Matter 4. What happens to the one who exalts himself: Why is there a tendency to do this?
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Prayer Focus • Father, In the name of Jesus, I surrender myself to walk in the Word in the market place. Your word living in me produces the Life in this world. • The word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It makes my way plain before me. • I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation – the Living Word of God! Amen Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Learning, application and commitment: James 1: 22-25 • “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. • Do what it says. • Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. • But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV) Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Learning, application and commitment • One of the principles that I have learned from this lesson was … • I intend to apply this principle in my market place by: ….. • With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will begin applying this truth immediately. Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Jesus said: Take what I have given you and change the world!
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Sources and acknowledgement CHRIST@ WORK NEWSLETTER • •
Copyright Notice FCCI- Limited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Copy is limited to member and/or FCCI small group use. Unauthorized use of FCCI, Christ@Work, Crown Companies, their trademarks or logos is strictly prohibited.
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The “Facts of the Matter” is also available through the Internet: www.factsofthematter.org. R. Dwight Hill. Slides compiled by Dr Mario Denton. Please commit yourself to inform us of the results regarding the effectiveness thereof should you wish to use this material.
Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit
Blessings from Mario Denton
Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network. Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum. Â Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-mail address:mario@crown.org.za Website: www.crown.org.za Marketplace facts: Poor in the spirit