Who are the poor in spirit? And what did Jesus mean by "the poor in spirit"? Poverty is synonymous with scarcity, deficiency, inadequacy, meagerness, lack, want, etc. The poor usually depend on others, even for the basic needs of life. Likewise, the poor in spirit are those who recognise their spiritual destitution and in need of help. Jesus was referring to the spiritually thirsty and hungry who always look up to the Lord for sustenance.

Beloved, when God weighs you in His balances, you will be found wanting if your righteousness is not of God in Christ Jesus. Except your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven - Matthew 5:20. Self-righteousness is like filthy rags and falls short of God's standard of true righteousness.

The devil cannot force sin down your throat if you are a believer. But what you do when he comes with temptation matters a great deal. Temptation is not sin and is common to all but yielding to it is sin. Therefore, to overcome, you must resist the devil by speaking the written word or disconnecting from the object of temptation. You must learn to walk in the Spirit and you will never fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Eli was a priest of the Lord and he had two sons; Hophni and Phinehas who became vile because they were not trained. While the priest was busy serving the Lord, and ministering to the people his children were left to themselves. He failed in his responsibility to train them up in the way of the Lord. Although he was faithful keeping the vineyards of others, he failed to keep his own vineyard - Songs of Solomon 1:6.

It is foolishness to strive with your Maker. Broken pieces of pottery may strive with themselves, but the clay cannot argue with the potter about how it should be fashioned: "If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him?" - 1 Samuel 2:25a. Like a lump of clay every man should allow the Potter to do whatever He pleases with them.