A Portrait of Poor in Spirit: Dick Woodward

Pastor Dick Woodward was a remarkable man and one who personified what it means to be poor in spirit, humble, and meek.

A Portrait of Poor in Spirit: Dick Woodward

"Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord's anger."

(Zephaniah 2:3)

Pastor Dick Woodward was a remarkable man and one who personified what it means to be poor in spirit, humble, and meek. While he was in his 40s, he developed a degenerative spinal cord disease that left him a bedridden quadriplegic. But instead of being bitter toward God, he trusted God and was used by God in ways he could never have imagined. His biblical teaching was broadcast through the Mini Bible College in 26 languages in 60 countries throughout the world and reached a population of over 4 billion people, all from one man, though handicapped physically but certainly not spiritually or mentally. Though his body was grounded, his spirit soared in service to Jesus Christ. He lived to be 83 years old. He shared in his God story of what God can do with somebody when they realize they are a nobody (poor in spirit).

I had the honor of meeting Pastor Woodward and being in his home in Williamsburg, VA years ago. What a blessing to be in his presence. No arrogance, no bitterness, but a poor-in-spirit brokenness and humility before God. He has created what he calls the Four Spiritual Secrets to being used mightily by God: "I'm not but He is, and I'm in Him and He is in me. I can't but He can, and I'm in Him and He is in me. I don't want to, but He wants to, and I'm in Him and He is in me. I didn't but He did, because I'm in Him and He is in me." He is the author of 30 Biblical Reasons Why God's People Suffer.

What is the reward for the poor in spirit? Jesus says in Matthew 5:3 that the reward of the poor in spirit is two-fold: they are blessed (makarios), joyful, content, and happy, and they receive the kingdom of heaven. After Jesus died and arose from the dead, He taught for 40 days on this subject of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The kingdom of God certainly has a future element to it. The humble in spirit will live forever with Jesus in His earthly, millennial kingdom, and then forever with Christ in His heavenly eternal kingdom. But the kingdom has a present element as well.

It is the reign of Jesus in your heart currently. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21), and the kingdom of God is manifest in the people of God as we live for Him in our current age. The kingdom of God is the reign of Jesus operative here and now. So, there is a future dimension, present reality, and inward aspect.

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I first met Marty around 1997 when I was teaching at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Marty was a student at the time, and I asked him to be my teaching assistant and grader. He did a great job. Marty went on to pastor Bay Leaf Baptist Church, and now he works for the North American Mission Board as well and serves as an interim pastor in North Carolina... and he is also a farmer! Tune in for a fascinating life story and great practical tips about finishing strong in ministry and in your walk with Christ.

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