Sunday November 13, 2022
INTRODUCTION: I love this series! The 8 beatitudes portray the ideal heart condition of a Kingdom citizen!
It’s an attitude that comes from BEING and not DOING!
Religion says: “You do and you be.”
Jesus says: You can’t do it without me.”
In the Kingdom of God, the Blessed Life doesn’t come from your external circumstances but your internal attitude!
Matthew 5:5- “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
AGAIN, Jesus is teaching the ways of the Kingdom of God!
Once again Jesus went against the grain of human culture and experience by asserting that the meek, no the yuppies, the militarists, the financial tycoon, or the super- pious types, will inherit the earth! THE MEEK!
MEEKNESS, IT’S AN INSIDE JOB!
Humble disciples, not arrogant tyrants, will inherit the earth!
Psalm 37:11- “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Isaiah 29:19- “The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
Those who are meek will have an abundance of peace and fresh joy from the Lord!
WHAT IS MEEKNESS?
Meek- (praus)- it refers to an inward quality of the humble and gentle!
Meekness is power that is totally and completely surrendered to God’s control!
Biblical meekness is not weakness but rather refers to exercising God’s strength under His control.
Meekness is not weakness but rather controlled strength! The word carries the idea of humility and self-discipline!
Meekness is not weakness, but power under perfect control!
(Share Example)
John 18:10-11- “Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”
Jesus gives us a perfect picture of power under control, meekness. While Peter gives us a picture of power out of control!
Southern horse breeders used to use this phrase: “The meekest horse wins the race.” All the obvious and inherent strength is harnessed and brought under focused control!
WHOSE CONTROL? THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ONE POINT TODAY
1. Meekness is the Overflow of a God-Controlled Life
Meekness is the Overflow of a life that is lived in total submission to God!
Jesus lived a life totally surrendered to our Heavenly Father!
Matthew 11:28-30-“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
To the pagan the word meekness often implied condescension, to the Christian it implies submission!
1 Peter 3:1-7- “In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”
Have a gentle and quiet spirit, a meek spirit, and you will inherit the earth!
Have a gentle and quiet spirit, a meek spirit and God will give you what He has promised.
Have a gentle and quiet spirit, a meek spirit, and God will give you all the blessings He has stored up for you!
JESUS OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE!
Matthew 21:5- “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.”
Matthew 12:12-17- “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”
Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.”
“My house shall be a house of prayer and praise!”
Jesus was demonstrating power under perfect control. The control of the Holy Spirit. CONCLUSION: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?