Jan. 21am, 2001      Blessed are the Meek      Mat. 5

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 Remember who you are.  Who am I as a Christian? If you can remember who you are then you will know what you are not.  You will remember what you have and what you have not.  You will remember who your Father is.  You will know where you came from and where you are going and what you are supposed to be doing these years and days of your life. These be-attitudes describe the characteristics of the person who has become born again into the kingdom of God.  (John 3:3)  These are the keys, principles, or laws of Christ’s new kingdom.  Where is the kingdom?  The kingdom is the domain of the king.  If He is King in your house then these principles apply.  The kingdom was inaugurated by Christ and will culminate at the end of the age. These principles of the life of the Christian are for each one who has allowed Him to rule in their life. 

In the eyes of the world bigger and greater is always better.  We have the greatest this and the biggest that.  But with the Lord greatness of character is always better.  Character is that unseen force within a person that produces who they are and what they do.  The character of the Christian is to be the Character of Christ.  As Martin L. King once said, “I have a dream.”  So does the Lord, He dreams of a people who will be like him in all of our ways including our character.  

The purpose of this message is to show why it is good to be “Meek.”

 Scripture Text:  Matt 5:1 (KJS) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The World’s Standards:  Blessed are the aggressive, for they will conquer the earth. 

   We like to think blessed are the strong, the shrewd, those who stand up for their rights, those who refuse to be taken advantage of, those who always look out for slights, those who strike it rich and make it a success.  We have a tendency to put high value on self- assertion.  The natural standpoint is that a strong person is one who not only does what he wills but also bends others to do his will.  This is not meekness.

 I.  What is Meekness?  The meek are the mild of the earth.  They are the gentle, spiritual giants who in their strength use their power to benefit others and glorify God.  The Biblical concept of meekness, however, is different.  Meekness in the Greek is used to describe an animal, which has been trained by its master.  Wild and unruly animals are worthless but when trained they become meek, that is teachable and quiet.  If we remember this background of the term we will see that meekness is strength under the control of God and that gentleness is true power.

1.       Meekness is power under control.  A horse that is broken is a horse that is useful and beneficial to its owner.  Power and strength used in the wrong way will not benefit the owner as much as it could if it is kept under control and used for the benefit of others.  Our strength is under his control.  We are waiting on him. 

2.      Meekness is not Weakness. Jesus and Moses are the only two men in the Bible who are said to be meek.   Matt 11:29 (KJS) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

3.      Meekness is not asserting my rights.  But meekness is allowing others to have their rights.  It isn’t weak backed but strong as steel and soft as velvet.  Meekness is living for God’s glory and not the glory of self.

4.      Meekness is Surrender of our will to God’s will.  Surrender of the purposes of my life to God’s will for me.  Have you given Him your will? 

5.      Meekness is letting yourself be molded by God.  This is accepting God’s laws and ways as real, true, and right for you.  Prov 3:5 (KJS) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  He is the Potter and you are the clay. 

6.      Meekness includes Forbearance.  The meek abstain from condemning. They forbear and forgive others who aren’t perfect.  Because the meek remember that they too are sinners and do occasionally make mistakes.

7.      Meekness suggests Patience.  The meek are willing to wait.  They wait on the Lord and they renew their strength.  They are willing to wait on others because there are times when others have to wait on them.  The meek have all the power that is available to them in the presence and the power of the Spirit who is able to do anything but fail.  But their power is under His control.  

 “ Emotions move but they are not equipped either to steer or to brake; they are just the engine room.  A man controls his emotions by steering his intellect.  He turns on and off his emotional burners by turning his head or his attention and by refining the mixture of information and experience with fuel his emotion--by pondering things true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, reputable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8).  Meekness or gentleness is chiefly the virtue of mastering the emotions.  The man like Esau who is a slave to his passions will sell his inheritance for a mess of pottage.  Never mastering himself, he is always the slave of another.  The meek, on the other hand, inherit the earth (Mt 5:5).”   By Jason Moore

II.   Are you Meek?  The meek are the weak in the eyes of the world, but in God’s view the meek are those who have become like his Son.  Meek is who you become when you have chosen the Lord’s road for your life. 

III. How are you blessed to be Meek?  What will you inherit for your Meekness?  You will inherit the Promised Land.  This is the land of Canaan.  This is the new heaven the new earth spoken of in Revelation.  You will live on the land that the messiah promised.  You will live forever with Him in a place that is prepared for you by Him.  When He is your God and you are his then you will inherit what he has promised.