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The Beatitudes (Part 3 - Blessed Are The Meek)
Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Sep 22, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: In this sermon, I define what Meekness is by telling what it is not first. People have a wrong view of meekness and I expose that philosophy that Christians have in this sermon. I also give 3 characteristics of meekness were the Christian can improve in
Title: Blessed Are The Meek
Text: Matt 5:5
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Introduction:
- This morning we are looking at the topic of Meekness, the 3rd sermon in this sermon series, The Beatitudes.
- In previous messages, these beatitudes are inner qualities Jesus was trying to teach to the people of His day.
- Qualities that required change in people, both then and today.
- This morning we are looking at the 3rd quality that Jesus taught on, which is meekness.
- What is meekness?
A.W. Tozer once wrote, The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto."
- Lets look at meekness a bite closer this morning and showing you what it’s not.
Meekness Is Not:
- being timid, fearful, spineless, shy, or lacking self confidence.
- Meekness is not weakness.
- Meekness is not about being nice nor is it being an easy going person.
- We are not meek because we don’t get upset easily. It just might be your nature if you are like that.
- Meekness has nothing to do with what I just mentioned. Because meekness goes beyond human reasoning. So then what is Meekness?
What Is Meekness?
- It is an inward quality of our spirit, similar to that of humility and gentleness.
- Meekness means actively reaching out to others with gentleness and kindness.
- Let me explain further:
- Meekness is power under control. For the Christian all of our power comes from God.
- God lives in us and we have nothing will be impossible to the believer.
- The Bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us.”
- The believer posses a power, that the world does not know.
- Meekness will shine through us if the power found in Christ is manifested in us through humility and gentleness.
- If we are arrogant, proud and self centered, we are not meek. Let me give you some examples as to what I am talking about to define meekness.
- There are two people the Bible mention as being meek. They are Moses and Jesus.
- Numbers 12:3 says, “now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”
- Jesus said that He was “Meek and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29)
- These men were meek but not spineless and spiritless.
- If we think about the job God gave Moses to do. Facing Pharaoh at least a dozen times, leading the greatest group of grumblers ever assembled in one place for 40 years, solving problem after problem.
- Yet in spite of all this, Moses did what God wanted him to do in great humility and gentleness.
- There was a point God wanted to wipe the people but Moses interceded for them and God spared them.
- Moses made mistakes and acted out of anger, but it was done because Moses wanted the people to see God’s goodness.
- When we look at Jesus, He was the meekest of them all. For He was God and was without sin.
- Jesus was not spineless or timid for He overturned the tables twice in the Temple. Why? To show people that when you act in arrogance and greed you lose.
- Church was not meant to make a profit or a fast buck. Nor was it to exploit people or harm. But it was a place to build up, encourage and pray.
- Here’s the point, Moses and Jesus could of had the people destroyed, but yet acted out of humility and gentleness in hopes that the people would get and respond in a like manner.
- According to the scriptures it didn’t happen, but that is not our responsibility as people.
- We are responsible for how we chose to live.
- Here is where we find more scriptures on Jesus being meek:
John 10:18 says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Isa 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”
