A Sermon For Our Times Part 2 Series

A SERMON FOR OUR TIMES

A Series On The Sermon On The Mount

Section 1 ¡§Be All That You Can Be With The Right Attitude¡¨

Part 2

Matthew 5:3-12 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:5-6 (AMP)

5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous¡Xwith life-joy and satisfaction in God¡¦s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

INTRODUCTION: From the very onset of this message, Jesus has made it clear that the kingdom of heaven was close, it was at hand. As such, his message was give in order to prepare the people on living in the kingdom. With his crucifixion, resurrection and promise of return, kingdom living needs to be practiced now. So, we need to identify how God wants us to live and incorporate that kind of living into our lives now.

I Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

A The definition of meekness

1 Meekness today is not a character quality sought after today.

2 Meekness was not a characteristic quality sought after during the time of Jesus

a We often today, as people did in Jesus¡¦ day associate meek with small, and timid.

b The word meek is the word used to describe a horse.

1 Horses are meek

2 Horses are not small

3 Horses are not timid

3 Jesus was conveying that to be meek is to be gentle

Yet more important than the definition of meekness is the concept of meekness

B The Concept Of Meekness

1 Meekness is a personal humility that comes from a deep trust in God

2 The way we come to trust God deeply is to understand our position before God.

a We have the same position before God that the lump of clay has before the porter

Romans 9:20-21 (NIV)

20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ’Why did you make me like this?’" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

b We do not have the right to question our maker

c We do not have the right to resist our maker

d We have the obligation to yield to the desire of our maker

3 Understanding our position before God permits us to do two things

a Live without a self-centered attitude

b Model a biblical lifestyle before others

QUALITIES OF A BIBLICAL LIFESTYLE

„X A diminishing desire for my rights

„X An increasing desire towards my responsibilities

„X A strong teachable spirit

„X An inward harmony with God

Jesus says that there is a reward for meekness

C The Reward of Meekness is to Inherit The Earth

1 Inheritance is a gift

a Anyone can receive an inheritance

b Anyone can receive anything for an inheritance

Psalms 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

1 The Jew looked to inherit the land of Israel

2 The Christian looks forward not to just a land, but to a fully reformed and restored earth ¡V Rev 20-22

2 Inheritance is also a legacy of what has gone on before us

a The inheritance of the believer is based on the past actions of the one giving the inheritance

b Our inheritance is based on the predicted and fulfilled death of Christ for us on the cross

c Our inheritance is based on our Saviors death for us while we were yet sinners

3 Inheritance is the opportunity to carry forward with us what has been accomplished before us