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Blessed Are The Meek Series
Contributed by Dustin Boden on Jul 26, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: The Beatitudes teach us how to embody the qualities that Jesus values, such as humility, mercy, and purity of heart.
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"Blessed are the Meek”
Opening Greeting:
Good morning everybody! I am happy to see everyone here today and thankful for all you.
Today, we continue our journey through one of the most profound and transformative passages in the Bible—Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Specifically, we are diving into the Beatitudes found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.
These teachings offer us a blueprint for living a blessed and fulfilled life, regardless of the circumstances we face.
The Beatitudes call us to embrace qualities like humility, mercy, and righteousness.
They guide us toward true happiness and lasting peace.
Review:
Last week we explored the profound meaning of mourning as described in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Mourning, as Jesus describes, goes beyond grieving personal loss.... It involves recognizing our own spiritual brokenness and the brokenness of the world around us.
True mourning comes from understanding the gravity of sin and its consequences.
It then leads to heartfelt sorrow, repentance, and ultimately, comfort from God.
Mourning is not just an emotional reaction but a spiritual response that compels us to seek God's comfort,
To pursue righteousness, and become agents of change and healing in the world.
Each Beatitude builds on the previous one, starting with being "poor in spirit," which is foundational to understanding mourning.
Being poor in spirit means acknowledging our spiritual poverty and dependence on God.
This recognition is what leads us to genuine mourning over our sinfulness and the brokenness in the world.
Meekness is the result of spiritual mourning.
This mourning helps to strip away pride, self-reliance, and any sense of personal entitlement.
A meek person is one who lays down his/her personal rights, agenda, entitlement, recognition etc., and their only concern is the Kingdom of God.
Introduction:
Today, we are focusing on Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Lets read...
~Prayer~
The word meekness is not a popular word today… rather it is a word that goes against the grain of modern society.
Our contemporary society often places a higher value on self-promotion, assertiveness, and personal ambition.
People are frequently rewarded and applauded for being outspoken, competitive, and self-focused…
Our culture tends to celebrate power and aggression… Success is often associated with the ability to dominate, control, and assert oneself.
However...biblical meekness emphasizes humility, gentleness, and a reliance on God rather than on oneself.
A meek person seeks to serve others and prioritize God's will above personal ambitions.
Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but in biblical terms, meekness is strength under control.
It is about having the power to respond with kindness and patience, even when provoked.
It's about trusting God fully, being humble, and showing gentleness in our interactions with others.
A meek person is willing to wait and endure… trusting that God's plan and timing are perfect...
Just a question...
If we were to interview the people who really know you—your closest friends, your families, your co-workers, peers, or your spouses—and we were to ask them to describe you and your life, would they say,
"Oh yeah, they are an incredibly meek person!"?
Would they say that you’re a person who is humble and lowly of heart, that they have the ability to control their temper, attitude, mouth, and exhibit extraordinary godliness?
Would they describe you as sensitive to others, selfless, and self-controlled?… patient and gentle?
Remember, we are not asking those who only know the side of you that you choose to let them see....
I am talking about those who get to experience life with you, when life is falling apart,
I'm talking about when you stub your toe on the leg of the coffee table,
I’m talking when you are being aggravated continuously by an unkind, rude and arrogant neighbor… or co-worker…
I’m talking about when your on your last nerve… and the steam is rolling out of your ears...
Would they say… OH yes… they are so meek!… or would they say… you are definitely not?
Meekness, true biblical meekness… is counter-cultural… because it goes against what the world values and what our sinful nature desires.
Jesus says… the meek… are blessed… they are happy… the have an inner joy… that is not contingent upon external circumstances… but rather it comes from within and is fully satisfying.
So what is Meekness?
See… here is one thing I know about meekness… those who struggle to walk in meekness… struggle to have real rest… real peace… and real contentment.
Not sleeping
Easily offended
Impatient
Have control issues
Have false humility
Insecure
Prideful
Those who struggle with meekness.. are always seeking to conquer, but never seem to.
There have always been those who have attempted to conquer the earth.
We have seen men like Alexander the Great, Ghangis Khan, Napoleon and Hitler… they all have FAILED!