This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
The Meek
The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached Series
By Greg Johnson
Matthew 5:5
Jesus is the greatest man that has walked this earth. He preached the greatest sermon ever preached known as the Sermon on the Mount. He begins the sermon by giving eight qualities of character of citizens of the Kingdom of God. They are commonly referred to as the beatitudes.
We have looked at the first one: poor in spirit. Citizens of the Kingdom of God recognize their spiritual poverty and admit it. They are given the Kingdom of God both now and in the future.
We have looked at the second one: mournfulness. Citizens of the Kingdom of God not only recognize their spiritual poverty, but they also mourn over it. They will be comforted now and for eternity.
Today we will look at the third. Jesus said (Matthew 5:5 NIV) "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Meekness is one of the eight qualities of character of a citizen of the Kingdom of God that Jesus declares in the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount. The meek will inherit the earth.
THE MEEK
We may better understand meekness as we look at its position in this list of eight qualities that Jesus gives. It is in between those that mourn over their spiritual poverty and those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Meekness towards others flows out of our own self examination. One that is meek realizes that they are no better in God’s eyes than anyone else.
Meekness does not mean that one is to be passive in the midst of injustice towards others. Jesus was not passive in His actions when He cleansed the temple of His day from injustice as the religionist turned the things of God into schemes for profit. Needy people were being deceived. They were not being ministered to in the Temple. Instead they were being fleeced. This injustice toward people stirred Jesus into action. (Matthew 21:12-14 NIV) "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. {13} "It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ’den of robbers.’" {14} The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them."
There was a righteous anger that stirred Jesus into action as He witnessed injustice toward others in His day. Followers of Christ in our day will have a righteous anger that will stir them into action concerning injustice towards people including genocide, discrimination, war, poverty and preventable disease. It does not mean they are not meek.
Meekness has nothing to do with a Christ follower’s reaction to injustice towards others. Meekness has everything to do with a Christ follower’s reaction to how others treat them. Injustice towards others stirred Jesus into action. Injustice toward Himself, brought out meekness. Listen to these words concerning Jesus.
(Isaiah 53:4-7 NIV) "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. {6} We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. {7} He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
Injustice came to Jesus and He was meek. He was persecuted and put to death by the religionist of His day. It was unjust for Him to take our sins upon Himself at the cross. He was innocent. Justice would have been for us to take the punishment for our own sins. But yet He did not defend Himself. He did not even open His mouth. He took up His cross with joy (Hebrews 12:2) and in all meekness knowing that the best was yet to come and He would inherit the earth.
THE BLESSING FOR THE MEEK
The blessing for the meek is that they will inherit the earth. You would expect the opposite. Isn’t it the powerful and the arrogant that rule? Isn’t it the greatest army that will police the world? No. According to Jesus, the meek will rule!
Everything is ours if we are in Christ! God’s Word says (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 NIV) "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, {22} whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, {23} and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
God’s Word declares:
• (Psalms 37:1 NIV) "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;"
• (Psalms 37:11 NIV) "But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace."
• (Psalms 37:22 NIV) "those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off."
• (Psalms 37:34 NIV) "Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it."
• God says (Isaiah 57:13 NIV) "When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.""
• God says (Isaiah 60:21 NIV) "Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor."
The climax to the Christ follower inheriting the earth comes on the day when regeneration is completed and their full citizenship in the Kingdom of God is reality.
• (Matthew 19:28 NIV) "Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
• (2 Peter 3:13 NIV) "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
• (Revelation 21:1 NIV) "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."
Beloved, as a Christ follower, allow injustice towards others to stir you into action. Allow the meekness of Christ to flow through you as you are treated unjust. Always be reminded that everything is already yours in Christ Jesus and the best is yet to come!
For those not yet following Christ, please know that citizenship in God’s Kingdom requires a new birth. Jesus said (John 3:3 NIV) "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." If you are not yet a citizenship of the Kingdom of God, fall at the foot of the cross today and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He died for your sins. Recognize and admit your spiritual poverty. Grieve and mourn over your sin as you repent and run away from it into the hands of a Holy God. He will save you completely and the meekness of Christ will begin to grow in you.
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson
Founding Pastor
Loving God Fellowship
www.GAJohnson.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
