The Power of Meekness
Lakeview Baptist Church April 6, 2025
Intro
What does being “meek” mean to you?
Is “meekness” good, or bad in your eyes?
Do you consider yourself to be “meek”?
How can you know? Ask yourself
How do you respond when someone wrongs you?
How do you respond when Christians wrong you?
How do you respond when, you haven’t actually been wronged, but fellow Church members do something you don’t like or agree with?
Do you retaliate, undermine them, talk bad about them?
If you often fail to control your emotions and retaliate, jockey to get your way, manipulate others to join your position or gossip and talk bad about others, especially your fellow church members because you insist on being right or having your rights affirmed, then you are not meek.
Why does it matter if I am meek?
Text
Matthew 5:1-5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. (2) Then 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 those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Prayer
I. Principle of Meekness v.5a
Blessed are the meek,
1. deficient in spirit and courage
2. not violent or strong
3. Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
4. Appropriately, humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations.
Biblical "meekness" doesn't mean weakness or timidity but rather choosing to be humble, choosing to have a gentle spirit and choosing to submit to God’s will.
Biblical "meekness" has been described as power under control….horse, plow mule, bond servant
Biblical "meekness" has also been described as the harnessing and focusing of power…hydroelectric dam, steam, combustion engine, laser beam, atom bomb
Blessed are those who willingly choose to harness and direct their power for God’s purposes rather than their own
II. Pattern of Meekness v.5
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Matthew 11:25-30 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. (26) Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (27) All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
III. Practice of Meekness v.5
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
A. Learn From God
James 1:19-21 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (20) for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (21) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
B. Love Others Like You Love Yourself
Colossians 3:12-15 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
C. Live it
1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— (4) rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
D. Let the Holy Spirit Reign
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-23 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control.
IV. Powerful Promise of Meekness v.5
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Jesus’ promise isn't a literal claim of wealth or control of an Earthly kingdom
John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Jesus promises a blessed life, a place in God's kingdom, a life of purpose, power to change lives and thus change the world and a future of peace and fulfillment with God in Heaven.
Psalms 37:1-40 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. (2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. (3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (4) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (5) Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (6) He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. (7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. (8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. (9) For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. (10) For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. (11) But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (12) The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. (13) The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. (14) The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. (15) Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. (16) A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. (17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous. (18) The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. (19) They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. (20) But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. (21) The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. (22) For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. (23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (25) I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (26) He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. (27) Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. (28) For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. (29) The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. (30) The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. (31) The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. (32) The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. (33) The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. (34) Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. (35) I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. (36) Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. (37) Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. (38) But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. (39) But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.
Have you chosen to appropriate God’s power in your own life by submitting to His plan of salvation?
Have you chosen to harness and focus God’s power for His purposes in your daily life?
Will you choose today to become meek?
Will you continue to retaliate, undermine or gossip about those who you perceive to have injured you?
Meekness is not weakness, it is a choice and it reveal true inner strength!
What do you choose?
The Power of Meekness
Lakeview Baptist Church April 6, 2025
Sermon Notes
Matthew 5:1-5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. (2) Then 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 those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
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The Power of Meekness
Lakeview Baptist Church April 6, 2025
DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5:1-5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. (2) Then 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 those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
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