Meaningless, Meaningless, Utterly Meaningless

Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.”

Eccl 1:1-4 “The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.”

[8 Promises for Living like Jesus] “Blessed are…”

There are a few ways to translate “blessed”....from the Greek word meaning “blessed”, “happy”, “fortunate”, “prosperous”...

..but in its original context of the best translations might be “blissfully content”

Jesus is describing the pattern for living blissfully content!

So much of our culture is motivated by hustle, scarcity, and fear...

Jesus comes not just to save, but to invite us into KINGDOM LIVING…He is the PROTO-HUMAN!!

Psalms 1:1-3 “How happy [blissfully content] is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

Promise #3: Blessed are the Meek

Matt5.5 “Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.”

Really doesn’t make since through the eyes of the world…everything about our world revolves around a “display of strength”...”winning”…”conquering”

How can I come out on TOP living from the BOTTOM??

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes

Vanity, Vanity, the preacher says....everything is meaningless.

It’s actually a very common and repeated word for Israel; hahvel

It’s a reminder that as much as you think you are in control....as much as you have planned and strategized…when you put all the power and influence and strength into your efforts to get what you want…all of it is really like VAPOR.

This is what God has taught us....why?

Because the only strength and power that is eternal is THE LOVE and PURPOSES of GOD.

The MEEK are blessed because they have seen the curtain pulled back and realized that Jesus is the only path to what is real and eternal.

Psalms 2:1-9 “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One: “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.”

The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will declare the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery.””

The common word we would use for MEEKNESS is HUMILITY

[QUOTE] Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. More simply, you could say the humble person is marked by a willingness to hold power in service of others.

- John Dickson (Humilitas)

Humility does not mean humiliation, even though both words are offsprings of a single Latin parent (humilitas). Nor does it mean being a doormat for others, having low self-esteem or curbing your strengths and achievements.

Having strong convictions is no hindrance to humility either. One of the failings of contemporary Western culture is to confuse conviction with arrogance.

[Illustration] Marriage will teach you the difference between “having strong opinions” and having convictions...

Opinion: I don’t like when you shake the bed putting your socks on at 5am in the morning.

Conviction: It’s important that our children stay connected through relationships in the church.

Opinion: Hallmark movies are boring and predictable. (Controversial!!!)

Conviction: My wife and I are committed to set time be away together every year or our marriage.

Opinions can lead to arrogance.

Convictions lead to strength through humility.

Numbers 12:3 “Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.”

Typically we credit Moses for writing the first 5 books of the Bible (Pentateuch)…not sure how I feel about Moses writing this line?!?!?!

Why does God present Moses as a model for humility?

He was not a weak or passive leader. He led with the conviction of being with God.

Even in his imperfections his affection and his worship were always centered on God....

He was a reluctant leader, but he refused to settle for anything less than the face of God.

Jesus modeled unflinching Humility:

In the face of attempts to embarrass him and put him in his place by the religious elite

In the face of violent crowds, he walked right through them

Standing in front of the most powerful ruler Pilot

On the cross

Now, let me rephrase Matthew 5:5 to fit this understanding...

Blissfully content are those who found Jesus to be all they need —no more, no less. That’s the moment they find themselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

When the Meek Prosper...

We’re no longer easily distracted from our Divine Assignment

Matt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

Illustration: King Louie Kathy’s dog…distracted by squirrels

Our confidence lies with Jesus, not in our Circumstances

The enemies greatest weapon against your life is DISTRACTION!

When your focus is worship rather than war, God will fight your battles.

Deuteronomy 20.4 “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’”

We find ourselves at Rest in the place of God’s Provision (the land)

Ps 23.1-2 “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.”

Confessing the Beatitudes

*Church Response in Bold

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

For they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,

For they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

For they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,

For they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they will be called sons and daughters of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.