Meek yet in Possession

Have you ever not fully understood something, and it made you look foolish? At my old church, there was this family who had 3 kids around my age. There parents were not always home. But they were at church with their older brother and his wife. Now the older brother obviously looked related, but there was also some resemblance to the wife. It was their oldest brother, so I thought him and his wife were these people’s parents. So I referred to them to other people as their parents. It was not until I talked to the kids, that I realized they were the youngest of 10 kids, and that was their older brother. Did I look foolish because I thought I understood what was going on, but I did not. And many people are the same way about meekness. Meekness is an often made fun of, yet something very misunderstood. We are going through the Beatitudes right now in the Sermon on the Mount. People think that meekness is weakness. Webster’s 1828 dictionary says Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations. Merriams Webster says enduring injury with patience and without resentment . It also says “deficient in spirit and courage” and “not violent or strong”. So it seems like an attitude we do not want to have. People think that the exact opposite of that is strength. Well let me ask you a question. How strong are you? Let’s say physically, I need you to help me carry my TV. It is a very heavy TV. Who are you going to want to carry it? Someone who is strong. Now with the TV it also cannot be dropped, or it will break. You are going to want someone who is able to not only carry it, but also be able to put it down gently. This is why meekness is not weakness. Strength controls, while weakness is controlled. Meekness is strength under control. You cannot be strong and not be meek. So meekness is a good characteristic to have. Someone who is meek is able to control themselves, when a weak person blows up. Meekness is when you are attacked you do not feel the need to attack back. If someone is provoking you, a meek person will keep their temper from being out of control. Yet most people, think that when I’m attacked, you best believe I’m going to show them what’s what. When you do that, you are not in control.

Moses was attacked in Numbers 12 for marrying an Ethiopian. He was criticized by his brother and sister. The Bible says that he was the meekest man on the earth. He didn’t defend himself, but rather let God defend him. If you feel you need to always be proved right, someone says something, you always need to correct them and defend yourself, face it-you’re weak.

Jesus Himself describes Himself as meek in Matthew 11:28–29 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Now being meek does not mean you cannot get angry. The two best examples of meekness in the Bible got angry. But it needs to be righteous anger, over sin against God, not selfish. Also it needs to be under control.

Later on in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus will say Matthew 5:39–42 “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

It is apart of the new life

As Christians meekness should be the normal

Galatians 5:23 “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

Titus 3:2 “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”

We understand what it is, how do we develop it?

we need to be humble

Meekness is often coupled with humility

Humility helps with meekness, because when you see yourself how God sees you, you

In Titus 3:3–7 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul was saying to be gentle, because we were once the same way as the lost

We need to be humble enough to submit to God’s Word when it comes to not seeking revenge or turning the other cheek.

What happens when we are meek

It says we inherit the earth. This is talking about the millenial reign of Christ and in the New Heaven, New Earth.

Again it is the opposite…many times we think of those who are strong will be the ones who take over the earth

Psalm 37:7–11 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

God is saying that those who do evil will be cut off. They will not be on the new earth. But saved people will. And knowing what God promises to us should cause us to be meek.

Are you meek.