Blessed Are The Meek

Introduction

Unexpected sayings

The early bird gets the worm… but the second mouse gets the cheese.

If at first you don’t succeed… skydiving is not for you.

The problem with doing nothing is… you never know when you’re finished.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” —Winston Churchill

Jesus said some unexpected things, too. Read Matt 5:3-5… “Blessed are the meek.” You’re not going to hear that in a TED Talk.

We live in world dominated by a Darwinian “survival of the fittest” ethic. Be first or you’ll end up last. Run hard or be left behind. Step on or be stepped on. Do unto others… whatever you have to to succeed. Love your neighbor… as long as he doesn’t get in your way. It’s dog eat dog—carve out your own place in life or you’ll get carved out by someone else.

And in the midst of this cutthroat existence, Jesus said, “Happy and flourishing in God’s favor are the meek.”

Body

What is meekness?

It’s not what you think.

Meekness is not weakness. See John 18:6… Jesus could have annihilated the people who were crucifying him. Instead he said, “Father, forgive them.”

Meekness is not being a doormat. See John 18:23; 19:11… If anything, it is those who are easily provoked and throwing temper tantrums who are most likely to be manipulated and controlled by the powerful elite.

To be meek is to be gentle, humble, and unoffendable.

Gentle (Matt 11:29)

Gentleness is controlled strength.

“Meek” = πραΰς, used to describe the breaking of a wild horse, which does not lose its strength when broken, but rather, it’s strength is brought under control and made useful.

Humble (Matt 11:29)

Humility is putting others first.

Humility is not having low self-esteem, putting yourself down, or thinking less of yourself. To be humble does not mean you have no ambition, that you don’t try to win the competition, or that don’t apply for that promotion. Humility is simply thinking of yourself less and thinking of the needs of others more.

The best way to get ahead is not by putting everyone else behind you so that you stand above the rest. It’s by making yourself an indispensible helper and encourager to everyone around you.

John Stockton — 15,806 assists, said his goal was to make others better.

Unoffendable (1 Peter 2:23)

“Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither a surrender of our rights nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance.” —Albert Barnes

It’s an attitude of non-retaliation. It doesn’t let the sinner off the hook, but trusts the judgment of that sinner to God, who always carries out justice.

Synthesis: “Meekness is strength brought under control through submission to God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s people… It tames the temper, subdues the self, calms the passions, manages the impulses of the heart, and brings order out of chaos in the soul.” —Colin Smith

What does this mean?

Submission to God’s Word (James 1:19-22) — Place yourself under the authority of Scripture, do what it says, and allow it to shape who you are becoming (attitudes, values, words, actions, thoughts).

7 Dangerous Words — I know what the Bible says, but…

7 Other Dangerous Words — I don’t know what the Bible says…

Submission to God’s Spirit (Gal 5:16) — You must choose to submit to the Holy Spirit and deny the sinful desires of the flesh.

Submission to God’s people (Eph 5:18-21) — “In our Western culture, independent, autonomous, self-directed, and disconnected Christians often enjoy floating between churches, sampling the best without committing to any. But to whom does a person submit if he or she is not a member of a local church? How can you obey the command of God in Ephesians 5:21 if you have not committed yourself clearly and publicly to a gathered community of believers? I’ve heard Christians say that they are accountable to a small group, but a small group is not a church, and there is a big difference between a group of friends chosen by you and a congregation gathered by God… How can you submit to other believers, as God commands, if you are not a committed member of a local church?” (Colin Smith)

Synthesis: Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” It is those living in submission to God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s people who win in the end.

How do we cultivate meekness?

Work through the first two beatitudes—they’re a sequence.

Pray for meekness.

Become friends with meek people.

Practice meekness by forgiving others and praying for your enemies.

Conclusion: Practice What We Preach

Think of someone who has provoked you, or someone who let you down, or someone whose success irritates you, or someone whose values and beliefs are miles apart from yours—not a celebrity but someone you know personally. Now pray for them. Not that God will drop the hammer but that he will bless them, and bless them wildly.

Gracious God,

You see clearly those who oppose me, and you know the wounds, fears, and desires that shape their lives. I ask you to bless them. Pour out your kindness upon them in ways they can recognize and receive. Give them peace where there is restlessness, clarity where there is confusion, and hope where there is despair.

Guard my own heart from bitterness or pride. Teach me to desire their good, not their harm. Where there has been hurt between us, bring healing. Where there is misunderstanding, bring truth. Where there is distance, bring the possibility of reconciliation.

May your mercy reach us all, and may your grace transform what I cannot.

Amen.