“The Blessing of Meekness”
Matthew 5:5
Sermon Series: “The Blessing”
Introduction: The main idea of Jesus’ statement is: Those who live with strength under control will win in the end.
Jesus is really challenging us again this week. Meekness is a character trait that I really admire and greatly aspire to, but it is a major challenge. Only Moses and Jesus are called meek in the Bible. Meekness is often misunderstood. People generally confuse it for weakness. The Greeks considered it a vice because they had this understanding. We often then go overboard in the other direction in trying to avoid being weak. James Boice writes, “This third beatitude must have been received in shocked silence by Christ’s listeners. But they could not have been much different from the people we know today. To most men and women the association of an earthly inheritance with meekness seems incredible. The world associates happiness with worldly possessions, and it believes that the way to gain them is through ability, strength, hard work, self-assurance, and at times, even through self-assertion and conquest.” In order to be meek, a balance between these extremes is needed. Let’s learn what it truly means to be meek.
I) Meekness Defined
II) Jesus’ Example Of Meekness
III) The Reward For Meekness
The promised reward is that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” I believe this refers to the fact that Jesus will return to triumph over His enemies, and Christians will be with Him and reign with Him for a thousand years during the Millennial Kingdom of Christ on the earth (Revelation 19:11-20:6). Basically, the point is that we win in the end. It may not seem like it in the short-term, but it is true. This is one of the many great paradoxes that Jesus taught. Last is first. Giving is receiving. Dying is living. Losing is
finding. Least is greatest. Poor is rich. Weakness is strength. Serving is ruling.
IV) How To Develop The Character Quality Of Meekness
1. Become a Christian (Matthew 11:28-29, Philippians 2:5-11). 2. Submit to Jesus’ authority (Romans 10:9).
3. Trust God (Psalm 37).
4. Confess our sin (1 John 1:9).
5. Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). This is not a personality trait or something that can be accomplished naturally. To get this right we must have supernatural empowering.
