The Beatitudes | Blessed Are the Meek

Good morning, how are we this morning doing?

All right. It's really nice.

When the snow melts that fast right with him.

At my name is Rashad, one of the pastor's here.

And I get the awesome privilege to teach you from God's word

this morning, from the words of Jesus here in Matthew 5.

And as we start, I'll just pray for us.

Lord, thank you for your word that it's alive.

That it's active, and that you're here and we Pray for your

kingdom to come to Boston as it is in heaven, in our lives, as

it is, in heaven, and your church, as it is in heaven.

God help us to see where you're working, where you're at, help

us to just release our burdens and our carries that we come

into this place with and hear from you and learn from you and

be receptive to what you want to do within us and through Us in

Jesus name. And amen.

I'm excited to continue this series but so today obviously

your heard the text we're going to talk about a word that we

don't really use much in our culture.

Like a really cool rapper. Use this word in his name but to

June but it's a horror that we just don't use much in our

culture and that word is is Meek and Jesus.

This is Jesus. First sermon.

He's speaking to the masses and he tells the crowd blessed.

Happy fortunate, are the meek. And if you don't know what

meekness means, here's one definition meekness is a humble

attitude that expresses itself in the patient endurance of

offenses. Ain't nobody getting excited

about that one, right? Meekness is a humble attitude

that expresses itself in the patient endurance of offenses.

So say, I don't know if I want that.

Up until this point in human history and the history of the

people of God, their greatest leader that that govern, the

people of God was Moses. Moses who?

Stepped up to pharaoh, who walked through the Red Sea who

delivered the law. And here's what it said about

the greatest leader Moses and numbers 12:3 says, now the man

Numbers 12:3

Moses was very Meek. More than all the people who

were on the face of the Earth. A lot of people want to be great

like Moses but not like Moses. There's no one that says, hey I

don't want to be great or I don't want to be the be great

like that person, but actually don't want to go through the

process that they did to get there.

I don't want to actually carry the burden in the way in the

manner in which they do it to get there.

Could you imagine applying for the job instead?

Tell me why you have the job, because I'm Meek because I'm

clothed and meekness. Right?

We put that in the cover. Letter me.

Come Meek meekness. This is my top virtue.

And this right? Like I read a couple letters to

and they started saying unflappable.

I'm like yeah you're interesting.

You're getting a call back. Greatness in our culture, in our

world is striving to reach the top.

It's and sometimes by any means necessary to get to the top.

And for the most part, our society rewards that kind of

hustle, our society rewards, that kind of grit, ariix Society

rewards, that kind of ambition. Are you with me?

Yeah, and so when Jesus says blessed are the meek he saying,

You're in good company. If you walk in meekness and he's

referring back to Moses urine, you're in good company.

Because I if I refer to you as meek, Because the kingdom that

I'm bringing the kingdom that's coming because about the inside

out the kingdom that I'm talking about is the bottom is the top

started from the bottom. Now we here, look, so I'm sorry,

I got this, couldn't resist it, here's what Auntie right sissy

now I can activate a good out your head.

Here's what NT Wright says here in here.

I said he'll get out of your head when God wants to sort out

the world as the Beatitudes and The Sermon on the Mount makes

clear. He does.

The send in the tanks, he sends in the meek, the broken, the

Justice hungry, the peacemakers, the pure-hearted, and so on.

God's plan to change the world. God's plan to reorient and

remake the world is not with military power.

But with the meek, Jesus is saying it's not the 12 who

strive and fight and step on one another to get what they want to

parade. Their Good Deeds.

Who go Tit for Tat and take two eyes for one.

Tooth who use their power and authority to get power and

authority. They have no place in My

Kingdom. Actually, what Jesus is saying

is the way that you make your way to the top and this world is

not impressive to God. In fact, the attic the

attributes of this world that take you backwards and

downwards. That's actually the posture in

the place in which you enter Jesus his kingdom.

The Jesus, his kingdom is a different economy than our

world. This this is hard to grasp

because we've been taught our whole life to claw in the fight

and work your way to be seen to be known to work yourself up an

org chart or whatever it is that this is what we've been taught

in Jesus like actually downward down and left.

That's actually the way up into my kingdom.

Blessed are the meek. You've heard the quote To the

victor go the spoils. Have you ever has everyone heard

that quote To the victor goes the spoils.

In other words, when we triumph over what we're fighting for,

who were fighting with, and we went to the victor goes the

spoils. In our world, and even

unfortunately, in a lot of religious circles that well as

well. We've engaged in the wrong

battle. We think our competition is one

another. I got to beat you to the train.

Stop, got to beat you to the donut line.

I got to beat you here, I got it, I got to do better than you

on my performance reviews. Like we think the battle is with

one another and beating other humans to the punch to lift

ourselves up. But the real battle is not with

other people. It's within ourselves, not

thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.

Because God's kingdom is about lifting up others.

God's kingdom is about propping up, others by lowering ourselves

and lifting up the other C.s. Lewis says that.

It's not that we think less of ourselves but we think of

ourselves less Jesus is saying the meek are blessed and the way

of meekness is the path to Greatness.

The way of humility is the path to Greatness.

See Minnie. And here's, here's where I think

we might get tripped up. Many of us either people that

read to find meekness as docile and weak and spineless.

And here's why that's problematic because that

interpretation leads you to think that meekness is the path

to abuse. and now want to say that meekness is not the path to

abuse and have a problem with that because there's been a lot

of abuse of authority on passages like this spiritually,

emotionally economically, physically Meekness is not about

a lack of dignity. Andrew Murray says this in his

book, on the journey towards Holiness.

He says many men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness

would Rob us of what is noble and bold.

And man, like a woman. Like oh, that all would believe

that this is the nobility of the Kingdom of Heaven.

That this is the Royal spirit that the king of Heaven,

displayed, that. This is God, like to Humble

oneself to become the servant of all He says humility is the

nobility of the Kingdom of Heaven.

You want to know what his kingdom is like.

Going to know what? Greatness in, God's kingdom.

Like meekness. Humility, lowering yourselves.

It's a god. Like it's, it's what God is like

and what he's called us to embody and live in the world.

Philippians 2. The beginning of Philippians 2

is telling us the church how to interact with one another and

how not to think too highly of ourselves.

And how we got to serve one another then it goes on this as

this in your relationships with one another have the same

mindset as Christ, Jesus who being in the very nature, a God

who being in very nature, God did not consider equality with

God, something to be used to his own advantage.

Rather he made himself Nothing by taking the very nature of a

servant being made in human likeness.

It being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and

becoming obedient to death even death on a cross.

He's saying you want to look at the kind of person that God

wants you to become. Look at the kind of person that

God was. He humbled himself.

We often like to give Jesus the attributes that we like.

So that we can do, we want? Of course.

Jesus was a patriot, of course. Jesus was this gorgeous?

Was that? So I can be that, so I can act

the way of course. Jesus was ambitious, of course

Jesus had nice clothes, right? Because we want, I'm sure you

did. That's okay.

I mean, come on. That's okay.

Well, but like we like to give Jesus the kind of attributes

that that we value as a community, that we value as a

nation, that we value as a people right in.

So we want to live into that like I want that into my life

and so I had tribe, you attribute those values to Jesus

but we Philippians of Jesus humbled himself.

The meek person is not self-willed is not a Meek person

is not continually concerned with self their own ways ideas

and wishes. Everyone's to my Jews.

Would teach something, they have Siege teacher.

That's a hard teaching this is a hard teaching because I wake up

and I think about myself, What is Rashad going to wear today?

I don't speak it. A third person.

Sometimes what is Rashad gonna eat today right here?

Thinking about you think about yourself.

The meek are not those who are stuck on our right to be right.

Come on, couples. Come on somebody.

I know I'm right on this one, but you still lost.

All right, couples remember that United.

Don't get stuck on your right to be, right.

The meek is willing to put listen to this themself in

second place. Submit themselves to achieve,

what is good for others? I think many of us like the idea

of meekness, but for other people, I like the idea of me

cuz I like when your Meek I like when your Meek I like when your

Meek but when I actually got calls me to what that's actually

really challenging. I was in a church part of a

church that practiced Holy Week and one week, we did as called

Maundy Thursday. And they're like, we're going to

do foot wash. I was like, I like the preach

about fish washing but I actually don't want to wash it

on one's feet. I definitely don't want them to

wash my feet. And you, you think about your

read about and Gomez beautiful. That Jesus was wash his feet

until someone does something for you.

Can you receive it? Because actually, very humbling.

Because we're used to, if you're used to being in positions of

power and positions of autonomy and position that you're able to

take care of yourself. It's hard to be dependent on

someone else to do something for you to be vulnerable.

It's hard sometimes to see why or how meekness can work to our

advantage. And so why does God placed such

a high value on meekness and humility.

Why? Because that's the way the

kingdom works his way into the world.

That's the way the kingdom works.

His way into our heart. Perfect timing.

This is this is how the kingdom works.

That Jesus, humbles himself, that Jesus, lowers himself at

Jesus washes, our feet that Jesus.

Let's women that I have diseases touch him.

That Jesus hangs out with the leper and touches their eyes

that he humbles himself in the Kingdom.

Begins to work its way into people's heart because they got,

I've never interacted with God like this.

I didn't know, God was even like this.

Jesus came to humbly serve. He became human, he humbled

himself, he became a servant. Matthew 20:28, says just as a

Matthew 20:28

son of man, did not come to be served, but to serve and give

his life as a ransom for many. Meekness is the opposite of

self-interest in self-assertiveness.

Meekness is the opposite of being self-willed.

It's the opposite of being uncooperative.

Stubborn stiff, neck difficulties in.

Meekness is not like that. The meek or malleable the meek

are open. The meek are responsive to God.

God wants to redirect our clenched fist.

Now break them to redirect them to say, I could go Tit for Tat

with this person in and meekness, and humility that God

works in our hearts, begin to go.

I'm actually going to use this to serve this person.

I'm angry, I have the rights to be angry.

I have the rights to fight back, but I'm gonna turn my weapons

into plowshares and be instrument of Peace because of

the humility of what Christ has done for me shed abroad in my

heart. God works in.

As he redirects our openness to, his will being done in our lives

to his will being done in other people's lives.

When you hear me because I don't want you to hear like that.

You can't have confidence. Right?

You might think God just don't have confidence just be like a

jellyfish, right? Know you can.

I don't know if that means, it's not that you can't have

confidence, but that your confidence is rooted in God,

that your confidence and your posture and your heart is rooted

in the goodness and the faithfulness of God, it other

dependents for what God wants to do in you.

And in the world, Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, he says this take

Matthew 11:29

my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly.

Lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls already

King James. I know it's a little the year

like what's up with the yeast? This is this town's been the

King James. I like it in the King James.

All right. Some people believe, that's the

only Bible you can hear from God from but we're not that.

Anyways, that's not our. That's not where we're at today.

Um, Hey Houston, take take my yoke upon you and learn of me.

I am meek and lowly in heart. Jesus, here's what he knows.

He knows that the world's economy is that the display of

strength and dominance pride and power are the way to worldly

success. But also the way to fatigue

disintegration and emptiness Aw Tozer says this to men and

women. Everywhere Jesus says come unto

me and I will give you rest the rest.

He offers its the rest of meekness the Blessed relief,

which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are.

And cease to pretend Jesus says, learn from me. we've all been

discipled in one way or the another, in our world, through

our families, through culture and Jesus saying learn from me,

Have this mindset. I'm Meek and I'm humbled and I'm

gentle, and I'm lowly Jesus. Says, learn from him so you can

become like him. Matthew Henry says, it's the

meek are happy the Mika, those who quietly submit to God, who

bear? Who can bear insults?

Are silent or return, a soft answer, who in their patients.

Keep possession of their own Souls when they can scarcely,

keep possession of anything else.

These Meek ones are happy even in this world meekness promotes

Health, comfort and safety. Even in this world, These are

these are these are hard teachings. because when you've

been insulted, when you've been disrespected it's We've been

taught to, don't start it, but finish it.

And he said those who could return a soft answer, those are

the meek. Imagine a world where everyone's

concern was the well-being of others, regardless of their

stature, race gender, economic place in society.

Imagine a world like that. That's the world that uses

trying to paint for us and the Beatitudes.

St. Francis Desales says this, the

highest degree of meekness consistent, seeing serving

honoring and treating amiably on occasion, those who are not to

our taste, and show ourselves, and show themselves unfriendly,

ungrateful and Troublesome to us.

He says like we should serve see honor and treat, kindly people

that are difficult. People that are he's, he said

not to our taste people that are troublesome.

The question that came to me when I when I'm when I'm doing

when I'm reading this because I'm not just like trying to give

you a Bible study but what's going on in my own heart, what

am I thinking God, what is this? Do inside me?

And my first question was honestly does meekness work

Because I know I know how the world is know how people are.

I know how Human family as I know, how does meekness work.

And I think at the heart, I'm concerned about my own life and

livelihood because to live that way is costly.

And I've had many moments in my life words, people close to me

people, not so close to me that have turned their backs on me

that have run me and my family name through the mud that I've

sought to destroy me publicly that have Early accusing me of

wrongdoing who wanted me fired from jobs and spent many nights

in solitary moments, where I said God, it's, it's not worth

it. Or God.

That's it. I'm a fight back or God.

This is this is costing me way too much.

And what I heard through this passages, learn for me.

Man, God is this too hard, man? You know what people are saying

about me? You know, my own family has said

about me and my family. Do you know what they posted

about me? Do you know that they're taking

people from the church because they spread this lie?

Do you know how hard that is? You know, painful that is

learned for me. And that passage in Philippians,

doesn't end the right there, where Jesus humbled himself and

dies, it continues. And in verse 9, it says

therefore God exalted him to the highest place.

And gave him a name. That is above every name that at

the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on

Earth and under the Earth. And every tongue acknowledge

Jesus is Lord to the glory of God, the Father God, exalts the

humble. God, exalts.

The meek. in his timing and in his strength, And our confidence

is not in the fact of what we experience in our life because

we're living a Meek life. Our confidence is that Jesus,

humbled himself was buried but was resurrected so that we might

have life. And so that's what we anchor,

our confidence in, because our feelings will will deceive us,

will have us all over. The place, will have us fighting

back and speaking up and pinching back.

Meet miss the way that Jesus calls us to live might not bring

us the most popularity among our peers and may not ascended to

the top of the depth chart or the org chart, but it didn't for

Jesus either. Ew Tobar says, this Jesus calls

us to his arrest and meekness is his method.

The meek man, care is not at all, who was greater than he

for. He has long ago, decided that

the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.

God can only exalt those who are bowed down.

God, can exalt you, if you don't humble yourself, God, can exalt

you, if you don't live in a place that's for other people.

If your life is purely about yourself and exalting yourself,

God can exalt you So yes, meekness does work but only in

God's economy. So when I questioned God, does

this meekness stuff work? Because I'm looking at how the

world works. It is not getting me anywhere in

the world, but God is saying, man, your meekness is getting

you a place in My Kingdom, your meekness is bringing the kingdom

into your life and into the life of those around you.

Regardless, if you feel that it's moving, you up this ladder

or a crease in your social capital, anybody with me, okay.

It's when we Puritan when we have appeared to loss to lose

it, all that we find out that we've been given all things.

Think about this crowd that Jesus is talking to the poor in

spirit the morning, the humbled, not just spiritually.

But in circumstances that life, These are people that are on the

bottom of the social totem. Pole, in Jesus says this for,

they will inherit the earth. In other words, when you feel as

though you have nothing, everything is coming to you.

You haven't inherited. He's telling you have an

inheritance in God. Really hear that.

There's an inheritance in God, that if you've been bypassed

stepped over, if you've been stepped on overlooked, you have

an inheritance in God, God has something for you, that's

greater than all that you've trying to achieve here in this

life. to inherit means, it has to receive something of

considerable value, which has not been earned And then Jesus

saying you that are living this life of meekness and humility of

lifting others up playing second, fiddle for the benefit

of others, know this, that there's something of Great Value

that you haven't earned that's coming your way.

Jesus, when he's saying what he's saying here in Matthew 5:5,

Matthew 5:5

he's echoing Psalm 37 that says, but the meek will inherit the

land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Jesus is letting us know that God will take care of us.

And we're called to put our trust and up in obedience in him

regardless of the cost. But the meek one commentator

says shall possess the land and Delight themselves in abundant

Prosperity. The land David referred to as

Palestine but Jesus Promised greater possession blessed are

the meek for they shall inherit the earth, the meek then have

access to God's constant protection and boundless love.

Those who have felt like they've been left with nothing or

getting more than they ever expected.

In our world, the strong, the powerful, the proud, they gained

the world in Jesus Kingdom. The meek, the gentle the lowly

in heart, inherit a world to come.

That God is renewing. You with me?

Alright, almost there. All right.

One writer says this, he says blessed are the considerate and

tender blessed are all you who are Humane and harmless because

everything the Conquering hordes have stolen everything that the

self-indulgent masses have squabbled over will slip from

their hands and be given to you. If I was in a church like a man,

they've you say Amen. Praise our God With the Enemy

stove and he's laid up for the righteous.

Come on. That one.

You guys don't want no inheritance from the Lord.

Okay? Okay.

All right. God is saying, man, everything

that you've given up for me, everything that you've laid down

for me that God has in store for you something.

Great. It's a problem.

When all the writers read the stuff about God and he isn't

here. They struggle they struggle with

the evil people. People and the corrupt system

seeming the prosper in their day and their time.

And God is saying he won't always be like this.

Don't give up living the way in which I've called you to live

because of what you see, because understand I'm bringing

something imperishable into the world.

That's going to change the course of human history and I've

already done so by bringing my son into this world.

And so what I'm saying is have his mindset live like him.

Don't get. So fixing what everyone else is

doing because I have a plan and it's Taking place within you

within your church to be the people of God, be the people who

lower themselves and say, I want to prop you up, because it's not

about me because I want to see God's Kingdom.

Come not my kingdom come. To the victor, goes the spoils.

Jesus Took on sin and death in the grave.

He said that we might have life to the full, And the Victory.

And the battle was over sin death and the grave.

And he overcame it, and it Isaiah talked about Jesus and

Isaiah 53. And last passage, I'm going to

read. This is about Jesus is

therefore, I will give him a portion among the great and he

will divide the spoils with the strong because he poured out his

life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors for, he

bore the sin of many and made intercession for the trance

aggressors. In Jesus's Day land was taken

from conquering it. The Kings would use people to

spill their blood for the land for his benefit.

And what Jesus is saying here is that Jesus comes as the king in

his kingdom. And he lays down his life, he

inherits the Earth from God and he shares it with his people.

You see that's what my kingdoms, like.

Humility is the way of the Kingdom.

This is what your king is, like, this is what your God is, like,

have the same mindset, and you, and you will inherit the earth.

Amen. Let me pray for us.