Blessed are the Meek

Father, we thank you for today, We thank you for all that you

do. And we thank you Lord, for the

opportunity we had to study Your word tonight.

Open our eyes to behold your beauty.

Help us to see the glory of the Lord.

Help us to understand our responsibility to follow you and

pray God that you touch all of our hearts as only you can,

because you are a great and wonderful God.

And we thank you that we can be together in Jesus name, Amen.

If you have your Bible, turn with me to John chapter 18, John

John 18 · chapter mention John 18 · chapter mention

chapter 18 years from now we will be in chapter 18 of John,

just not anytime soon. And the 18th chapter of John is

just a whether it's all a great passage, but I preach on this

section of Scripture in the Garden of Gethsemane when we go

to Israel simply because it's such a powerful, powerful

passage. But but it sets the tone for

what we want to talk to you about this evening.

Because the Bible says in Matthew chapter 5 verse #5

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

And there's no greater example of meekness than Christ.

And one of the areas in which it's illustrated the best is in

John chapter 18. And it says this, when Jesus had

John 18 · chapter mention

spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over

the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden in the in

which he entered with his disciples.

Now Judas also, who was betraying him, knew the place,

for Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from

the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with

lanterns and torches and weapons.

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went

forth and said to them, Whom do you seek?

They answer him. Jesus and Nazarene.

He said to them, I am. And Judas also, who was

betraying him, was standing with them.

So he said to them, I am. They drew back and fell to the

ground. Therefore he again asked them,

Whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus and

Nazarene. Jesus answered, I told you that

I am. So if you seek me, let these go

their way to fulfill the word which He spoke Of those whom you

have given me. I lost not one.

Simon Peter then having a sword, drew it and struck the high

priest slave and cut off his right ear.

And the slaves name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, Put the

sword into the sheath, the cup which the Father has given me,

shall I not drink it? So the Roman cohort and the

commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and

bound him. So Jesus goes off to one of his

four trials as a prisoner. But Jesus was not a prisoner, He

was a free man. But Judas and the Roman army,

they were not free men, but they were truly prisoners.

They just not, did not understand that.

Think of it. Here is Jesus in the middle of

the night and there are no St. lights in the Garden of

Gethsemane. And so they come with torches

and lanterns and weapons to imprison the Prince of Peace.

And the cohort is 600 men. And you think of the Temple

police being somewhere between 100 and 200 police.

So you have around 800 people plus Pharisees and and some

probably Sadducees and scribes all gathering together.

So you have over 800 people all coming from Jerusalem, crossing

over the Kidron with torches and and lanterns looking for the

light of the world. And Jesus meets them at the

entryway to the garden and asks them, well, whom do you seek?

And they respond by saying Jesus and Nazarene and he says I am.

And they all fall over backwards.

And the most amazing thing is they get back up again.

So he asked him the same question, whom do you seek?

And they repeat Jesus and Nazarene.

He says I am and they take him prisoner, but he's the only free

man in the bunch, while those who perceive themselves to be

free are really prisoners. You see, Jesus was in complete

control of the situation and he had all the power to do whatever

he wanted, but he chose, he chose willingly to go with them

because why? He was the meekest on the face

of the earth. He becomes the supreme

illustration of what it means to be meek.

But Christ is the is the master of the paradox.

One day I would like to do a a series on on on all those

paradoxes that Christ speaks of. Christ says the last are first.

Those who give receive. Those who die live.

Those who lose find. Those who are the least are

really the greatest. Those who are the poorest are

the richest. Those who are the weakest are

the strongest, and those who serve are really those who rule.

He's the master of the paradox. Nobody can say it quite like

Jesus says it. And the way he puts it in the

way he phrases it is so startling.

And so if you're a Jew and you're you're on the North Shore

of the Sea of Galilee in Christ ascends this mount and takes his

seat and begins to say blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. And blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted and blessed are the are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth.

All these things are are supreme paradoxes in the minds of the

people listening. But Jesus, Jesus knows how to

say it in just the right way. He says very simply that those

who realize their poverty are those who repent from their

iniquity. And those who repent from their

iniquity respond with humility. And what Jesus says goes against

everything we believe. If you want to inherit the

world, you're, you're the aggressor.

If you want to rule the world, you, you are the powerful one,

you're the rich one, you're the strong one.

You're the one who overrides everyone else.

So we think, try to tell Aceo that his greatest quality will

be meekness and he will laugh at you because that's just unheard

of. But in God's Kingdom, those who

understand meekness are the ones who inherit the earth.

In fact, Jesus said this way. All you that are heavy laden

come to me, I will give you rest for I am meek and lowly in

hearts. He He opens the door for us to

see the inner workings of the of the Messiah.

He is meek and he is lowly at heart.

This was a a a difficult pill for the nation of Israel to

swallow because of Jesus is their Messiah, which he claims

to be and and he is. Their perception of the Messiah

is different than than meekness, it's strength, it's power and

they would they would begin to think in the Jewish mind.

These verses about the Messiah Daniel 7 verse 13 Well Daniel

Daniel 7:13

says, I kept looking in the night visions, and behold with

the clouds of heaven. 1 Like a son of man was coming, and he

came up to the ancient of days and presented him, or presented

before him. And to him was given dominion

and glory in a Kingdom that all the peoples, nations, and men of

every language might serve him. His dominion is an everlasting

dominion which will not pass away, and his Kingdom is 1 which

will not be destroyed. They think of the Messiah, which

is a very, very familiar passage to Jews, that this is the the

coming of the Messiah. He rules and reign with power

and dominion. And then they would think of

those very familiar words. And Isaiah Chapter 9, verse #6

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

For a child will be born to us, and the Son will be given to us,

and the government will rest on his shoulders.

This name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God,

eternal Father, Prince of Peace, And there will be no end to the

increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and

over His Kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice

and righteousness from then on and forever more.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

They're thinking of their Messiah and understanding that

when He comes, He rules over all.

And then they would be drawn to Malachi chapter 4 verse #1 For

Malachi 4 · chapter mention

behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all

the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaffed, and the day

that it is coming will set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts.

So that will leave them neither root nor branch.

But for you who fear my name, the Son of righteousness will

rise with healing in its wings, and you will go forth and skip

about like calves from the stall.

You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under

your the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,

says the Lord of hosts. And they would think that here

is the Lord who comes and he tramples everyone down, and he

rules over all, and he is strong and mighty, and the dominion is

his. That's what they're thinking

about the Messiah. And Jesus comes and says,

blessed are those who are poor, for I give them my Kingdom.

Blessed are those who who mourn they and they only will be

comforted and, and blessed are the meek for the earth is

theirs. There's and and there's only, no

one else's. And this was completely shocking

to a, to a Jewish mindset. And so all, all throughout the

ministry, they would hear words like Jesus saying, I've come to

preach the gospel to the poor. I've come to preach the gospel

as I look forward to those who are oppressed.

And Israel saw themselves as oppressed, but not because of

their iniquity, but because of their their enemy, Rome.

They were under the oppression of Rome.

And so if the Messiah comes, he is going to relieve their

oppression. He will release them from their

imprisonment. And they think, they're thinking

their imprisonment is Rome, that Rome is is hovering over them

and ruling over them. And they can be set free from

that, not knowing that they are enslaved to their sin.

They did not understand the arrival of the Messiah, even

even at the end of his ministry. Remember Matthew chapter 21 it

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

says when they had approached Jerusalem, Matthew chapter 21

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

verse #1 and had come to Bethpage at the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said two disciples saying to them, go to the

village opposite you, and immediately you will find a

donkey tied there in a colt with her.

Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you,

you shall say the Lord has need of them, and immediately He will

send them. This took place to fulfill what

was spoken through the prophet and he quotes Zechariah 9 verse

#9 say to the daughter of Zion, behold, your king is coming to

you meek and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the full

of a beast of burden. They would know Zechariah 9.

They would understand that and they would try to, to connect

the dots of how it is that the, the Son of Man 1 like a Son of

man would come and come up to the ancient of days, that he

would have received glory and power and the Kingdom.

And, and it's the, the, the power of the Lord of hosts that

caused him to accomplish these kinds of things.

And and then they would read that, that the Messiah would

come on the backside of a donkey instead of a, a Persian steed

instead of a, a, a white stallion.

He comes on the backside of a of a donkey.

And yet, and yet disciples went and did just as Jesus had

instructed them and brought the donkey in the colt and laid

their coats on them. And he sat on their coats for

Satan. Most of the crowd spread their

coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the

trees and spreading them in the road.

The crowds going ahead of him and those who followed were

shouting Hosanna to the Son of David.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna. Excuse me, Hosanna in the

highest. Now you have to understand that

here is Christ and he's making his way up to Jerusalem.

It's Passover time and there are thousands upon thousands of

people moving toward Jerusalem, and he's making his way up

through Jericho, healing 2 blind men in Jericho, and the crowds

begin to swell beyond number. And so they're following him

into Jerusalem, while the crowds in Jerusalem are already there.

And here comes Jesus fulfillment of Zechariah 99 and they see him

coming and they begin to take off their their coats and, and

lay them down in front of this beast of burden, this, this

donkey. Why?

Because they are saying, I'm giving all I have to you.

You're in charge, you're the king.

Others were taking branches and, and and waving them and laying

them down. And that's why, that's why the

Pharisees were so upset because of Passover.

You don't cut down the branches and wave them.

You do that at the Feast of Tabernacles, not at Passover.

And the Pharisees knew that if they're doing this, they're

doing it because they believe that their Messiah is coming.

And if the Messiah is coming and they don't think he is, we got a

major problem. Thus says the religious

establishment. And so they believe in some

small way that this is their Messiah.

And then over in Luke's Luke's comment on this, he says the

whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully

with a loud voice because of his miracles, not because of his

message. His message was blessed are the

poor, blessed are those who mourn.

Blessed are the are the meek and the and the hungry and the

peacemakers and the pure heart. But they didn't listen to that.

It was it was the the miracles that got them excited.

And they've said blessed is the king who comes in the name of

the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

They even quote the Bible. They quote Psalm 110 and Psalm

40, both Messianic Psalms, saying that Jesus is the

Messiah, is the king, and Jesus goes into Jerusalem and he weeps

over Jerusalem because he says, if you had known for on this day

what I was here for, oh, I would have gathered you together, but

you weren't willing. You did not recognize the day of

your visitation and they should have recognized the day of his

visitation because it was the exact day 173,880 days as

prophesied by Daniel and Daniel 924 to 27.

They should have known, but they missed it because they they

believed in the dominion and power of the Messiah.

And Jesus turns around and goes back to Bethany, comes back to

the next day and cleanses the temple.

Instead of setting up his Kingdom, instead of overthrowing

Rome, he turns over the the tables in the temple.

They are extremely confused. So confused that three days

later they yell, crucify him, crucify him.

See, the Messiah didn't come to be crowned, He came to be

crucified. He didn't come to be exalted.

He came to be humiliated. That's why he came.

He came to die and they missed it all.

So Jesus comes along early on in his ministry.

He is paving the way to the end. He's helping them to understand

He's the king. I want you to be children of My

Kingdom. To do so, you must understand

how to enter the Kingdom and how to grow up in the Kingdom.

It begins with poverty of spirit.

The moon moves to mourning over your sin.

Then it moves to meekness. But with all that comes

blessedness comes true joy comes happiness on the inside, a joy

that's unaffected by anything on the outside because you're right

with God on the inside and that's all that matters.

And so he says, blessed are the meek.

So hopefully you picked up an outline and you're able to

follow us tonight because the outline is the same as it has

been the last two weeks, and we'll be the same.

As we go through the beatitudes #1 we will make sure that we

define the condition for you, describe the consequences,

detail the characteristics, and then determine our course.

Follow this through with me, if you will.

What meekness is not and what meekness is.

So many times we equate meekness with weakness, meekness with

shyness, meekness with spinelessness, meekness with

mere niceness. We we really have a hard time

defining meekness. But just let me give you just a

real simple illustration. The Bible says there's a man who

was the meekest man on the face of the earth.

That's Numbers 12 verse #3 Moses writes the Pentateuch under the

inspiration of God. He says that he himself is the

meekest man on the face of the earth.

And so think of Moses as the essence of meekness in the Old

Testament. And Moses was the one who who

slew an Egyptian as the the meekest man on the face of the

earth. He was the one who coming down

from Mount Sinai with the the tablets, the 10 commandments

written in stone by the finger of God, coming down only to see

and hear the idolatry of the people of God.

So the meekest man on the face of the earth takes the stones

and throws him down to the ground and crushes them, and

then he takes the molten calf that they had made as a symbol

of their God that they would worship.

He melted it down, let it dry, pounded it into dust, threw the

dust into the water, and then made Israel drink the water.

That is the meekest man on the face of the earth.

That's just amazing because we don't understand meekness.

Meekness is one who has all the power, but all that power is

completely under control. It's a It's another word for

being self controlled. Think of it this way.

William Barkley says in his commentary on On the Beatitudes

that meekness is a word with caress in it.

And Colin Brown in his commentary in the New Testament

says it's a word used to describe tame animals.

A soothing medicine, a mild word, a gentle breeze.

In other words, it implies self-control.

Think about it, a gentle breeze. We, we love to to sit on the

beach and, and have a have a gentle breeze or in the backyard

and feel a gentle breeze. But if the wind is out of

control, that gentle breeze becomes a hurricane, right?

We love domesticated horses because they do what we tell

them to do. They ride smooth and and quick.

But an undomesticated horse is a wild horse and runs all over the

place. Medicine is good if you take the

dosage that the doctor gives to you, but if you overdose on the

medicine, it can be deadly. You see, the essence of meekness

is that it is power that is completely tamed and under

control. And that's why our Lord would

say that He has all the power in all the world, and yet He is the

meekest because He is lowly and He wants you to come to Him

because only He can do what no one else can do.

That's so important to understand.

Proverbs 1632 says he that is slow to anger is better than the

mighty, and he ruleth that ruleth the spirit, than he that

taketh a city. That's self-control.

That's power under control. Point #2 Let's let's describe

the consequences for today and for tomorrow, for today.

There there is guidance for today there is blessing, for for

today there is joy for today there is salvation.

Listen to what the Old Testament says.

It says in Proverbs 2226 The meek shall eat and be satisfied.

Proverbs 25 verse #9 The meek will he guide injustice, and the

meek will he teach his ways. Psalm 147 verse #6 The Lord

lifts up the meek. Isaiah 2919.

The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord.

Think of it this way, the rich and the powerful never have

enough. They never get enough.

But the meek don't fight for that because they know in the

end it's all going to be theirs anyway because they inherit the

earth. So they're not worrying about

what they don't have today or tomorrow because everything that

the unbelieving world has is theirs That anyway because they

along with the Lord inherit the earth.

But tomorrow, tomorrow there's a, a ruling and reigning on this

earth with the king. And over in Psalm, Psalm 37, the

psalmist says this, which is so unique, he says in verse #9 for

evildoers will be cut off. But those who wait for the Lord,

they will inherit the land. That the meek person is one who

who waits and and trusts because he is, he is patient for what

God's going to do. And that person inherits the

land, verse 11. But the humble will inherit the

land, verse 18. The Lord knows the days of the

blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.

Verse 22. For those blessed by Him will

again inherit the land. Verse 29.

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Verse 34. Wait for the Lord and keep His

way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land.

There's coming today because we are heirs of God and joint heirs

with Christ. And in Psalm 2, the psalmist

says this in verse #8 ask of me, and I will surely give you the

nation's for your inheritance and the very ends of the earth

as your possession. That's God speaking to the

Messiah. And because we're joining us

with Christ, what He receives, we receive, and therefore the

earth is his and the fullness thereof.

And one day, according to the Book of Revelation, we will rule

and reign with Christ as he sits on the throne of his Father

David in Jerusalem. And we will reign over the land

because we would have inherited the earth.

But let me, let me try to describe for you the

characteristics. Now follow very carefully.

They're they're in your notes. 1 builds upon the other.

The characteristics of the meek person is allegiance,

benevolence, confidence, deference or preference,

defense, and in essence, patience and obedience.

Let me begin this way. Characteristic #1 is that those

who are meek have an allegiance to God's sovereignty.

If I had time, I could take you back to the book of Genesis and

talk to you about the man Joseph.

Joseph rose to a level of prominence in Egypt unlike any

other person ever. And as he rose to a level of

prominence, he became basically the Prime Minister of Egypt.

And he had the opportunity to take care of Potiphar's wife,

who had lied about him, but he chose not to.

And when his brothers came to Egypt because they were starving

and hungry and didn't recognize Joseph, he could have refused to

give them food, but he didn't. He gave them food, and now he

did. He give him food.

He forgave them for what they did to him, while he had it in

his power to destroy them. As the Prime Minister of Egypt.

That is the essence of meekness. He had the power to destroy

them. Meekness is always seen not when

you do that which is wrong, but when you do that which is right.

Because in doing that which is right and you're not in the

wrong, you had the power to destroy those who are in the

wrong, but you choose not to. Why?

Because your allegiance is to God's sovereignty.

And Joseph knew about the sovereign work of God in his

life, how God had moved specifically in every aspect of

his life to move him to where he was.

So much so that at the end he could say you meant it for evil,

but God meant it for good, because God's sovereignty is

ruling over all. And because of that, two nations

were saved, both Egypt and Israel.

So the first characteristic is allegiance to God's sovereignty.

The second characteristic is benevolence toward your enemy.

Benevolence towards your enemy. You had the power to destroy

them, but instead you show them kindness and goodness.

In the illustration. For this is David, King David.

He was anointed king over Israel and for over a decade Saul was

so angry with him and hated him so much and tried to kill him.

And when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, even

though he was already anointed king of Israel, he did not kill

Saul but spared his life. He was in complete control.

He had the power as king of Israel already been anointed and

Saul had already been rejected as king and but yet he, because

of his allegiance to God's sovereignty, then would

demonstrate his benevolence toward his enemy.

That's exactly what he did even with Shemi.

Remember that in, I think it's second Samuel when he was going

along the, the, the hillside and throwing stones at David and

cursing to David and Abishai said, Hey, let me go up there

and cut off his head. And David said, no, no, let it

go. If he's doing this, it's

probably because God told him to do so.

And David was the king and David could have had him executed, but

he did not. He had the power to, but because

of his allegiance to God's sovereignty, he could show

benevolence toward his enemy. And those who show benevolence

toward their enemy do so because they have confidence in the

Almighty. And that was the apostle Paul.

That's why he said, I can do all things through Christ who

strengthens me. And the apostle Paul was the one

who said we put no confidence in the flesh.

Why? Because all of our confidence is

in the Almighty God, and that's what the meek person does.

And Paul is a perfect example of that.

So the person who has allegiance to God's sovereignty shows

benevolence toward his enemy because he has confidence in the

Almighty. And those who have confidence in

the Almighty show deference within their family, whether it

be their personal family or their church family.

In the illustration of this is Abraham.

Remember in Genesis when lots herdsmen and and Abraham's

herdsmen had this great fight that would break out and so they

knew that they had to separate. So what did Abraham do?

Abraham's the the father who received the promise.

He knew what the land. The land was his.

The promised land was was Abraham's.

It was given to him. Not to lot, but lots.

But but Abraham says a lot. You choose which way you want to

go. You want to go right, I'll go

left. You want to go left?

I'll go right. You want to go north, I'll go

South. You want to go South, I'll go

north. Choose the way you want to go.

So what a lot choose. He chose the lush green area,

the best area, and Abraham let him, although it was Abraham's.

Why? Because he showed deference and

preference in his family. What does Paul say in Romans

Romans 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12? He says give preference to one

another in honor. That's within the church.

You see, we need more of that in the church, don't we?

We need meek people in the church who are willing to give

preference to others, give honor to others, to lift up others.

Why? Because they understand that

within their family they want to lift others up above them,

whether it's their personal family or their church family,

because they do have confidence in the Almighty.

Therefore, they want to show benevolence even toward their

enemy because they have an allegiance towards God's

sovereignty. That's the characteristic of

those who are meek. And then, of course, there's the

defense of your authority. That is, those who are meek are

always willing to defend their God and defend the truth of the

Word of God. And that is how Moses lived his

life, how Paul lived his life, always standing strong in the

truth, always defending his God, fighting the good fight of the

faith, always living in defense of their great and grand

authority, never living in defense of themselves, but

always in their God. And of course, in essence, make

people show patience and they are the ones who demonstrate

obedience, and that's Christ. Christ himself was completely

obedient to his Father, even though he is ridiculed, even

though he was spat upon, even though he was mocked and he had

the power to destroy, even as he hung on the cross, and he could

have called legions of angels to come and save him.

He did not. Instead he said, Father forgive

them, for they know not what they do.

And Peter, when he denied him, what did he do?

He restored him. He restored him because that's

what make people do. They give preference to others,

they minister to others. And Christ live a life of

obedience to His Father, always wanting to do the will of His

Father in heaven, simply because He lived out the meek and quiet

spirit. How about you?

What characterizes your daily life?

Are you the kind of person who, when you have the power to

destroy, or you have the power for revenge, or you have the

power to conquer, it's all under your authority.

You choose not to because you want to demonstrate kindness,

goodness, and gentleness. So lastly, what's, what's our

course of action? How do we explain that?

Let me, let me give you a few principles #1 is understand that

meekness. Realize, realize it's a gift.

Do you understand that Galatians chapter 5, the fruit of the

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

Spirit is meekness, gentleness. It's a gift of God.

Second Peter 14, we are partakers of the divine nature.

As a child of God, you're a partaker of God's divine nature.

And God's nature is that he's meek and lowly.

So you become a part of that. His nature is in you.

You now automatically have the opportunity to live a meek and

quiet life. So important, but you got to #1

realize it's a gift from God and then #2 resolve to pursue

meekness. Listen to what Paul says in

first Timothy chapter 6, verse 11.

1 Timothy 6:11

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and

meekness. Meekness is not only gift, but

meekness is something that we are to pursue constantly.

And then over in Second Timothy chapter 2 verse #24 Paul says

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

the Lord's bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to

all, able to teach patient went wronged, and with meekness

correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God might

grant them repentance. Wow.

So not only do we realize that meekness truly is a gift from

God, but we also need to understand that we are to to

seek meekness. We are to pursue meekness and

then #3 understand this. Oh by the way, Zephaniah 2-3

says seek meekness and then we should always respond humbly to

scripture. Make people do that.

Listen to James chapter 1 verse #19 this you know my beloved

James 1 · chapter mention

brethren, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak,

and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not

achieve the righteousness of God.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains

of wickedness, in meekness receive the word implanted,

which is able to save your souls.

In other words, we are the kind of people who respond humbly to

the Scriptures. That's what meek people do.

They hear the Word of God and they respond in humility because

they recognize that the all powerful God of the universe who

could destroy them in a moment, His mercies are new every

morning, and that His grace is sufficient for every situation.

And then and then #4 Meek people receive criticism.

Well, meek people receive criticism.

Well, look at Titus chapter 3. Remind them verse #1 to be

Titus 3 · chapter mention

subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to

be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable,

meek, showing consideration for all men.

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient,

deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending

our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind

appeared, He saved us not on the basis of our deeds which we have

done in righteousness, but according to His mercy by the

washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit we

poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

We we are to respond to the authorities, those who are over

you, whether they're in your workplace or whether they're in

the government or whether they're in your family, with an

attitude of meekness. And then note this over in first

Peter, First Peter chapter 3 verse #4 Peter says this about

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

women who are married to unsaved men, says, yet your your

adornment, adornment, excuse me, must not be merely external.

Braiding of the hair and wearing gold jewelry or putting on

dresses. It's not that it can't be

external. It just must not be merely

external. But let it be the hidden person

of the heart with the imperishable quality of a meek

and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God.

Wow. So many times as women who are

married to unbelievers or yet who are married to unbelievers,

receive all kinds of criticism because of what they do or don't

do. Or if they go to church, or they

want to raise their kids in the ways of God and their husbands

criticize them and malign them, They are to respond with

meekness and in gentleness because this is precious in the

sight of the Lord. Realize that meekness is a gift.

Resolve to pursue meekness, Respond humbly to the

Scriptures, receive criticism well, and restore a brother who

sins. Galatians chapter 6 verse #1

Galatians 6 · chapter mention

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who

are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, each

one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted.

Meet people, restore sinning, brothers and sisters, and they

do it in the spirit of meekness. And one more I added it right

before the service, and that is meek people react by walking

worthy. Ephesians chapter 4, verse #1

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a

manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all, with all meekness and gentleness, with patience,

showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent

to preserve the unity of the Spirit, the bond of peace.

Meet people, spend their energy maintaining the peace that we

have in the body of Christ. And they do it because they

prefer others more important than themselves.

They do it because they trust in the sovereignty of God that

rules over all. They do it because they know

they have confidence in the Almighty God to accomplish His

purposes, that they can sit back and rest and know that their God

is in complete control. So Christ comes and he begins to

preach. He begins to speak forth the

truth of the Word of God, helping people understand that

that entrance into my Kingdom comes because of poverty of

spirit, complete spiritual bankruptcy.

You have nothing to give me. You have nothing to earn my

favor. You have nothing that will cause

me to love you. You can't get God to love you.

God is a lover of mankind. God so loved the world that He

gave His only begotten Son. You can't affect the love of God

by anything that you do, but it's the poverty of spirit, the

recognition that I have nothing to give you, that causes me to

cry out and mourn over my sin, recognizing that I'm separated

from you. And then understand that the

meek will inherit the earth. All foreign to a Jewish mind.

Foreign basically even to our minds because we don't look at

life the way Christ looks at it. But this is the way to true

blessedness, true joy, true happiness, true gladness.

It comes only God's way. It doesn't come my way or your

way. It only comes God's way.

And so therefore, you have to say, OK, am I going to submit to

the sovereignty of God and follow his marching orders, or

am I going to kick against the goads and, and, and continually

fight against what God says? Or while I'm humility, receive

with meekness the implanted word of God, which is able to save

your soul. That's my prayer for you and my

prayer for for me that that would be our attitude.

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today

and the opportunity you give us to praise your glorious name.

Thank you, Lord, for your word. There's so much to unfold, so

much to uncover, so much to study and so little time to do

it. But yet you've given us this

opportunity and we are grateful. We thank you, Lord, for that.

We can spend some time in the middle of the week.

It's like, it's like a refueling, It's a, it's like a

refocusing. It's, it's like a redirecting of

our lives to make sure we're in line, to make sure that we are

truly following the word of the Lord.

Oh, so often we need that reminder of what Your Word says.

And my prayers for everyone in the room.

My prayer is always for those that are in the room.

They're here because in the sovereignty of Your plan, You

brought them here. They're not here by accident.

They're here by divine appointment.

And therefore, Lord, you want to use Your word in their lives.

So, Lord, if there's someone here tonight who's not born

again, that you'd save them from their sin.

For those who are, may they understand that they need to

live like a child of the King, honoring the King, glorifying

his name. For there is nothing better than

to understand that we are citizens of the Kingdom of the

living God. For that we thank you in Jesus

name, Amen.