“Blessed are…”

Beatitudes - Things Jesus says we are blessed if we do.

Rings - The Beatitudes are progressive

Signs of a believer. 

My decisions are different because of the influence of Jesus.

You are blessed according to Jesus if you…

1) are poor in spirit. (I can’t)

2) mourn over and repent of sin. (He can)

3) submit to him. (I’ll let him)

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

What is Meekness?

meek - submissive 

Biblically - “used to the hand” and peacefully so. 

Bridled power.

an unbroken horse (useless)

“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 

Psalm 32:9

team of horses (calm and useful)

A horse can only win a race if it is bridled and broken. 

We have a choice. 

Jesus urges us to go for this blessing.

Turning point…

“Thy will be done.”

Example: Have you ever seen a person’s stubbornness stand in the way of their own success? 

What do you want to be like?

Meekness moves people from:

the curse of frustration to the blessing of satisfaction

grumbling to contentment 

worry to confidence

jealousy to trust

cynicism to faith

chaos to order

wild rage to self-control

Submitting to what?

1. God’s word, 2. God’s will, 3. God’s people

1. Submit to God’s word by: 

a. Being ruthless in cutting out sin.

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.” Matthew 18:8

But that’s not really realistic for today. Besides, it doesn’t really apply to me.

It’s there to keep us from dying. (eternal fire)

Spiritual authority and discernment… prepares us for the next “rings”. 

b. Praying for your enemies (Submission to God’s word)

Can you think of someone you resent?

“If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you resent, you will be free.

If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free. Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free. Even when you don't really want it for them, and your prayers are only words and you don't mean it, go ahead and do it anyway.

Do it every day for two weeks and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel compassionate understanding and love.” AA Big Book p.552

c. Burying the hatchet (Submission to God’s word)

“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9

If someone messes up, do I repeat it to others to make myself look good?

Do I keep score about things that others have done to me?

 2. God’s will.

The situation we’re in. 

(Wanting to be somewhere you’re not or you’re not where you want to be.)

Meekness is submitting to the WILL of God.

I’m married and I don’t want to be or I want to be married. 

2. Submit to God’s will by:

a. Staying in the struggle.

in battling addiction…

Do I burn my bridges every time something upsets me?

Example: When you start exercising again, it’s really hard at first, but perseverance pays off if you stay in the struggle. 

b. Believing God’s promises The meek will inherit the earth… literally. 

God told the Israelites to be strong and courageous and to take the land.

Remember the Israelites complaining about the promised land?

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; 

they are stronger than we are.” Numbers 13:30-31

Caleb and Joshua were meek.

c. Not using power even when you have it 

Being meek is not about being weak.

Peter cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear.

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53

Jesus submitted to God’s will. 

3. God’s People

Example: What committed relationships are you in? 

Marriage vs. living with someone to keep the door open

Application: Do you have a mentor? Is someone challenging you?

Review: Meekness is transparency and vulnerability with others.

3. Submit to God’s people by:

a. Relinquishing rights

Remember Abraham and Lot when their herdsmen were quarreling because both groups were getting too big?

So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Genesis 13:8-9

God promised Abraham the whole land shortly after that.

b. Finding pleasure in the successes of others.

“I don’t have much money but I’m glad to know that others have more.”

Remember, this takes you from…
the curse of frustration to the blessing of satisfaction 

(grumbling to contentment…)

c. Pausing before reacting (Submission to others)

“To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” 

Proverbs 18:13

Ever say something you wish you could take back?

“In the course of my life, I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet.” 

― Winston S. Churchill

d. Making friends with submissive people.

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” Proverbs 22:24-25

(Review)

Meekness comes by submitting to…

1. God’s word

2. God’s will

3. God’s people

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

Remember the progression: 

Moving from the curse of frustration to the blessing of satisfaction

grumbling to contentment, worry to confidence, jealousy to trust, cynicism to faith