The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-9

I. Meekness defined

A. Meekness is not a state of being weak or cowardly

1. What merit is there to one who either has not strength or the will to fight to submit to a strong power?
2. It is not the timid and frightened nature that makes one yield out of fear of punishment
3. In fact, one must have power in order to be meek.

B. Meekness is power under control – like a horse controlled by the bit

1. It is a self-imposed submission of one’s power like the strong soldier who yields his sword and his life to the direction of the king
2. David Padfield: “Blessed is the man who has every instinct, impulse and passion under control.”
3. Foy E. Wallace: “But the basic element of meekness, derived from its root meaning is equilibrium-the full and complete possession of all the faculties of one’s being, an inner mastery . It has been illustrated in some lexical definitions as the captain at the helm of his ship in the midst of the storm , who, in full control of the vessel, guides the ship steadily through the storm .“ (The Sermon on the Mount and the Civil State, p . 16).

II. Meekness of Jesus

A. To see meekness exemplified, there is no greater example than Jesus

1. Jesus referred to Himself as meek (Matthew 11:29 – “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle (meek) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
2. He is a source of projection and comfort, not oppression and pain.

B. Jesus demonstrated meekness by coming to earth to live as a man.

1. Philippians 2:5-7
2. Even His birth was to a lowly family in an undistinguished place

C. Jesus demonstrated meekness by going to the cross to redeem mankind

1. Philippians 2:8
2. He submitted to crucifixion though he had the power to free himself (Matthew 26:53 – “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”
3. Yet, in the shadow of the cross, praying three times that the cup of suffering would pass, He yielded His will to the Father saying “not my will but your will be done.”

D. Jesus was not forced to come to this earth, He came willingly. He was not killed because He was powerless to resist, but because He was meek, He yielded His great power to the important work of salvation. He had His power under His control and yielded Himself to the work of the Father.

E. If we want to be like Jesus, we must be meek

III. Acquiring meekness

A. Meekness is a conscious action of the will, not an accident of our nature nor a product of upbringing

B. While some may be weak or cowardly by nature, the strong often fight against the restraints put on them (dog pulling against a leash)

1. Sometimes it is our pride that does not want to answer to anyone about anything.
2. Sometimes it arises when we have not found anyone worthy of our submission
3. Someone may discount meekness in the presence of God because God is all powerful but we do have the power to rebel against His rule and command our own lives even though it will ultimately mean our destruction

C. Therefore, the first step to acquiring meekness is to put off pride and put on humility

1. This is a product of implementing the first beatitude: “poor in spirit”
2. Martyn Lloyd-Jones defined poor in spirit as “a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God.” He further described it as “this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God.” (Caudill)
3. When we put on humility we acquire an attitude of submission to the will of God and, as a result, service to others.
4. Philippians 2:1-5
   • Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit: trying to be number one, self-absorbed
   • Esteem others more significant than self and seek other’s interests: don’t think yourself worthless but esteem the value in others and be involved in the care of others.
   • This is of great value because we may have the power to harm or destroy others but, in service to the Father, we willingly yield our strength to serve them. (picture soldier giving gift or flower to a child)
5. We acquire the mind of Christ and change how we think about our own power and our relationship to God and others

D. With a humble heart, we study God’s word to understand His will for His children.

1. James 1:21-25 – receive the word with meekness and let it change your life

E. In humility and with the guidance of God’s word, we remove self-will and put on meekness

1. Colossians 3:5-7 – put to death attitudes and actions that reveal a worship and service of self and oppression and domination of others
2. Colossians 3:12-14 – put on the characteristics of Christ that reveal a worship of God, self-sacrifice, and service to others.

IV. What does a meek life look like?

A. Forgiving and Longsuffering

1. As described in Colossians 3
2. It is forgiving and longsuffering instead of malicious and unforgiving

B. Serving

1. In the American military, the Medal of Honor is awarded for acts of bravery and heroism and selfless service. It represents strength, honor, and power used in the service of others.
   • Private First Class Ross Mc Ginnis who, in Baghdad, warned his fellow soldiers of a live grenade then jumped from his post and covered the grenade with his body.
   • Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart who, as portrayed in the movie “Blackhawk Down,” willingly entered the site of a crashed helicopter and held off enemy personnel until their ammunition was depleted so they could save the flight crew of the downed aircraft.
   • These examples and many more exemplify the principle of selfless service.

C. Loving

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
2. True love is defined in ways that evidence meekness: not seeking its own way, not boasting or arrogant, not irritable or resentful

D. Not vengeful

1. The meek person is not consumed with asserting his own rights when wronged
2. This does not mean that he will never stand up for himself, but he will do so when it is absolutely necessary and in a way that does not humiliate or subjugate another.
3. It is the humility of “poor in spirit” and the submission of power in meekness that allows us to fulfill the command later in the message to “love our enemies.” A worldly person who is full of himself or who cannot receive an offense without seeking an opportunity to repay evil for evil cannot “love his enemy.”
4. Paul Earnhart: “He no longer seeks to take by force even that which is rightfully his nor attempts to avenge the injustices done him—not because he is powerless to do so, but because he has submitted his cause to a higher court (Romans 12:19). Instead he is concerned to be a blessing, not only to his brethren (Romans 15:3), but even to his enemies (Luke 6:27-28).”

E. Not arrogant even about spiritual matters

1. Meek when discussing spiritual conflicts or testifying of our faith (not arrogance), 1 Peter 3:15
2. Galatians 6:1-3
3. 2 Timothy 2:25-26

V. These first three characteristics: poor in spirit, mourning for sin, meekness are not weakness but are a position of power

A. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My strength is made perfect in weakness” and the power of God can work through us if we first empty ourselves.

B. When we empty ourselves and realize that all that we need is from God, that we are sinners who can do nothing on our own to remove our sins and are completely dependent upon God for everything, and quit fighting against God and, instead, yield our will and strength to His wisdom and guidance then we are ready to focus on His work, serve others, and “be strong in the power of His might”

C. We empty ourselves of the need to prove our power and worth to others, instead living in quiet confidence of the power we have in our relationship with God and are content to serve His will. (ferarri and Honda civic at traffic light – no need to prove power)

D. It is only when we are humble and yield ourselves to God that we can truly “seek His kingdom first.”

VI. They will inherit the earth

A. Paul Earnhart: “The meek man has had enough of himself. He has felt his own ultimate spiritual emptiness and yearned for a right relationship with God. Self-righteousness has become a disaster and self-will a sickness. The very ideas of self-confidence and self-assertiveness have become a stench in his nostrils. He has emptied his heart of self and filled it with God and others. Like his Master, he has become the ultimate servant. And for this very reason the future belongs to him.”

B. Psalm 37:1-11