Happy Are the Meek A

They expected the Messiah when he arrived to say to them.

I merely commend you for your wonderful spirituality and I merely announced to you that God is look down from heaven is very well pleased with you. In fact, we can just go right on into the kingdom of our Lord opened up his ministry to them and send this Blessed are the meek for they shall and gets hit with a big stick and nonthreatening guide to be sure, Harold Webster called him Casper milquetoast now. Nobody respects a coward right. The world doesn't. And frankly, neither does the church, Christians are supposed to be bold so why would God's Word plainly say Blessed are the meek today on grace to you. John MacArthur examines what meekness is and what it isn't, and along the way you're going to see why the spiritually meek, no genuine unshakable happiness. John's current study is examining the Beatitudes so turn to Matthew five and follow along. Here's John Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 55 the statement that our Lord makes in verse five Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth is a shocking statement to the audience that heard him say it in fact all three Beatitudes, as they are known are shocking. The first two were shocking to the audience that sat on the hillside, the day Jesus spoke, Jesus called for things absolutely foreign to their thinking.

They knew how to be spiritually proud that you have a self-sufficient. They played a passive role. They knew about religion. They were really good with form they thought they were the in group, they thought they could survive in their own strength in their own wisdom and their own mites and their own resources and expected the Messiah when he arrived to say to them.

I'm commend you for your great religiosity. I'm commend you for your wonderful spirituality and I merely announced to you that God is look down from heaven is very well pleased with you.

In fact, we can just go right on into the kingdom very little change is necessary, but our Lord opened up his ministry to them and said this in verse three Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, not those who think the righteous, but those who know their sinners. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted, not those who are happy with themselves, but those who are sad about themselves. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, not those were proud.

But those who are humble, there was talk about meek different from broken in spirit show you how the root word is the same idea there were same idea. But let me say fact someplace in the Bible. These two words to be used interchangeably with this beautiful distinction made here. I watch broken in spirit centers on my sinfulness K nursery broken in spirit centers on my sinful meekness centers on God's holiness. Two sides of the same thing broken in spirit because I'm a sinner and maybe because God is so only by comparison to sides of the same thing.

Look at another way broken in spirit is negative and it results in morning meekness is positive and it results in seeking righteousness. See the other side of the set of this.

That's the beauty of the sequence is a progression here. First of all, there is this brokenness, this tremendous sense of sinfulness and its negative and it results in morning and then all of a sudden, you begin to see other side of you begin to see a holy God.

And that's meekness, then you begin to hunger after his holiness. See the sequence. The flow happiness.

Jesus said, happiness, blessedness all that's for people like this, people who are not realistic about their sin, who are repentant about their sin, who are responsive to God in the unblessed and the unhappy and those shut out of the kingdom of the arrogant, self-sufficient, self-righteous, unrepentant, stiffnecked, proud people man. This was devastated. See the zealots were saying we want to military Messiah. We want to military King versus think we want a miraculous Messiah. We want a miraculous kingdom.

By the way the Sadducees were saying well I materialistic one. They were the materials. I suppose the Essenes were over the corner saying we want a monastic one.

But Jesus said, I give you meek kingdom is not to be materialism.

It's not going to be. Monasticism is not to be militarism and it's not going to be just flashing miracles. It's going to be for the meek in your world still have trouble are robust associates, happiness and success with strength and confidence in self assurance and survival of the fittest and conquest and power was in Jesus way.

This kingdom is for people are meek. Ephesians 415.

Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation to which your call. How do I walk all with all loneliness and meek. This God's kingdom is for the meek. Titus 32 don't speak evil of anyone.

Don't be a brawler. Be gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

Pretty simple, be meek to everybody. Colossians chapter 3 verse 12 put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercy and kindness, humbleness, meek nests, see over and over again in the Bible it says the people in God's kingdom were meek, and by the way, people that is nothing new. God standard has always been the same. Going back to the Old Testament the same thing see meekness back there is God's standard.

They get some 22 verse 26 was the meek shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise the Lord that seek him.

Your heart shall live forever everlasting life.

You see, belongs to the meek to the meat not the proud some 25 nine. The meek will he guide injustice.

Watch this and the Meat Usually Teaches Way, God identifies with the meek and way at the end of Psalm Psalm 147.

In verse six the Lord lifts up the meek God is always identified with that is a priority with these are his kind people. Isaiah 2919. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord. Seek salvation and teaching and blessing and joy for the meek. I emphasize to the Jesus came and preached that his kingdom was to be occupied by people characterized by meekness.

When asked five questions, see if they're answered sufficient to help us understand what this means. Question number one what does meekness me.

What is it mean to be meek.

What is meekness and we got the answer. If the only happy people are meek people and would like to be happy. We better know what meekness is what is well. Notice in verse five that it follows to other things poor in spirit in morning.

So whatever meekness is it, it follows those two things, meekness comes out of those parts that are broken in spirit and morning. The dictionary has an interesting thing with that meekness in the dictionary and it says deficient encourage Blessed are the cowardly, that's wrong. I sent the Bible definition of meekness. Meekness is not that what further the meek comes from the Greek word the rudest process and it means basically here's the root mild, gentle and soft, mild, gentle and soft so the idea is a person whose gentle, mild, tender heart, somebody's patient, somebody who's just submissive. So if that's the root concept mild, gentle, soft patient, kind, quiet, willing submissive to be illustrated from some of its uses.

It was often used as a word to describe a soothing medicine.

Other times, it was used to describe a gentle breeze and other times it was used to describe a cold that had been broken and domesticated to be used for good purpose. So it was something that was soothing or something.

It was gentle or something that was very comforting. Further, it is said that it was characteristic of Jesus in second Corinthians 10 wanted to talks about the meekness of Christ. The meekness of Christ in Matthew chapter 21 verse five it talks about the meekness of Christ and says behold the King cometh unto the meek, sitting upon an ass in the coal before the Nass when Jesus came into the city. See income on a white charger conquering and to conquer came riding on the coat the full of a jackass that was really low class transportation. He was meek.

Further, let me say something about it is a gentleness and a mildness in a subdued character, watch this is not weakness is power under control get that definition. It is power under control.

Power under control is a byproduct of self emptying of self humiliation is a brokenness before God is the taming of the lion not the killing of the line its power under control.

It's Ephesians 426 it's okay to be angry but don't sin.

In other words, let it be a righteous anger a control anger for God's purposes.

Don't be angry because you been offended behavior because God has its anger for the right reason at the right time. Meekness is doesn't mean impotence is power under control. If you examine Proverbs chapter 25 in verse 28 it says he that hath no rule over his spirit is like a city that is broken down, without walls. That's power out of control.

You got car but there's nothing to contain it, and it's like a destroyed city on the other hand, Proverbs chapter 16 verse 32, says he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. In other words, to the spirit is meekness to be out of control is the lack of meekness is power under control. Let's take it from the standpoint of the Greek use of it. I told you to use it to speak of a soothing medicine medicine under control is helpful out of control kill the user to speak about an animal that was broken in useful and unbroken cold and unbroken horse destroys the broken horses useful used to speak of a gentle breeze. A gentle breeze cools and sues hurricane kills out-of-control power under control is meekness. One writer put it beautifully.

This way, said meekness is a fruit of the spirit is listed in Galatians 5. Meekness is a fruit of the spirit which is found on the soil of spiritual poverty, contrition, and morning is a noble flower which grows out of the ashes of self-love on the grave of pride on the one hand, the man sees his own utter ruin his unworthiness and misery. On the other, he contemplates the kindness and the benign Eddie of God in Christ Jesus. The internal characteristic is a disposition of heart which through the keen perception of its own misery and the abounding mercy of God has become so pliant, gentle, mild, flexible, intractable, that no traces of its original ruggedness of its wild and untamed nature even remain the opposite of violence in the opposite of vengeance.

The meek man is learned like Hebrews 1034 is learned to take joyfully the plundering of his possessions, knowing that he is a better position, even an abiding one with God. The meek person is dying to self. Oscar crystallize for in a minute. The meek person is dying to self. He never worries about his own injuries he bears no grudges you better what I told you, John Bunyan said he was already down cannot all there's nothing I meek person never defends himself because he knows he doesn't deserve anything gets angry about what's done then because he doesn't deserve anything meekness. This is what Christ said characterizes people in his kingdom defending ourselves runner and try to get there. Do they know they have nothing there already broken in spirit over their sin there already mourning and weeping over the consequences and humility.

They stand before a holy God, and they have nothing to commend themselves power under control. They trust in God. They delight in him and God promises to give them the earth isn't cowardice isn't flabby. This isn't a wishy-washy lack of conviction.

It isn't just human niceness.

Meekness is and myself. Nothing is possible in God everything is possible. Meekness is for me. I offer no defense for God, I'll give my life for God die is not a passive acceptance of sin, but it's in anger under control. It's fully indignation illustration for even hereunto were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow his steps hears real meekness he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

Now start right there.

He never did anything so whatever anybody accused him of was false accusation, so whatever anybody punished them for was wrong whenever they abusing their ally whenever they saw there and they were whenever they market it was a lie because he never did anything wrong. He never said he never deceived you never did anything wrong. And even though he never deserved any criticism when it came in verse 23 and when he was reviled. He didn't revile again and when he suffered, he didn't threaten just committed himself to him. The judge is righteous right that's meekness. Jesus never defended himself never but when they desecrated his father's temple, he made a whip and started beating meekness is on never defend myself, but I'll die defending God is meekness never defend myself I'll die defending God twice. Jesus cleansed the temple. He blasted the hypocrites. He condemned the false leaders of Israel. He fearlessly uttered divine judgment upon people and yet the Bible says he was meek. Meekness is not evidence. Meekness is power used only in the defense of God. Never in the defense of myself never use it for himself.

He could have called legions of angels, but he didn't because he never did anything to defend himself. He could've had 12 legions of angels, what is it mean to be meek was this concept me.

It means power under control. Look at yourself and your broken spirit to see you soon in your mortal ears and you know you deserve nothing, so there's nothing to defend, see the holiness of God as you see the holiness of God you'll die defending his holy name, old man, this is a shock to those Jews, those Jews spent all their time defending their own holiness and they were hypocrites. They never entered his kingdom because they didn't know the meaning of meekness. Their power was out-of-control. They were blasting away and lashing away. Anybody who offended them, set meekness. Second question, how does meekness manifest itself. We get a better handle on if we can see it next summer give you some illustrations first development you look at Genesis 13 all the way back to Genesis fabulous fabulous story. This is Abraham I love this Abraham was living in the Chaldees was a secular city and God said they remember him.

You're my man.

Abraham get up, get out of the city go to the land that I will show you in chapter 12 God gave Abraham this fabulous covenant God Saddam to give you a covenant you will believe you have seed like the stars of heaven.

The sand of the sea. Abraham I want to give you a land Abraham I want to give you a covenant is like no covenant ever given your my man Abraham out of your loins is going to combination fabulous Abraham income Abraham was God's choice Abraham had a nephew with Steph's name is lot. Verse seven and there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abrams cattle in the herdsmen of lots cattle stoplight was a big argument about who gets what Pastor see and you know normally you know if we were thinking about when say that Abraham would say let Buster he got the covenant you are me what you did on claimant and don't you ever forget it sunny. I got the government if she could pull drinking these men had the right is God's man. Abraham had the choice, even given the covenant slot was nothing but a hitchhiking relative see how labrum deal with diversity. Abrams said in him lot to be no strife, I pray the tree me in the dream I herdsmen and I herdsmen for brethren is not the whole land before the separate thyself. I pray the from me if you want take the left hand go to the right. If you go to the right of the left one is I will have this test to take whatever portion you stick with him or him your nuts it can give it the best way to make this did Abraham have the power to take the lady will prevent the Pardue is lot.

He had power, but he never used his power defense of himself, his beautiful submission to God and he knew in his heart that God was in control and the flock took the left side. God worked at a flood to the right side got to do that. Meekness he had the right and the power, but he never use it for his own benefit. Love it.

Got learned that lesson that's meekness. After all, when you see your nothing more than a sinner. You learn the meaning of Romans 1210 in honor preferring one another just like it then it was just Joseph. You know they sold Joseph his brother Solomon display remembered he will take another Egypt if I want to get rid of that kid father's favorite.

They couldn't stand the kid favorite kid father's donor lines and is doing away and then later there was a famine. They were desperate and had to go to Egypt to get grand. Guess who was the bigshot needs just yet risen to the ranks of Egypt so that he was the prime minister of Egypt next to the Pharaoh and here are his brothers, begging him for grain. He could've said to tell you guys a story before I say no, but in the get the power, but was under control really did was in the vengeful bone in his body.

There wasn't any antagonism and bitterness, and immigrants elected to many loved the game. Everything they needed fact sheet he noticed the Benjamin wasn't there in a long to see meekness. Joseph was no coward. Joseph was a mighty man. Meekness people is not cowardice, it's power under control. I will never do something to defend myself. Anything. This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John is Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary. He's titled our current study, the Beatitudes well if this happens to be the first time you tune into grace to you what you just heard is what you hear every day. The word of God taught in-depth verse by verse John taking people into God's word and helping make biblical truth clear that's your commitment and I also know that you're not alone in that commitment know I'm not alone. I think our Lord said that we don't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He was he was quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 8 even he lived in this world by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And that is why he fulfilled all righteousness. Of course, so the commitment of any faithful minister has to be to declare the word of God and we talk about expository preaching were really saying we explain the Bible. The Bible is the revelation, but if you don't interpret it accurately don't know the revelation so there's nothing as powerful as the word of God. It's alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, the writer of Hebrews says so. The preacher who preaches the word of God is doing exactly what every preacher is called to do and should do.

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And at our website. You can also read several daily devotionals download more than 3500 John sermon. The web address one more time. TTY.and now for John MacArthur. I'm your host Phil Johnson with a question for you. How can you be meek and humble and yet the witness for Christ, consider that next time when John returns to his study of the Beatitudes. Tune in for another half hour unleashing God's true one verse at a time on