Secret Strength
Matthew 5:4-5
Sermon on the Mount # 3
What is your life goal?
How much to you value meekness? (In yourself? In others?)
True Christianity starts in the Head, penetrates the heart, and changes the
hands.
Who are the meek?
Those who remember who they are.
“Meekness is essentially a true view of oneself, expressing Itself in attitude
and conduct with respect to other people.” Lloyd-Jones
What meekness is not
It is not niceness, deference
It is not peace at any price compromise.
It is not weakness, spinelessness.
Meekness is hidden, secret strength
It is knowing where you stand with God, then standing in all meekness before
other men.
The meek man is not proud, defensive, or vengeful (Numbers 12)
The meek will inherit the earth
Inherited, not attained, not achieved.
When will the meek inherit the earth? (Psalm 37:7-11)
What does Christian meekness look like?
Toward God
Submit to his will; providence. (Job 1:21; 1 Samuel 3:18)
Submit to his word (James 1:21; 3:13-17)
Toward men
The meek Bear injuries (1 Peter 4:8; Prov 19:11)
The meek Forgive sins (Eph 4:32)
The meek Return Good for evil. (1 Thess 5:15)
Application
We are to put on meekness, gentleness. (Col 3:12)
We are all to seek humility, meekness, gentleness. (Zeph 4:1-2)
We are called to walk in all humility and gentleness. (Eph 4:1-2)
How do you get meekness?
Try harder? Pull it out of your character toolbox?
It is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
Fix your minds on the truth of the gospel, not on the rules or expectations, and
then live life. Spirit wrought gospel character will come out. (Phil 2:5-7; 1
Peter 2:21-24; Matt 11:28-30)
The Moving Cause of Meekness
God is the moving cause of meekness. Man is naturally inclined to lose his temper, be angry, rancorous, and a prickly as a thorn bush which one cannot touch without being injured by it. However, when God regenerates a man according to the image of the meek Jesus, He grants him a meek heart. The apostle therefore also lists meekness among the fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is ...meekness" (Gal 5:23).
A virtue never functions independently. The one virtue will always beget the
other, and the one will always be supportive of the other. This is also true for
meekness.
(1) It issues forth from a heart that is united with God in Christ. When man has
God as his portion, he has everything and has no need for anything beyond. He
does not look to others in such a manner, as if he could expect something from
them. He is not afraid of anyone taking something away from him, for such a
person perceives all men as being but tool in the hands of his God whom He will
utilize to his advantage. If anyone says anything evil about or to him, he
understands that God has ordered it to be so. If anyone inflicts evil upon him,
he understands that God has directed it to be so, and he acquiesces in the wise
and good government of his God. He understands that if he were to become
wrathful and envious, he would be opposing God Himself, and he therefore endures
everything with a quiet and calm conscience.
(2) The denial of self proceeds from this disposition. The meek person no longer
considers his own desires; he neither seeks nor is desirous for their
fulfillment. He has discarded the desire for vain honor, the love of men,
prominence, and the riches of this world. He does not want these. Why would he
then quarrel about such things or to become angry if someone were to challenge
him in this respect? This disposition in turn engenders meekness.
(3) The meek person also loves his neighbor. One can endure much from someone he loves. A man with love will not do evil to his neighbor; the man who loves people will be grieved that his neighbor, in wronging him, is sinning. He observes his neighbor with compassion upon seeing him in such turmoil, thus bringing the wrath of God upon him. Should he then yet add grief to his neighbors grief? Behold he is therefore meek.
– A Brakel