Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth (5.5)

++Willingness to submit and work under proper authority

+Concerning His disciples…

+Enormous crowds were following Jesus—he was the talk of the town, and everyone wanted to see him. The disciples, who were the closest associates of this popular man, were certainly tempted to feel important, proud, and possessive. Being with Jesus gave them not only prestige, but also opportunity for receiving money and power.

The crowds were gathering once again. But before speaking to them, Jesus pulled his disciples aside and warned them about the temptations they would face as his associates. Don’t expect fame and fortune, Jesus was saying, but mourning, hunger, and persecution. Nevertheless, Jesus assured his disciples, they would be rewarded—but perhaps not in this life. There may be times when following Jesus will bring us great popularity. If we don’t live by Jesus’ words in this sermon, we will find ourselves using God’s message only to promote our personal interests.

+Read IYF article (It is printed out for you because it is not yet in publication and has been graciously lent to us.)

+The Greek word for meek, praus, was used to refer to domesticated animals. The word does not refer to a wild, unruly animal; it refers to a strong and powerful horse or an ox that was trained and disciplined so that it could be controlled by a human. The word meek used in Matthew 5:5 refers to a strong person who is under control–a God controlled person. A meek person is a man or woman of God whose strength is controlled by God. He or she is controlled by God in thought, word, will, emotion, and action. The meek man is one who submits, not to his own will or to the will of the world, but to the great and gracious will of God

+What makes a person meek? They see God. And they see God in everything. No one becomes meek unless they can see this infinite, personal, almighty, all-wise, all-holy God, and when they see God they are immediately humbled. When we are able to see God by faith, then that is the time when the Holy Spirit allows us to become meek. Thus the meek person does not rely on himself, saying, I can do all things. I have confidence in myself. After all, I am strong and able. No, the meek person says, I see God, and he is able and willing to help me. “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

+ A meek person is the one who by faith sees God as great, and himself as nothing. And because of that, he submits to the righteous will of this great God. A meek person is the one who proclaims, “Not my will but Thine will be done.” He submits to the will of his heavenly Father and does not argue with the Holy Scriptures where God’s will is clearly revealed.

B1+How is a meek man patient?

B2+Tell a story about “strength under control.”

“The people we praise, strive to emulate, and feature on the covers of popular magazines are not the fulfilled happy, balanced persons we might imagine. Our idols are as miserable a group of people as I have ever met. Nearly all are incurable dependent on psychotherapy. In a heavy irony, these larger than life heroes seem tormented by self-doubt. I have also spent time with people I call servants. Doctors and nurses who work among the ultimate outcasts, leprosy patients in India. A Princeton grad who runs a hotel for the homeless in Chicago. Health workers who have left high paying jobs to serve in the backwater towns of Mississippi. Relief workers in Somalia, Ethiopia and other repositories of human suffering. I was prepared to honor and admire theses servants, to hold them up as inspiring examples. I was not prepared to envy them. Yet as I now reflect on the two groups side by side, stars and servants, the servants clearly emerge as the favored ones, the graced ones. They possess qualities of depth and richness and joy that I have not found elsewhere. Servants work for low pay, long hours, and no applause, “wasting their talents and skills among the poor and uneducated. Somehow, thought in the process of losing their lives they find them. Without question I would rather spend time among the servants than among the stars.” (Paul Johnson)

AA1+Respond to this quote

BB1+Where did you go on your “Be the Beatitudes” experience?

BB2+How are you learning to be the beatitudes?

I AM BLESSED IN CHOOSING NOT TO EXALT MYSELF. THIS MEANS I GET OVERLOOKED AT TIMES, BUT I AM LIVING FOR GOD NOT FOR THE ACCLAIM OF MEN AND WOMEN. SOMEDAY I’LL BE GLAD I CHOSE THE WAY OF HUMILITY.