Sermon Cloud

Intro:  It happens everywhere.  People don’t get their way.  What happens next can be scary. 

Big Idea:  Meekness is gospel-produced gentleness that honors God.

I. Meekness is strength under control.

-         The world values self-assertiveness.  “Blessed are the pushy, they get what they want.”

-         To make it, you’re supposed to draw attention to yourself, throw your weight around.

-         Hissy fits: pyrotechnics designed to get you to give in.  “I’ll make you miserable.”

-         Power plays: line up allies, dig up dirt & dominate opponents.  “I’ll show him.”

-         We see it in families, and it just isn’t the toddlers.  Some people learned to get their way.

-         We see it in churches, people w/hold money, publicly scream, have coups or splits.

-         We see it at work, as people vie for power and status.  Ill. Walter Kerr

-         Jesus values meekness- in fact He was meek (Mt. 11 & 2 Cor. 10).

-         Many people think meekness refers to doormats, weak and wimps.

-         These are worldly counterfeits to the real thing.  Ill.  Dinner Plans: “I don’t care.”

-         Meekness: gentle, humble, considerate and unassuming; strength under control.

-         Being meek means having & expressing opinions w/out having to get your way.

-         Meekness happens when you don’t get your way.  It happens because you do trust God.

-         Meek people can forsake their rights.  They may die for the truth, but not kill for it.

Transition: Meek does not mean weak.  It does mean controlling whatever strength you have.

II. The meek inherit what others fight over.

-         They are fortunate, inheriting the promised land.  Ill. Tori Spelling ($800k/$500 million)

-         Worldly people fight, manipulate & demand; but won’t get it in the end.  Ill. Hezbollah

-         The meek won’t win the battles, but win the war.  They receive the victory Jesus won.

-         Until then we can envy the wicked- they get their way, get promotions etc.

-         Like the Psalmist, we need to enter into God’s presence to regain perspective.

-         There we remember what happens in the end (Ps. 37 & 73).

-         Their destiny is destruction- ours will be life and peace.  Freeing us to relax.

-         We don’t have to win culture wars.  We don’t have to demand our political way.

-         Engage culture, but tantrums & powerplays don’t advance the kingdom.  Ill. Ralph Reed

-         We can seek our joy in Jesus, trusting Him to do what is best for us.

Transition: The meek, though not using every measure available, will get it all- from Jesus.

III. The Spirit sets our hearts on greater treasures.

-         We find rest from self-assertiveness as we come to Jesus to learn from Him.

-         Jesus is not a harsh instructor.  He is gentle, not pushy or demanding.

-         His Spirit works in us to create a desire for meekness.  Do you pray for it?

-         By the Spirit we crucify our temptations to demand our own way.

-         We can die to those temptations because we died with Jesus.

-         God offers us something better long term.  Replace one desire with a better one.

-         Faith rests in the superior pleasure of God’s great promises.  Ill. Garage/Jadon’s toys