Why the Meek are not Weak

We must realize that the Beatitudes are connected. They start with us understanding our spiritual poverty.

Matthew 5:3  (ESV)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Then, we grieve over our spiritual condition.

Matthew 5:4 (ESV)

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Then, we surrender to God's Lordship which is meekness.  

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

1. God grace in us reveals itself in meekness.  

Ephesians 4:1-2  (ESV)

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.

Meekness is not weakness or cowardice.  It's not the absence of emotion.

Matthew 11:29  (ESV)

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Jesus was meek, but He was not weak.  Jesus got angry at the hardness of men's heart and cleared the temple, but Jesus did not sin (Matthew 21:12).

  

Meekness is not weakness, but it gets upset at injustice. Meekness is about composure. 

Gentleness is when someone of a superior position lowers themselves to help someone of a lessor position. 

Meekness is emotions under control. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. 

It is an outward manifestation of our controlled emotions.  It is responding to sin in the right way. We are to model how Jesus responded.  

We are to remember that we not spiritually superior to others in and of ourselves.

We are spiritually impoverish just like everyone else except through the mercy of God manifested in Jesus Christ. 

Meekness does not demand it's rights or it's way.  We are to show God to others by reaching out to them in love. 

2.  Meekness magnifies God not self. 

Meekness does not provide salvation, but it is a result of our salvation. 

Our meekness becomes noticeable as we mature in Christ. 

Abraham gave Lot first choice of the pasture land.  

Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery.

David could have killed King Saul in a cave, but did not.   

   

Meekness is a noticeable characteristic of those who belong to the kingdom of God.  

2 Corinthians 10:1  (ESV)

10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

James 1:21  (ESV)

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 3:13 (ESV)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Philippians 2:7-9 (ESV)

7 but (Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

3. God gives His contentment in meekness. 

What does it mean to inherit the earth?  We all like stuff.  It means to receive our allotted portion. 

If Jesus is our allotted portion, we enjoy what God has given us whether it is much or small.

   

Didn't Jesus say...

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Our purpose comes from our identity in Christ, and not in the abundance of our possessions. 

Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV)

12 I (Paul) know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

We cannot find our fulfillment in the world.

1 John 2:16 (ESV)

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

We find it all when we exchange the world to have a relationship with Him. 

Matthew 13:45-47 (ESV)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

We must be yielded and surrendered to Jesus in everything. 

Darryl Craft, Whitesburg Baptist Church 

http://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/sermons/the-manifestation-of-gods-grace/

Destiny

We dress for where we are going.  Not for where we've been.  We must put on a new mentality.  


If you'll save in abundance, you'll have provision during the famine.  

Genesis 50:16-20 (NKJV)

16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 
17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”  
19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.


1. I'm not God.  

Don't try to do God's part. Quit trying to play God in everyone's life. Only God is Judge.


It's easy to judge other people's sin and to be blind to your own sin. Relinquish control of the universe. 


When you sit in God's seat as judge, it's easy to get bitter. 
Let God be God. Surrender others to the Lord.
  

1 Peter 2:23  (NKJV)

23 who, when He (Jesus) was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;


Lord, will you be God?  God will be far more merciful to you than man will ever will.


The Book of Genesis begins with Adam and Eve trying to be like God.  The Book ends with Joseph realizing that he is not.


2. You're not in control. 


Man intends one thing, but God has a whole different intention. 


Joseph had to get his eyes off his brothers, and get them on the Lord. The enemy will make plans, but his plans will fail.  


What God is doing for you is bigger than what anyone has done to you.  

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.


Weapons will be formed against you, but they will not succeed. 


Sometimes your enemies will do more to promote you than your 
friends. 


The minute you respond to drama you become a part of the cast.

Psalm 105:16-17 (NKJV)

16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 He sent a man before them—

Joseph—who was sold as a slave.


Joseph was not a victim to the hand of man, but being blessed by the hand of God. 


There is no one holding you back but you.  Self pity is a prison of your own devices.


Get out of the space that God is trying to occupy.  The God who is for us is greater than He who is against us. 

Acts 4:27-28 (NKJV)

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.


There is not a man on earth or a devil in hell that will keep  God from his purpose.  

Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.


Your dream is not about you. It's about God. I would rather have a God's size dream and experience half of it.Than to have a man's sized dream and to experience all of it. 


Dreams are not about you, but about serving others. When Joseph dreamed about wheat, he focused on the bowing not feeding his hungry brothers.  


If we want to lead at the highest level, we must be willing to serve at the lowest level. 



We are to go after the people that nobody wants.  Then, God will send to us the people that everybody wants. 


Mike Haman, Healing Place Church
http://healingplacechurch.org/media/weekends-at-hpc-2019/

Living Your Best Life

The purpose of this series is threefold:

1. To release us from the bondage of selfish, stingy living.

2. To help us understand the incredible life-giving blessings released to us and others through generosity.

3. To bring us to a place of cheerful, love-motivated, generous living.

Genesis 22:1-2 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”And he said, “Here I am.” 

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Genesis 22:10-19 NKJV

10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 

11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”So he said, “Here I am.” 

12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 

13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. 

So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 

14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 

15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 

16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son

17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 

18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 

19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

Four Questions about God Requiring the Best of Abraham and How It Applies to Us.

1. Is there any basis in Scripture beyond the story of Abraham and Isaac that proves God only releases His best when we give Him our best?

Genesis 4:2-5 NKJV

2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 

4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 

5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions,And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Matthew 6:32-33 NKJV

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 6:36-38 NKJV

36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. 

For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Revelation 2:2-5 NKJV

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. 

And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 

3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent.

2. Is that fair?

I Corinthians 6:18-20 NKJV

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 

20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

3. If God requires our best before He releases His best to us, why isn’t that legalism and performance?

a. The most important blessings in life and in eternity are ours freely by grace.

b. God’s motivation isn’t righteousness—it is relationship.

Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 

29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 

30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

c. God requires our best because He knows that our passions cannot be separated from our priorities.

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

4. How do you give God your best?

a. Make Jesus the Lord of every area of your life without any exceptions.

b. Pray about every significant decision in your life and don’t act without the Lord’s approval.

c. Give God the best of your time.

d. Give God the first and best of your finances.

e. Surrender your gifts and talents to serve God and to expand His Church and kingdom.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?

Jimmy Evans, Gateway Church

Video

http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/life-giving-a-gateway-series/session/2019/02/23/living-your-best-life