The Nines #3

The Nines #3
Nine Statements that will Change Your Life

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

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

    •    It is hard to get our mind around this idea of Meek.
    •    Synonyms: gentle, lowly, humble; yielding, compliant, tame…
    •    Webster’s Dictionary: quiet, gentle, easily imposed on, submissive
    •    Word Picture: Ox in a plow – power under restraint…
    •    Implication: We have to choose to allow that to happen.  Choose, not feel!

    o    Power has the ability to keep restraint from happening.  Those with the power are stronger than             those who are trying to restrain them. 
    o    Therefore, power must be willing to choose to be placed under restraint
            Jesus is Calling This Truth Out of the Old Testament
Psalm 37:11
     But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Some Examples of Meekness

Joseph – Genesis 37; 39; 40; 42
    •    Joseph is 17 when he has the dream (Gen 37:2)
    •    Joseph is 30 when he enters Pharaoh’s service (Gen. 41:46)
    •    Then there are 7 years of plenty and staring into the 7 years of famine???
    •    Joseph is in the neighborhood of 40 years old when his vision is fulfilled.
    •    In that moment, he has the right, the ability, and probably the desire to extract judgment on his                 brothers…  but he doesn’t

David – 1 Samuel 16; 24; 26; 31 and 2 Samuel 23
    •    God appointed Saul as King (1 Samuel 10)
    •    God rejects Saul as King because he took what was the Lord’s and didn’t obey God (1 Samuel 15)
    •    God selects David as King and gives him great favor with the people
    •    Saul becomes jealous of David and starts trying to kill him
    •    Before God, David is the rightful king, and Saul is in David’s throne
    •    David has at least 2 chances to kill Saul and both times chooses not to
    •    Ultimately, David waits for God to work it out.  And He does.  Saul kills himself.

        o    What would have been the rumors if David had taken matters into his own hands?

    •    David’s mighty men get David a drink of water and he pours it out, not willing to have anything             that his men couldn’t have.
    •    David had the power, the right, and the desire, but chose not to.  – Power under restraint, by                 choice.
Jesus – Matthew 4; 28
    •    At the temptation, Satan appeals to Jesus desire for authority.
    •    Jesus has the right, the desire, the power, and the ability to make this happen
    •    Jesus chooses to let God provide
    •    This is at the heart of Meekness

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus is our ultimate model of Meekness…

    •    He had the right, the power, the desire, and the authority to keep bad things from happening to             Him, but He did not.  He chose to put His power under restraint so that we could experience peace.