Good morning, how are we this morning doing?
All right. It's really nice.
When the snow melts that fast right with him.
At my name is Rashad, one of the pastor's here.
And I get the awesome privilege to teach you from God's word
this morning, from the words of Jesus here in Matthew 5.
And as we start, I'll just pray for us.
Lord, thank you for your word that it's alive.
That it's active, and that you're here and we Pray for your
kingdom to come to Boston as it is in heaven, in our lives, as
it is, in heaven, and your church, as it is in heaven.
God help us to see where you're working, where you're at, help
us to just release our burdens and our carries that we come
into this place with and hear from you and learn from you and
be receptive to what you want to do within us and through Us in
Jesus name. And amen.
I'm excited to continue this series but so today obviously
your heard the text we're going to talk about a word that we
don't really use much in our culture.
Like a really cool rapper. Use this word in his name but to
June but it's a horror that we just don't use much in our
culture and that word is is Meek and Jesus.
This is Jesus. First sermon.
He's speaking to the masses and he tells the crowd blessed.
Happy fortunate, are the meek. And if you don't know what
meekness means, here's one definition meekness is a humble
attitude that expresses itself in the patient endurance of
offenses. Ain't nobody getting excited
about that one, right? Meekness is a humble attitude
that expresses itself in the patient endurance of offenses.
So say, I don't know if I want that.
Up until this point in human history and the history of the
people of God, their greatest leader that that govern, the
people of God was Moses. Moses who?
Stepped up to pharaoh, who walked through the Red Sea who
delivered the law. And here's what it said about
the greatest leader Moses and numbers 12:3 says, now the man
Moses was very Meek. More than all the people who
were on the face of the Earth. A lot of people want to be great
like Moses but not like Moses. There's no one that says, hey I
don't want to be great or I don't want to be the be great
like that person, but actually don't want to go through the
process that they did to get there.
I don't want to actually carry the burden in the way in the
manner in which they do it to get there.
Could you imagine applying for the job instead?
Tell me why you have the job, because I'm Meek because I'm
clothed and meekness. Right?
We put that in the cover. Letter me.
Come Meek meekness. This is my top virtue.
And this right? Like I read a couple letters to
and they started saying unflappable.
I'm like yeah you're interesting.
You're getting a call back. Greatness in our culture, in our
world is striving to reach the top.
It's and sometimes by any means necessary to get to the top.
And for the most part, our society rewards that kind of
hustle, our society rewards, that kind of grit, ariix Society
rewards, that kind of ambition. Are you with me?
Yeah, and so when Jesus says blessed are the meek he saying,
You're in good company. If you walk in meekness and he's
referring back to Moses urine, you're in good company.
Because I if I refer to you as meek, Because the kingdom that
I'm bringing the kingdom that's coming because about the inside
out the kingdom that I'm talking about is the bottom is the top
started from the bottom. Now we here, look, so I'm sorry,
I got this, couldn't resist it, here's what Auntie right sissy
now I can activate a good out your head.
Here's what NT Wright says here in here.
I said he'll get out of your head when God wants to sort out
the world as the Beatitudes and The Sermon on the Mount makes
clear. He does.
The send in the tanks, he sends in the meek, the broken, the
Justice hungry, the peacemakers, the pure-hearted, and so on.
God's plan to change the world. God's plan to reorient and
remake the world is not with military power.
But with the meek, Jesus is saying it's not the 12 who
strive and fight and step on one another to get what they want to
parade. Their Good Deeds.
Who go Tit for Tat and take two eyes for one.
Tooth who use their power and authority to get power and
authority. They have no place in My
Kingdom. Actually, what Jesus is saying
is the way that you make your way to the top and this world is
not impressive to God. In fact, the attic the
attributes of this world that take you backwards and
downwards. That's actually the posture in
the place in which you enter Jesus his kingdom.
The Jesus, his kingdom is a different economy than our
world. This this is hard to grasp
because we've been taught our whole life to claw in the fight
and work your way to be seen to be known to work yourself up an
org chart or whatever it is that this is what we've been taught
in Jesus like actually downward down and left.
That's actually the way up into my kingdom.
Blessed are the meek. You've heard the quote To the
victor go the spoils. Have you ever has everyone heard
that quote To the victor goes the spoils.
In other words, when we triumph over what we're fighting for,
who were fighting with, and we went to the victor goes the
spoils. In our world, and even
unfortunately, in a lot of religious circles that well as
well. We've engaged in the wrong
battle. We think our competition is one
another. I got to beat you to the train.
Stop, got to beat you to the donut line.
I got to beat you here, I got it, I got to do better than you
on my performance reviews. Like we think the battle is with
one another and beating other humans to the punch to lift
ourselves up. But the real battle is not with
other people. It's within ourselves, not
thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.
Because God's kingdom is about lifting up others.
God's kingdom is about propping up, others by lowering ourselves
and lifting up the other C.s. Lewis says that.
It's not that we think less of ourselves but we think of
ourselves less Jesus is saying the meek are blessed and the way
of meekness is the path to Greatness.
The way of humility is the path to Greatness.
See Minnie. And here's, here's where I think
we might get tripped up. Many of us either people that
read to find meekness as docile and weak and spineless.
And here's why that's problematic because that
interpretation leads you to think that meekness is the path
to abuse. and now want to say that meekness is not the path to
abuse and have a problem with that because there's been a lot
of abuse of authority on passages like this spiritually,
emotionally economically, physically Meekness is not about
a lack of dignity. Andrew Murray says this in his
book, on the journey towards Holiness.
He says many men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness
would Rob us of what is noble and bold.
And man, like a woman. Like oh, that all would believe
that this is the nobility of the Kingdom of Heaven.
That this is the Royal spirit that the king of Heaven,
displayed, that. This is God, like to Humble
oneself to become the servant of all He says humility is the
nobility of the Kingdom of Heaven.
You want to know what his kingdom is like.
Going to know what? Greatness in, God's kingdom.
Like meekness. Humility, lowering yourselves.
It's a god. Like it's, it's what God is like
and what he's called us to embody and live in the world.
Philippians 2. The beginning of Philippians 2
is telling us the church how to interact with one another and
how not to think too highly of ourselves.
And how we got to serve one another then it goes on this as
this in your relationships with one another have the same
mindset as Christ, Jesus who being in the very nature, a God
who being in very nature, God did not consider equality with
God, something to be used to his own advantage.
Rather he made himself Nothing by taking the very nature of a
servant being made in human likeness.
It being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
becoming obedient to death even death on a cross.
He's saying you want to look at the kind of person that God
wants you to become. Look at the kind of person that
God was. He humbled himself.
We often like to give Jesus the attributes that we like.
So that we can do, we want? Of course.
Jesus was a patriot, of course. Jesus was this gorgeous?
Was that? So I can be that, so I can act
the way of course. Jesus was ambitious, of course
Jesus had nice clothes, right? Because we want, I'm sure you
did. That's okay.
I mean, come on. That's okay.
Well, but like we like to give Jesus the kind of attributes
that that we value as a community, that we value as a
nation, that we value as a people right in.
So we want to live into that like I want that into my life
and so I had tribe, you attribute those values to Jesus
but we Philippians of Jesus humbled himself.
The meek person is not self-willed is not a Meek person
is not continually concerned with self their own ways ideas
and wishes. Everyone's to my Jews.
Would teach something, they have Siege teacher.
That's a hard teaching this is a hard teaching because I wake up
and I think about myself, What is Rashad going to wear today?
I don't speak it. A third person.
Sometimes what is Rashad gonna eat today right here?
Thinking about you think about yourself.
The meek are not those who are stuck on our right to be right.
Come on, couples. Come on somebody.
I know I'm right on this one, but you still lost.
All right, couples remember that United.
Don't get stuck on your right to be, right.
The meek is willing to put listen to this themself in
second place. Submit themselves to achieve,
what is good for others? I think many of us like the idea
of meekness, but for other people, I like the idea of me
cuz I like when your Meek I like when your Meek I like when your
Meek but when I actually got calls me to what that's actually
really challenging. I was in a church part of a
church that practiced Holy Week and one week, we did as called
Maundy Thursday. And they're like, we're going to
do foot wash. I was like, I like the preach
about fish washing but I actually don't want to wash it
on one's feet. I definitely don't want them to
wash my feet. And you, you think about your
read about and Gomez beautiful. That Jesus was wash his feet
until someone does something for you.
Can you receive it? Because actually, very humbling.
Because we're used to, if you're used to being in positions of
power and positions of autonomy and position that you're able to
take care of yourself. It's hard to be dependent on
someone else to do something for you to be vulnerable.
It's hard sometimes to see why or how meekness can work to our
advantage. And so why does God placed such
a high value on meekness and humility.
Why? Because that's the way the
kingdom works his way into the world.
That's the way the kingdom works.
His way into our heart. Perfect timing.
This is this is how the kingdom works.
That Jesus, humbles himself, that Jesus, lowers himself at
Jesus washes, our feet that Jesus.
Let's women that I have diseases touch him.
That Jesus hangs out with the leper and touches their eyes
that he humbles himself in the Kingdom.
Begins to work its way into people's heart because they got,
I've never interacted with God like this.
I didn't know, God was even like this.
Jesus came to humbly serve. He became human, he humbled
himself, he became a servant. Matthew 20:28, says just as a
son of man, did not come to be served, but to serve and give
his life as a ransom for many. Meekness is the opposite of
self-interest in self-assertiveness.
Meekness is the opposite of being self-willed.
It's the opposite of being uncooperative.
Stubborn stiff, neck difficulties in.
Meekness is not like that. The meek or malleable the meek
are open. The meek are responsive to God.
God wants to redirect our clenched fist.
Now break them to redirect them to say, I could go Tit for Tat
with this person in and meekness, and humility that God
works in our hearts, begin to go.
I'm actually going to use this to serve this person.
I'm angry, I have the rights to be angry.
I have the rights to fight back, but I'm gonna turn my weapons
into plowshares and be instrument of Peace because of
the humility of what Christ has done for me shed abroad in my
heart. God works in.
As he redirects our openness to, his will being done in our lives
to his will being done in other people's lives.
When you hear me because I don't want you to hear like that.
You can't have confidence. Right?
You might think God just don't have confidence just be like a
jellyfish, right? Know you can.
I don't know if that means, it's not that you can't have
confidence, but that your confidence is rooted in God,
that your confidence and your posture and your heart is rooted
in the goodness and the faithfulness of God, it other
dependents for what God wants to do in you.
And in the world, Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, he says this take
my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly.
Lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls already
King James. I know it's a little the year
like what's up with the yeast? This is this town's been the
King James. I like it in the King James.
All right. Some people believe, that's the
only Bible you can hear from God from but we're not that.
Anyways, that's not our. That's not where we're at today.
Um, Hey Houston, take take my yoke upon you and learn of me.
I am meek and lowly in heart. Jesus, here's what he knows.
He knows that the world's economy is that the display of
strength and dominance pride and power are the way to worldly
success. But also the way to fatigue
disintegration and emptiness Aw Tozer says this to men and
women. Everywhere Jesus says come unto
me and I will give you rest the rest.
He offers its the rest of meekness the Blessed relief,
which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are.
And cease to pretend Jesus says, learn from me. we've all been
discipled in one way or the another, in our world, through
our families, through culture and Jesus saying learn from me,
Have this mindset. I'm Meek and I'm humbled and I'm
gentle, and I'm lowly Jesus. Says, learn from him so you can
become like him. Matthew Henry says, it's the
meek are happy the Mika, those who quietly submit to God, who
bear? Who can bear insults?
Are silent or return, a soft answer, who in their patients.
Keep possession of their own Souls when they can scarcely,
keep possession of anything else.
These Meek ones are happy even in this world meekness promotes
Health, comfort and safety. Even in this world, These are
these are these are hard teachings. because when you've
been insulted, when you've been disrespected it's We've been
taught to, don't start it, but finish it.
And he said those who could return a soft answer, those are
the meek. Imagine a world where everyone's
concern was the well-being of others, regardless of their
stature, race gender, economic place in society.
Imagine a world like that. That's the world that uses
trying to paint for us and the Beatitudes.
St. Francis Desales says this, the
highest degree of meekness consistent, seeing serving
honoring and treating amiably on occasion, those who are not to
our taste, and show ourselves, and show themselves unfriendly,
ungrateful and Troublesome to us.
He says like we should serve see honor and treat, kindly people
that are difficult. People that are he's, he said
not to our taste people that are troublesome.
The question that came to me when I when I'm when I'm doing
when I'm reading this because I'm not just like trying to give
you a Bible study but what's going on in my own heart, what
am I thinking God, what is this? Do inside me?
And my first question was honestly does meekness work
Because I know I know how the world is know how people are.
I know how Human family as I know, how does meekness work.
And I think at the heart, I'm concerned about my own life and
livelihood because to live that way is costly.
And I've had many moments in my life words, people close to me
people, not so close to me that have turned their backs on me
that have run me and my family name through the mud that I've
sought to destroy me publicly that have Early accusing me of
wrongdoing who wanted me fired from jobs and spent many nights
in solitary moments, where I said God, it's, it's not worth
it. Or God.
That's it. I'm a fight back or God.
This is this is costing me way too much.
And what I heard through this passages, learn for me.
Man, God is this too hard, man? You know what people are saying
about me? You know, my own family has said
about me and my family. Do you know what they posted
about me? Do you know that they're taking
people from the church because they spread this lie?
Do you know how hard that is? You know, painful that is
learned for me. And that passage in Philippians,
doesn't end the right there, where Jesus humbled himself and
dies, it continues. And in verse 9, it says
therefore God exalted him to the highest place.
And gave him a name. That is above every name that at
the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on
Earth and under the Earth. And every tongue acknowledge
Jesus is Lord to the glory of God, the Father God, exalts the
humble. God, exalts.
The meek. in his timing and in his strength, And our confidence
is not in the fact of what we experience in our life because
we're living a Meek life. Our confidence is that Jesus,
humbled himself was buried but was resurrected so that we might
have life. And so that's what we anchor,
our confidence in, because our feelings will will deceive us,
will have us all over. The place, will have us fighting
back and speaking up and pinching back.
Meet miss the way that Jesus calls us to live might not bring
us the most popularity among our peers and may not ascended to
the top of the depth chart or the org chart, but it didn't for
Jesus either. Ew Tobar says, this Jesus calls
us to his arrest and meekness is his method.
The meek man, care is not at all, who was greater than he
for. He has long ago, decided that
the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.
God can only exalt those who are bowed down.
God, can exalt you, if you don't humble yourself, God, can exalt
you, if you don't live in a place that's for other people.
If your life is purely about yourself and exalting yourself,
God can exalt you So yes, meekness does work but only in
God's economy. So when I questioned God, does
this meekness stuff work? Because I'm looking at how the
world works. It is not getting me anywhere in
the world, but God is saying, man, your meekness is getting
you a place in My Kingdom, your meekness is bringing the kingdom
into your life and into the life of those around you.
Regardless, if you feel that it's moving, you up this ladder
or a crease in your social capital, anybody with me, okay.
It's when we Puritan when we have appeared to loss to lose
it, all that we find out that we've been given all things.
Think about this crowd that Jesus is talking to the poor in
spirit the morning, the humbled, not just spiritually.
But in circumstances that life, These are people that are on the
bottom of the social totem. Pole, in Jesus says this for,
they will inherit the earth. In other words, when you feel as
though you have nothing, everything is coming to you.
You haven't inherited. He's telling you have an
inheritance in God. Really hear that.
There's an inheritance in God, that if you've been bypassed
stepped over, if you've been stepped on overlooked, you have
an inheritance in God, God has something for you, that's
greater than all that you've trying to achieve here in this
life. to inherit means, it has to receive something of
considerable value, which has not been earned And then Jesus
saying you that are living this life of meekness and humility of
lifting others up playing second, fiddle for the benefit
of others, know this, that there's something of Great Value
that you haven't earned that's coming your way.
Jesus, when he's saying what he's saying here in Matthew 5:5,
he's echoing Psalm 37 that says, but the meek will inherit the
land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Jesus is letting us know that God will take care of us.
And we're called to put our trust and up in obedience in him
regardless of the cost. But the meek one commentator
says shall possess the land and Delight themselves in abundant
Prosperity. The land David referred to as
Palestine but Jesus Promised greater possession blessed are
the meek for they shall inherit the earth, the meek then have
access to God's constant protection and boundless love.
Those who have felt like they've been left with nothing or
getting more than they ever expected.
In our world, the strong, the powerful, the proud, they gained
the world in Jesus Kingdom. The meek, the gentle the lowly
in heart, inherit a world to come.
That God is renewing. You with me?
Alright, almost there. All right.
One writer says this, he says blessed are the considerate and
tender blessed are all you who are Humane and harmless because
everything the Conquering hordes have stolen everything that the
self-indulgent masses have squabbled over will slip from
their hands and be given to you. If I was in a church like a man,
they've you say Amen. Praise our God With the Enemy
stove and he's laid up for the righteous.
Come on. That one.
You guys don't want no inheritance from the Lord.
Okay? Okay.
All right. God is saying, man, everything
that you've given up for me, everything that you've laid down
for me that God has in store for you something.
Great. It's a problem.
When all the writers read the stuff about God and he isn't
here. They struggle they struggle with
the evil people. People and the corrupt system
seeming the prosper in their day and their time.
And God is saying he won't always be like this.
Don't give up living the way in which I've called you to live
because of what you see, because understand I'm bringing
something imperishable into the world.
That's going to change the course of human history and I've
already done so by bringing my son into this world.
And so what I'm saying is have his mindset live like him.
Don't get. So fixing what everyone else is
doing because I have a plan and it's Taking place within you
within your church to be the people of God, be the people who
lower themselves and say, I want to prop you up, because it's not
about me because I want to see God's Kingdom.
Come not my kingdom come. To the victor, goes the spoils.
Jesus Took on sin and death in the grave.
He said that we might have life to the full, And the Victory.
And the battle was over sin death and the grave.
And he overcame it, and it Isaiah talked about Jesus and
Isaiah 53. And last passage, I'm going to
read. This is about Jesus is
therefore, I will give him a portion among the great and he
will divide the spoils with the strong because he poured out his
life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors for, he
bore the sin of many and made intercession for the trance
aggressors. In Jesus's Day land was taken
from conquering it. The Kings would use people to
spill their blood for the land for his benefit.
And what Jesus is saying here is that Jesus comes as the king in
his kingdom. And he lays down his life, he
inherits the Earth from God and he shares it with his people.
You see that's what my kingdoms, like.
Humility is the way of the Kingdom.
This is what your king is, like, this is what your God is, like,
have the same mindset, and you, and you will inherit the earth.
Amen. Let me pray for us.