Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 	Last week, we began our considerations of the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes with a view toward the image that we receive of the Glory of God in Christ that they present. We are, after all, seeking after what the Church should be in terms of our conformity unto Christ, to the Glory of God the Father on this earth. 
	In line with that, we are seeing that these Beatitudes give a definite pattern of what is now true of us in Christ, and what was true of us in the world. There is a explicit difference in those who are born of the Spirit, and those who are dead in sin and trespasses, as we have seen. The distinction is the Person of Jesus Christ, who now lives His life in those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
	This now begins the consideration of our current passage of attention Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the meek. Here is another of the characteristics that is so foreign to the realm of this earth. It is caught up in the idea of standing up for our rights, of looking out for number one, of gaining a semblance of power over our lives and over the lives of others. The idea that we would willingly submit ourselves to another is repulsive to this world order, which strives after every speck of control in its grasp.
	Herein lies a portion of the ultimate fall from Grace of Lucifer and of humanity. It is the classic power struggle of me, myself and I above God. Meekness deals with the center of power, after all. Who is in control? When we feel that we are controlling the avenue of our existence, we are loath to give up any particle to anyone or anything else. We claw and scratch and beg and steal and lie to keep ourselves and our rights as protected as possible. The whole structure of this world order is centered in the conflict of the center of control and the protection of that which we fell is ours. This world order places its everything on what it has in its grasp and refuses to allow anyone or anything to diminish the importance, great or small, of its power structure.
	The meekness of this passage deals very specifically with the controlling forces of our lives. This is where the lies of humanity, once again, are focused on the absolute and determined ridicule of those who are meek in its eyes. So often, the meek are considered in terms of weak and dish-rags to be used and discarded by the strong of this realm. They are derided as door-mats and too insignificant to even be of concern in this world order. *Those who take pity on the meek, strive to bolster their self-esteem and their pride in order to create a somewhat more socially acceptable personage with which to associate. The entirety of humanity looks down upon them, wondering how to deal with a people so prone to be stepped on and taken advantage of in their eyes.
	Against this worldly view, we have the spiritual aspect of meekness in the Lord. This is not a new idea put forth by the Lord Jesus in this Sermon on the Mount. He would seem to be referring to the truth as already put forth in Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and delight themselves in the abundance of peace. In referring to this very Word of God, as recorded by the Psalmist, Christ elevates the whole essence of meekness into a characteristic that we should desire to have made wholly a part of us. *He brings forth the verity that meekness in the eyes of God, and for His purpose, is the very course of our beings, juxtaposed to the derision of this realm. There is still the question of control, but the issue is not our control or lack of it, it is the control of Christ in our lives and in the lives of all the members of His Body of believers.
	You see, there is a focal point of meekness to which the world cannot relate. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, as we discovered last week, the whole emphasis of our being is changed form what I get to what would please the Father. Christ’s entire life on this earth was only effective because He did exactly that which pleased the Father. He in nowise stood up for His own rights. No, He set those rights aside in order to be completely pleasing to the Father. Even consider the fact that He cleansed the temple of the moneychangers. Some might point to that episode as less than one of meekness, and yet, when seen in the light of what was true of that action, the very meekness of Christ is at the fore-front. What was done, was done in a two-fold manner. There was a heart after God that was repulsed in the manner in which the House of His Father was being defiled. There was no uncontrolled anger evident. Rather, in the deepest control of the Father’s heart, He went into the midst of the sacrilege that infested the House of His Father, and diligently and earnestly cleansed the temple, much like our hearts, the living temple of God must be cleansed and set into proper relationship with God. This could not be done with self-concern, or in a fit of anger. That would have violated every aspect of the holiness of the Temple for which He was in travail. Rather, He was following a scriptural pattern that was established with a heart after pleasing God. The Old Testament recounts a very similar process in II Chronicles 29, where King Hezekiah also is repulsed by the current state of affairs, and orders that the Temple of God be cleansed from its defiled state.
	To adequately understand this, we must realize that meekness is the comprehensive surrender of our rights, wishes, wants, desires, and any other attitude of self-centered proclamation. It is all surrendered freely and unconditionally to God. The control of our lives, then, becomes His to manifest the purity of Himself through these yielded lives. What do we mean by this? Simply that we no longer have any avenue of seeking after that which benefits us, but are rather more concerned, much more concerned, about that which benefits others in the life of Christ Who now indwells us. The whole aspect of the control of our lives is no longer ours to contemplate or to defend.
	Those who are meek, while seen as wimps by the bullies of this realm, are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. There is a decided power at work in us, not of our selves, heaven forbid, but of Jesus Christ living His life out from us. That idea, although maybe considered to be a simple one, has dramatic and drastic effects in our walk on this earth. No longer is there a concern about how we might be abused, taken advantage of, degraded, and harassed. Our focus is upon our Lord Jesus Christ. As He is the Victorious King, so we have our confidence firmly rooted in Him to se us through anything that this world launches against us. With that knowledge, there is a concrete resolve not to be moved or swayed from the ground of His unwavering triumph. That makes all the difference that this world mistakes as weakness and timidity. Mat H
	(End) Where this world fights to make things happen to its perceived benefit, we stand in the Lord. Where this world manipulates and struggles and frustrates in its endeavors of self-proclamations, we stand in the Lord. Where this age shouts, protests, reviles, accuses and exploits for its own survival, we are in a fixed and immovable position in Christ. Where this world lies and cheats and murders in its every attempt to promote and to protect itself, we are found established in our place in Jesus Christ. Where this world expends its fury in the storms and violence of animosity and persecution, we have our place of security and rest and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ, resolutely fixed and determinedly unwillingly to give up anything of Him for the wanton pleasures of this age.
	That is the meekness of Christ that has a power beyond any measure in this realm. It is a power that is effective beyond measure, because it is the power of the Omnipotent God Who indwells us. In no measure is it ours to wield to our inclination and purpose, but rather, God employs it in our lives to show forth that which is His plan and purpose. It is not a tool in our hands, because that would mean that we would corrupt it with our human desire for self-promotion. Rather, it is a characteristic of Christ, Who now lives His life out from us. Witness this in Matt 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. for my yoke is easy and my burden light. This is the meekness that is filled with the power to bear all in love for others in the same quiet confidence that He bore all for our sake. It is that same quiet stillness that stood before the accusers, as a lamb led to the slaughter, knowing that in that restrained stillness before man, God would be completely glorified. 
	Matthew Henry describes those who are meek in the following manner:
	The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his 	word and to his rod, who follow his directions, and comply with his 	designs, and are gentle towards all men; who can bear provocation 	without be inflamed by it; are either silent , or return a soft 	answer; and who can show their displeasure when there is occasion 	for it, without being transported into any indecencies; who can be 	cool when others are hot; and in their patience keep possession of 	their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of 	anything else. They are meek, who are rarely and hardly provoked, 	but quickly and easily pacified; and who would rather forgive 	twenty injuries than revenge one, having rule of their own 	spirits.
	The meek shall inherit the earth, or land as most commentators translate it. The reference is the Land of Canaan, the blessing that was promised by God to His people. (It is in meekness that all that we receive from God has its fruition. What does this world gather in its discordant grasping after all it can get, in any manner in which it can get it? There is war, and strife, and anguish, and hatred, and murder, and theft, to mention but a bit that makes up the inheritance of this realm’s desperate striving after its own self-promotion. The meek, however, receive as their portion, the blessing of God in peace. There is a quietness that manifests itself as they face very worldly situation in the confidence that God is the One in charge of their lives and in the affairs of mankind. Rather than being afraid and in turmoil, theirs is a peace and rest in the lord to manifest Himself fully and completely in every situation, no matter how hopeless it seems by human measure.)
	The blessing of the land, is that they receive of the portion of the Lord each and every day of their lives on this earth. At no time are they without the presence of God, quietly speaking peace into their hearts. Please consider for a moment, when we are without the meekness of Christ in our beings, when we have given into doubt and frustration and fear for ourselves, what happens with us? Is there a peace, a joy, a rest? Hardly, that does not return until we have given ourselves back to the heart of God in meekness, standing once more on the rock of the salvation of Christ and His victory over all that this world thrusts upon us. Then, we are again quietly confident in Him, and in Him alone. What a blessing He is!
	The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:1-3 admonishes us in the same manner in which God worked so mightily in him I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
	The Apostle Paul is an outstanding example of a man who came into the full knowledge of God in all meekness. It was not always the case, as we know from scripture. He was a very pious man, very much after His own promotion within the ranks of human endeavor. He was a Jews Jew, as he called himself, knowing every jot and tittle of the Law to his own promotion. He could tolerate no attack on the traditions of his teaching, and went out of his way with utmost malice to any who were part of the Christian faith, because he took it as a personal affront to what he stood for and believed in. He was the one who acceded to the stoning of Stephen, because he was audacious enough to promote the name of Jesus of Nazareth. In his every action, he was filled with a rage against what he took as a personal attack upon himself. Then, on that road to Damascus, with the intent of wiping out the name of Jesus, he met the Lord, and was blinded by His Glory. His entire life was transformed in that revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to such an extent, that he became the meekest of men. His fervor was changed form self-promotion to the proclamation that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He fervently, yet with all meekness in the Spirit, proclaimed the risen Lord as Savior of Jew and Gentile alike. His entire focus was transformed from whom he, Saul, was into Whom Christ was. Evidence even the giving up of the name that meant so much to him, Saul of Tarsus, to Paul the servant of the Living God. His heritage, his standing, his wealth, all meant nothing in relation to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So changed into the meekness of Christ, that he could proclaim with all his heart, a love to even those Gentiles, who had before been a scourge and a defilement to the Jew.
	The blessing of God upon the meek rests in the knowledge of the heart that is after God. Where that heart seeks after the Glory of God to be established in every aspect of a life, the meekness that characterized Christ will surely be evident. The power of meekness is that God has the freedom to do whatsoever He desires, and to do it without the hindrance of defiled humanity trying to make itself known. This is the witness that we are to be. Of what significance is it when a strong man overcomes a weighty issue. This world expects that. Of what notice is it when a rich man can buy his way our of a problem. That is held forth by this world as the answer to all its problems. The hope of humankind is power and wealth and position.
	But, when God manifests Himself in Omnipotence in those who are the least in the eyes of this realm, others take notice, and seek to discover the secret for themselves. It is then that in complete meekness, we point them to the Christ, without Whom we would not survive on this earth. We triumphantly proclaim a better way, a blessed way in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
	(Yes, we have inherited the earth, the whole earth, in the completeness of Christ. It is His to shape and to bless in the beauty of Himself, in the life that He lives in the Church. We live in the land that He has promised us, the Land of Canaan, the Holy Ground of the Victory of Christ Jesus.) 
	The Apostle Paul gives us our closing for this evening in I Timothy 6:11-16, after he has described all that meekness is not to Timothy, saying ...But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen , nor can see; to whom be honour, and power everlasting. Amen.