THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT -- Matt.5:5

Man is basically rebellious and pride rules the heart! Think about the times we make excuses for our actions! We tend to be defensive, don't we? When Satan tried to usurp God's throne he was thrown our of heaven. Pride drove man to eat the forbidden fruit and was deposed. Life's course pretty much remains the same. Whatever it takes to succeed and reach the top, that's our mantra! When Jesus said in verse 5, "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," He introduced a new strategy for world conquest. Spiritual warfare is won through "meekness" not brute force. A cursory review of Moses' life would not place him on a list of weak and mild leaders, yet Numbers 12:3 states "Moses was a very humble man, more than anyone else on the face of the earth." Jesus was also said to be "meek and lowly in heart" (Matt.11:28) but He was not weak.

John MacArthur puts it into perspective when he states, "the essential difference between being poor in spirit and being meek or gentle, may be that poverty of spirit focuses on our sinfulness, whereas meekness focuses on God's holiness. The basic attitude of humility underlies both virtues. When we look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and unworthy we are; when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how righteous and worthy He is."

Meekness is the opposite of violence or vindictiveness. it is one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). Emotion out of control destroys productivity. Meekness is power under control. It was often used of breaking a wild horse until it became gentle and useful under the master's control. So the spirit of meekness is the Spirit of Christ who controls the yielded Christian. Peter put it this way: "humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (I Peter 5:6). We are the happiest and most useful under His control. His kingdom is inherited through humility. Are you willing to come under His control? Then, you will be blessed!