WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.140 Now we're going to read together in our Bibles from Psalm 37. 00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:14.900 We're going to read the first 11 verses and then we'll turn to our beatitude after that. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:27.179 And you'll see that in Psalm 37, the theme of meekness emerges and Jesus appears to draw on this psalm as he teaches. 00:00:27.179 --> 00:00:30.960 So Psalm 37, verse 1 to 11. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:32.439 This is the word of God. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:38.719 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:41.480 For like the grass, they will soon wither. 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:44.280 Like green plants, they will soon die away. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:47.399 Trust in the Lord and do good. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:50.760 Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:55.740 Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 00:00:56.660 --> 00:00:58.140 Commit your way to the Lord. 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:00.579 Trust in him and he will do this. 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:08.040 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:11.840 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 00:01:12.520 --> 00:01:16.700 Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:19.379 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:20.260 Do not fret. 00:01:20.800 --> 00:01:22.099 It leads only to evil. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.620 For those who are evil will be destroyed. 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:30.719 For those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land a little while and the wicked will be no more. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:33.880 Though you look for them, they will not be found. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:41.080 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:49.700 So as we come to this beatitude, blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:54.459 We'll see how Jesus draws on that psalm as we go. 00:01:54.459 --> 00:02:02.699 Now, question as we begin, is meekness, just another word, for weakness? 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:10.420 Let me take you to the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:15.060 He wrote a now famous book called The Cost of Discipleship. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:21.480 So he was writing and teaching in the late 1930s in a seminary in Germany, 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:24.899 training pastors for the confessing church. 00:02:24.899 --> 00:02:33.159 And many of those pastors, along with Bonhoeffer, would courageously oppose Hitler and the Nazi regime. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:36.659 Bonhoeffer was not meek. 00:02:37.579 --> 00:02:39.859 But here is what he says on meekness. 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:46.100 He said, those who now possess the earth by violence and injustice shall lose it. 00:02:47.220 --> 00:02:52.300 And those who here have utterly renounced it, utterly renounced the world, 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:58.460 who were meek to the point of the cross, shall rule the new earth. 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:07.040 Here is Bonhoeffer encouraging these pastors to give up their rights. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.739 Not assert my rights. 00:03:12.739 --> 00:03:20.639 To pursue future inheritance rather than looking for the comfort and security of seeking everything now. 00:03:22.299 --> 00:03:24.280 Isn't this such a different message? 00:03:25.019 --> 00:03:27.239 Isn't this counter-cultural? 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:34.799 But to be honest, isn't this profoundly challenging to our mindset and behaviour? 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:43.780 We live here today in a secular society where most people think in terms of a closed system. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:46.360 Where all we see is all there is. 00:03:46.660 --> 00:03:47.980 So all we have is now. 00:03:48.980 --> 00:03:51.100 Therefore, we should grab what we can. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:54.680 We should drive for our personal goals. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.840 Now, of course, we need to recognise ambition can be good. 00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:05.939 When that ambition is to glorify God and when it is to serve others and to be for others. 00:04:06.480 --> 00:04:09.680 But ambition can also become misdirected. 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:16.720 And it can be turned inward so that we're concerned with self-glory and pride. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:20.980 And we can be profoundly selfish in our ambitions. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:32.520 And in a society and in a way of thinking where that dominates, meekness, as described by Bonhoeffer, as described by Jesus, may appear as weakness. 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:38.839 And to be the one person who doesn't want to step on others to get ahead. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:48.019 And to be the one person who, on social media, doesn't want to promote the brand of me and my vision of how the world should be. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.439 To put the will of God over my desires. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.939 That's very different to what's going on typically. 00:04:56.939 --> 00:05:04.759 Martin Lloyd-Jones, he said that Christians should be an enigma to the world. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:06.660 A puzzle to the world. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.180 What's with the church? 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:12.779 What's with these values that they pursue? 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:17.319 So we're going to think about the value of meekness. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:20.699 And recognise, as we do, that we follow Jesus. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:24.980 Who the one time, in the Gospels, he describes his own heart. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:28.460 He describes himself as gentle and lowly. 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:31.000 Humble and meek. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:38.080 Jesus is this powerful combination of complete power as God the Son. 00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:42.439 But also this gentle, patient love. 00:05:43.640 --> 00:05:45.500 Meekness is not weakness. 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:47.080 As I hope we'll see. 00:05:48.020 --> 00:05:52.040 Three questions for us to think about together. 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:56.420 First question, simply, what is meekness? 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.500 We'll use one negative example from the Bible and two positive ones. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.000 Let's go back to the beginning. 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:07.800 To think about Adam and Eve and their life in the Garden of Eden. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:09.420 We go here often. 00:06:09.520 --> 00:06:10.800 What do we know about Adam and Eve? 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:13.259 They were made in God's image. 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:19.699 They were made with glory and dignity to rule as stewards over God's creation. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:22.159 So to rule the earth under God. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:26.620 And they were living in paradise in that setting. 00:06:27.039 --> 00:06:31.920 But Adam and Eve did not bow in meekness. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:33.779 Or they did not continue in that state. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:39.759 Rather, tempted by the devil, the snake, they tried to seize rule for themselves. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:42.879 And they discovered that kind of pride was not gain but loss. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:44.560 Sin came. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:46.379 They fell under God's curse. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:49.500 They were separated from God's paradise. 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:51.680 And there was the wages of sin. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:52.219 Dead. 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:55.180 Physical and spiritual. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:59.340 So to think about their example. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:01.780 To learn from them. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:02.519 Meekness. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.540 Looks like humble dependence on God. 00:07:06.780 --> 00:07:10.300 Meekness recognizes glory belongs all to God, not to myself. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.639 To use the language of Bonhoeffer. 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:18.720 Meekness determines to leave our rights to God alone. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:25.500 And that certainly means we don't assert my rights over God as we saw in the garden. 00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:27.640 Now to our psalm. 00:07:28.260 --> 00:07:31.980 And the positive example of King David in Psalm 37. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:35.200 And as we said, Jesus likely has this psalm in mind. 00:07:35.700 --> 00:07:40.780 Now maybe as we read this together, you would have heard a repeating pattern three times. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.760 It says do not fret or do not fear. 00:07:44.440 --> 00:07:46.220 And each time the focus is similar. 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:51.940 Do not fear the apparent progress or the apparent success of the evil and the wicked. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:56.760 Don't fret those who seem to be getting ahead while they live without God. 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:57.440 Why? 00:07:58.880 --> 00:08:01.260 Because in the end they will fade away. 00:08:02.140 --> 00:08:04.620 And in the end they will face the judgment of God. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:10.140 And instead, David encourages a particular mindset. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:16.519 So in verse 3, instead of fretting and fearing, trust in the Lord and do good. 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:22.419 Verse 4, delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:25.959 And he will change your heart so that you desire what is good and pleasing to him. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:29.579 Verse 5, commit your ways to the Lord. 00:08:29.979 --> 00:08:32.439 Knowing that he will ultimately vindicate. 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:38.380 Verse 7, be still and wait patiently for the Lord. 00:08:38.680 --> 00:08:43.080 Pursue his will and trust in his timing. 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:47.860 Verse 9 and verse 11, hope in the Lord. 00:08:48.660 --> 00:08:50.120 Live with meekness. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:50.760 And what? 00:08:52.020 --> 00:08:54.220 You'll inherit the land, David says. 00:08:54.300 --> 00:08:57.940 There'll be peace and there will be prosperity. 00:08:57.940 --> 00:09:10.080 So meekness, according to King David, is a willingness to be deprived and dispossessed and disadvantaged now. 00:09:10.760 --> 00:09:12.980 To not have to fight for our rights. 00:09:13.380 --> 00:09:15.440 To not have to demand our place. 00:09:16.260 --> 00:09:18.100 Because we have hope. 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:26.580 The hope of a future inheritance both from God and with God in his good land. 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:35.500 Our last positive example to help us to think about what is meekness is, of course, the life of Jesus himself. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:41.920 For the next couple of months, we're going to be thinking about the heart of Jesus as we see it in John's Gospel. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:47.960 In our morning series, tune in at 11.30 the live stream and you can catch up on YouTube. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:53.680 Well, Jesus, as we said, he describes himself as gentle and lowly and humble and meek. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:57.059 At the beginning we read from Matthew chapter 12. 00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:02.000 And we are reminded, here is Jesus, the servant of the Lord. 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.099 He has been appointed and anointed by God. 00:10:05.359 --> 00:10:07.019 He is filled with the Spirit. 00:10:07.359 --> 00:10:08.219 God loves him. 00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:09.279 God delights in him. 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:10.899 He is the one who has it all. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.979 And yet, how does he deal with people? 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:16.719 He will not quarrel. 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:18.859 He will not cry out. 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:22.440 He will not break the bruised reeds. 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:27.120 He will not snuff out the smouldering wick. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.940 Jesus is gentle. 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.200 Jesus is patient. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.039 Patient to those who have weak faith. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:36.980 Patient to those who are discouraged. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:43.740 And isn't that good news to us now when this season can seem so hard and be going on for such a long time. 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:47.159 And it's easy to give in to discouragement and despair. 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.539 Jesus is there. 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:52.980 Jesus, who is meek, is there for you. 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.560 This is the Jesus of Philippians 2. 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:59.379 Who had all the glory of heaven and yet became a servant. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:02.740 And he submitted himself to the will of God. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:06.560 Ultimately, he submitted himself to death on a cross. 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:10.899 To give his life as a ransom for many. 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:14.740 To save proud rebels like us. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:17.259 To give us new hearts. 00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:21.220 That would humble ourselves before our God and King. 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:29.299 So meekness is a life patterned on Jesus the second Adam. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:33.000 Jesus the greater king than David. 00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:38.059 Following on from that. 00:11:38.979 --> 00:11:42.579 What are some of the marks of meekness? 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:47.019 Let's try and think in a concrete way here. 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:50.719 John Stott in his book Christian Counterculture. 00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:55.779 He recognises a flow to the first three beatitudes. 00:11:55.779 --> 00:12:01.019 That if we recognise that spiritually we are poor and banged up. 00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:03.919 That we are entirely reliant on God for mercy. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:08.439 If we mourn our sins such that we take it to Jesus for forgiveness. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:11.620 Then we'll have a true self-assessment. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.699 So we won't be proud. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.860 We'll naturally be meek. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:19.480 Before our holy and perfect God. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:27.480 But with the result that we will not be so defensive and protective of our self and our status and our reputation. 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:31.300 And Martin Lloyd-Jones says that to be truly meek. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:34.360 Means we no longer protect ourselves. 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:37.659 Because we see there's nothing worth defending. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.960 Where we see all I have. 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:43.620 Comes from God alone. 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:48.320 If I have God's approval and I'm secure in that. 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:52.860 I don't need to worry about reputation or status in the world's eyes. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.879 Now, how does this kind of meekness show up in our lives? 00:12:56.259 --> 00:13:02.360 Where does its light shine over and against the backdrop of pride and self-confidence? 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:10.279 And here in part I'm drawing from a book written by a pastor scholar by the name of Terry Johnson on the Beatitudes. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.000 Which is one of the many helpful books that are out there. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:15.319 He makes four observations. 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:19.100 First of all, the meek are teachable. 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.220 Let me read from James chapter 1 verse 21. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.159 Where James says, 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:31.620 Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:39.379 And humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:47.939 In humbly accepting the correction of God's word, we will get rid of moral filth. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.139 Meek people are ready to listen to others. 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:54.779 Are ready to receive correction. 00:13:55.159 --> 00:14:00.620 Especially to submit to the correction that comes from God's word. 00:14:00.839 --> 00:14:05.000 Whether it's as we're reading the Bible in our private devotions. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:09.019 Whether it's hearing the Bible as it's read and taught in church. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:16.240 Or whether it's as it's brought to us from a Christian friend lovingly helping to show us truth. 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.879 So we're not defensive. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.360 We're not sulking. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:23.899 We're not fighting back. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.240 Where we can honestly say, 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:31.840 I know there are many areas in which I fail. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:37.080 So it's natural and necessary that I receive correction. 00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:42.940 Honestly, this is something that I find difficult. 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:52.440 But it most certainly helps to be reminded of who our God is. 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:54.460 To see his perfections. 00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:58.240 So that we would have a lower view of ourself. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:02.140 And we'd be more honest about our sin and our need of correction. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:10.259 Another quality of the meek is that the meek are gentle with others. 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:14.139 This time we can go to Paul's letter to the Galatians. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.679 And he says there towards the end, 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.740 Brothers and sisters, 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.939 If someone is caught in a sin, 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.939 You who live by the Spirit 00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:29.139 Should restore that person gently. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.939 Gently. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.600 So we have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:37.220 Towards loving correction and restoration. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.939 But we must be aware of ourselves. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.399 In the teaching of Jesus, 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:45.860 Before we start taking specs out of our neighbour's eye, 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:49.360 We must be aware of the whacking great logs in our own eyes. 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:53.200 So that we would move towards others humbly and gently. 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.740 That we'd be careful of our tone. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.039 That we'd be careful of our attitude. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:02.980 Approaching anyone as a fellow sinner. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:10.059 Looking to extend the grace that we have received from our God and Saviour. 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:18.259 There was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s called Will Campbell. 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:21.259 And he once famously said this. 00:16:21.339 --> 00:16:21.679 He said, 00:16:22.739 --> 00:16:29.619 Do not reduce a person to the madness of a single moment. 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:33.799 To think the best of someone. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.440 Even when they show you your worst. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:45.019 And how different that is to the trial by social media that we see so prevalent. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:48.340 People that we don't know. 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:53.579 Background stories that we have no inclination what's going on. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:17:00.059 But we can be so quick to pile in with harsh words and pronounce judgment. 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:03.939 As Christians we need to avoid that. 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:06.779 We need to avoid cancel culture. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:14.000 Again so quick to pounce on the mistake of a celebrity or a politician or a friend. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.059 And to want to bring them down. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:29.740 Thirdly the meek are modest. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:34.159 And again this is from Paul 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.599 Where he makes the point. 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:39.419 What do you have that you did not receive? 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:42.440 And if you did receive it. 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:46.440 Why do you boast as though you did not? 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:50.240 In other words understand everything. 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.779 Everything we have is from God. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.019 Terry Johnson asks a great question. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.180 He says, 00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:59.440 What if you had all your abilities. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.340 All of your skills. 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:04.759 But you lived in outer Mongolia. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.820 Our lives would be so so different wouldn't they? 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:12.799 All that we have is a gift of God. 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:18.339 And so we are called as Christians to admit complete dependence on God. 00:18:18.659 --> 00:18:22.539 To give glory to him rather than claim it for ourselves. 00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:30.799 The fourth thing about people who are meek is that they are servants. 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.879 Let's return to some words of Jesus. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:37.000 In Mark chapter 10 beginning at verse 43. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:42.220 So this is after James and John two brothers wanted the best seat in the kingdom. 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:47.680 They wanted to sit in the left and the right hand of Jesus when he came to reign as king in his kingdom. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:50.880 And Jesus said this to them and to his listening disciples. 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:55.220 Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. 00:18:55.220 --> 00:19:00.220 And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:05.660 For even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve. 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:10.279 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:14.279 The meek are not living for themselves. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.859 The meek are not living for themselves. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:18.319 Not asserting and demanding their rights. 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:21.799 But rather giving energy to serving others. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.839 Following the pattern of Jesus. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.619 The greatest servant. 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:31.519 Who served us by giving up his life for us as a ransom for many. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.859 Again to borrow from Bonhoeffer. 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:37.420 The meek renounce every right of their own. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.099 And live for the sake of Christ. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.960 Some diagnostic questions. 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:52.139 To think about do I have the marks of meekness in my life? 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:54.900 Where do I need to grow and develop? 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.859 Ask yourself the question. 00:19:58.220 --> 00:20:00.099 How do I deal with criticism? 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:02.899 Am I open to correction? 00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:08.339 How do I react to others who wrong me? 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:14.500 How do I speak or type about people I believe are wrong? 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:23.659 How do I think about and speak about any success I enjoy? 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:34.880 How willing and ready am I to go low and serve for the sake of others? 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.880 How do I do? 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.880 How do I do? 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.680 How do I do? 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:43.500 Now one last question to think about on the topic of meekness. 00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:45.340 And it's a hugely important one. 00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:49.160 What is the reward of meekness? 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:55.440 Now maybe you spotted the difference between Psalm 37 verse 11. 00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.700 Where I finished the reading. 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:59.060 And then Matthew 5 verse 5. 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:02.740 In Psalm 37 the meek will inherit the land. 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:06.579 Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:11.799 And what I want to do is try and show how Christian hope. 00:21:12.419 --> 00:21:13.500 Future hope. 00:21:14.159 --> 00:21:15.339 As well as present joy. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:18.259 Is totally tied up with Jesus. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:20.919 The truly meek one. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:27.539 To recognise that it's because of his meekness. 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.459 Because of his humility. 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.759 His patience. 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.480 His gentleness. 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:33.179 His willing to go low. 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:35.980 His submitting to his father's will. 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:39.539 And becoming the suffering servant for the sake of his church. 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:43.159 Is because of that attitude in his heart. 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:45.839 And the actions that flowed from it. 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:49.379 That he then receives all authority. 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:52.299 That he receives the kingdom. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:55.619 That the whole earth is his. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.839 And here's the wonderful hope. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:00.420 That King Jesus who now rules and reigns. 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.099 And the whole earth is his. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:05.319 He promises an inheritance. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.759 To his people. 00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.839 To his church. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:10.419 Not just the geographical promised land. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.619 That was the hope of King David. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.879 And Old Testament Israel. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.819 He's promising. 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:15.839 He's guaranteeing. 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:19.019 Life and rule. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.899 In the new heavens. 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.379 And the new earth. 00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:24.839 He's promising life. 00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:26.039 Like the Garden of Eden. 00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:29.059 Where God's people will live in God's place. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.099 Under God's rule. 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:33.240 Enjoying his blessing. 00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:35.119 Serving him. 00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:36.779 Enjoying his world. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.099 Stewarding it. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.240 Stewarding it. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.440 For his glory. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.480 Not ours. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.519 Great joy. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.519 And by the eyes of faith. 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:49.240 We are able to see. 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.460 The glorious future. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.180 That belongs to the people of God. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.920 So that we might turn. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.519 From the sin of pride. 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.440 To trust in Jesus. 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.359 As Lord. 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.559 To turn from a desire. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.420 To grab everything now. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.759 To live for. 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:07.140 A glorious eternal future. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.740 Those who grab it all now. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.140 Cannot truly take possession of the earth. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.660 But to follow Jesus. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.400 Gentle and lowly. 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:19.440 Is the promise. 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.740 Of a future. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.440 Where we enjoy it all. 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:25.259 What you and I need. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.259 Is to place. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.259 Our trust. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:28.940 In. 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.700 This. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.500 Jesus. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.120 He is the one. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.279 Who. 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.820 To use Bonhoeffer's words. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.620 Truly was meek. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.039 To the point. 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.880 Of the cross. 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.960 He humbled himself. 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:40.759 To death. 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:42.019 On the cross. 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.700 But God exalted him. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:43.980 God. 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:44.779 Raised him. 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.559 And gave him the name. 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:47.180 Above every name. 00:23:47.580 --> 00:23:48.620 The name of Jesus. 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.299 Every knee would bow. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.539 And every tongue confess. 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:53.299 That Jesus is Lord. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:54.879 He rules. 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:55.680 The newer. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.180 And by faith. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.720 As we live with meekness. 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.579 So too. 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.899 Will we.