The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached
Matthew 5
January 13, 2019 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Matthew 5:1-5)
A. Jesus has been going around all the villages and towns of the region called Galilee
B. Preaching that “the kingdom” was coming back – was almost here, just at the door
1. Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.
2. Mar 1:14,15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
C. It excited absolutely everyone as he spoke about it
D. And crowds gathered by the thousands around Him to hear Him teach about it
E. Why?
F. Because everything in the Old Testament had pointed to two things coming:
1. A Prophet like Moses – able to give brand new laws, and new hearts to people
2. And there was coming a perfect KINGDOM like David’s, that would continue forever
3. And here was a simple, yet powerful Man named Jesus, declaring BOTH were here
II. Background
A. Why is the Kingdom of God so Important?
1. God’s kingdom is the MAIN thing (the FIRST thing) to worry about. All other kingdoms, and all other problems and all other issues are not anywhere near as important as living in the Kingdom of God!
2. There are different kingdoms – not all are physical (Ephesians 6:12; Romans 8:38,39)
a. Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
b. Rom 8:38,39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
c. We will learn about the seven different kingdoms this year
3. Your understanding of the kingdom OF GOD will determine your eternity! And it will determine your life here and now, how you live it, how you respond to problems, how you see others, and how you will put up with others
4. The kingdom of God is the centre-point of the Bible – start to finish, everything, every conflict, every battle is over who would rule… THE KINGDOM
B. What is the Kingdom of God?
1. It IS a kingdom, with laws, and citizenship, a King, and subjects, and GREAT benefits
a. Where people are ALIVE forevermore, and enjoying life, every moment NOW
b. And where people are FREE of the dominion of sin and Satan and of the curse of their self – not that they don’t experience sin’s pull and Satan’s attacks, but that none of those things have DOMINION over them anymore! AMEN!
c. It has ONE king, the Sovereign King of heaven and earth.
d. Do you know that Jesus Christ never saved a soul which He did not govern?
2. It is NOT of this world (John 18:36) – cannot be found here
a. John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
b. It is not from England or France, or America, or Africa, or China or Rome
c. It is GOD’S kingdom
3. It is not physical or visible (Luke 17:20,21)
a. Luk 17:20,21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you,
b. Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
4. It is a mystery to this world, only explained by Jesus, the King of it - uses parables to explain it (Mark 4:11) (we will learn about some of them this year)
a. The Kingdom of God is a mystery to solve
b. Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
5. In simple words, The Kingdom of God is… GOD ruling in the hearts of yielded men and women - overruling anything or anyone else!
a. That’s why it is called, SALVATION! Because GOD is allowed to take possession of your life, and take responsibility for your sin and be your God!
b. And by the way, it is THEN, while living under His rule, are we blessed / happy / satisfied!
6. And we desperately need to seek after it (Matthew 6:33)
a. Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
b. To seek it FIRST, before finding a mate, deciding a career, or having fun!
c. That means, hunger for the kingdom, own it, yearn to live IN it… or else everything that we know that we need to be happy will always slip through our fingers, and our lives will end up a waste.
7. So Jesus began to teach How to LIVE in that kingdom, with His Beatitudes.
C. What are the Beatitudes? (Found in Matthew chapter 5)
1. Eight beginning truths about the kingdom of God
a. Gospel truths that are out of this world – not from any culture! Not from any science book, or religion. They are NOT naturally learned. They are out of this world!
b. Beatitudes are the opening of our eyes to what it is like in the Kingdom of God. Jesus devotes THREE chapters in Matthew exploring and describing what it is like in His kingdom
2. The necessary attitudes of a follower of Jesus into that kingdom
3. Instructions on how we are to live HERE AND NOW while being a citizen of a greater kingdom
4. Beatitude means blessing, benefit, happiness, beauty
5. The opposite of Christ’s beatitudes… is MISERY. So I HOPE you realise how important it is to learn these, because the only alternative is how you already are - MISERABLE
6. These be-attitudes and instructions are NOT for everyone
a. When people talk about Jesus, these are the teachings they talk about that they seem to like and respect, and yet never actually lived by!
b. But they are NOT written to the busy company manager, or the successful football coach, or the ambitious politician
c. Only written to those that gather at the feet of Jesus – those who seek to follow Him with all their heart!
d. They are NOT a way to become holy, or religious, or godly like most churches teach
e. They are written to people who have been born again and are already washed and clean on the inside
7. The be-attitudes are NOT easy to live by
a. As proven by how few people actually love preaching, and love church
b. It is not easy to change how you view affliction, troubles, success and prosperity
c. In the kingdom of God, everything is backwards!
d. No one will live by these things who doesn’t desperately want to
e. And those that want to live by these things will find that they are the hardest things to attempt imaginable!
f. Because the devil will NOT allow you to just live this way. He will use your WIFE or your CHILDREN, or your husband or your culture, or your past to hinder you and frustrate you and stop you from being “blessed”! Press on anyways!
D. Eight Beatitudes show the Christian all the blessings of having kingdom attitudes, instead of worldly ones – they are exactly the opposite of what you would expect – that’s why I refer to them as the Great Opposites of the Christian Life
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit - Be glad to be empty
2. Blessed are they that mourn - It’s okay to be sad sometimes
3. Blessed are the meek - Taking Last Place, Wins First
4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst – Keep yourself Hungry for Good Things
5. Blessed are the merciful - Show Mercy and Compassion and Kindness a LOT
6. Blessed are the pure in HEART - Prize Purity of your own Heart
7. Blessed are the peacemakers - Seek to Make Peace
8. Blessed are you when persecuted - Rejoice in ALL Persecutions
E. Last week we learned about the first two
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit - Be glad to be empty
2. Blessed are they that mourn - It’s okay to be sad sometimes
F. This morning we are continuing to learn the Eight Be-attitudes, and we will take a look at the next one
1. Blessed are the meek - Taking Last Place, Wins First
III. Message
A. Let’s review… The Meaning of “Blessed”
1. Describes someone who is happy - But it means more than just happy
2. It means Fortunate, well-off, well-to-do, helped, encouraged, “rich”, thriving, successful
3. Pay close attention to WHO Jesus is calling happy, well off and successful in HIS kingdom…
a. Empty failures in life
b. Grief-stricken people
c. Last-place people
d. Hungry and thirsty people
e. Kind people
f. Clean people
g. Peacemakers
h. And hated people
B. 3-“Blessed are the meek…”
1. The Meaning of Meekness
a. It means Gentle
1) Mild of temper, gentle, teachable
2) An attitude of humble, submissive and expectant trust in God while under pressure, and a loving, patient and gentle attitude towards others, while being attacked. WOW!
b. It means being a “Push-over” (at least that is what you will seem like)
1) Most people think meekness is an attitude that allows others to run over you. Well, it kind of IS.
2) Meekness allows others to get ahead, to be first, to get all the credit – even though YOU did most of the work
3) NOT that you are inferior, or that your efforts are not as good – but you live according to the KINGDOM of GOD instead of the kingdom of this world…
4) You believe GOD honours meekness more than being pushy and forceful and argumentative and aggressive like most business are run today, and like most marriages operate today!
5) Meekness allows others to take advantage of you, even though you could put them in their place!
6) Meekness says nothing sometimes, even though you are right and others are wrong
7) Meekness steps down from positions of greatness and applause, to minister to others, even though it costs you everything!
8) You let someone else win for the moment and trust God to make it all work out for good. Because, according to Jesus here, Meekness means you win in the end.
a) To the world you will look like last place but to God you are blessed because you WILL win in the end
b) Meek people may LOOK like a bunch of losers, but according to Jesus, we will outlast all the arrogant jerks in life who ignore God and God’s ways, and in the end inherit NOTHING from God!
9) What does all of that look like? It looks like JESUS!
c. Meekness is STRENGTH restrained!
1) Power that is not used! Anger that is not exposed. Points that are NOT made in an argument. Words that are NOT said. That is meekness!
2) It chooses to be gentle when you COULD be fierce, or hurtful!
3) A nation should have great powwer and authority, but should not use it unless absolutely necessary!
4) Which is exactly how GOD treats us
a) Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
b) Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5) Do you realise how gently GOD speaks to us?
a) 1Kings 19:11,12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
6) Meekness is therefore Strength UNDER CONTROL!!! As a matter of fact, it is Strength UNDER GOD'S CONTROL
a) The world wants MEN to become wimpy babies, dominated by their sex drive to obey their partners like obedient lap dogs
b) GOD wants men to be MEN, who are STRONG and MANLY and can get angry, and can do hard things, but are under the dominion of Jesus instead of themselves!
d. So, Meekness is Gentleness AND Strength perfectly balanced in the Christian’s heart, under the commands of Scripture, and the constraints of the Holy Spirit, and the conviction that God will bless a person who lets GOD do the fighting and not them!
e. The world will call you crazy if you have this attitude!
f. But meekness will open up to you the entire future blessings of the kingdom of heaven on earth – the millennium!
g. A CHRISTIAN LIVES FOR THE FUTURE BLESSINGS – NOT FOR GAIN NOW
2. Examples of Meekness – STRENGTH under God’s Control…
a. Moses (Numbers 12:1-3)
1) Miriam and Aaron were VERY rude towards Moses. Accused him of being WRONG in his choice of a wife!
2) God interrupts the argument with these words… “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”
3) Whew! What a statement!
4) Meekness does not seek revenge, but intercedes for those that are hurting you and protects them from God’s judgment, like Moses ended up doing for Miriam
5) Moses knew his own insufficiency, and how far short he fell of the high requirements of God.
b. David in a cave alone with his enemy king Saul – could have finally killed his mortal enemy, but refused out of meek respect for a man who hated him, knowing that in the end, God would take care of Saul!
c. Job as he is pounded verbally by his three friends – prayed for them
d. Stephen as he is brutally stoned by his enemies – prayed for them
e. The Apostle Paul as he is carried from prison to prison, and stoned and maligned even by other jealous Christians! Let THEM win for the moment!
f. And finally, Jesus
1) Mat 11:29 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.
2) Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
3) 2Co 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
4) Jesus Literally took abuse on the cheek – did not fight back even though He was very able. Jesus had great power, but refused to use it! He LET people strike Him, and abuse Him, and mock Him, and even kill Him! John 18:4-6 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
3. What does meekness do for you?
a. Does NOT make you weak, or timid, shy, fearful, or a door-matt, or a pushover, or a coward
b. It actually allows GOD to be strong FOR you – and HE is ALMIGHTY!
1) God gives strength and power to the meek (Isa 11:4) But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
c. God encourages the meek (Ps 147:6) The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
d. Beautifies you (Ps 149:4) – LADIES, that is for you especially! An angry, loud, pushy woman is ugly to God and everyone else! No exceptions!
1) See 1 Peter 3:4,5 “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”
2) Not constantly arguing and fighting them! Period!
e. Meekness REPLACES all the wrong attitudes…
1) Anger, wrath, pushing, yelling, arguing
2) Arrogance, pride and the desire to be right!
3) That does not mean you never say anything, or respond in any way at all!
4) But that you face your enemy, your problem, and then say your piece and leave the result to God
a) That works in marriage ladies
b) It works on the job
c) It works with bad neighbours too!
f. God satisfies the meek (Psa 22:26) The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
g. God teaches the meek (Psa 25:9) The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
h. God gives the whole WORLD to the meek – not by US fighting, but as a GIFT one day! (Psa 37:11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
i. Everything you do OTHERWISE will lose on all these points!
1) You see, the greatest servant of all time (Jesus) is telling us that only MEEKNESS can make a servant out of each of us – without meekness in our thinking, and in our attitudes and in our reactions, we will never serve – we will only complain, and find fault, and argue and fight and hate whatever God asks of us
2) But if meekness is allowed to become our way of life, we can then start to SERVE, even at the bottom, and in the end, be rewarded with the wealth of the whole earth!
4. What does meekness look like?
a. Does not protect themselves from abuses, attacks, mockings, and disrespect – takes it on the cheek
b. Does not promote themselves at all (Philp 2:7 “made Himself of no reputation”). That is REAL humility. Because you don’t mind not being noticed
c. Does not worry about the outcome of their Bible based decisions – God will judge, God will fight for you, God will give grace to you and will break your enemies! AMEN!
d. Meekness does NOT look like you at all, no matter how hard you try! It will look like JESUS is living through you!
5. How do we GET Meekness?
a. Learning godly wisdom (reading it in THIS BIBLE) produces meekness (James 3:13) – teaches you to wait on God to act when HE sees fit!
b. Accepting Biblical correction produces meekness (Heb 12:5,6) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
c. Responding as Biblical examples responded (WDJD) produces meekness
d. The Holy Spirit produces meekness in us as we yield to HIS work (Gal 5:22,23)
e. God gives it to you – if you WANT it - God CANNOT and WILL NOT force meekness on someone who is not hungering for it!
6. How meek is your spirit/attitude, and your walk today toward others? Remember, true meekness is strength under God’s control while under pressure.
IV.Invitation
A. How meek is your spirit and your walk today toward others?
1. Allow GOD to be strong FOR you against your problem – and HE is ALMIGHTY!
2. Don’t protect yourself from abuses, attacks, mockings, and disrespect – take it on the cheek
3. Don’t promote yourselves at all (Philp 2:7 “made Himself of no reputation”).
4. Don’t worry about the outcome of your Bible based decisions – God will judge, God will fight for you, God will give grace to you and will break your enemies! AMEN!
5. Remember, true meekness is strength under God’s control, while under pressure!
6. Holding back and letting GOD deal with your enemy, your problem
7. Remember, your attitude WILL determine your blessedness in the kingdom of God NOW and in the kingdom of heaven LATER!
B. Maybe none of that is even remotely interesting to you
C. It is because you have not been born again yet – still trusting in your own righteousness