The Sermon on the Mount Part 4

[HKHaugan]

The Sermon on the Mount Part 4

“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Mt.5:5).”

The third blessing about meekness is the relational openness with which we approach the world. It is being able to handle every situation from a spiritual point of view. Eternity is the spiritual present when you are a believer. Every situation demands a spiritual response and letting the Holy Spirit guide is being a part of the Kingdom. When we have been spiritually comforted it is easier to face every next moment spiritually patient thus reducing our defensiveness and needing to jump to personal conclusions and negative reactions.

However, there is more to meekness than meets the eye. What it is not is being a 'Caspar Milquetoast,' letting people walk all over you while you smile on the outside and froth or fear on the inside. That's the world's concept. It's the 'people-pleaser,' the one in a group who is always looking around to see what the social temperature is before he says anything or acts on any issue. Neither is it always agreeing with everyone around you in order to 'fit in.' Nor is it remaining quiet to avoid conflict.

Meekness is not weakness. If we see Jesus as the example it becomes quite obvious He was strong spiritually. He resolved to to be obedient to His Father's will in every circumstance. This is in essence what humility is all about. It is being meek and humble before the Father wherever we are. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no sin and no deceit was in His mouth (Is.53:9).' When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly (1Pet.:21-23).”

But there still remains the question, how will the meek inherit the earth? Is it physical land? God promised Abraham the whole land of Canaan forever (Gen.17:8). Let's keep the first Blessed in sight here, spiritual poverty and its cure, thinking like Jesus, instructed by Scripture. Are our eyes fixed on what can be seen or what can't be seen? Jesus reminds us that looking for a physical kingdom outside in this world is fruitless because the Kingdom of God is within (Lk.17:21). Ps.27:11 says clearly that the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. Right there is the clue. The land is the inner realization of God's peace, the stability we now have with Jesus as Lord, the balance that comes from knowing the Holy Spirit is delivering the quality of Jesus' mind and heart in every next moment.

What the Lord God created and recorded in the Old Testament is the physical image of establishing His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. The growing Body of Christ is the flag of Jesus being planted to be the earthly piece of His Kingdom. In Jesus the inner spiritual land is revealed as the ultimate reality. Our world began in His spiritual being. God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the core of the Kingdom. He is the perfect relationship, the blueprint for the Body of Christ. Through Him physical reality is the product of the spiritual mind and power of God. That's exactly why we begin everything with spiritual thinking because that's the way Jesus thought. All Creation began out of God who is Spirit (Jn.4:24) so our task is to bring that truth right where we are.

So our relational life in this world is the land that we are called to bring to Him. Again, when we pray the way Jesus taught, we pray “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.” It is making friends, being friends and bringing friends to the Lord. Then we grow together in the Body of Christ. As we grow we witness in the world in which we find ourselves. Ministering to one another with the gifts of the Spirit we build a relational base that then reaches out to help those outside who are desperate for the stability the Lord gives. Most people outside of Christ just don't know that He is the One they have been searching for. Every time we share our testimony with another person, that is land being reclaimed for the Lord.