Sermon delivered 1-9-11 at Hempfield Church of the Brethren

2. The Attitude of Beatitude
 Not the congratulations that his
audience was expecting
 “Blessed” = The highest type of well-
being that a human can experience
 “Poor in spirit” = destitution, utter
dependence. Opposite of spiritual
pride and self-sufficiency
 Don’t be a whitewashed tomb

3. What is the “Kingdom of
Heaven?”
Wherever God rules! There is
peace and joy there.

4. “I can do it myself!”

5. Growing in
Christ-like
Character!

6. “You can’t change the taste of
cabbage by spraying your
kitchen with deodorant.”

7. Where do beatitudes come from?
• They are not natural tendencies.
• There is no natural origin.
• They are dispositions created by
God’s grace and God’s spirit.

8. Each beatitude
creates a
condition
for the
next

9.  The poor in spirit is caused to mourn
 Those who mourn are meek
 The meek hunger and thirst for
righteousness
 The spiritually satisfied are the
merciful
 The merciful are pure in heart
 The pure in heart are peacemakers
 The peacemakers can be persecuted

11. What is meekness?
Meekness is power under control.
It is a by-product of humbling yourself before God.

14. Why Is Meekness Necessary?

15. 1. It is commanded
Seek the lord, all you humble of the land,
you who do what he commands. –
Zephaniah 2:3

16. 2. It is Necessary For Salvation
The lord will beautify the
meek
with salvation –Psalm 149:4

17. 3. It is Necessary For
Receiving God’s Word
Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able
to save your souls –James 1:21

18. 4. It is Necessary For
Effective Witnessing
Be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of
the hope that is in you, with meekness
and fear – 1 Peter 3:15

19. 5. It Gives Glory to God
Your beauty should not come from
outward adornment, such as braided
hair and the wearing of gold jewelry
and fine clothes. Instead, it should be
that of your inner self, the unfading
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.
–1 Peter 3:3-4

20. How did Christ
model meekness?
Birth
Jerusalem entry
Arrest and crucifixion
Acknowledging source of power
Never defended himself but rather God’s house
and his sheep

21. The meek also shall
increase their joy in the
Lord, and the poor
among men shall
rejoice in the Holy One
of Israel – Isaiah 29:19

22. How Can I Know If
I am Meek?
1. You will get angry only when God is dishonored
2. You will respond humbly and obediently to God’s word
3. You will make peace
4. You will receive criticism well
5. You will be gentle in instructing others
In the wheat field the most valuable heads are bowed the lowest

31. The meek will
inherit the earth
“So the last will be first and the first will be last.”
–Matthew 20:16
Job’s lesson

32. “So what are you asking us to do?”

35. “When the church is
-
different enough
from the world it will
attract the world”
Fike 1961
Rev. Paul

36. + =
So that we can
love God. So
that we can be
intimate with
God. Because
God is God!

37. Praise Be To God,
Who Gives Us The
Victory Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ!

38. Delivered 1/9/10 at Hempfield
Church of the Brethren 10:15
service