Showing Real Strength - Lesson 3 of the series How to Really be Happy

Matthew 5:2-5 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:2-5 NKJV Four Keys To Understanding Biblical Meekness: 1. Meek People Are Not Weak People! ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:23-26 2. Biblical Meekness Is Power Under Control. 3. When You Choose Meekness, You Are Choosing Christ Likeness. 8Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt… 11Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12So Abram settled in the land of Canaan… Genesis 13:8-12 NLT 3Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Numbers 12:3 KJV 18Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. 19But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:18-20 NLT • One of the Ways That We Develop Meekness Is By Relying On The Holy Spirit’s Power. It is impossible to develop and maintain a meek spirit apart from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV 7So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 8“God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” 9“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? 10Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! 1 Samuel 26:7-11 • A Second Way That You Can Develop Meekness Is By Practicing Proverbs 3:5-6. 4. Here Are Some Immediate Rewards Of Meekness. • Meek people have less stress because they pass on the stresses of life to the One who is really in control – God. • Meek people make better decisions because they do not subscribe to the “me first” way of living. • Meek people are better balanced; they are settled in life. • Meek people are more pleasant; they are gentle and joyful. • Meek people are more productive; they are proactive rather than re-active. • Meek people are more useful to God because they are yielded to Him.