Pt.4 Learning Gentleness

Involves Insight - We must Understand what Meekness is …

Of all the Beatitudes… this is the most Misunderstood.

 Definitions… MEEKNESS

Ø Is Not WEAKNESS

o  It takes strength and power to be meek… as we'll see in a minute

o   Jesus is not calling on us to be wimps.

Ø It’s STRENGTH Under CONTROL

o  The word translated Meek … is the same word was used in NT times

      to describe a wild animal that had been tamed or domesticated.

o  Imagine a wild stallion never been ridden by anyone.

- He’s never worn a bridle and bit - he's as wild as them come.

- He’s full of energy & strength & spirit.

- Take that horse over time… you tame him… you domesticate him.

- He becomes meek.

- You can put a saddle on him - his master can ride him - you can put a

bit in his mouth and reins over his neck and he's meek.

o  Now what have you done to that horse?

- Have you taken away any of that horse's strength? None at all.

- Have you taken away any of that horse's spirit or his power?

None at all.

- Have you taken away any of that horse's energy? No.

- The only difference between the domesticated horse and the wild

one is that now, that horse's strength & energy are being controlled

by his master for a useful purpose.

- While the stallion is wild he is controlled by himself, his wants,

his passions.

- But the domesticated, saddled horse is controlled by his master

and he has learned to obey his master's touch on his reins.

o  When Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek", He's not saying…

   "Blessed is the person that has no strength, that has no spirit, that has

no personality, that has no energy."

- He's not saying "Blessed is the wimp, or the timid, or the coward.

- He is saying, "Blessed is the person who has all of his strength,

and all of his spirit, his personality or energy, but they've allowed

someone else to control them.

- For the Christ follower this means we have placed ourselves under

the control of God.