Deep Roots, Strong Life: “Meek, Really?”
February 23, 2025

All verses are in NIV unless otherwise noted.

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Conduct must flow out of character.

The Beatitudes are a package deal, not something to pick and choose from!

We must not only know what to believe; we must understand how to behave.

Romans 2:24 (LB)
No wonder the Scriptures say that the world speaks evil of God because of you.

Numbers 12:3 (Amp.)
Now the man Moses was very meek, gentle, kind, and humble or above all the men on the face of the earth.

Matthew 11:29; 21:5 (NLT)
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls... “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’

Galatians 5:22,23 (NCV)
But the Spirit produces the fruit of...gentleness, self-control.

Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 Peter 3:15,16 (NLT)
If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.

We are meek only to the EXTENT we have SURRENDERED our WILL to God’s will.

MEEK is NOT weak; it is STRENGTH under the CONTROL of the Holy Spirit!

Psalm 37:3-11
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

TRUST in the Lord!

Psalm 118:8 (NCV)
It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people.

Proverbs 3:5,6 (LB)
If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

We trust not because “A GOD” exists; we trust because “THIS GOD” exists!
C.S. Lewis

DELIGHT in the Lord!

Philippians 3:7-10 (CEV)
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life.

Matthew 11:28,29 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

COMMIT your way to the Lord!

A life totally committed to God has nothing to fear, nothing to lose, nothing to regret.

1 Kings 8:61 (NIV84)
Your hearts must fully committed to the Lord our God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Be STILL before the Lord!

Psalm 46:10 (NCV)
God says, “Be still and know that I am God.

REFRAIN from anger!

1st, it LEADS to evil!

Psalm 37:8,9
Turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed.

2nd , it REFLECTS sinful character!

Galatians 5:19,20 (NLT)
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger.

3rd, it PRODUCES unrighteousness!

James 1:20 (NLT)
Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

4th, it PROVIDES evidence of the absence of meekness!

The Christ follower who successfully lives these BE-attitudes is one who continually walks by the Spirit and is filled with and controlled by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Ephesians 5:18
Be filled with the Spirit.