SPECIAL DAYS: Baptism of Our Lord

January 13, 2002 - LESSON: Matthew 5.1-2, 5

SERMON TITLE: The Way to Self-control

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INTRODUCTION:
  1. When I think of meekness what comes to mind is a character Mr. Peepers played by Wally Cox.

Todd Fuller's Sitcoms Online describes the program this way:

"Jefferson High School, located in the small Midwestern town of Jefferson City, was the setting for this live situation comedy. The central character was Robinson Peepers, a shy, quiet, slow-moving science teacher whose efforts to do the right thing always seemed to backfire. He was such a nice guy that everyone on the staff tried to mother him and the students all thought he was great, despite being laughable at times. His best friend was history teacher Harvey Weskit, played by Tony Randell, whose brash self-confidence contrasted with Robinson's low-key personality. (1)

    1. Mr. Peepers was a meek and mild mannered character.
    2. Well not likely.
  1. Blessed are the meek?
  2. What does it mean to be meek?

MAIN BODY:

  1. Illustrations of potential conflict through competition or excessive aggression.

Joe Bly from Asheville, North Carolina tells about a friend of his who was in front of him coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. (2)

He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.

He said, 'You need to join the Army of the Lord!'

My friend said, 'I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.'

The pastor said, 'How come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?'

He whispered back, 'I'm in the secret service.'

  1. There may be times when it is necessary to retire.
  2. This does not describe meekness.

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There is a Hagar cartoon in which Helga says: Hagar, "How dare you to stay out until the wee hours?!"

A little man with a tall black hat lifts his finger and says, "Define 'wee hours'"

Hagar is thinking, "Good ol' Koyer the lawyer."

    1. There may be occasions where it is a necessity to seek the advice or services of an attorney.
    2. This is not meekness.

The Rev. Dale Cockrum, on the First United Methodist, Olympia, WA, Church home page tells the story of two blind men (3)

Two blind men who had been healed by Jesus, who happened to meet one day, and they were so excited to meet someone else who had been healed.

They talked about the wonder of sight, the color of flowers, the beauty of butterflies, the glory of sunrises, the faces of children and grandchildren.

They talked about the wonder of having seen the face of Jesus.

They were laughing and having a great time together, when one of them said, "And do you remember how Jesus spit on the ground and took that mud, and put it on your eye?"

The other fellow looked kind of stunned, and answered, "Why no, he simply said, 'Receive your sight,' and I could see."

The first fellow said, "Wait a minute - now just wait a minute here. You mean he didn't use any mud?"

"No."

"Well, did he at least have you wash in the pool of Siloam?"

"No - of course not - who ever heard of anything so ridiculous as mud in your eye?!"

"Well," said the first man, "if he didn't put mud in your eyes and have you wash in the pool of Siloam, you are still blind! Blind - do your hear me? Because that's the way Jesus healed me; that's the way he does it!"

Then the second man began to get angry. He shouted, "Mud, mud, mud! Who ever heard of using mud?! That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard! You still have mud in your eyes. You're the one who's still blind!"

They got into a big argument--their relationship was destroyed, and right then and there, they formed the first two denominations: the Mudites and the Antimudites!

Since then, of course, the people have been fighting and splitting over issues not a whole lot more significant than that!

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  1. This story underscores the condition that we might call being between a rock and a hard place.
    1. What do I mean by that?
      1. We are taught to be competitive.
        1. There are times when competition is beneficial.
        2. We have to compete for jobs.
        3. We have to compete for promotions.
      2. We are encouraged to be aggressive.
        1. There are times when we need to be aggressive.
        2. It is the only way to gain attention.
        3. How do you get the attention of a clerk in a store?
    2. Competition and aggression can be counterproductive.
      1. We live and work and play in a highly competitive and aggressive world.
      2. Personal or national wars, of one kind or another are the results.
  2. Here comes Jesus and he says, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
    1. Meekness is controlled competition.
    2. Meekness is controlled aggression.
    3. The opposite of excessive pride is to be poor in spirit.
    4. The opposite of insensitivity is to mourn.
      1. This is a delicate sensitivity.
      2. We allow ourselves to feel the pain and the hurt, the dislocations and the results of conflict.
    5. What does it mean to be meek.
    6. We let Jesus help us to understand by examining passage of scripture that provide insight into his mind and personality.
      1. This is the way to self-control
      2. This is the method that is going to open up life so that it is productive and truly enjoyable.
      3. So what may be learn.
  3. Lets look at a few passages of scripture
    1. Matthew 11.28-30

28"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," (Matthew 11:28-30, NRSVA)

      1. I am gentle, meek.
      2. I am humble in heart.
      3. You will find rest.

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    1. Paul writes that we ought to let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, NRSVA).

    1. The ancient prophet Isaiah wrote about the suffering servant Jesus.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth, (Isaiah 53:7, NRSVA).

    1. Or as Peter puts it:

23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed, (1 Peter 2:23-24, NRSVA).

  1. The meek have these important characteristics.
    1. They are determined:

2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NRSVA)

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    1. They are seekers.

9"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. Luke 11:9 (NRSVA)

31Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31 (NRSVA)

11let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11 (NRSVA)

    1. They are the pursuers of the fullness of character:

19Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19 (NRSVA)

1Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NRSVA)

11But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 (NRSVA)

14Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NRSVA)

CONCLUSION:

  1. Speaking with an individual and the topic for this sermon came up.
    1. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
    2. The response was "Not in Arena they don't."
    3. I didn't say anything, but I thought "O yes they do?"

1. Copied from http://www.timvp.com/mrpeeper.html, Todd Fuller's Sitcoms Online

2. Loyal Jones and Billy Edd Wheeler, ea., Hometown Humor, USA (Little Rock, Ark.: August House, 1991), 101.

3. Rev. Dale Cockrum, "Why Denominations?" First United Methodist Church home page, Olympia, Wash., September 20, 1996.

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