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Inside & Outside. PRAUS is not passive
and weak - it is choice. Jesus was tough when He needed to be. Yet, in Matthew 11:29 we hear that Jesus was
gentle! The Jewish people were religiously oppressed by their leaders. So He encourages them to take His yoke
because He is warm, caring, giving and deferring. He was meek. He eventually stooped down for us when He died.
He was humble on the inside and lovingly deferring on the outside. He was strong on the inside and yielding
on the outside. Jesus was meek.
Picture Jesus riding on an animal that we do not highly regard as valuable - even today,
Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, "BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.” (NASB) Matt. 21:4-5 The Talmud quotes King Sapores, commenting on this prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, as saying, “You say your
Messiah will come on an ass, I will send him a brave horse.” Jesus did not come on a “brave horse” but
on a poor animal of low regard. Jesus could have come on a “brave horse” to impress, to seek His
own glory, to obtain their submission or to receive their adoration. But he did NOT. Gentle does not have an “I” problem.
Can I ask you a question? How do you present yourself to others? Do you want a “brave horse” or is
a donkey okay? Numbers 12:3 says that Moses was a very meek man, more than anyone on the earth. Dear Christian,
you cannot be truly meek unless the Holy Spirit is changing you on the inside. Gentleness is a fruit of the
Holy Spirit according to Gal. 5:22-23. Oh, Holy Spirit, make us meek . . . make us gentle!
Inherit the earth. What a paradox, those who lovingly defer to others will someday
inherit the earth. Jesus’ listeners did not inherit the earth, and Christians have not owned the earth
over the last 2,000 years; but some day we will reign with Jesus for a 1,000 years (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:6).
He will come back and establish His earthly kingdom. The gentle will “inherit the earth” someday
- because they are joint heirs with Christ,
And if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . . that we may also be glorified together. Rom. 8:17 (NKJV) Conclusion. Some years ago I had a dog named Prince. He was my friend, and I
trained him to sit, lick my face on command, roll over, beg, shake his paw, stay and heel. We also had a black
cat, Cinder, who was not very friendly towards me, yet one day as I was watching Prince lying on the grass
in our backyard with his legs outstretched, I saw the cat come to him and lie down between his outstretched
legs. They went to sleep. On another day I saw them eating together out of the same food bowl. I was amazed.
Prince did not have an “I” problem. He was a loving, yielding friend to everyone.
Can I ask you . . . are you tame? “Do you have an “I” problem? When Jesus gives
you a command, do you warmly defer and obey this Friend? Would you willingly, lovingly share your possessions,
food and honor in favor for others just as Prince did for his used-to-be enemy, Cinder? You see, one who knows
he/she is a spiritual beggar and mourns his/her sinful condition no longer seeks his/her own, but lovingly
yields to love others.
Blessed are the gentle . . .
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
