Series SERMON ON THE MOUNT with Pastor Ted Wilson |
In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about the third blessing Jesus mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
This third blessing follows the blessing of those who have felt their need of Christ, have mourned because of sin, and have gone through what Ellen White calls “the school of affliction” with Christ (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 14).
On the same page, she adds, “Jesus places meekness among the first qualifications for His Kingdom. In His own life and character, the divine beauty of this precious grace is revealed.”
It is amazing to know that Jesus set aside His glory, came to earth, and lived not as a king demanding homage but as one with a mission to serve others. And He invites us to follow Him, saying, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
Ellen White continues, “He who learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then, we are not anxious to have the highest place…we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice to guide” (page 15).
“It is the love of self that destroys our peace. While self is all alive, we stand ready continually to guard it from mortification and insult; but when we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God, we shall not take neglects or slights to heart. We shall be deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult” (page 16).
In this regard, the Apostle Paul confesses, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet, not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
In doing so, Christ’s peace will abide in our hearts. “No storm of human or satanic wrath could disturb the calm of that perfect communion with God,” Ellen White goes on. And He comforts us, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). “Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest” (Matthew 11:29).
The peace of Christ is constant. It does not depend on any circumstances. When we are surrendered to Him, He fills us with His peace, and those around us will see this and realize that we have “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
When we have the meekness of Christ, the spirit of hatred and revenge will be gone. We will follow His instruction to “bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).
Then, we will speak the language of heaven and inherit the earth—an earth not marred by sin and suffering but one where all will be peace and harmony forever. “There shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3).
To learn more about this topic, read Ellen White’s book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing and visit https://egwwritings.org/.
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