A meek person does not have to be right all of the time and a meek person will live a life of strength under control. Strength under control meekness zeal in the christian life. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. I look to jesus whose very life was a reflection of his desire to follow the father. Strength under control meekness zeal in the christian life also available in format docx and mobi. Download strength under control meekness zeal in the christian life ebook for free in pdf and epub format. His strength was tempered by reverence for god and love for people. As a christian minister, ive had my share of attacks from individuals who declare i am insane for accepting the god. Strength in meekness don johnson evangelistic ministries.
But his zeal is blended with benevolence and humility. Meekness is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms applied to godliness. There are nine fruits placed in the life of the believer at salvation. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. When we forgive and demonstrate meekness toward people or situations that may make us angry, god promises that he will forgive us, too. Stop and think of examples of others and from your own life of ways pride makes us blind and deaf to gods nudging and, therefore, more vulnerable to satans temptations deceptions. Picture a wild stallion that has been broken and is now tamed. The usual definition of meekness in the bible is strength under control. Yet jesus made a whip and drove out the moneychangers, john 2. However, what does the attribute of meekness truly mean.
A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed. A meek person is the opposite of these things, therefore, many people associate meekness with weakness. Though one of the greatest leaders in human history, he thought of himself as a servant in relationship to god, so he quietly and gently submitted to gods will. While he is not a hostile person, there are times when his anger can be unleashed, though always under selfcontrol, which is a power he has received from living in a personal relationship with god. It takes tremendous strength to say yes to those questions.
But i discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after. Just some experimentation with a piece by john adams. I have always been a little overmeek reticent, shy. To be meek means that we have a humble spirit that yields to the will of god and deals kindly with others. You see, jesus was meek towards his heavenly father, not man, and so he prayed, not my will, but your will be done, luke 22. You know a horse is well broken when the rest of the herd gets spooked by something unexpected but it stays under the control of the rider. The great value of this virtue lies in the fact that it assures. They are not cowardice, timidity, or a lack of confidence. The meekness and strength of jesus christian universe. Meekness is not weakness but strength under control.
Blessed are the meek sermon by don jones, matthew 5. Meditation temperance makes man master of himself by controlling the passions of concupiscence. The greeks used the word to refer to the taming of a wild horse. Part of a large selection of christian quotes and sayings in a variety of topics by famous people, authors, theologians, pastors, preachers, teachers, and other notable christians. It is not just power under control, but power under gods control. Meekness and gentleness relate very closely to love, longsuffering being patient and not shorttempered, kindness and selfcontrol. Study the bible, learn about jesus christ, get christian living advice online. One point that i made is that meekness does not equate to weakness. Too often those that rely on a show of strength mistake meekness for weakness. Meekness not weakness sermon by dennis lee, matthew 5. Read strength under control meekness zeal in the christian life online, read in mobile or kindle. Meekness shapes the way we relate to our christian brothers and sisters. Meekness and gentleness imply selfcontrol, therefore, they require strength under control.
I invite you now for our bible study to turn with me to the fourth chapter of ephesians as we continue in our study of this tremendous epistle written by the apostle paul under the inspiration of the. Let me show you one way this word is used in greek writings. Ive heard meekness defined as strength under control. Gentleness is sometimes perceived as weakness in our modern, western mindset, but gentleness actually reveals great strength and has much power to bless people. Read restoring the virtue of meekness from christian radio ministry grace to you with john macarthur. Not under selfcontrol, meaning from human nature and carnal nature. Meekness is a trait that is necessary in a christian s life. Indeed, meekness has a strengthening and calming effect because you can leave the consequences of any particular situation in the hands of your master. The bible teaches that there is strength and comfort in meekness.
Its easy to see how the attributes among the fruit of the spirit overlap and relate to each other. I therefore, a prisoner for the lord, urge you to walk in a. Meekness is an elusive virtue that few can accurately define. Jesus was quoting from psalm 37 when he said the meek will inherit the earth, and it turns out that the whole psalm is a primer on meekness. God will not work with those who are proud and haughty zephaniah 3. Its having gods power alive and well in you as a christian, but also having gods spirit showing you how that power is played out in your life. Free pastors and christian leadership resources for your church ministry and congregation at. Meekness quotes page 1 of 2 christian quotes on meekness. Meekness helps us to keep our cool and remain ourselves in the midst of adversity. If you really are strong you dont have to strut it. Meekness at meeker strength under control vibrance. All scripture references in this article are niv unless otherwise stated. There is always someone in the crowd who will disagree about the existence of god and sadly this. The animal hadnt lost its strength, but all of the power of that animal had been brought under control.
Most definitions are vague on its meaning, and many people equate it to weakness. However, when necessary, he is able to make the decisions that are within his responsibility. Presented to globe church of christ on 111020 in our last lesson, i covered many aspects of the fruitful, spiritually mature believer in jesus christ. The time attitudes towards foreigners opportunities, in life waste. Caner blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth matthew 5.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of christ, so that whether i come and see you or am absent, i may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. We know that atheists and agnostics have been around since the beginning. Opportunities, and salvation wisdom, human importance christian conduct outsiders outside the kingdom giving, of. Actually to react to every adversity by overpowering it, disallowing it, can be a weakness in itself. Gentleness is often quoted as being strength under control. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth matthew 5. The world defines strong people as those who are assertive, take charge, proud, selfsufficient, selfreliant, and independent. The qualities of meekness and gentleness stand in the bible as the proper temperament for a servant of god. The gentlemeek christian does not insist on having his own way. God praises moses for being the meekest man of his time numbers 12. Meekness is strength under control, which means that meekness is an attitude of the heart. And when it must say a critical word to a person caught in sin or error, it speaks from the deep conviction of its own fallibility and its own susceptibility to sin and its utter dependence on. Oh how spurgeon beautifully discusses this quality of being meek. Meekness does not mean weakness, it refers to a person who controls his power and.
It has been interpreted in a variety of ways, from weakness and timidity to strength and selfcontrol. So i think the promise that the meek shall inherit the earth is intended by the lord to give us the strength to endure in meekness when the natural inclination would be to. President theodore roosevelt adopted as his pet proverb, speak softly and carry a big stick. A prayer for meekness your daily prayer november 7. A man is poor in spirit that is, he feels that he lacks a thousand things that he ought to possess. And then, answering his own question, he said, yes, you are supposed to be meek. Strength under control seems like a workable definition. To be meek is to be under the controlling power of the holy spirit. It is displayed in one who is growing in christian maturity. This is the authorized guide for those being trained as small group leaders.
For a christian, meekness is about surrendering everything to god and being completely at his disposal. A hundred years ago when i was in high school actually it was more like thirtyfive this guy merle kept bugging vicki, mikes girlfriend. Meekness is a characteristic of one who has strength and power, but that strength and power is under godly control. And it counts the corrective blows of a friend as precious proverbs 27. Some bible passages that illustrate this definition. As the apostle paul wrote, if god be for us, who can be against us.