Meekness:Do you really know?

[PastorDiane]

Do you have a full understanding of the word meekness in your walk?
How do you use it?
Who were the meekess men in the bible?
How did the character of meekness become assigned to them?
What versus do you know that use the word meekness in it?

 

[Nadiine]

Well, one thing I do know is, meekness does not mean WEAKness...

And meekness doesn't mean we lose our boldness...

And, meekness doesn't mean we lose righteous anger....

I base this understanding on the examples we have from the NT writers and Jesus Himself.
So,...um, I guess I know more what it is not than what it is.

 

[PastorDiane]

Well, one thing I do know is, meekness does not mean WEAKness...

And meekness doesn't mean we lose our boldness...

And, meekness doesn't mean we lose righteous anger....

I base this understanding on the examples we have from the NT writers and Jesus Himself.
So,...um, I guess I know more what it is not than what it is.

You are very correct! More information will follow please check back!

 

[sageoffools]

My dad (a pastor) always described meekness with this example:
When people train children to become sumo wrestlers, they do not put them in the circle with another child, the put them in the circle with a professional adult sumo. The child runs up and tries to knock the adult down, and the adult simply sweeps him away. The child gets back up and the adult simply brushes him off once again. Over and over this happens. At any time the adult sumo wrestler could pick that child up and severely hurt and probably kill him, but he does not. Because he is meek. He is controlling his power in order to help others. (It's also a great example of persistence)

 

[PastorDiane]

My dad (a pastor) always described meekness with this example:
When people train children to become sumo wrestlers, they do not put them in the circle with another child, the put them in the circle with a professional adult sumo. The child runs up and tries to knock the adult down, and the adult simply sweeps him away. The child gets back up and the adult simply brushes him off once again. Over and over this happens. At any time the adult sumo wrestler could pick that child up and severely hurt and probably kill him, but he does not. Because he is meek. He is controlling his power in order to help others. (It's also a great example of persistence)

Wow another great example, good for you and your DAD.................More to come please check back!

 

[free2be]

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you byt he meekness and gentleness of Christ-who inpresence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

James 3:13 Who is wise an dunderstanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Meekness is gentleness, not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. Whoever has this quality, pardons injuries, corrects faults and rules their own spirit well....with their passions under control.

 

[PastorDiane]

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you byt he meekness and gentleness of Christ-who inpresence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

James 3:13 Who is wise an dunderstanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Meekness is gentleness, not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. Whoever has this quality, pardons injuries, corrects faults and rules their own spirit well....with their passions under control.

excellent response!!! yOU ARE WITH THE PROGRAM

 

[shuntmama]

To be humble, not proud or puffed up,


prah-ot'-ace
From G4235; gentleness; by implication humility: - meekness.


Love in Christ, sarah

 

[JPPT1974]

If we brag, let us brag about
Our love of Jesus that is what
He says.

 

[Latreia]

In the presence of powerful foes, I am a wall.

In the presence of those who need me, I am a loving servant.

In the presence of the Lord, I am adoration.

I am Latreia.

"Worship (PROSKUNEO) is vain if it is not accompanied by a life of religious service to God (LATREIA). Paul says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (LATREIA)" (Romans 12:1)."

 

[JimfromOhio]

Meekness is one of the toughest attribute for a Christian to have because meekness submits himself or herself to God that so he or she becomes angry over things that offend God and not himself or herself. Meekness is characteristic of a quiet spirit that doesn't retaliate when wronged. Allowing God to handle things when when God is dishonored, that person with meekness and quiet spirit exercises spiritual power by allowing God to react when it ought to react, for the right reasons, and for the right length of time.

 

[MrJim]

Meekness is one of the toughest attribute for a Christian to have because meekness submits himself or herself to God that so he or she becomes angry over things that offend God and not himself or herself. Meekness is characteristic of a quiet spirit that doesn't retaliate when wronged. Allowing God to handle things when when God is dishonored, that person with meekness and quiet spirit exercises spiritual power by allowing God to react when it ought to react, for the right reasons, and for the right length of time.

Meekness isn't an American trait~we are John Wayne...fiercely independent and self-reliant and invulnerable and proud. Meekness wasn't something I was taught when I was growing up

 

[JimfromOhio]

Meekness isn't an American trait~we are John Wayne...fiercely independent and self-reliant and invulnerable and proud. Meekness wasn't something I was taught when I was growing up

Yep LOL. America culture don't like teaching meekness. We have had alot "Rambos" around here.

 

[MrJim]

Yep LOL. America culture don't like teaching meekness. We have had alot "Rambos" around here.

Well it a cultural thing really~Americans take the stand for "liberty and justice for all", we were taught at a young age that

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

, yet nothing in the New Testament teaches that these are indeed "inalienable" rights....yet it's the core of what we are, we have these "God-given" rights and the right to defend them and you can't step on my turf physically nor intellectually without gettin' a fight...it's the antithesis of "denying yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me".

 

[JimfromOhio]

Well it a cultural thing really~Americans take the stand for "liberty and justice for all", we were taught at a young age that , yet nothing in the New Testament teaches that these are indeed "inalienable" rights....yet it's the core of what we are, we have these "God-given" rights and the right to defend them and you can't step on my turf physically nor intellectually without gettin' a fight...it's the antithesis of "denying yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me".

Yes.. American have fought for "freedom" from day one. Regarding our religious freedom, the early Christians in America were interested in establishing a degree of separation of church and state because they had been persecuted by the English government and wanted to ensure their own freedom of religion. I cannot deny those facts and I have to learned to accept that God also His providence to accomplish His will in the world.

Oswald Chambers explains better than anyone could: "If we are willing to give up only wrong things for Jesus, ever let us talk about being in love with Him. Anyone will give up wrong things if he knows how, but are we prepared to give up the best we have for Jesus Christ? The only right a Christian has is the right to give up his rights. If we are to be the best for God, there must be ictory in the realm of legitimate desire as well as in the realm of unlawful indulgence."

 

[MrJim]

Yes.. American have fought for "freedom" from day one. Regarding our religious freedom, the early Christians in America were interested in establishing a degree of separation of church and state because they had been persecuted by the English government and wanted to ensure their own freedom of religion. I cannot deny those facts and I have to learned to accept that God also His providence to accomplish His will in the world.

Oswald Chambers explains better than anyone could: "If we are willing to give up only wrong things for Jesus, ever let us talk about being in love with Him. Anyone will give up wrong things if he knows how, but are we prepared to give up the best we have for Jesus Christ? The only right a Christian has is the right to give up his rights. If we are to be the best for God, there must be ictory in the realm of legitimate desire as well as in the realm of unlawful indulgence."

wow, terrific quote there~it reminds me of what Paul said

Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 

[JimfromOhio]

wow, terrific quote there~it reminds me of what Paul said

Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Yes.. perfect biblical verses for the quote.

When people are trying to control by using their flesh, they are forgetting and preventing the Holy Spirit Who is the REAL source of transforming others. We need to ask ourselves:

Are my actions being lead by my own flesh's efforts?

Or, are my actions being lead by the Holy Spirit?

My actions are to come from Holy Spirit through the power of Grace. It is important to understand that our hearts are the state of our "flesh". Our flesh search for pleasure, pride, passions and selfish motives. Our hearts are like a garden with beautiful flowers and plants. As with all gardens, the hearts must be kept free from weeds and insects. This is what Paul was saying in Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy, and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship." As we worship, we must worship in spirit, not in flesh as Paul wrote in Philippians 3:3 "We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh"

 

[MrJim]

^amen!

 

[JimfromOhio]

^amen!

This is a good thread.

 

[mont974x4]

I have always thought of it in a picture of a powerful horse under control in order to complete a task.


Far to often the verse in Matthew 5 is used to support the idea of weak, milktoast Christianity, and that is so far, and sadly, off base.