On Being Meek - An End Time Essential*

 

 

Jesus taught as part of what we call the Beatitudes:

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."  Mt. 5:5

In understanding the character of meekness, we can use this description:

Meekness is "the disposition in which we accept God's dealings with us as good, and therefore, without disrupting or resisting. Meekness means to rely on God rather than one's own strength to defend against injustice. Meekness is practiced in knowing that God is using the injuries caused by evil people to purify His elect. We know also that He will deliver His elect in His time. Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. Rather, the meek trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The meek are not occupied with self at all. Meekness is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of human will"**, as we will see.

In Psalm 37, David examined and described the excellence of the attitude of meekness in the face of the seeming continued success of the wicked. David exhorts us not to fret, or envy those who practice wickedness and self-interest, even though they desire to do harm to the righteous (v. 12, 14, 32), which we also see happening today, and we will increasingly see in these end times. David assured us, as Jesus taught, that despite the plans of the wicked, the meek shall inherit the earth, and will enjoy the abundance of peace (v. 13). David wrote that our spiritual attitude of meekness also includes:

Trust in the LORD (v. 3), Rest in the LORD, waiting patiently (v. 7, 34), Ceasing from anger and wrath towards the temporary success of the wicked (v. 8), Depart from evil (v. 27).

As opposed to observing the evil man, David tells us instead:

"Mark the perfect man (see also Eph. 4:11-13), and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace."  v. 37

David promises that, contrary to the destiny of the perfect and righteous man, the end of the wicked is destruction.

As we saw in our description of "meekness", it is a work of the Holy Spirit in us, not of the human will. As David contrasted the meek and the wicked, the apostles contrasted walking in the Spirit as opposed to the flesh:
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God." 
                                                                                                          Rom. 8:13-14
All creation is groaning in hope for this manifestation of those who are led by the Holy Spirit, the sons of God, the joint-heirs with Christ (v. 20). The prophet Jeremiah warned that the whole earth is affected by the people of God who walk in opposition to the meekness and other qualities of the Holy Spirit:
"Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but have rejected it." 
                                                                                                              Jer. 6:19
We are seeing the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy now. God's people are called to walk in the fruit of His Spirit, which we will see below, and not of our own thoughts, which are thoughts of self-interest and self-assertiveness. On the contrary, creation is even delivered from the bondage of corruption described by Jeremiah into the same glorious liberty of the children of God, who are led by His Spirit. The qualities of the Holy Spirit, including meekness, overcome even the sufferings of the corruption of this present time (Rom. 8:18-21). The hope of this deliverance is  found in us, the children of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit (v. 22-25). It is by this same hope as the sons of God, that we are called to purify ourselves, as Jesus is pure, for we shall see Him and be like Him in this manner (1 Jn. 3:1-3). The prophet Malachi also prophesied about this same work of purification of the priesthood of God in preparation for His coming:
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope." Mal. 3:1-3 (excerpt) (see also Rev. 6:15-17)
Scripture makes clear that we are called to be kings and priests in the Kingdom of God, and therefore, subject to this work of purification.
As we saw above in the description of meekness, and in Psalm 37, we are to trust God that He has control in all circumstances. Paul also wrote that as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can know:
"...that all things work together for good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Rom. 8:28
Paul wrote that this work of the Holy Spirit in those who are led by the Spirit, was a work destined in us before we were born, even before the foundation of the world. We were foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified (Rom. 8:29-30, Jn. 17:22-24) by our God who knows all things, even the end from the beginning. It is based on this spiritual truth, revealed by the Holy Spirit in us, that in all conditions and circumstances, we can hope, trust, and wait patiently in meekness for the LORD, who has already prepared all things.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the opposite of the fruit produced by the works of the flesh, the works of which we see more and more currently. Paul described the fruit of the Holy Spirit this way:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."   Gal. 5:22-26 (excerpt)
We have been called not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we submit to, in meekness, and receive this transformation of the Holy Spirit into the sons of God, all creation will also be delivered and transformed. This makes Holy Spirit meekness an end time essential.

*The above is based upon the 4/26/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

**from Strong's Concordance

 

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Sean Stevenson

What Price Liberty?

 

As our nation enters into the July 4th holiday celebrating our independence and liberty, most Americans will center their attention and activities on cook outs, fireworks, beaches and other summer fun. Little thought or appreciation will be given to the blood that was shed to secure that liberty. Our American soldiers and many civilians died to insure it, and they continue to stand ready in an instant to fight for our continued liberty, not only ours, but for many living across the globe. Other political and economic agendas play their parts in war, but for the American soldier, there is only one reason for which he or she risks dying-for our safety and continued liberty.

President Lincoln made note of the tenuous nature of liberty, and the sacrifice of blood that is required to protect it, at the site of one of the bloodiest battles in American history: Gettysburg:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. ... It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.    (excerpt)

Benjamin Franklin also remarked upon the fragile nature of liberty when asked what form of government he and the Continental Congress had given us: "A Republic, if you can keep it."
As tenuous as our political liberty may be, have we also considered that the same is true for our spiritual liberty? Like our political liberty, our spiritual liberty was won at a price: not with the blood of soldiers, but with the blood of Jesus Christ:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.//That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit....For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God...the creature (creation) waiteth  for the manifestation of the sons of God...Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."   Rom. 8:1-2, 4, 14, 19, 21
However, the Word also tells us that this precious liberty, this gift from God through the death and resurrection of His Son, requires something of us if we are to continue to enjoy it:
"What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...For if we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."   Rom. 6:15-16, 8:13
God has ordained that He should reign and rule in us by His Holy Spirit. His laws will be written in us, because Christ is in us and He fulfilled the law:
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds, I will write them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."   Heb. 10:16-17
If we rebel and disregard this law that God has written within us, which Jesus fulfilled on our behalf (Mt. 5:17), we lose that liberty:
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He who despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  Heb. 10:26-29, 31
We live in a nation that disregards the cost paid for its liberty, using that liberty for license, enacting laws and embracing sins that are against the laws of God, and are an abomination before Him. Let us, the people of God in Christ, not share in that same spirit of disregard concerning our even more precious spiritual liberty in Him:
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
                                                                                      Rom. 8:5-8
As we resolve to turn away from the carnal, and to walk in the Spirit of God, not only will we walk in the liberty of God, but we will affect the spiritual liberty of our nation:
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."    2 Chron. 7:14
This healing is not for our land only, but for all creation which awaits the manifestation of the sons of God, who walk in the Spirit, in His liberty, and not in the flesh (Rom. 8:19).

Let us remember the price paid for our precious liberty through Christ, and honor it.


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