Episode 3
THE MEEK
Gordon and Jeremy open up about Gentleness, or “meekness,” its definition, their struggles and thoughts, and how to depend on the Holy Spirit to grow this fruit in us.
What do you think of when you hear the word Gentleness? Gentle Ben? Teddy bear kind of personality. What about meekness? A wimpy, person?
You can watch Sunday’s sermon on YouTube and search for Eastwood Tulsa >> “Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness”. Sermon Notes can be found on You Version at >> http://bit.ly/fruitofgentleness.
LISTEN
Meekness is an attitude that has an action with it. Look to Jesus to understand. He was meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). Yet you see Him making a whip and going through the temple courtyards driving out the price gouging opportunists who turned the House of God into a den of thieves (Matthew 21: 12-17). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A12-17&version=ESV
It doesn’t mean you are weak or that you don’t have passion or you don’t have a have a point of view. It has the sense of being teachable and being willing to listen. The Bible talks about the meekness of wisdom. If you have wisdom you don’t need to prove it. It’s not competitive, obnoxious, overbearing or wanting to be in control.
HUMILITY
Am I teachable in my own life? Today, people have an attitude that they are an expert. If everybody is an expert you’re really not teachable – you’re not listening. Being teachable means I have to listen, internalize it, and then I have to change my actions into what I’m going to do. Are we just hearing or really listening?
The most powerful being in the entire universe is gentle, meek, and humble!
“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV)
The God of the universe that can’t be contained within the universe, how would He dwell in our hearts? How would he inhabit us? He can’t when we’re proud. He resists the proud. There’s something about humility and meekness that God is attracted to. We need to pray that God would make us meek and humble because we’re not naturally that way. We can’t do it ourselves.
Coming up this Sunday we will look at the amazing truths from Philippians 2 that Jesus humbled himself and became obedient.
We are such a culture of rights. It’s all about my right to do something and to be humble we have to lay that aside.
THE ISSUE OF PRIDE
Pride doesn’t feel the need to pray much
Pride won’t seek the Lord
Pride is impatient
Pride is always in a hurry
Pride is easily angered
Pride holds grudges
Pride has a hard time forgiving
Pride focuses on the external
Pride is deceptive, it blinds.
True humility is “not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” C.S. Lewis
Time conscious vs. event conscious. Someone who is meek can put someone else in the place of importance.
In His character Jesus was meek. I want that!!
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)
Pride won’t come because pride says I don’t need that.
The promise is rest for your soul.
In a recent survey, 31% of Americans say they are happy. “Blessed are the meek” means to be happy. So, most Americans are not meek. There’s something about meekness that produces an inner rest to your soul. A peace that surpasses understanding. A fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Elizabeth Elliott has said, “Meekness is the source of great spiritual power.” Jesus was the most powerful being but He was meek. It was strength under control.
Will you come? Will you lay down your pride? Will you admit that you are needy?
Humility and meekness are attractive. People are drawn to that.
Next week >> Philippians 2
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