Meekness: Gentle Strength In A Loud World

Meekness: Gentle Strength in a Loud World

Intro: Biblical meekness is "strength under control"—a powerful, gentle, and humble spirit that chooses restraint over retaliation. It is rooted in trust in God rather than self-assertion.

It is an inward quality that God Himself highly values in people: 1 Peter 3:4 rather let it (adornment) be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Modeled by Jesus, meekness exhibits itself in daily life through patient endurance, calm composure, determination to do good while sacrificing privileges for the good of others.

I) Jesus is meek (It’s what makes Him SO STRONG).

A) Matthew 21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'behold, your King is coming to you, lowly (meek, KJV) and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

1) Jesus isn’t strong in spite of His meekness; He is strong because of His meekness.

B) He invites us to “learn from Him” meekness and lowliness. Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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.” The KJV has “meek and lowly.” The NET has “gentle and humble.”

C) The meekness of Christ is emulated by His followers.

1) In the way we fight for the right. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2) In what we see as wise leadership (politicians, bosses, elders, husbands, parents). James 3:13-17 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

(a) “Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all” (W.E. Vine)

(b) Bitter envy and self-seeking are predominant traits of earthly wisdom.

3) In Jesus, we learn that to have dominion does not require one to be domineering

(a) Christ has all dominion. 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(b) We extend his dominion in us and through us by patience, and longsuffering, and joy. Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power (dominion), for all patience and longsuffering with joy

(c) And servanthood. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant…28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many

(a) The KJV has “exercise dominion” for both “lord it over” and “exercise authority.” The former literally means “to bring under one’s power, subdue” (GR. ?ata????e?´?).

(b) The Holman Christian Standard versions says “dominate them.”

II) Meekness is to be exhibited in everyday life–like clothes you wear and the way you walk.

A) Meekness is part of the spiritual clothing Christians wear. Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

B) It is a way we are to walk. Ephesians 4:1-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called 2 with all lowliness and gentleness (meekness), with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

C) Meekness means we let go of our rights. We realize that our “logical” privileges and rights aren’t greater than our calling as a child of God