Week 8 – The Pathway: Meekness

Text: Matthew 5:5

 

The Scripture depicts our spiritual lives like a war between the flesh and the Spirit. If I am going to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, I must make a step by step change. I must be humble, be meek, surrender, submit, and ultimately consecrate myself to the Lord. This week we will be looking at the necessity of meekness in the process of dying to self.

 

Meekness is often confused with humility, but they are different things altogether. The word for meek can also be translated as gentle. This does not mean weak; it is best understood as power under control. Someone who is meek is able to exert their rights, their power, their strength, etc., yet purposefully chooses not to.

 

Moses is a great example of meekness. When attacked by Aaron and Miriam, Moses refused to defend himself. Instead, he let God defend him.

 

Paul had the right to demand payment from the Corinthian church; this is his biblical right. However, Paul intentionally laid aside this right and chose to work instead.

 

Jesus is the greatest example of meekness. When He rode into Jerusalem, He did not force Himself on the people as their King, even though He was and that was His right. In the garden, He refused to call angels to His defense and allowed Himself to be arrested. He trusted God’s plan instead of demanding His rights. Although He was right, He did not speak in His defense and allowed Himself to be condemned and crucified.

 

Over and over again, God asks His people to not exert their power. He commands us in 1 Corinthians 6 to be willing to suffer wrong instead of suing other believers. He instructs wives to win over their husbands when they are wrong, not by their words, but by their meekness. 

The Spirit of God is going to act contrary to your rights, strengths, and will. His ways are not our ways. He will instruct us to do things that are not according to our nature. We must be meek, gentle, unwilling to exert our rights, if we are to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

–        Are you willing to not demand your rights?

             Even when you are right?

–        Are you willing to let others make decisions that affect you?

–        Will you entrust yourself to God instead of yourself?

–        Will you submit your rights to the Spirit of God?