The noun “meekness” and the adjective “meek” appear in The Bible on several, not many instances. Since there is no direct translation into English for them, they are used to translate from the Greek the terms PRAUTES or PRAOTES (noun) and PRAUS or PRAOS (adjective).
Nevertheless, although not used frequently, the terms are both very powerful in meaning and in promise. First, let’s review a few Bible verses where the words are used.
· “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” Numbers 12:3
· “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.” Zephaniah 2:3
· “The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:6
· The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. Psalm 22:26
· “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” Ephesians 4:1-2
· “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Colossians 3: 12-13
· “For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
· “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11
· “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
· “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
2 Corinthians 10:1
· “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
So, what does meekness mean?
In the vocabulary of the ancient Greek language, the meek person was not passive or easily pushed around. The main idea behind the word “meek” was strength under control.
Ø Meekness is:
a. A condition of mind and heart manifested by The Lord Jesus and commended to the believer
b. Equanimity of spirit, self-control
c. A temper of spirit in which we accept Gods will without disputing or resisting
d. An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward men
e. Is the absolute recognition of who God is and that He is in control
f. Is a conscious, voluntary decision to surrender oneself to God’s will
g. Meekness is being mild in temper, not being easily provoked, being forbearing and not holding grudges
h. Meekness is being humble, teachable, and patient under suffering
Meekness does not mean succumbing to everyone; does not mean being shy or reserved. Meekness means to trust in God’s sovereignty and plan, no matter what is happening, come what may. Meekness means to rest assured that we are taken care of by our merciful, loving God. It means to fill our minds and hearts with the truths of His Word and to place our hope and joy in His promises. Our ability to display meekness depends on our level of faith, of trust in God, it’s a fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit in us; it is a personal choice to manifest it. That’s just what makes us meek—it’s the confidence that God is in charge.
A meek person recognizes his own sinfulness, his flaws, because he/she is self-conscious and humble. He’s not always just watching after his own interests, because he is selfless. He no longer worries about what other people think or say about him because he is not proud. He’s not always on the defensive, because he knows God is in control.
The meek do not resent adversity because their trust in God is absolute. They are submissive, obedient and responsive to God's will. The meek have completely surrendered their will to God’s.
How do we learn to be meek? We have the perfect example in Jesus. The Bible clearly states about Jesus’ meek character:
· 2 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV) “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
· Matthew 11:29 (KJV) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Jesus was the sublime example of meekness, the epitome of meekness. In Him we find the strength and the humility to surrender to the will of the Father. Observe, that I said strength. Meekness is not weakness. Jesus life perfectly shows what a meek person should be: respectful, not proud, modest, humble, strong but serene.
Seeking meekness is a way of life, a continuous endeavor, a lifelong pursuit that’s initiated with an exercise of self-reflection and conscious will.
The message I bring to you today is CHOOSE meekness: COME TO THE LORD WITH A HUMBLE HEART, drop your pride, drop your fear, drop your anger, drop your arrogance and drop your need for control; SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL, TRUST IN HIM, RELY ON HIM; SURRENDER TO HIM UNCONDITIONALLY, so He will lift you up and beautify you with salvation; so you can eat and be satisfied; so you can enjoy abundance of peace; so you can enjoy prosperity; so you can be blessed and inherit the earth.
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