{"id":3912,"date":"2023-05-21T22:42:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T02:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3912"},"modified":"2023-05-21T22:42:50","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T02:42:50","slug":"meekness-may-21st-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=3912","title":{"rendered":"MEEKNESS, May 21st, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CENTRAL THOUGHT<\/strong>
Meekness is a virtue that must be desired and manifested by believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HYMN: \u201c I am Thine O Lord \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEXT: GEN. 13:1-12, PSALM 37:11, MATT. 5:5, JOHN 13:1-17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong>
Meekness is a virtue to be desired and manifested by believers. Any church filled with a disposition of meekness may be devoid of tension, schisms, rancour, misunderstanding, etc. Unfortunately, meekness as a virtue appears lacking in today\u2019s church. Nevertheless, it remains an essential requirement in relationships within and outside of the church. A meek lifestyle has earthly and eternal rewards. In today\u2019s lesson, we will examine what meekness
is. and how it can be demonstrated in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSON OBJECTIVES<\/strong>
The lesson has as its objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Understanding what meekness is.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Knowing how a believer can \u201cacquire\u201d meekness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Knowing how to demonstrate meekness in our relationships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Learning some lessons from the lives of some persons in scripture who demonstrated meekness of character.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Appreciating the fact that meekness has a reward.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    BIBLE TRUTH
    QUESTION 1.) WHAT IS MEEKNESS?<\/strong>
    Meekness as defined in the dictionary is a disposition to be gentle, kind, quiet, and obedient. It carries with it an implication of being balanced in tempers and passions. Also, a meek disposition includes patience in suffering injuries without a feeling of revenge. The meek heart believes that vengeance belongs to God who will repay all evil doers. To be meek means to be humble, not proud, not hasty, not arrogant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 2.) HOW IS MEEKNESS \u201cACQUIRED\u201d?
    GAL. 5:22-23<\/strong>
    Meekness is included in the fruit of the SPIRIT as stated in Gal. 5:22-23. This attribute therefore is deposited potentially in the believer\u2019s life at conversion when the HOLY SPIRIT comes to indwell him and bears witness with his spirit that he is now a child of GOD. Although potentially present in a believers life, however the manifestation of meekness (like any other fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT) comes through a continued yieldedness to the HOLY SPIRIT. Meekness is a virtue that\u2019s expected to be acquired from childhood through parental training and environmental influences as we grow up to hear that we are what we are by the grace of God.
    In addition, a believer may learn meekness (and grow in it) through certain human experiences (trials) which GOD may allow in his\/her life. Most times, such trials serve as \u201ctraining grounds\u201d for us so that more of God\u2019s character will be reflected in our lives.
    In Rom. 5:3-5, we read \u201cAnd not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.\u201d. The essence of meekness in the believer\u2019s life is to reveal the person and character of the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 3.) HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE MEEKNESS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH:<\/strong>
    a) God. (James 4:6, 10, Psalms 51).
    God demands humility from every follower of His. There is no room for pride in our relationship with HIM. He created us and died for us. He redeemed us. He brought us into his marvelous light. The grace to live for HIM in this world comes from HIM. All we are, all we have and all we ever hope to be or have certainly derive from HIM. Therefore, there is no room for pride in HIS presence (1 Cor. 4:7). We are to submit totally to God.
    b.) Spouse\/children\/others in the home (Gal. 5:21).
    Meekness should be manifested in our relationships at home- with our spouses, children, and others with whom we live in our homes. As husbands\/fathers in the home, we must behave as \u201clords\u201d whose word must hold sway and who cannot even be approached on issues by our wives, children, and others at home. We may need to learn a lesson from Naaman, who in meekness of the spirit listened to the counsels of a servant in his home and eventually experienced Divine healing from leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1-4, 13-14). As wives, we must not treat our husbands with disdain, or disrespect even if we are older, richer, or more educated than them. Children and others at home must learn to submit to the line of authority God has established in the home. The general atmosphere in a Christian family setting should be that of submitting to one another in the fear of God. It is easy to submit when there is a meekness of heart.
    c.) Those in authority (Christian\/secular). Romans 13:1-7, Heb. 13:17.
    Meekness should also govern our relationship with those God has placed in authority over us. We are expected to submit to them and obey them within the context of scripture. That is for as long as their demands\/instructions are in line with God\u2019s revealed will\/purpose for humanity. It is possible that we may be more educated, wealthier, and perhaps even more spiritual than our leaders. A meek disposition should still govern our relationship with them as they lead us in the direction of God\u2019s will and purpose.
    d.) Colleagues, subordinates etc.
    Believers should learn to avoid rancour, quarrel etc. in their relationships generally with people. A meek and gentle spirit should govern our disposition towards others and our relationship with them. The admonitions in Rom. 12:18 and Heb. 12:14 should always be remembered: \u201cIf it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men\u201d and \u201cFollow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord\u201d.
    e.) In the church setting:
    Meekness should be the hallmark of our interpersonal relationships, service to God and one another. The Lord Jesus told us that we should serve one another in humility, much as is expected of followers to submit to the leadership, leaders are to see themselves as servants ministering to the need of God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 4.) WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN SCRIPTURE WHO DEMONSTRATED MEEKNESS OF CHARACTER?<\/strong>
    a.) Abraham (Gen. 13:1-13).
    Abraham demonstrated meekness in resolving the conflict between his herdsman and those of his nephew Lot. He initiated peace and allowed Lot to make his choice of land first and that whatever area Lot chose, he (Abraham) will go in the opposite direction to avoid any further conflict. The point to note here is that Abraham was older than Lot and in fact, he brought up Lot; yet he (Abraham) showed meekness in relating with this younger relation.
    b.) Moses (Num. 12:3).
    Moses was described in scripture as \u201c\u2026..very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth\u201d. Moses\u2019 meekness is revealed in his relationship with the children of Israel as he led them through the wilderness to the promised land. On many occasions, he was accused, threatened by the people but he learned to take the issues to God. When God told Moses that because of the disobedience of the children of Israel He was going to leave them and raise a people from Moses, he (Moses) pleaded with God not to do so and God hearkened unto him.
    c.) Peter (Gal. 2:11-14, 2 Pet. 3:15-16).
    Peer was prominent among the apostles in the early church. He was respected as a leader but he knew that the church was not his own but he was only an overseer over God\u2019s heritage (1 Peter 5:1-4). As a leader, he was amenable to correction. He demonstrated meekness and humility when he accepted Paul\u2019s rebuke and later wrote about the great revelations God had given Paul.
    d.) The LORD Himself (John 13:1-17).
    The LORD JESUS CHRIST is our perfect example. He revealed meekness in all HIS relationship. In pursuing redemption plan, HE left HIS position in glory and came to live in the midst of sinful men and ultimately paid the penalty for sin (Phil. 2:5-8).
    Also, in situations where His disciples showed a lack of understanding of His purpose and mission on earth, He did not rebuke them but rather patiently bore with them and kept teaching them until they came to the fulness of understanding of His Divine purpose on earth. (John 11:1-16, 14:1-12). Also, in washing the disciples\u2019 feet, the LORD JESUS provided an example of meekness and humility to rebuke the strife over leadership tussle that was common among the disciples and still very common today in the different denominations. In addition, His disposition all through the trials that culminated in His crucifixion, reveal meekness of heart (Matt. 27:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).
    The LORD JESUS remains our perfect example; we should follow HIM as HE takes us through the path of meekness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 5.) ARE THERE REWARDS FOR BEING MEEK?<\/strong>
    The scripture is full of promises for the meek. It is written in Psalm 22:26a \u201cThe meek shall eat and be satisfied\u201d.
    Also, God will guide the meek and teach him (the meek) HIS (God\u2019s) way (Psalm 25:9). The meek will be lifted up (Psalm 147:6) and beautified with salvation (Psalm 149:4). Isaiah 29:19 declares \u201cThe meek also shall increase their joy\u2026\u201d.
    Finally, the meek shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11; 76:9; Matt. 5:5). Thus, there are earthly and eternal rewards for the meek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
    There ought to be a yearning in our hearts that the virtue of meekness when exhibited will not only remove a schism, jealousy, envy etc. from our relationships (and from the church) but also create an atmosphere for us to be blessed by our FATHER. There are rewards on earth and awaiting us in eternity for being meek. May God give us all the grace to be meek in the name of the LORD JESUS Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Memory Verse<\/strong>
    Psalm 25:9
    \u201cThe meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
    Monday: The Lord\u2019s example.
    John 13:1-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tuesday: The fruit of the SPIRIT.
    Gal. 5:22-23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Wednesday: The LORD will guide the meek.
    Psalm 25:9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thursday: The meek will be lifted up.
    Psalm 147:6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Friday: The meek will be beautified with salvation.
    Psalm 149:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Saturday: Other benefits for being meek.
    Isa. 29:19, Matt. 5:5, Psalm 22:26, 37:11, 76:9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    CENTRAL THOUGHTMeekness is a virtue that must be desired and manifested by believers. HYMN: \u201c I am Thine O Lord \u201d TEXT: GEN. 13:1-12, PSALM 37:11, MATT. 5:5, JOHN 13:1-17 INTRODUCTIONMeekness is a virtue to be desired and manifested by believers. Any church filled with a disposition of meekness may be devoid of tension, schisms, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/images.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3912"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3914,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3912\/revisions\/3914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}