03/16/2001 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Tonight I would like to talk about a subject that is not often spoken of.

I shared it about a year ago in this chat room, but I believe it is important enough to share again. It is about "Meekness".

It is difficult for one to command another to "be Meek."

Yahweh never explicitly said "Thou shalt be meek"

Meekness is an attitude that should naturally flow out of a man who is humble and thankful to Yahweh that He has called him unto Himself.

Meekness should permeate through everything we do.

Our conversation, our tone of voice, the way we look at others and how we react to someone doing us wrong

Perhaps meekness is most often lacking in our own homes

Yet, often this is where it is needed the most!

When we feel our spouse or our children have wronged us or disrespected us, should we lash out?

Or should we have the meekness of Yahushua in us?

What should be our attitude toward others who might be sinning or opposing us or even hating us?

This is what we are going to look at today.

Meekness is a part of "dying to self"

Let's look at one example of meekness:

Numbers 12:1 - And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Numbers 12:2 - And they said, Hath YAHWEH indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And YAHWEH heard it.

But he didn't

Why?

Numbers 12:3 - (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Moshe didn't speak up for himself or lash out. He let Yahweh take care of it.

Numbers 12:4 - And YAHWEH spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

Numbers 12:5 - And YAHWEH came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

Numbers 12:6 - And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I YAHWEH will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Numbers 12:7 - My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

Numbers 12:8 - With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of YAHWEH shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Numbers 12:9 - And the anger of YAHWEH was kindled against them; and he departed.

Numbers 12:10 - And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

He knew what it meant to "die to self"

I heard an exhortation once that I would like to share

It says..

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught and you do not sting and hurt at the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for the Messiah...that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself but take it all in patient, loving silence...that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Yahushua endured it...that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of Yahweh..that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown...that is dying to self.

Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit:

Gala 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:29 - 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.

Meekness is important if we ever expect to know the truths of Yahweh!

What is meekness?

In Hebrew it means to be 'poor, humble, lowly'.

5BDB/Thayers # 6035 `anav {aw-nawv'} or [by intermixture with 6041]`anayv {aw-nawv'}from 06031; TWOT - 1652a; n m AV - meek 13, humble 5, poor 5, lowly 2, vr meek 1; 26 1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek 1a) poor, needy 1b) poor and weak 1c) poor, weak and afflicted 1d) humble, lowly, meek

As a result our attitude will be one of gentleness and mildness.

Psalms 25:8 - Good and upright is YAHWEH: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Psalms 25:9 - The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalms 149:4 - For YAHWEH taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Master YAHWEH is upon me; because YAHWEH hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Matthew 13:14 - And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth

Psalms 37:9 - For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon YAHWEH, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:10 - For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Psalms 37:11 - But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 76:7 - Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

Psalms 76:8 - Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

Psalms 76:9 - When Elohim arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Psalms 147:6 - YAHWEH lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

In many cases, we see that Yahweh takes vengeance on behalf of the meek:

Isaiah 11:4 - But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 29:18 - And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Isaiah 29:19 - The meek also shall increase their joy in YAHWEH, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 

Isaiah 29:20 - For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek ye YAHWEH, 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 YAHWEH's anger

Perhaps this is because Yahweh would not want to heap trouble on those who have had plenty.

And they would not need the lesson of meekness taught them

Meekness is expected of women in the faith, and is very precious in Yahweh's eyes:

1Peter 3:1 - Wives, likewise, [be] submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

1Peter 3:1 - Wives, likewise, [be] submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

1Peter 3:2 - when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

1Peter 3:3 - Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--

1Pet 3:4 (KJV) But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

To the meek this is given:

Psalms 25:9 - The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalms 25:10 - All the paths of YAHWEH are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Are we to threaten, intimidate and smite him with our words?

What should our attitude be?

Gala 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of the Messiah.

2Timothy 2:24 - And the servant of YAHWEH must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2Timothy 2:25 - In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if YAHWEH peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth

2Timothy 2:26 - And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Matthew 21:5 - Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Titus 3:1 - Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Titus 3:2 - To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

James 1:20 - for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of YAHWEH.

James 1:21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

And you never know, you just might learn something too!

To think that we can't learn from someone else is often based on pride.

If we berate or belittle someone for their lack of understanding then surely we are acting as if we are the wise ones and the other is a fool. This is not meekness!

James 3:13 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct [that] his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:14 - But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

James 3:15 - This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

James 3:16 - For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

James 3:17 - 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.

James 3:18 - Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1Peter 3:15 - But set apart YAHWEH in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1Peter 3:15 - But set apart YAHWEH in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1Peter 3:16 - having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in the Messiah may be ashamed.

1Peter 3:17 - For it is better, if it is the will of YAHWEH, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Lest we become like Job's friends:

Job 42:7 - And it was so, that after YAHWEH had spoken these words unto Job, YAHWEH said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Do we want the wrath of Yahweh kindled against us for not speaking something that was right?

Certainly no

Do we want to inherit the earth?

Yes!

Do we want to be taught the ways of Yahweh?

Do we want to avoid temptation?

Do we want salvation?

Do we want to bring in others to the knowledge of the truth?

Do we want Yahweh to make right all the wrongs that have been done to us?

Do we want to bear the fruits of the Spirit?

Do we want to be hid in the day of Yahweh's anger?

and ..

Do we want to be like Yahushua!?!?

THEN...

Then overcome all wrath, vengeance, pride and strife...let Yahushua's meekness flow through you. For when we do this, we can receive all the promises we just read in scripture given to those who are meek.

May pure love, patience, gentleness and meekness from Yahweh rest upon all of you, servants of the Most High.

And may Yahweh bless you all!