Strength in Meekness

What attributes do you identify with?  Patient?  Kind?  Faithful?  Merciful?  Forgiving?  Gentle?  Peaceful?  Loving?  Meek?

Psalm 37:10-11 (ESV) In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.  But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Matthew 5:5 (ESV) "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

How would you describe someone who is meek?

Meekness is not to be confused with weakness, or cowardliness, or wimpiness; rather, it is power and strength under control.  (illustration - horse, being carried)

"The adjective was often used of taming a wild animal or the calming of people who were excited or irritable. By association it was therefore applied to the outcome of such taming, to the gentle, quiet and friendly who, like a well trained animal, do not succumb to bitterness or anger, whatever the provocation. As with the trained workhorse, this is not simply a matter of passive submission to a stronger force, but involves an active choice to accept instruction." <http://www.sermononthemount.org.uk/Matthew/Matthew05v05Detail.html>

"Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. ... Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23)." <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4239&t=KJV>

Isaiah 30:14 (ESV) For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew 26:23 (ESV) "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?"

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

“The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.” ~ A.W. Tozer

Colossians 3:12, 14 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

Lonely in a Sea of People

Quotes on Loneliness

• "It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely." -- Albert Einstein
• "The round of pleasure or the amassing of wealth are [often] but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache. The millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience." -- J. Oswald Sanders
• "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." -- Mother Teresa

Opening

The world is far more interconnected than ever before, yet loneliness continues to be even more pervasive.  Social networks like Facebook, which somewhat relieving the sting of loneliness, can end up contributing to a deepening sense of isolation and loneliness. 

NPR reports, "Not long ago, we reported on a new University of Michigan study that found the more young people used Facebook, the worse they felt. According to the research, Facebook use led to declines in moment-to-moment happiness and overall life satisfaction. But the New Yorker did some further digging and found a few recent studies that show the opposite — that using Facebook can make us happier."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/09/16/223052837/whether-facebook-makes-you-lonely-depends-on-how-you-use-it

Elijah on the Run - 1 Kings 19:1-18

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.  So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.   Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”  He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.  There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.  Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!  Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

Lessons to learn from Elijah:

• Realize that although you may feel alone, you are never really alone.
• If you're lonely, you're in good company.

John 16:32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

2 Timothy 4:16-18 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.  But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.  Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

• "Get up and eat!" -- God is always with you -- in the greatest of victories AND in the depths of depression and despair.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Psalm 27:10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

Hebrews 13:5b For God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”

Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

• "What are you doing here?" -- Loneliness often comes as a result of unmet expectations.

Elijah assumed he was alone, and complained that "everyone else" failed but him.  Elijah may well have expected a complete and total victory on Mt. Carmel, even over Jezebel.

"Dependence on others for your happiness is a sure way to feel lonely even in a crowd. I have found that my loneliest times are when expectations of others are unmet." -- Grace Lavigne

"Relying on people to fill the void…" -- Michele Avery

• We feel most lonely when we feel unneeded, unwanted, unvalued, unheard, unappreciated, and overlooked.  We feel like we could completely disappear and nobody would care… or even notice.  And yet we don't dare say a word, much less let ourselves be vulnerable to others.
• There are always others.  God has a greater plan, and never intends for life to be lived alone.

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.  This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.   If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Psalm 68:6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

How to overcome loneliness

• "That's it's ok and it's good to want and need others…  To know its ok to need love and it's ok to be loved and give love." -- Jennifer Wilbur
• "How about forcing yourself to be around others even when you do not want to?" -- Debby Baker
• Like Facebook, a digital reflection of 'real life' social interactions, loneliness is related to how involved (or uninvolved) you are.  God designed life to be lived in fellowship with Him and with others.
• "Being content with where I am ... even if it is "alone" makes all the difference. Furthermore, there is satisfaction in knowing that He is near. Always." -- Grace Lavigne
• "When I was blessed with my salvation in Christ and learned to seek Him first, my life completely turned around and now I know I am never alone, He is always with me!" -- Michele Avery
• "Go back the way you came." -- You didn't become lonely overnight.  Reach out to others.  Find your place in the body of Christ.  Look for the lonely around you, and find ways to alleviate their loneliness.  Take care not to base your sense of happiness and well-being on others, but delight yourself in the Lord.
• Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
• 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The Root of Bitterness

What is Bitterness?

• Definition: "adjective" 1 having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet. 2 causing pain or unhappiness. 3 feeling anger, hurt, and resentment. 4 (of a conflict) harsh and acrimonious - which means having ill feelings. 5 (of wind or weather) intensely cold.
• Bitterness is one of our four tastes, designed to help us guard against ingesting poison, or other toxic substances

(Passover & Bitter Herbs) Exodus 12:6-8 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast." (Bitter herbs -- dandelion, endive, horseradish, etc.)

What causes bitterness?

KEY VERSE -- Hebrews 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Causes:

1. External hurt / offense - what is done, what is said, what is taken
2. Failure (of a marriage, a job, etc.)

Holding on to bitterness is sin.

• James 3:7-16 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

What are the consequences of bitterness?

• "When harboured for a long time,’ says Professor Wrosch, ‘bitterness may forecast patterns of biological dysregulation (a physiological impairment that can affect metabolism, immune response or organ function) and physical disease.’" Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2024386/Harbouring-bitterness-increases-likelihood-physical-disease.html#ixzz2eFruuDTv

“I know from personal experience how damaging it can be to live with bitterness and unforgiveness. I like to say it’s like taking poison and hoping your enemy will die. And it really is that harmful to us to live this way.“ ~Joyce Meyer

The passage in Hebrews says, "trouble you, corrupting many" - bitterness is an internal cancer, eating you up from the inside, but it also impacts others as it affects how you relate to others.

How to Deal with Bitterness

1) reframe the "failure" and/or loss - see the grace of God at work - God works all things

• 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

2) walk in forgiveness

• (from above article) "In some cases, overcoming bitterness demands more than self-regulation. When bitterness arises from blaming other people, then recovery may involve others. ‘In order to deal with bitter emotions there may need to be something else required to enable a person to overcome the negative emotion - that something is forgiveness,’ says Prof Wrosch."

• Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

It is not a one-time fix. Garden of our heart -- stony ground, thorns and thistles, weeds, choke the life out of you. Like picking at a scab, licking our wounds, preventing healing.

Tearing up the visible part of the roots is an exercise in futility. Clearing the roots involves digging.

Choose to forgive. Choose to let go. Choose to let God make beauty for ashes. Let His grace be sufficient for you.

Look Again!

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” ~ Albert Einstein

1 Kings 18:41-46 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.  Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.

Mark 8:22-25 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him.  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”  The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

Matthew 17:1-8 - The Mount of Transfiguration Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

Luke 24:30-32 - The Road to Emmaus As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.  Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

John 20:4-14 - Disciples Fishing At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.  He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.  When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.  So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

• Even as believers, we still sometimes have moments of waning vision, of discouragement; yet we are constantly called to "look again," to lift our eyes, to fix our eyes upon Jesus
• Earlier, the disciples had thought they had seen a ghost; here, they recognize Him at last

John 9:39 - Jesus, on spiritual blindness: "I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.  We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.  If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.  You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

• Satan blinds the minds of those who don't believe, but God is the One to shine light into our Hearts, to illuminate the truth -- we all were blind at one point.

James 5:16b-18 The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

• The prophets of old looked with anticipation for the day of salvation; Jesus was crucified by people who didn't recognize who He was. They were like people in the drought, waiting for the rain, but not discerning that the one small cloud would bring them the relief they so desperately needed.

Jesus Christ revolutionized history. To the unbeliever, who may have dismissed Him in the past, He deserves a second look. Look again.

To the believer, he deserves more than just our occasional passing glance, but to be the enduring focal point of our vision. Look again.

Insanity may be as Einstein defined, but in this case, look again. And again. And again...