Meekness...Synonym for Moses

Not only did Pharaoh oppose the Hebrews rebelled against his leadership as well. Moses responded with meekness.

In fact, meekness is a character trait that best defines Moses correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.

Isn't that interesting you find someone who is in opposition to you, do we start a quarrel. Are we great for the soapbox debate or do we with meekness share with them our point of back to this vintage wisdom series through the book of Exodus, Moses was no stranger to opposition he faced it from all sides. This is wisdom for the heart.

Today we bring you Stephen Davies conclusion to his series called out of Egypt. Stephen takes a closer look at the meekness of Moses in a message called meekness synonym for Moses. This character trait of Moses is one that we all need to adopt never forget an event that occurred when I was 15 or 16 years of age. I was at downtown Norfolk on the street with my father. We were passing out invitations to the service center that was the day when servicemen were there blues and the whites and their hats and we would go out and pass out these invitations to come to the center and course. The streets were not a very safe place. Even then, and I'll never forget walking up to a particular gentleman who wasn't wearing a uniform, but we extended an invitation. I was a little bit in the background of my father handed him an invitation to come to the serviceman center and in the quickness that was so quick it took me by surprise. This gentleman took his hand and he slapped my father as part of the could and of course I just buckled at the pom-poms and I was gonna say hey you can deck this guy.

Did you know take it all.

Teach him a lesson. Put them on the pavement and I'll never forget.

I just standing there and in the and the brightness of just a second or two.

I began to watch my father because he wasn't responding and this fellow was just looking at him, waiting to see what he would do and my father then looked at him and in a very quiet tone said, do you feel better now. I'll never forget that as long as I because that was the most tremendous illustration of what I want to look at tonight is the quality that should be in all of our lives as we mature in the Holy Spirit is called meekness. Now, in the Scripture.

There are only two men that are call me. One is Moses and the other one is Jesus Christ. And whenever you see that in the Scriptures in such a rare form and wave the flag and it calls out stop right here and and find out what's happening. Why is this so rare. In fact, what is this that we are to have in our lives before we get to Moses's story. Let's take a biblical perspective on this characteristic called meekness. Take your Bibles and turn to the book of Galatians in chapter 5. Can we have so much Scripture, look at all read it as soon as I find it and you follow along as quickly as you can. You may be neither but the fruit of the spirit that is the quality of those that are submitted to the spirit of God are these qualities long joy, peace, patience and kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, that's the word properties which may be meekness in your translation. In other words, we discover right from the outset of our study tonight that meekness is a fruit of the spirit. It cannot be engineered by the flesh. It cannot be made up. It can only come to the individual who is submitted to the or yielded to the spirit of God in their life and it's interesting in our culture today.

We we hear of people who are supposedly me who may not know Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi's and an illustration of someone who is supposedly a very meek man and yet I propose to you tonight that meekness cannot come to someone who does not know Jesus Christ. There may be some characteristic. There may be some gentleness, but there will be ultimately some ulterior motive, either consciously or unconsciously, perhaps an individual does this and it is their way of proving by way of innate pride that they are better than another. Perhaps it is a way of salvation, but it is the individual that knows Christ that is submitted to the spirit of God that can actually have this fruit meekness turn the Colossians keep heading to the right Colossians chapter 3 verse 12 and he makes it very clear verse 12 and so as those who have been chosen of God is he referring to is referring to the believer. Those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, there's the word meekness or gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should do the words put on literally mean to close yourself.

This is not a gift. There are gifts of the spirit, the gift of helps the gift of administration, the gift of teaching. The gift of mercy to get the hospitality he not talking about gifts disposed by the Holy Spirit at conversion. He's talking about fruit which means that this is something that must be developed.

There is the clothing there is the discipline there is the activity I want this in my life and when I yield to the spirit of God. It can be a garment close my character. My attitude, I want you to notice it is not only a fruit but is also a virtue turn back to the book of Saul chapter 25 verse nine we read here that God leads the meek or the humble. It's the same word in the Septuagint of the Greek translation of the Old Testament same Greek word here.

He leads that the meek injustice notice and he teaches the meek, his way qualification for entering the classroom to be taught by the Holy Spirit is what meekness it's a virtue before I define it.

Let's look at one of the passage. First Peter first Peter chapter 3 verse four. Let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle aura. Meek and quiet spirit. Note this one. Underline it in your text which is precious in the sight of God. Imagine that having a quality about our lives that God considers precious what exactly could be the definition that of meekness from these passages, I given it to you. We could define it this way.

Meekness is a gentle disposition resulting from submission to the Holy Spirit. Now, with that in mind, let's take a look at the illustrations of meekness that we have in Scripture will find the first in Numbers chapter 12 Asaro verse one then Miriam and Aaron.

That's the sister and brother of Moses spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married read married a Cushite wall and they said, has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses you want to circle the word only, that's the problem.

It's not the Cushite. Has he not spoken through us as well. And the Lord heard it. Look at verse four and suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam. Three come out to the tent of meeting for the three of them came out and the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the doorway.

The tent and he called Aaron and Miriam when they both come forward, he said, hear now my words. If there is a prophet among you I the Lord shall make myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream, but not so with my servant Moses, he is faithful in all of my household with him. I speak even openly and not in dark sayings in Hilo holds the glorious form of the Lord, why, and what were you not afraid to speak against my servant against Moses, so the anger of the Lord burned against him and he departed.

But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent. The whole Miriam was leprous as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam the hole.

She was leprous and Aaron said to Moses, oh my Lord I thank you do not account this into us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. Now write about their eyedrop clause and I if I were Moses, say on your knees you have spoken against me and I have never tried to vindicate or to answer back or to defendant by the way, those are three qualities of a meek person. He is a person who does not vindicate himself is a person who does not defend himself, and he is an individual who does not reject one's opponent's will look at in a minute. But Moses does something that is almost incredible to believe verse 13 and Moses cried out to the Lord say all God. He told her. I pray it was interesting there in that scene. If we can observe at that Moses doesn't say lick my feet and kiss my hand in obese humans.

God is spoken for me. Now that he does not seek revenge. Go back to verse three now the man Moses was very meek, more than any man who was on the face of the earth do you notice that that is in a parental parenthesis that comes along. Just as an aside, it helps us understand how we can respond in a way that we find almost 2 incredible to believe never vindicate never defend there's another illustration of meekness. Let's go to Matthew chapter 11. Look at verse 25.

At that time Jesus answered and said I praise the O father, Lord of heaven and earth without its highs these things from the wise and intelligent and this revealed them to babes. Yes father, for thus it was well pleasing in thy sight, all things have been handed over to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father, nor does anyone know the father except the son and anyone to whom the son wills to reveal them in boys at every foundation for someone to be filled with pride. And yet, Jesus Christ, who obviously was more meek than even Moses says these next words to the nation Israel come to me all who are weary and heavy late and I will give you rest will to stop there because we can't appreciate his words unless we understand a little bit of this passage weary has the idea of of someone working to the point of honor and exhaustion that this is all used figuratively speaking of the nation who is trying collectively by the rules and regulations of the Pharisees and the scribes just somehow please God, and they are working and working hard and they are leery they are utterly exhausted because they they don't sense that they are pleasing and they're not. So he says all those who are weary and heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest. Spiritual rest and he says take my yoke upon you, the yoke would be that which was part of the harness to the direct and animal and that animal would be under the authority of the one holding the reins that individual would be under the sway of its master. He is saying.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, the word learn is the same word, we get the cycle from a become my disciple. Learn from me because I am gentle.

That's the word meek. I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke. My teaching is not burdened down with legalism. It is not filled with laws that you may do to obtain acceptance.

It's easy my Lotus light so from these two illustrations. We learned that meekness does not defend oneself.

It does not vindicate one's character. It does not reject one's opponent, but meekness is compassionate. It is patient, it is strength as someone has defined it under control now, let's get as practical as we possibly can and trace this word for several passages of Scripture intake meekness test tonight and see how well we do of the times used in Scripture, we can create several questions. The first would be this. Let's call this the biblical tests for meekness. The first is how do I respond to opposition second Timothy chapter 2 the start of verse 22 now flee from youthful lust and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, but refuse foolish and ignorant speculations knowing that they produce quarrels and the Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach patient when wronged with meekness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. Isn't that interesting you find someone who is in opposition to youth, probably someone who denies Jesus Christ. But perhaps even that person who has a different point of view. How do we respond do we start a quarrel or we great for the soapbox debate or do we with meekness share with them our point of view. I respond with people that I disagree with that is a test of meekness because I think that all of us have the tendency to dig and especially as this passage indicates you notice that the one who is meek is literally the one who was right. Look at verse 25. Again, with meekness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. You are right that wrong and that's the great opportunity to really take a job but he says do you respond in gentle patients to those who oppose you. Secondly, how I respond to an unbelieving spouse had right to first Peter first Peter chapter 3 verses 1 to 4 in the same way you wives be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be one without a word underlined that powerful thought. They may be one literally to Christ or implied the Christ without a word, by the behavior of their wives as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Evidently, in this early church there were many women who were following Jesus Christ, they were were more responsive to the claims of Christ and there were many husbands who had not yet followed him and they were having tremendous friction and difficulty at home and so he provides an effect of formula away a pattern of life to win them the Christ. Obviously this is not 100% because God's sovereignty is involved in not ultimately the responsibility of the wife, but he saying wives look if you want to win your husband's. Here's the way.

Let them observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

Verse three. Not your adornments are just external adornment. The rating of hair wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses. Don't try to impress them physically with with how you look, you will win the Christ that way but let it be verse for the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a meek and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. In other words, you're not going to win your husband necessarily, but by never missing a service in church. You are not going to impress your husband to win him the Christ by becoming involved in all kinds of of church activities. You are not going to win him the Christ by putting on notes in his sock drawer like God loves sinners. You know that is in it you will win them to Christ or you will impress on them what they are missing when they see your meek spirit. But then you just notice down in the chapter, there the third question, how do I respond to unbelievers in general. First Peter three verse 10. Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile and let him turn away from evil and do good. Let them seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears attend to their prayer but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, and who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good, but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness. You are blessed and do not fear their intimidation.

Do not be troubled but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, that's great. If anybody comes along and asked you why you believe in Jesus Christ with said portable soapbox out and preach him three points get red in the face again. All the last phrase do it with gentleness and reverence. He says respond in such a way yet with the truth, you give them the answer, but let it be with a meek spirit, not all, have I got the answer for your life. We can straighten the mess out. If you'll just listen no with meekness and gentleness. Fourth, how do I respond when confronted by the truth, turn to James, just back a few pages. Chapter 1 verse 19 one another quality of meekness. Here it is this you know, my beloved brethren, that everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in meekness receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. How do you and I respond when confronted by the truth of Scripture verse 22 prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves were of anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like Amanda looks at his natural face in a mirror, but once he has looked at himself and gone away, he is immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

He is speaking to the believer.

He is saying when you come to Scripture how do you respond when you are confronted with truth, he is suggesting we are to respond in humility or the word proud to in meekness receive truth so it isn't just how we respond to people that we know are wrong. How do we respond when we know we are wrong. Ouch teachability is a symptom of meekness now physically this is three points to how I respond in different situations such as when a brother falls in sin did you know the word occurs there turned back to Galatians chapters verse one brethren, even if a man is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual straighten them out. No, you who are spiritual restore such a one in Ace Barrett of weakness that is if we go back to our definition of patient, gentle disposition. He saying bind up that brokenness, the medical term restore and do it justice patiently of her doctor binds your broken limb. Why should we be so meek about that of the last part of the phrase each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

You see when we responded that way, we are not revealing the true spirit of meekness and we forgotten that we are made of flesh to so how do we respond to a brother or a sister when the full extent it should be meekness. Secondly, when I meet with the church family.

This is great. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 3 stalking the church, exhorting them toward unity is either for the prisoner of the Lord bed or entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called with all humility and meekness were gentleness with patients is the word gentleness showing forbearance to one another in love. Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and there could be the implication we find in other passages that there was trouble in the church and he is begging them.

Even though there is a faction that knows their right and there may be one that knows their wrong or perhaps there are disagreements or there are differences of opinion when you meet together as a body, something that should be closing your meeting any of the low-paying your structure is this attitude of meekness. It is patience toward the person next to you. The person behind you and in front of you since I beg you for the sake of unity. Let your church let this church right here be an illustration of everything else that follows in the in this chapter that is the unity of the body verse 41 spirit verse 51 Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father, and he is saying I want your fellowship to be one unified because it illustrates all this other stuff when we meet as a body.

When there is the potential for disagreement in mind, you as this church grows and there come into this fellowship more and more people from various backgrounds with varying opinions about a variety of different things. How do we respond, it should be with the patient disposition toward people in this room.

Thirdly, how I respond when I rub shoulders with an antagonistic world had the few pages to the rights of the book of Titus chapter 3 verse one he says remind them to be subject that is remind the believers to be subject to the rulers to authorities and to be obedience to be ready for every good deed to malign no one to be on contentious, gentle, showing every consideration from in the word gentle is the word meekness is he saying where to respond this way to to an antagonistic world because there comes in your life and in mind the attitude that we'd like to take other people by the throat.

I would like to take sometimes this country by the throat, the Supreme Court by the nap of the neck crooked politicians.

I like to shake people who reject Jesus Christ and make life difficult. There, in the year the political arena where they bring into voting.

All of these issues that that hurt the family and yet when the blood boils when it's time to respond.

Or when there's an opportunity for them to see something in us that responds to the character of Jesus Christ you not there to see meekness. I can imagine in this early church where people are being thrown to the lions that this would've been startling. And yet, as we face persecution. As we face opposition, as we see this country going down the tubes. It makes us hurt.

It angers us. Still, this world has to see in us something that is striking, and he gives that there several things on contentious gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

In other words, ladies and gentlemen, meekness should characterize our lives as we respond to anyone and to every situation. I love this promise in Matthew chapter 5 verse five Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. One day you'll have this planet.

You will rule and justice will reign it's worth it, and let's do our best to bring people to Jesus Christ and as we witness to them and share truth with them. Let's remember that we are to be gentle and patient and compassionate even though we hate we love them and I think it's that situation wherever you are and we reveal a quality that is unmistakably defined. It is a patient disposition to those on today's message is the conclusion to Stephen's series called out of Egypt. When we come back next time. Working to move directly into the next series from Exodus called down from Sinai Stephen first preached through Exodus back in 1989 the quality of the recording and the tone of Stephen's voice has changed since then. But what hasn't changed is the truth of God's word. We hope these messages from our vintage wisdom collection are a blessing to you between now and our next broadcast, we'd enjoy hearing from you and learning how God is using this ministry to build you up in the faith. Please take a few moments and drop us a note.

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I'm Scott Wiley and on behalf of Stephen and the entire wisdom team. Thanks for listening.

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