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Meekness - Part 1
Joshua Daniel
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Joshua Daniel

Meekness - Part 1

Joshua Daniel teaches that true Christian meekness involves embracing humility, love, and long-suffering by following Christ's example and shedding self-importance.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of meekness, love, and long-suffering in the Christian walk, contrasting it with the pride and resistance often seen in the world towards the gospel. It highlights the need for a sanctified spirit, soul, and body, drawing from the example of early missionaries who faced rejection and persecution. The message focuses on the transformative power of Christ's meekness and the call to learn from Him, shedding off self-importance and embracing humility.

Full Transcript

I hear no complaining voice. I hope there are no suppressed murmurings. I don't know. But the Lord hears them. Even when Aaron and Miriam murmured, God spoke. Come out, you three. And Miriam became leprous. Miriam became leprous. I don't want anybody to take leprosy with him when you go from here. The spirit of love, the spirit of meekness, the spirit of long-suffering, we shall take from here. And not least but most importantly, a sanctified spirit, soul and body. Turn please to Isaiah 61. First verse. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them who are bound. Here the Bible tells us that these good tidings are for the meek. This meekness of which Jesus speaks of and the spirit of Christ consists of seems to be very remote and alien to our nature. Now let us look at the local situation. When the word of God was brought to this nation, was it received with great thanksgiving? No. It was received with suspicion and almost repulsed. The early missionaries were thrown out of villages and places. Their dwellings were threatened with being set on fire. One of those first missionaries, Zigen Zigenbaal, who landed over 300 years ago, we found that nobody would receive him. He spent the whole day under the shade of a tree. Nobody would teach him the local language. And when one man came forward to teach him some Tamil, that man was killed. So, the native pride played a big role against the gospel. Even to this day, it is the same. See, when you talk about caste divisions or class distinctions or difference in status, in other words, it is, I am superior to you. And so that attitude continues in many parts of the world. But the children of God learn of Christ. I am meek and lowly in heart. Learn of me. Take my yoke upon you. See, if you are delivered from that self-importance, I am employed at this high level. I draw such a big paycheck. I own so much property. I am so well-dressed. I have so much gold and ornaments. All these things make you very ugly in the sight of God. Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die. It abideth alone. Some of the young fellows who were converted very early they said, we are going to do this for God and do that for God.

Sermon Outline

  1. I
    • The importance of meekness in the Christian life
    • God’s response to murmuring and pride
    • The call to a sanctified spirit, soul, and body
  2. II
    • Biblical foundation from Isaiah 61:1 about the Spirit upon the meek
    • The challenge of meekness as contrary to human nature
    • The example of Christ’s meekness and humility
  3. III
    • Historical resistance to the gospel due to pride and social status
    • The ongoing struggle with caste and class distinctions
    • The call to shed self-importance and embrace humility
  4. IV
    • The metaphor of the grain of wheat dying to produce fruit
    • The danger of worldly success and self-exaltation
    • Learning from Christ’s yoke and lowly heart

Key Quotes

“The spirit of love, the spirit of meekness, the spirit of long-suffering, we shall take from here.” — Joshua Daniel
“All these things make you very ugly in the sight of God.” — Joshua Daniel
“Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” — Joshua Daniel

Application Points

  • Examine your heart for pride and self-importance and ask God to cultivate meekness within you.
  • Embrace humility by learning from Christ’s example and taking His yoke upon you.
  • Respond to rejection or opposition with love and long-suffering, reflecting the spirit of Christ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meekness according to this sermon?
Meekness is a spirit of humility, love, and long-suffering that reflects the character of Christ and opposes pride and self-importance.
Why is meekness difficult for people to embrace?
Because meekness is contrary to human nature and worldly values that emphasize status, power, and self-exaltation.
How does the sermon describe the response to the gospel historically?
Early missionaries faced rejection, suspicion, and persecution largely due to pride and social divisions.
What biblical example does the speaker use to illustrate meekness?
Jesus Christ’s invitation to take His yoke and learn from His meek and lowly heart.
What practical change does the sermon encourage?
To shed self-importance and embrace a sanctified spirit marked by humility and love.

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