Meekness the forgotten fruit

Walking Ellie the dog is certainly a challenge at times! The thing that most gets between us is squirrels. She can be calmly walking alongside me when she spots one of those cute little rodents and then its 0-60mph in 2 seconds, my arm is almost wrenched out of its socket and I’m plunged headlong into briars or bushes. The key thing is to anticipate the moment otherwise you’re off!! The result can become some sort of tug of war between a Boxer/Staffordshire bull terrier who looks as if she’s been on steroids and an overweight pastor struggling to preserve a modicum of apparent control.

 

Now power can be great but it needs to be controlled or it’s a dangerous thing in the wrong hands. I remember a lecturer at Bible College giving me a definition of meekness that has always struck me. Meekness is not weakness or passivity, its “controlled strength”. It conjures up the idea of a horse or an oxen which has been tamed and bridled. Its power is undiminished but its now controlled. Scripture tells us in Timothy that “God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of love, power and self discipline”. Jesus encourages us to take His Yoke upon us and learn from Him.

 

We do need to exhibit this gentle strength in our service of God, whatever we are doing. Headstrong dynamism that is uncontrolled and is going off all over the place is certainly an exciting roller coaster of a ride but the energy is more like that of a firework display than a boiler. Our example in the use of  power and manifestation of our gifts is that of Jesus. If we learn and listen to Him we won’t go far wrong.

Charles Simpson one liners

Last week Roland and I were able to listen to Charles Simpson at Nettle Hill. I’d heard about Charles, (one of the “discipleship Movement” leaders along with Ern Baxter, Don Basham, Bob Mumford and Derek Prince), but never heard him in person.

These are some of his “one-liners” for the day to provoke and stimulate you, but not necessarily for you to agree with!!  Obviously any  one liner is taken out of context of  the presentation as a whole.

The Lord wants to show us the “Because” of Luke 4vs18 on a personal level”  (The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me Because He has anointed me..)

Without perspective you can do something foolish. (Seasoned wisdom born of a sense of history)

Our trust is in the Lord not in answers. Most answers are temporary.

Arminians should read Romans, Calvinists should read James.

We get unfocussed by ministering to the felt needs of others.

We need to give up doing everything so we can do the something we should.

We need to take off the things God has not asked us to do to do the things God has asked us to do.

Jesus didn’t catch a wave He made waves. Today we look for a new wave but are no longer making waves.

People sometimes have to go through bad stuff to be usable

My memory has got so bad I’ve got a clear conscience.

People who don’t get caught have never fallen!!

If He who knew no sin was able to communicate with sinners then we should have no problem!

Revivals attract people.

Worship without mission is deception. Mission brings joy.

One of the hardest things is to cook for people who are not hungry (church members are often spiritually overfed with no spiritual exercise)

Church is the place to celebrate whats happening in the field

The most effective thing we can do is to care.

The average church member has far more than they know they’ve got.