The Pursuit of God – Chapter 9a

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Wednesday 07/13/16 

Series: The Pursuit of God

Messages – Chapter 9a – Meekness & Rest

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Chapter 9 Meekness & Rest

For Discussion

1)For most of the beatitudes, we have a “logical” excuse for why (at times) they do not apply to us. Yet, they represent a soul that has ceased striving for the advancement of self and so have come to a place of rest in their Lord, where natural things cannot steal their peace, rest and soul satisfaction.

Go through this list with a serious and honest attitude, examining yourself. Mark those you know are areas of weakness, where you strive for self instead of resting into Him. This practice is to help us see these weaknesses and by the aid of the Spirit discover it’s root. You will more than likely find that many….if not all of your weaknesses share a common root.

Blessed are the (those)…

•  Poor in spirit _______________________________________________________

•  Who mourn ________________________________________________________

•  Meek _____________________________________________________________

•  Who are hungry for being right with God _________________________________

•  Merciful ___________________________________________________________

•  Pure in heart _______________________________________________________  

•  Peacemakers _______________________________________________________

•  Who are persecuted for righteousness sake _______________________________

 

2) Tozer brought up Jesus’ passionate statements about laying down our burdens. Backing up a bit to see the context always helps though, so let’s examine that passage and then answer the following questions. The passage is found in Matt. 11:20-30.

A) What was the reason for Jesus’ rebuke?

B) What was it about the people of those cities that made Jesus glad that the Father had hidden from them the reality of their impending judgment?

C) Given what Jesus said in the previous verses, what was the invitation to rest an invitation to?

D) What yoke was Jesus referring to and what yoke of ours is it replacing?

3) We do not like to think of ourselves as prideful people, but in reality, every human being’s struggle begins with pride…or as Tozer aptly calls it, “Self-love”.

Self-love is behind all “anti-meekness” – yes I made that up that word. We often understand the words the Bible uses to define Godly character, by their opposites. So, the opposite of this particular word “meek” is:

Fierceness…prone towards anger, defensive, harboring resentment and nurturing long-standing anger, prejudice & bitterness ”.

Meekness is…

Properly temperate, displaying the right blend of force AND reserve (gentleness). It avoids unnecessary harshness, yet never compromises truth.”

The enemy of all meekness is pride…or self-love and from it springs harshness, quick anger, resentment and bitterness.

This little clip is a great example of meekness –

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Now for application….In typical Tozer eloquence, he puts this issue of meekness to us so that it stings us at our core…

The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think for yourself whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly of you. As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have any inward peace?

The heart’s fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest.

Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable. Yet the sons of earth are carrying this burden continually, challenging every word spoken against them, cringing under every criticism, smarting under each fancied slight, tossing sleepless if another is preferred before them.

Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear. Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method.”

Rather than asking you personal, probing questions why don’t you just discuss Jesus’ ways in comparison to what is often our own. Again, make this discussion useful by probing for the reasons BEHIND our behaviors and tendencies.

4) Tozer said that a meek person must not be seen as a “human mouse afflicted with a sense of …inferiority”. Instead, they have found their true value and rest in God – making the opinions of man of no consequence and personal defense no longer necessary nor desired. They feel no need to defend themselves but pass all judgment and their own defense into God’s hands.

Jesus lived this way, Paul speaks of it and only a Child of God who is 100% convinced of God’s love for and value of them is free to live in this rest.

Discuss this.

Blessings! 

This is where we ended our discussions on chapter 8c , Restoring the Creator Creature Relation of A.W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God. We will be progressing further into the chapter next week…Blessings! 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

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Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!