Bellevue Bright Lights: Meekness

Monday, May 20, 2013

Meekness

We had a wonderful meeting on Mother's Day weekend before last, and our topic was Meekness...

Set 3 - Meeting 3: Meekness

　
Meekness: humbly patient under provocation from others

Synonyms: forbearing, unassuming, calm, gentle, kind, submissive

Bible Dictionary: a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked.

Dying to self / Giving up your rights

　
Peculiar promises are made to the meek:
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Isaiah 66:2 “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

The cultivation of this spirit is enjoined:
Col. 3:12 - 13 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (tender mercies), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, also do ye.”

1 Tim. 6:11 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Zeph. 2:3 “Seek ye that LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment (upheld His justice); seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.”

Meekness exemplified in:
Christ
Matt. 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

1 Peter 2:23 “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

Abraham
Gen. 13 Abraham and Lot separate

Moses
Num. 12:3 “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”)

David

2 Sam. 16:10, 12 Shimei curses David

Paul

1 Cor. 9:19 “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”

Main Concepts:
Arguments, disagreements, and irritations are struggles we all face - probably everyday. Only with meekness will we be able to respond to these conflicts in a biblical way. Just as Proverbs 15:1 tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath, so a meek response softens hearts and changes attitudes. If you learn this difficult quality now, it will benefit your whole life and all of your future relationships (parents, siblings, friends, marriage, etc.)

Meekness is trusting God to protect us, our reputation, our possessions, etc, rather than “fighting” for these things ourselves. It is important to understand that everything we own actually belongs to God. We can trust Him to take care of His own property and realize that there is no reason for us to respond in anger. This perspective enables us to show meekness in everyday situations.

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What is a Bright Light?

It is a girl who has given her life to Jesus Christ, trusting in Him alone for salvation and for the grace to live each day according to His will. It is a girl who knows how to respond "just right" to people and circumstances, demonstrating godliness in her actions and attitudes. It is a girl who has Biblical convictions and commitments (holiness), and is able to go through her teenage years strong for the Lord without stumbling as many do. It is a girl who touches the lives of others by her servant’s spirit, her radiant countenance, and the message of eternal life through Jesus Christ (testimony). God wants bright lights! There is a great need for more of them in this generation of darkness.

What does a typical meeting look like?

What is a Typical Meeting Like? If you were to attend a Bright Lights meeting, what would it be like? At each meeting the leader shares a lesson covering important topics that are essential for girls in order for them to be strong for the Lord in their youth, such as:

Developing a Close Relationship with Parents
Gaining a Clear Conscience
Spending Time in God’s Word Everyday
Keeping Yourself Pure from Polluting Influences
Accepting the Way God Created You
Choosing Wise Friends
Contentment
Sensitivity
Humility
Self-control

The lesson is reinforced by testimonies from older girls in the group. At Bright Lights meetings, we also enjoy singing, fellowshipping with likeminded young ladies, listening to biographies of great Christians from history, preparing for future ministry opportunities, enjoying other activities together, and snacks (often with tea in china tea cups).

Each girl receives a Bright Lights binder that she brings with her to the meetings each week. After each lesson, she receives a new handout to add to her binder. The Bright Lights curriculum is organized into eight sets which you can view here.

Statement of Faith

1. Everyone has sinned and broken God’s laws. Because the penalty for sin is death, each of us deserve to spend eternity in hell in separation from God. We are totally incapable of achieving heaven on our own. There is no way we can be good enough to attain forgiveness from sin or achieve eternal life by our own works.
2. God so loved the world that He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from our sin. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He paid the penalty for our sin and took the punishment that we deserved.
3. Forgiveness and the free gift of eternal life is offered to anyone who will repent of their sin, and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Redemption is wholly by the blood of Christ, and salvation is by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and the final authority for our lives. It is literal, historical, and infallible.
5. There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
6. The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God, born of a virgin, sinlessly perfect. His sacrifice is substitutionary and representative. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to His Father’s right hand, where He now ministers as our Great High Priest.
7. Jesus Christ is coming again to rapture His church, and subsequently to return and reign over the earth.
8. God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) by His spoken word in six literal days as the Bible states.
9. There will be a resurrection of both the saved and the lost to either eternal life or eternal judgment.
10. A true child of God who is justified by the blood of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit is safe and exempt from God’s judgment and thus secure for eternity.