Meekness, biblically speaking…

    Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (ESV)

    I can personally say that I have misunderstood this verse. I have also observed others misunderstanding of this verse. Whenever we read a verse that we don’t understand, or if for some reason it just doesn’t sound right in light of our true identity and what Christ has done, you should investigate on your own what it is God is truly saying in context. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (ESV)
    Misunderstandings of the Word happen to us all, for various reasons.  Some words are difficult to translate, some have just been translated poorly, some passages are not understood in light of the context in the culture in which it was spoken. The only way to find out is to dig into the Word with Holy Spirit and hunger to know Him as He truly is, and what it is He is saying. Any understanding we have in the bible that leads us away from a deeper knowing of His love and goodness, is error on our behalf. If this is happening then we are the ones not seeing clearly, because God is love and He is good in every situation and circumstance.
    So I was puzzled by this verse. Here is where some of the problem starts. The word ‘meek’ in English means this, quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive. So my question was this, how is someone who is easily imposed on and quiet, going to inherit the earth? Well, the Greek word for ‘meek’ takes this verse into an entire new direction with an entirely new meaning. This is where God invites us to explore the never ending expanse of the love of Christ and His nature, where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found (Col. 2:3).
    Ever been reading the bible and you felt a slight nudge? Or a hard to articulate feeling in your gut? A nudge or feeling that sort of feels like a invitation to a conversation that you've never had? Or maybe didn't know you had permission to have? It's the Holy Ghost inviting you to dig a little deeper. That nudge, or that moment when you feel like a verse jumped off the page at you, is the X that marks the spot. It's the place where you start digging. It's an invitation into the Apocalypse of Christ.
    Wait, what? The "Apocalypse of Christ?" Yes, here is a perfect example of the point I am trying to make. The enemy has turned the word 'Apocalypse' into some silly dogmatic mania. We think of zombies, natural disasters, incurable diseases, and so on and so on. The word Apocalypse as used from the Greek means this, 'apokalupsis' an uncovering or an unveiling. We get the word Revelation from the word 'apokalupsis'. The book of Revelation, is the unveiling of the Christ. The unveiling, or revelation of Christ's Victory, not the unveiling of the anti-christs victory.
    So that nudge, or verse jumping off the page at you, is Holy Spirit inviting you into a deeper 'apokalupsis', uncovering or an unveiling, of the person of Jesus Christ. And know this, there is more  uncovered goodness in Him then you will ever be able to dig up, but it's so much fun trying.
    So we continue with the uncovering of Matthew 5:5, the Greek word for ‘meek’ is this, ‘praus’ and the meaning may change your view of the Gospel a bit. Pruas- This difficult-to-translate root (pra-) means more than "meek." Biblical meekness is not weakness but rather refers to exercising God's strength under His control, demonstrating power without undue harshness.Understanding the work "meek" in English, and then in the original language of Greek which is was written, releases much different perspectives.
    Christ released God’s power everywhere He went without undo harshness. We are called to follow Him. Matthew 25: 39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (ESV)
    Where did Jesus always hangout when He walked the earth? He dwelled among the sick, the sinners, the broken, and hurting. He came for the sick. So it would make sense that He is expecting us to find Him in the darkness and amongst the sick and hurting… So much of Him and His goodness is missed when we avoid anything or anyone that could present a mess. The darkness is where He shines brightest. You and I were once a mess, now we are the message of reconciliation to the world.
    What is it we say we even believe if we deliberately avoid the people and places that need the Gospel most? Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… “The power of God for salvation,” it’s His power that transforms us into His image and likeness. “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power,” 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT). You cannot be confident without being humble, and you cannot be humble without being confident. True confidence knows where it's confidence is drawn from, and knowing where it truly comes from means you know that it’s not you, but Christ in you.
    Let's not fall suspect to the lie that flowing in God’s power can create too much of an opportunity to be prideful. In all actuality it seems to be the exact opposite, think about it. You have to be a complete fool to get prideful when you are seeing people healed and all sorts of miracles are constantly happening through you. I’m not saying it’s not possible, I’m saying true humility dwells hand and hand in His power and love. One may have more than a few screws lose if they think that they are the ones healing people.
    Now think of the flip side here… When you are in a church environment that does not flow in the power of God how easy would it be to get prideful? Think of it, it’s all about what you can do if the power of God and what He is capable of is not the focus. Making our ability the focus and not His ability the focus creates a greater chance for pride then obeying Christ and releasing His power without undo harshness.
    The earth belongs to those that will flow in His power as a lifestyle without being harsh and without letting it puff them up. He will open doors across the globe for you to share His amazing Word, love, and power when we assert His authority and power in kindness and patience. His power is within us and it is within us for the reason of releasing it to the world that needs it so badly. Salvation is the purchased life of wholeness and a life that increases abundantly into more and more wholeness, and it doesn't fully manifest without His power, Romans 1:16.
   We are given what's His, the earth, when we humbly release His character, love, and power as a lifestyle.


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Paradoxical Paradise

The fantasy land of Hope has soaked my throat.

Its words are potent with love that has been honed in.

I was shown Him, and life changed in a moment.

The Grace-full showmen rode in and brought His home with Him.

Now, I'm lost in the place of being found.

Wow, the cross and its grace has me crowned.

Now the profound sound of my Boss has me unwound.

With my head in His clouds, but my feet on solid ground.

I've been intertwined in His mind outside of time.

Slimed by heavens shine, as I let Him into mine.

Bursting with creativity, as His presence seeps in like humidity.

A tangible energy has entered me, and will only increase for eternity.

Let your life be a sign that makes them wonder, as your light shines so bright

 it forces away the dark cloud they've been under.

Let your jaw drop from the awe that He brought.

So raw that all of ya'll have already been bought.

So the lovely catch 22, is that I forever become more new.

What to do, but just enjoy the metamorphosis of you.

Follow the course of His view and wield His sword on cue.

And drink more of what's been poured for your mood.

He is the substance in which 'what if's' get thrown off cliffs.

We free fall in the faith-full bliss as He insists that we get what's His.

Getting lost in heaven and earths kiss, as the romantic mist drips,

on His kids to promote their steps and every wish.

Always getting fresher as the pressure goes from tense to less in here.

He gave Himself without measure so we could reveal His best here.

His miracle messengers flex at fear and it jets off as fast as it appeared.

Now the Seers are the leaders, as He clears the path for all believers.

Know your outrageously lovable and snuggle into Mr. Wonderful.

As He is Wonder-full, and wakes you from your slumber, completely whole.

You have become One with His very soul,

you were buried gold, He dug you up, just as was told.

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Be Perfected in Love

    Love is the greatest weapon that exists. The purest substance that exists. It is a privilege that we get to partake in His Divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4, and the Divine nature is Love. This tangible substance that is Love, is who this God of ours truly is. As we marinate in this liquid Love we begin to see His reality released through us, and we continually learn to love like He Loves us. As you are reading this remember first that this definition of Love is the way God deals with us, that thought and truth should help us love others the way they deserve to be loved.

1 Corinthians 13
    If I gave away all my personal wealth to the poor and didn’t have love, I only increased in nothingness. If I willing sacrificed my body to be martyred but didn’t have love, I benefited nothing. Love thinks it rubbish to retaliate with anger, that’s what Godless people do and I have more of Him in me than I realize. Love shows divinely-directed patience and is the opposite of being "quick-tempered".
    Love is gently full of service for others. Love never reaches a boiling point, and is never jealous of others successes. Love never boasts of itself, but only of the Lord. Love isn’t arrogant, like an egotistical person with "puffed-up" thoughts. Love does not lack His proper formula and doesn’t act unseemly (indecent, unbecoming). Love doesn’t have to be right by digging to the bottom of matter, or investigate to reach a binding (terminal) resolution.
    Love doesn’t cut close or insist on jabbing someone to stimulate their feelings or emotions. Love doesn’t look for the bad in people or the world, love points out the gold and the good in people, places, and things. Love is not excited with violations of God's standards (justice) which brings divine disapproval; i.e. what is contrary to His righteous judgments (what He approves). But love is thrilled with the Truth, not merely truth as spoken; but truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness.
    Love will place someone under there roof for free, excited they could help Our Father and grow in relationship with His people. Love never stops trusting, with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord. Love is actively waiting for God's fulfillment about the faith He has birthed through the power of His love. Love will wait behind, and endure the setbacks for the sack of letting His love flow through them into the struggling person, that was and is made in His image and likeness.
    Love never condemns, therefore cannot be condemned. Before we knew Christ we were immature, now that we know Christ we do away with immaturity and put on His fullness and divinely fueled power of love. We tend to see things in riddle form when it comes to His Divine mysteries, but when love comes we come to know the deep things of His heart through direct relationship. Now abide in His confidence, the expectation of His favor, and His unconditional love. But abide in the greatest of all, love.
    The Greek word used for love in this chapter in the original Greek manuscript is 'agape', and it means unconditional love. It is used 116 times in the New Testament.
Romans 12 9-21
    Love is always without hypocrisy and detests, at all times, the maliciousness of this world by gluing oneself to that which originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith. Let His divinely infused love for your brothers and sisters in Christ be kindly shown and always put the value of another’s life above that of your own. God’s love, when established in us, burns with enthusiasm to unfailingly live for King Jesus. We are to be overcome with His joy and the expectation of His favor, standing ones ground in trial, and consistently exchanging wishes with Him. When His love shines in us we are continually contributing to the business of His holy people and aggressively chasing, like a hunter pursuing a catch (prize), love towards strangers.
    Speak highly of those that mock you and aim to destroy you. Bless those that are trying to earnestly apprehend you, because that’s what Jesus did.  Be joyful with your joy filled brothers, and lament with those expressing uncontainable and audible grief. Love is united and in one accord with those that are also fueled by love. We are not to be condescending in our understanding, we are to not shun those who rely on Jesus but are experiencing inner lowliness; we are never to be gifted by our own accounts. Love never returns evil when evil is rendered unto them, but shows necessary forethought in all occasions to act properly (in God's will). In the power He has granted you, so far as concerns your conscience, live in the condition of God's peace with all men.
    Do not dispense justice on your own account, but you who are unconditionally loved by God, leave opportunity for the Lord to vindicate you. For it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord (Paul was quoting Deut 32:35). "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Prov. 25:21-22. Be who He says you are so as to not be overtaken by evil, but that so you can overtake evil with good whether it is seen to be so or not.
    Let us grow in LOVE Father. Let us Re-present You in love and in power and in Truth to a world that desperately needs You. Blessings, Love you guys!

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