Meekness

Letter 182 (meekness) 23/05/03

Soon after the outpouring of the Spirit of Holiness, Peter and John, apostles of Yeshua and former disciples, were making their way, through the Beautiful Gate of the Temple to pray. A forty-year old lame man, who had been crippled from birth, was sitting there begging for alms. The two apostles did not have silver or gold to hand him, but what they did have was the power of YHVH’s kingdom that was resident in them. (Please note that there was no faith displayed or any required from the man). After the man was healed, Peter had to explain to the people who witnessed this miracle that this remarkable thing was not of their own doing. He shared: “Why are you looking so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, was glorifying His Servant Yeshua” …(Acts 3:12-13). Peter and John both knew that this New Covenant fulfillment was not about themselves, but about the resurrected life of the Son of YHVH, “Yeshua”, in them. The Word was again being made flesh, just as John wrote later: “Greater is He [Yeshua] in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Peter and John were simply manifesting the natural expression of the Body of Messiah, the Body of YHVH’s Servant. They were experiencing and expressing the life of YHVH’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven”. Later on Peter would write to the believers (or should I say the ‘receivers’): “But sanctify YHVH - God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with all meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

I believe that Peter’s words, “sanctify YHVH in your hearts…with meekness and fear [reverence]” is a key to understanding what took place at the Beautiful Gate that early morning. YHVH had two servants walking in the Spirit, who were already worshiping in Spirit and in Truth as they went along the way for the traditional Morning Prayer. They were abiding in Yeshua’s presence within them. They were one in this fellowship of Messiah’s life and love. Thus, when the Father decided to glorify His Son, He knew that their hearts would remain right before Him. He knew that if He would heal this crippled man, pride, self-aggrandizement and personal kingdom building would not interfere with His intent.

That day, two bondservants walking with Yeshua in meekness and fear caused one man to be healed, and five thousand to become believers. Yes, they were given free room and board at the local prison for the night, but the following day, during their hearing, the religious leaders (of the high-priestly descent) made a very interesting observation. They were amazed at the confidence that these men had in proclaiming the Gospel and giving glory to God. But even more so… they “recognize that they had been with Yeshua”. I’m sure that in saying this they were referring to the time when they had seen them with Yeshua (before His crucifixion). But what I felt tugging at my heart was Yeshua’s desire for us to be so intimate with him, that when others see us they would recognize that we too had just been with Him.

Peter and John both had the indelible markings of those who walk in the Spirit. Meekness and deep reverence were evident on their countenances. They were being prepared for apostolic leadership, to be ‘fathers’ who would nurture in love; to become under-shepherds who could lead, correct and disciple the newly growing Body of Messiah. Anyone who knew Peter could not help but recognize a man who had been changed from the inside out. These two followers of Yeshua were truly clothed in Messiah’s nature; His meekness was being seen through the cracks in their clay vessels. The sweet fragrance of His presence was all around them. These were the pillars of the apostolic body and bondservants of Yeshua Ha Mashiach.

The nature of the “one new man” is the same throughout the Body, as the head is Yeshua; the life is that of the Father, and the fruit (nature) - which is of the Spirit - is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Ephraim