MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS!

 BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO

While teaching what is popularly called the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous– with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!” (Amplified Bible).

The New King James Version says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt 5:5 NKJV). The New Living Translation renders it thus:  “God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.” My focus in this message is on that phrase “the meek.”

Meekness is not weakness!  When someone is weak, it means, among other things, that he lacks power or strength. But that is not what meekness means. The meek have strength, but they have disciplined their strength. The Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary defines meekness as “A calm temper of mind, not easily provoked.” Meekness is refraining to use your strength, power or right, which gives another or others advantage over you.

Don’t confuse the meek with the weak. If a man is weak, he should seek strength, and not pretend that he is meek! That will be a mere pretence, not meekness! The meek, the Bible is talking about, don’t lack strength or power. They have only decided to bring their strength or power under control; they have restrained themselves.  These are the people Jesus said would inherit the earth.

But the New Living Translation, as presented in the first paragraph above, renders “the meek” as “those who are gentle and lowly.” So from there, we also understand that to be meek means to be gentle and lowly – bringing your strength under control in your relationship with people, particularly in negative circumstances.

Actually, the Greek word for “meek” in Matt 5:5 is praus meaning humble, gentle. Jesus said such people will inherit the earth. Ps 37:11 says a similar thing: “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (NKJV). But right before that verse there is a relevant statement in verse 9:  “For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (NKJV). There is a relationship between those who wait on the Lord and the meek – the writer is talking about the same people.  The meek wait upon the Lord as we shall see later. The Hebrew word for meek in Ps 37:11 is anav meaning poor, humble, afflicted, meek.

The Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary differentiates between meekness and weakness. It says meekness is, “An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward men, springing from a recognition that God is in control. Although weakness and meekness may look similar, they are not the same. Weakness is due to negative circumstances, such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person’s conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.” Did you see that?

Take note of that quote from the Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, which says that meekness is an attitude of humility towards God and gentleness towards men. And relationship with God and man is the summary of human existence.

God doesn’t expect that we shall be humble towards Him, but lack gentleness – tenderness, calmness, kindness, peacefulness – in our relationship with fellow humans, especially under provocation. Do you remember what Jesus said about the greatest commandments? “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matt 22:37-40 NLT).

From that quote on meekness, we also see that meekness is described as “strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.” But another very important thing we should note in that quote is that meekness is “an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward men, springing from a recognition that God is in control.” When someone knows that God is in control, he doesn’t allow himself to be provoked by what people do or say against him. He knows that God will fight for him.

The meekness of Jesus

The Bible says of Jesus that He was denied of justice and He took it with equanimity.  The Lamb of God that took away the sins of the whole world was led like a gentle lamb to the slaughter and he didn’t resist the conspirators. “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33 NKJV).

He did that not because he was weak, but because he was meek. Hear what Jesus told a disciple who, while trying to defend Jesus during His arrest, cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest with a sword:  “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matt 26:52-54 NKJV). Jesus wasn’t making an empty boast.  John 18:10 tells us that the sword wielding disciple was Peter and the victim, the high priest’s servant, was Malchus.

Later at his trial, Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”  (John 19:10 NKJV).  If he had thought that Jesus would be begging him to release him, he was wrong. Jesus replied, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin” (verse 11 NKJV). Meekness! It is a rare attribute – to have strength, power or right and refuse to use it even at the point of provocation, and be kind.

On the cross, while all the humiliation was going on, Jesus remained calm; he didn’t fight back; he didn’t curse those who sponsored or participated in his unjust crucifixion; He was kind to them. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34 NKJV).

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, later emulated Jesus as he was being stoned to death. He didn’t call down thunder and fire; he didn’t ask God to avenge his persecution. He knew God was in control of his life. He was kind to his killers. Calling on his Savior and Mentor, the Lord Jesus, to receive his spirit, he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60 NKJV). After this, he fell asleep – he died.    

The spirit of meekness is the spirit of Christ

I know Jesus and Samson were two different persons. Their assignments were different; the spirit in Jesus was different from that of Samson. Jesus prayed for forgiveness for his enemies when he was about to die. But what did Samson do shortly before he died? “Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!’” (Judg 16:28 NKJV). Did you see that?

Of course, you know what followed Samson’s prayer. “And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life” (Judg 16:29-30 NKJV).

The spirit of meekness is the spirit of Christ. That was why in Luke 9:51-56,  Jesus rebuked the two disciples, James and John, who wanted to call down fire to burn up a Samaritan village in retaliation for  not welcoming him, because He was on His way to Jerusalem. Pastors calling down fire to destroy those they should be working towards their salvation! Can you imagine that! Jesus rebuked them (Luke 9:55).  Some translations add to verse 55 and begin verse 56 with statements like these: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55b-56a NKJV). Others omit these words or put them in brackets. These disciples behaved like that because they didn’t possess the spirit of meekness.

I repeat that the spirit of meekness is the spirit of Christ. Paul pointed this out by begging the Corinthians with meekness and gentleness of Christ. “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you” (2 Cor 10:1 NKJV).

Jesus was meek – gentle and lowly. He said this himself: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:29 NKJV).  Take note of that phrase “gentle and lowly in heart.” That’s what meekness means.

At Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem, the Bible says, “Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Matt 21:4-5 ASV).  Instead of the word meek, the New King James Version uses the word lowly, while the New Living Translation uses humble. The Savior of the world was a humble Lamb, and in humility, rode into Jerusalem upon an ass. Jesus was meek, and His disciples today should emulate Him.

The meekness of Moses  

Two other people in the Bible are also described as meek. The first one is Moses. Num 12:3 says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth” (ASV). But how was Moses meek? We need to look at the verses preceding that sentence so as to understand the context.

Num 12:1-2 says, “Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, ‘Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ And the LORD heard it” (NKJV).  It is immediately after this that the Bible says, “The man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.”

If you continue reading the chapter, you will see that Moses didn’t defend himself. But God, in anger, rebuked Miriam and Aaron, while He defended Moses. Miriam even became leprous for seven days. The meek maintain their calmness in the face of criticisms. They allow God to fight for them; they don’t try to vindicate themselves. This is not a common attitude. An average person seeks to exonerate himself; he seeks to justify himself. Indeed, the natural man cannot be meek! It takes the grace of God, and this grace, God’s help, is available. That’s why Jesus has called us to be meek.

The meekness of David

The other meek person in the Bible is David. As I’ve said, meekness is disciplined strength. The meekness of David made him not to kill Saul the first time he had opportunity to kill him. He had power to do so but he restrained himself and his men who were eager to kill him to put an end to Saul’s desperate pursuit of killing David (1Sam 24:1-7).

Hear what 1 Sam 24:4-7 says: “Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’ So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way” (NKJV). As I’ve pointed out, meekness emanates from a recognition that God is in control. David didn’t kill the Lord’s anointed, because he knew God was in control of his life and would vindicate him. And that is, exactly, what He did. There was a second opportunity to kill Saul, but David didn’t kill him for the same reason: he was the LORD’s anointed (1 Sam 26).

Meekness does not repay evil with evil; it does not seek revenge. It hands over the case to God to handle, and submits itself to God’s verdict.

We see another instance of the David’s meekness in his reaction when Shimei, a relation of Saul, continued to curse and stone him and his servants as David was fleeing from Absalom’s rebellion. “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!” (2 Sam 16:7-8 NKJV).

Abishai the son of Zeruiah, who was one of David’s servants with him, sought the permission of David to kill Shimei. But what was David’s response?  “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ 
 ‘See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day’” (2 Sam 16:10 -12 NKJV).

David was not weak; he was only meek. He had the power to order the killing of Shimei, but he restrained himself from doing that. He trusted God to fight for him, and He did.

After Absalom’s rebellion had been quelled and David was returning to Jerusalem, Shimei came to beg David for forgiveness, apparently to save his life. Again, Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” (2 Sam 19:21 NKJV) What was David’s response again? “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” (Verse 22). David went ahead to swear to Shimei that he would not die. He kept that promise, but handed over his case to his son, Solomon, to handle. His case was the last David mentioned before he died. He told Solomon to bring Shimei’s gray hair down to the grave with blood (1 Kings 2:8-9).  Solomon didn’t fail his father; he later commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to strike him down for violating his instruction to live in Jerusalem and never to leave there; he died (verses 36-46). David’s meekness was not weakness.

Put on meekness

In the New Testament, believers are called upon to cultivate meekness as a character. It should influence our relationship with God and men. Meekness is part of the fruit of the spirit that must be present in the life of a Christian. “But the fruit of the Spirit is 
 gentleness…” (Gal 5:22-23 NKJV). That word gentleness also means meekness as we have seen earlier.

In Col 3:12-13, one of the things Paul told the Colossians (the elect of God, holy and beloved) to put on was meekness. That is also expected of Christians today. We are to walk worthy of our calling with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:1-2). We are to lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21). That means meekness includes being teachable.

We, Christians, are also to sanctify the Lord our hearts, and with meekness and fear, be always ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).

Christian women, especially women married to non-Christians, are to be adorned with the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit. “Whose (adorning) let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; but (let it be) the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible (apparel) of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1Peter 3:3-4 ASV).

Also, Christian teachers and leaders are to walk in meekness towards all men. Meekness should characterize their relationship with others. “Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men” (Titus 3:1ASV). Please take note of those two words – gentle and meekness; they are saying essentially the same thing. Without meekness, a servant of God will be easily provoked and may even abuse his power. He may destroy the people and also himself! That’s why 2 Tim 2:24-26 warns, “And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will” (ASV).

Still talking about meekness, James writes, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13 NKJV). In the meekness of wisdom! The Greek word translated meekness in that verse is prautes meaning humility. The New Living Translation puts James 3:13b this way: “And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!” (NLT). Meekness means no bragging. Those who are truly wise don’t brag; they are meek.

Benefits of meekness

Let me quickly highlight the benefits of meekness. What will you profit from being meek?

1.God will save the meek. “The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek” (Isa 61:1 ASV). In place of the word meek, some translations such as the New King James Version and the New Living Translation use the word poor. But the King James Version uses the word meek.

Those who are meek will enjoy salvation.  It takes humility and lowliness of heart to accept the Good News without which nobody can be saved. Ps 149:4 says, “For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation” (ASV).  Some translations, such as the New king James and the New Living Translation, use the phrase, the humble, in place of the meek.

Also, Ps 76:9 talks about, “When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth” (ASV). But not all Bible translations use this phrase, the meek. The New King James and the New Living Translation use the phrase, the oppressed.

In addition to spiritual salvation, the meek shall also enjoy other dimensions of salvation which include deliverance from danger, deliverance from oppression, healing, preservation. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13). The proud are not likely to cry to Him for help, but the meek or the humble will. “Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger” (Zeph 2:3 NKJV).

Referring to the redemption of Jerusalem, Zeph 3:12 says those who are left will be the lowly (the meek) and the humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD.

2. Divine guidance and teaching. The meek will enjoy divine leading and teaching. Ps 25:9 says, “The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way” (ASV). Again the phrase, the meek, is rendered differently in other Bible translations. The New King James and the New Living Translation use the phrase, the humble. That means God will lead the meek or the humble in what is right and teach them His way. They will not follow their own way, which may lead to destruction. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov 14:12, 16:25 NKJV). Isa 30:21 says, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (NKJV).

3. Divine provision. Ps 22:26 says, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise Jehovah that seek after him: let your heart live forever” (ASV). Some Bible translations (NKJV, NLT, etc.) use the phrase, the poor, instead of the meek.

God will not allow the meek to go without provision; He will meet their needs. He will satisfy their mouths with good things (Ps 103:5).  “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed” (Ps 37:25-26 NKJV).

4. Possession of the earth. Ps 73:2-3 says, “But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness” (NLT). Many people today are like this psalmist who was so disturbed by the prosperity of the wicked and was almost backsliding.

From verses 1-14, he was lamenting because the wicked were enjoying and he was suffering despite his righteousness. But from verse 17, he repented. “Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.  In an instant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors. Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life” (Ps 73:17-20 NLT).

I believe that the earth Matt 5:5 is talking about is not the present earth. The meek shall be disappointed if they expect that they will inherit the present earth by being meek. I believe that Jesus was talking about the “new earth”, which will replace the present earth that shall be no more.

Isa 65:17 says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (NKJV). Rev 21:1 also says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more” (ASV). Isa 66:22 and 2 Peter 3:13 also talk about a new earth. That shall be after the second coming of Christ when He shall return with the raptured Christians, who had been with Him in heaven and they shall reign with Jesus on the earth for one thousand years.

Then God will create a new heaven and earth. He shall come to make His throne on the earth and dwell with those who are saved – Christians. It is actually in the new earth to be inherited by the meek that we shall spend eternity. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13 NKJV).

Sinners may be grabbing and grabbing now; the wicked may be amassing all through unrighteous means. But their season shall soon expire. This earth ultimately belongs to the meek, but not in its present state, because there shall be a new earth. “But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Ps 37:11 Amplified Bible).  Matt 5:5 says a similar thing: “Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous– with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!” (Amplified Bible) 

Walk the path of the meek, not the path of the wicked or sinners. It will not end like this. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work” (Rev 22:12 NKJV).

5. Abundant Peace. “But the meek [in the end]
 shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Ps 37:11 Amplified Bible). Contrary to what may be the negative experience of the meek now, there is the reward of peace waiting for them in the end. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV). But He also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV). From these two scriptures, it is clear that the peace Jesus promised us shall be in the midst of persecution, troubles, etc. We shall only have our peace in the midst of negative circumstances as we remain in Him.

Paul said, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12 NLT). But when this dispensation comes to an end, the meek will enjoy peace not in the midst of persecution, suffering, etc. It shall be perfect peace, because only the meek will possess the earth then and they’ll enjoy the abundance of peace. There shall be no more trouble, persecution, violence, injustice, etc.

6. Divine uplifting. God upholds, uplifts, sustains or defends the meek. “Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground” (Ps 147:6 ASV). The King James Version says, “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground” (KJV). The New Century Version says, “The Lord defends the humble, but he throws the wicked down.”

If God lifts up a man, who can pull him down?  “He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes — with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!” (Ps 113:7-9 NKJV). If the LORD defends you, who or what can harm you?  “Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever” (Ps 125:2 NLT). The Bible says, “He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm’” (Ps 105:14-15 NKJV).

If you want the LORD to lift you up, uphold you or sustain you, wear the garment of meekness. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV).

7. Increased joy. The joy of the meek in God will increase. Isa 29:19 says, “The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (ASV). The New Living Translation says, “The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD
” (Isa 29:19) .

The Bible always tells the righteous, the believer, to rejoice in the LORD.  Ps 33:1 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright” (KJV). Ps 97:12 says a similar thing: “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (KJV). Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4 ASV).

Why should the meek rejoice? Neh 8:10 says, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (NLT). If the joy of the LORD is our strength, it means that the loss of joy is equal to loss of strength! But it also means that more joy equals to more strength! So since Isa 29:19 says, “The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah
,” it means that the meek shall access more strength! Hallelujah! “With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!   In that wonderful day you will sing: ‘Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the world what he has done. Oh, how mighty he is! Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you’” (NLT Isa 12:3-6).

Conclusion: Are you meek or you’re weak? If you’re weak, ask the Lord for strength or power. But if you’re going to be meek, you must live a life that acknowledges that God is in control, and also bring your strength and courage under control or discipline.  You must possess “a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked.” You must refrain from using your strength, power or right even if that will give another person or others advantage over you. You must be kind.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing and Bible teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org