Fruit of the spirit #8 Meekness
Today we’re going to go on with the 8th fruit of the spirit listed here in (GAL. 5:23) and that’s “Meekness.” The NKJV calls it “Gentleness.” This word can also be translated “Humility” or “Humble.” The AMP. Translation calls it “Gentleness (meekness, humility).”
I) “MEEKNESS” is not “WEAKNESS.”
A) Meekness sounds a lot like weakness, but they are nothing alike.
1) I think people are a little afraid to call themselves ‘MEEK,’ because others might confuse it with the qualities of being weak.
(a) There is nothing wrong with being weak; in fact, it’s good to be weak.
(i) 2CO 12:9‑10.
(b) When you realize you’re weak, then you can be made strong in God’s strength.
(i) (ZEC 4:6) Says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
(ii) You could say it like this, “It’s not by OUR might, nor by OUR power, but by HIS spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
2) There is a difference between MEEK and WEAK; The opposite of Weak is Strong, when we realize that we can not do it in our own strength, then we’ll get God’s strength.
3) The opposite of Meek is Pride.
(a) Look at PRO 16:18.
(i) (PRO 11:2) Says, “{When} pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly (humble) {is} wisdom.”
(ii) (PRO 29:23) Says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
(iii) In others words “The humble in spirit will be honored.”
B) There are quite a few people in the Bible who are MEEK but definitely not WEAK.
1) JOH 2:13‑16.
(a) Jesus was definitely not weak, but He was Meek.
(b) In (HEB 12:2) it says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(i) It was a humbling experience for Jesus to go to that cross.
(c) (2CO 10:1) Says, “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence {am} base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”
(d) Jesus was humble, and if He was then, it’s an attribute of God.
(i) 2CO 4:4.
(ii) Jesus is the image of God. Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father,” in (JOH 14:9).
(iii) Jesus has the same character of the Father.
2) NUM 12:3.
(a) Moses was Meek yet he was 1 of the greatest leaders that ever lived.
(b) EXO 32:17‑20. That doesn’t sound like someone who is weak to me.
(c) The Bible tells us in (1PE 3:4) that a MEEK SPIRIT OR a HUMBLE SPIRIT, in the sight of God is of great price.
3) There are other examples of great men of God who were also meek or humble.
(a) We have Stephen in (ACTS 7).
(b) We have Joseph in (GEN 50).
(c) Saul in (1SA 9).
(d) Solomon in (1KI 3).
(e) John the Baptist in (MAT 8).
(f) Paul in (1TI 1).
(g) And others.
II) Now we are to practice MEEKNESS, HUMILITY.
A) MAT 18:4.
1) We are to humble ourselves, and if we do we will be great in the Kingdom of God.
2) James says something similar to that in (JAMES 4:10), which says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
(a) Nowhere are we told to pray for humility, we’re told to practice it, and when we do, God will lift us up.
(b) (1PE 5:5) Says, “To be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
(i) Let me read it to you from the Amplified translation, “Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the GARB of a servant, [garb is either clothing or manner of acting] so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.”
(c) If you need more of God’s Grace, His favor and blessing, Humble yourself.
III) We have a need to be Meek.
A) GAL 6:1. Meekness here is humility and gentleness.
1) Backsliders, if they repent, are to be restored in a spirit of Meekness, and their wrong doings Forgotten, just as God forgets our sins.
(a) This is a warning from God, if we don’t stay humble, we will become caught up in a spirit of Pride, and Pride will cause you to fall.
B) If someone asks us a question or if they are even trying to argue against the Gospel, we are still to answer them with Meekness.
1) 1PE 3:15. The Word MEEKNESS here means, “Mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit.”
(a) To argue and strive in a contentious spirit is likely to make the person deny the Truth, even if they see it.
C) We ourselves are to receive the Word of God with Meekness.
1) JAMES 1:21.
(a) Again, let me give it to you from the Amplified Translation, “So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.”
(i) There is power in God’s Word especially when you let it become implanted and rooted in your heart.
(ii) He says that it contains power to save your souls.
(a) The Word “SOULS” in this verse is the Greek word “PSUCHE” which is usually translated “SOUL” which we usually referred to mean “OUR MIND” but it is almost equally translated “LIFE.”
(b) The word “SAVE” in this verse is the Greek word “SOZO” which means, “safety, soundness, deliverance, healing, preservation, and really all of promises of God.”
(iii) When we receive the Word of God in a humble spirit and allow it to be rooted and grounded in our hearts, the seed of that Word can utterly change your life and bring you into an area of soundness, deliverance, healing, and prosperity.
(b) It happens too many times that when we have heard something before, we get a Haughty spirit. [I’ve heard that before.]
2) Paul said to Timothy in (2TI 1:6), “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance.”
3) And Peter said in (2PE 1:12), “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know {them}, and be established in the present truth.”
IV) There are rewards of Meekness.
A) (PSA 22:26) Says, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.”
B) The NIV translation of (PSA 25:9) Says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”
C) Probably the most famous promise on the subject of Meekness is MAT 5:5; let’s turn there. The Word “EARTH” can just as easily be translated “LAND,” and that would be referring to the Canaan Land, the land of promise, the land of blessings.
D) Turn with me to this one last scripture.
1) PRO 22:4.
2) The NIV says, “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.”
TFC and WOLCC 8/26/94 Sun, and Word of Life Christian Church Sunday, June 25, 2000 & August 25, 2005