FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - MEEKNESS/GENTLENESS

Meekness – what a weird word. One we definitely do use anymore and there are a variety of definitions out there. Dictionary.com defines is as overly compliant, spiritless, tame. Merriam-Webster goes further to say it means deficient in courage, submissive and weak. Here, meek is used to show weakness, lacking courage to do what is right and stand up for anyone or anything. It is easily pushed to do whatever those who are perceived to be strong wants done. What struck a chord with me is spiritless. I think we can all agree this is not what Paul nor Jesus was intending nor portraying when they used the word. Getting closer to the acutal meaning is the all-popular Wikipedia. It states it’s a mixture of righteousness, inner humility and patience. Oxford defines the root word meek as quiet, gentle, easily imposed on. Paul used the word, praotes, Greek for gentleness and mildness. A calm temper of the mind and not easily provoked. As we can see, praotes is not easily translated into English. Jesus uses this word to refer to Himself in Matthew 11:29. In Matthew 5:5 the Beatitudes, the meek inherit the earth. Wikipedia seems to get the closest to what Jesus intention and the word and idea Paul is portraying here. Today I pray we get a Biblical understanding of meekness and as it relates to gentleness and the character of Christ in His life and in our own.

Let Us Pray!

Fruit of the Spirit #8: Meekness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is meekness” (Gal. 5:23).

Psalm 37:11 – But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Our guiding question today is, “Am I treating others with tenderness and respect or being harsh and short-tempered?”

I. PROMISE OF MEEKNESS

A. Practice—Christians should themselves, be humble. We should imitate Christ and follow His words!

Matthew 18:4 – Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

James 3:13 – Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 – But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

2 Timothy 2:24-25a – And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

B. Pleasure—Humility, meekness is hard to practice but there can great reward in living it out.

Proverbs 22:4 – The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Isaiah 29:19 – The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

Hebrews 10:36 – For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

C. Paradox—Pride always brings men down, destroys them eventually but God, God honors the meek, gentle.

Proverbs 29:23 – One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Psalm 25:9 – He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Psalm 147:6 – The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Proverbs 16:5 – Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

D. Personal— God’s Spirit dwells in the life of all who have a meek spirit. Christ exemplified this; Satan hates this, he loves pride because that separates men from God, but God dwells with those who have a contrite heart; Satan hates personal meekness and will seek to destroy it.

Isaiah 57:15 – For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Colossians 3:12 – Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Ephesians 4:2 – With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

II. PRACTICE OF MEEKNESS

A. Personal—Humble self. A person does not pray for humility—he practices it. As he humbles himself, God will lift him up.

James 4:6,10 – But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

v. 10 – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

B. Practice—We are to be clothed with humility.

1 Peter 5:5-6 – Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Two take aways from James and Peter -

1. God resists the proud.

2. He gives grace to the humble.

C. Practical

1. Respect—Humility and prestige are found in the willingness to serve others.

Luke 22:26 – But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.

1 Peter 3:8-10 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

2. Realization—We must not deceive ourselves by thinking we are something we are not.

Romans 12:3 – For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Philippians 2:3-7 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

D. PRIZE—Let us Remember what Micah says about this:

Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1. Do what is right, God’s will.

2. Love and walk in mercy.

3. Live out your relationship with God humbly.

III. PEOPLE WITH MEEKNESS

Scripture has many examples, here are just a few: 10 –

A. Joseph—Genesis 50:16–21 – So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

B. Moses – Numbers 12:3 – Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

Exodus 4:10 – But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

C. Saul—1 Samuel 9:21 – Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

D. David—2 Samuel 7:18-19 – Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God!

E. Solomon—1 Kings 3:7-9 – And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

F. John the Baptist—Matthew 3:14-15 – John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

G. Paul—1 Timothy 1:15-17 – The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

H. Centurion—Matthew 8:8 – But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

I. Syrophoenician woman—Matthew 15:27 – She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

J. Jesus Himself—Matthew 11:29 – 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.

As we close today let us ask ourselves the opening question, “Am I treating others with tenderness and respect or being harsh and short-tempered?”

How do you allow the Lord to work His meekness or gentleness in your life?

How have you witnessed the upside-down philosophy of Jesus, “The meek will inherit the earth, the first will be last, the last will be first,” in real life?

How do you live out Jesus’ upside-down philosophy?

What is your definition of meekness? How well does it align with Jesus’ definition?

Meekness includes clothing ourselves with humility, how does that practically look in this day and age?

Before tithes and sacrifices, God requires us to walk humble with Him. Why do you think that is what God is after first?

Which Biblical figure do you relate the most with? Which one, besides Jesus, is most challenging for you to emulate? Why?