The Fruit Of The Spirit: Meekness

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-18-2020

Galatians 5:22

 

Introduction:

 

A.  The Fruit of the Spirit is one fruit that manifest itself in 9 different aspects.  3 Inward—love, joy, peace—3 Outward—longsuffering, goodness, gentleness—3 Upward—faith, meekness, temperance.

 

B.  Man is a trichotomy and a dichotomy.  A trichotomy in the image of God—soul, body, spirit—and a dichotomy—the natural man and the spiritual man.

 

C.  This morning, I want to look at meekness, a virtue that is missing in many people.  In days of a humanistic view of life (you are your own “god” and responsible mainly to self), I find little biblical meekness in this world.

 

D.  Meekness is our reaction to what others do to us.

 

E. The Opposite of Meekness is Pride:

 

MEE'KNESS,  Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.  In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness.

 

PRIDE,   Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

 

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

F.  I want to look at meekness in two areas:  Meekness toward the Lord and Meekness toward Men.

 

1.  Meekness before the Lord.  A recognition of who and what we are.  Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  (Meekness comes through humility.  Paul, who could have had much to glory in displayed meekness.) 

 

a.  Paul did not think that he was someone special-- 2 Corinthians 10:1  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:

 

b.  Paul did not think that he was spiritual —1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 

c.  Did not think the was even a great Christian -- Ephesians 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

d.  Knew that what little he had accomplished was by the grace of God – 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  (May the Lord help us as God’s men to have a meek attitude!)

 

b.  Meekness comes through ssubmission – James 4:6-7  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  (7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

c.  Resignation – acceptance of the will of God.  James 5:10-11  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  (11)  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

2.  Meekness toward Men.

 

Ephesians 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

Philippians 3:4-10  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  (5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 

a.  We Should Not Have To Be Recognized - Luke 14:10  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

 

b.  We Should Not Have To Be In Charge - 1 Corinthians 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

 

c.  We Should Not Have To Have Our Own Way - Philippians 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 

d.  We Should Remember What We Were And We Would Be If It Were Not For The Grace Of God - Ephesians 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (May the Lord help us as Christians to have a meek attitude!)

 

Conclusion:  Things that meekness will do.

 

1.  Meekness Will Keep You Satisfied - Psalms 22:26  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

 

2.  Meekness Will Keep You In The Will Of The Lord - Psalms 25:9  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.  (The proud know it all and cannot be taught.)

 

3.  Meekness Will Give You An Internal Peace - Psalms 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  (You have nothing to prove.)

 

4.  Meekness Will Elevate You In God’s Time - Psalms 147:6  The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

 

5.  Meekness Brings You Favor With The Lord - Psalms 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

 

6.  Meekness Brings Joy In The Lord - Isaiah 29:19  The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  (We are nothing and He is everything.)

 

7.  Meekness Brings Rest - Matthew 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.