Fruit of the Spirit: Meekness

© 2018 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.Blogspot.com

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, beneficence, goodness, faith-fullness 23 meekness, self-control

 1. Dynamic of Dependence/Abiding: Spirit of God (Truth) uses the Word of God (Truth) to produce in us the Mind of Christ (Jn 14:6)

    We glorify God by submitting to His plan for us to be fruit bearing disciples  alternative is fruit of flesh resulting in shame/loss -1Cor 3

 2. Fruit is always the result of seed  (word of God), soil (fertile heart), and cultivation (Spirit -light, water, weeding, time/maturity).

I. Meekness is a faith-based decision to humble/lower oneself to endure affliction/abuse for the benefit of others and glory of God

Distinguished from beatitudes;  gentleness-kindness, humility, “niceness.” Used of taming/calming an animal; being soft vs rough/brusque

Titus 3:2  speak evil of no man, be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness to all men.  (discourteous bluntness=”boneheaded and boring”)

Js 1:21 lay aside all defilement and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word,  is able to save your souls.

Aristotle: Meekness is the mean between the faults of never getting angry, and of always being harsh/angry; condensening vs  brusque

TDNT actively embracing rather than passively accepting difficulties (requires insight). Willingly lowering self to accept abuse for goal.

Ps 45:3 Gird your sword, mighty one, with your glory and majesty. 4 ride victoriously 'cs of truth, meekness, and righteousness; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds. 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; the peoples fall under You.

Num 12:3 the man Moses was very meek-afflicted/humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. (Miriam leper)

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of the Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 forsook Egypt, not fearing wrath of the king; endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Job 2:9 wife said to him...Curse God and die! 10 You speak as foolish woman...accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?

II. Meekness is not just +/-action, but what we are, that influences our thots, attitudes, decisions, esp toward others

Mt 11:29...I am gentle/meek and lowly in heart...find rest for your souls 30 yoke is beneficial and My burden is light/2Cor 4 affliction

1Pt 3:4..hidden person of the heart, w/ the incorruptible beauty of a meek/gentle & quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God

5  the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive..6..if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Mt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Ps 37:11 (Inheritance=result of faithful overcoming Rev 3:21; co-suffering Rm 8:17)

Put off before you can put on  Col 3:1 seek 2 set mind above 5 mortify members 8 Put off  9 old man with his deeds 10 renewed by K 12 Put on...holy and beloved, mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forebearing..forgiving 14 love 15 peace rule 

Js 1:21 lay aside all defilement and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word,  is able to save your souls.

III. Meekness requires prayerful prep and purposeful interaction for the benefit of others risking rejection, abuse, and satan

1Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness 12 Fight...

2Cor 10:1 beseech by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but absent am bold toward you: 

1Cor 4:21  come with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 

Gal 6:1 overtaken in a fault/lapse, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness/gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted  2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 examine own work

Eph 4:2 Walk w/ all lowliness of mind and meekness, w/ longsuffering forbearing one another in love; 3 endeavoring to keep HS unity

1Pt 3:15 sanctify Lord God in your hearts: ready always answer..asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

2Tim 2:23 avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing generate strife. 24  servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in meekness/humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may acknowledge the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 

Js 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts...15 This wisdom  not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why do  many equate meekness w/ weakness? Why isn't it prized in our culture? Is meekness an indoctrinated societal value?

2. How do you go about pursuing or chasing after meekness? What examples of meekness do you see in those around you?

3. Why do translators us kindness/humility or fatalistic acceptance to translate a powerful word? What happens if you lack Biblical meekness?

4. What does your meekness cause you to do? If you can't think of examples, how can you become more aware of the HS' work?