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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/1015829
Rated: E · Book · Religious · #2245288
Bible studies
#1015829 added August 30, 2021 at 11:44am
Restrictions: None
Fruits of the Spirit - Meekness
Dear God,
Thank you for making your Spirit visible in us. Thanks for developing us and growing our faith in you. Teach us what it means for us to produce the fruit of meekness in our lives.
In Christ’s name,
Amen




Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

🥝🍍🍑🥭🍒🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍏🍋🍊🍎🍐🍌🫐🍒🍇🍉🥝

What is meekness?

meekness - the fact or condition of being meek; submissiveness.
Meek - quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.
Humble - having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
Lowly - low in status or importance; humble.
Submissive - ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive.
Forbearing - patient and restrained.
Self-control - the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.
Mild - acting gently and without causing harm; not intense or extreme; not severe, serious, or harsh.

Meekness is strength under control. It is putting others first and esteeming others higher than yourself. It is submitting to authority. Meekness is enduring injury with patience without any resistance. It is being mild, soft in temper, gentle, forbearing and enduring provocations or injury. It is submission to the divine will without complaint.

Meekness is not weakness. It is active, strong, modest, courageous, restrained, and gracious. It genuinely cares about other people. Meekness acknowledges the accomplishments of others. A meek person is not easily provoked. Meekness is power under control.

Exercising meekness may seem like being a door mat for everyone to walk all over, but it is not. Meekness is patience. It is not meanness or surrendering our rights. It is not cowardliness. It produces peace. Anyone can speak their mind, but to keep yourself 100% under control while speaking it isn't always easy.

The Greek word praus means mild, tame, gentle, pleasant, kind, lenient, quiet, friendly, and composed.

Meekness:
-Mildness of disposition
-Gentleness of spirit
-Restraint/Patience
-Controlled strength
-Able to bear reproach without bitterness
-Being gentle in dealing with and correcting others
-To patiently endure offenses

God chose to talk to Moses face to face because he was meek. Meekness leads to faithfulness. When you are faithful, God can trust you. Meekness is relying on God rather than our own strength to defend against injustice. It is not preoccupied with self or how I should be treated. It doesn't worry about what is in it for me. It doesn't blame others or point fingers. It accepts God's dealing with us without dispute or resistance. This is a great value to God.
1 Peter 3:4

Meekness relates to difficult people with gentle patience, and it is the choice to exercise restraint instead of severity when first approaching an issue with another person. It seeks gentle restoration before harsh discipline in dealing with sin. Meekness is merciful. It is a soothing quality, a gentle attitude of poise and strength.
Galatians 6:1-2

Meekness produces gentle conduct. It is able to take unkind remarks with a good nature. It withholds temper in controversy. It is stability of spirit. Meekness is a humble and kind demeanor that calms another person's anger.

Meekness vs. Humility

https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-meekness-and-vs-humility/
According to this website, the difference between meek and humble has to do with the attitude you take between yourself and others. Meekness is the attitude you have towards others. Humility is the attitude you have towards yourself. Meekness and humility involve a lot of different virtues.

Meekness and humility is bowing or kneeling in complete surrender to God's ultimate authority. A meek and humble person loves others and doesn't fret and fight; he waits for the Lord and his timing.

As you can see here Meekness and humility are very similar. Gentleness is blended in this mix of words too. I listed these words with a couple of others with similar and overlapping definitions for the sake of comparison and to delve a little deeper into this subject. I hope this will help us wrap our heads around it a little better. We already looked into gentleness, so this week we will focus on meekness and humility, but I will briefly go over some thoughts about these other words and how they all tie in together.

Lowly

Lowliness is seeing yourself as less important than others. It is not thinking higher of yourself than you should. It is not being a doormat, but considering others before yourself.

Mild

Mildness is not intense or extreme. It is calm and peaceful. It is not brash, rude, sharp, or harsh. Mildness does not cause others harm. It doesn't have any ill intention.

Forbearing

This is being patient and showing great restraint. Forbearance is extreme self control.

Self-Control

Self-control involves several things. It is restraining your emotions, especially negative ones. It is controlling your thoughts and your behaviors. Self-control thinks before it acts. It uses self-restraint. It is keeping control of your temper.

Submissive

Submissiveness is being willing to conform to the authority or will of another. It is hard to picture this as a characteristic of the Almighty God or even his son, Jesus Christ. Yet we are told in the Bible that Jesus was both meek and humble.

Humility


Pride and humility compared side by side


“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less often”
C. S. Lewis

Humility is not putting yourself down or blindly trying to please other people. Humility requires balance. It is accepting who you are and your limitations in the grand scheme of things. It is knowing who you are and what you are capable of. It is having self confidence without the need to brag about it or receive recognition.

Humiility:
-Affirms the worth of all people
-Deflates pride and arrogant
-Elevates God and others above self
-Silences gossip and hateful talk
-Eliminates self-righteous criticism and judgement
-Quells anger and revenge
-Projects the golden rule
-Forgives quickly

Humility helps us deal with our own mortality. It allows us to practice self-control. With humility, you don't need immediate gratification. You don't need praise or validation from other people either.

Humble people accept others just as they are without trying to change them. They treat everyone equally. They tend to be more generous and helpful. Humble people don't walk around with a sense of entitlement. Humility does not retaliate or seek revenge.
Leviticus 19:18

Humility is a self awareness without a focus on self. It is submitting ourselves to God and all authority over us. Humility has a proper view of one’s self while putting our focus on others. It is grateful. It is viewing self as unworthy. However it is not low self-esteem or self denigration.
Philippians 2:1-15

Humility and honesty are often the two main qualities employers look for in potential employees. Humility is linked to better job performance, excellence in leadership, better social relations, and generosity. Humble people are forgiving, grateful, and cooperative.

The humble person is able to keep their accomplishments, gifts, and talents in a proper perspective. They know themselves and are aware of their limitations. They value the well-being of others. They put the needs of other people before their own needs. Humility does not judge others or point fingers.
Romans 14:4;10;13

Humility leads to good self-esteem because with humility you respect yourself and others. You are able to set good personal boundaries and respect the personal boundaries of others.

1 Peter 5:5-10

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Putting All These Words Together


If you will notice, a lot of the definitions use these words to describe another like word. They are almost interchangeable with small distinct differences. In some ways, meekness and humility include all of these listed above and probably then some, but I think you are getting the idea. You can also see some of the character traits of God and Jesus in these virtues.

Gentleness, meekness, and humility come from God's goodness and his control over the situation. They are like a soothing medicine.
Colossians 3:12-15

God is Meek and humble


Due to the length of this study, I am linking a separate sub-study to this one. Psalms 37 has 40 verses. It is packed full of meekness. It goes with this study, but this breaks it down some for you. "Psalms 37 study Also notice how the message in this psalm ties into meekness. This instructs us how we can be meek. It also reveals some of God's meekness of character.

Looking back at the definition of submission, it is not just submitting to authority. It is also simply submitting to the will of another. It is respecting each other's boundaries in a relationship. It is aligning your will with theirs. We are told in the book of John that God will give us whatever we ask him when we ask in the name of Jesus. As we submit to his law, he also submits to our requests and desires as we ask correctly for the right reason with faith in Christ’s name.
John 16:23
John 14:13-14

God is meek in that he is kind, patient, merciful, forgiving, full of Grace, humble, and loving with a sacrificial kind of love. God is self-emptying and not selfish.
John 3:35
John 5:19-23
John 16:13-15

Meekness of Jesus


Jesus was meek and lowly, yet he was also powerful. Meekness is a defining attribute of our redeemer.
Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 28:18

Jesu was submissive to God the Father.
Luke 22:42
Matthew 26:52-53
philippians 2:5-8

Song: He could have called ten thousand angels.
https://youtu.be/hSRgHYUr__8

Jesus rules in meekness. Meekness is a way of being. It is in the very core of Jesus’ personally. It is a part of who he is.
Matthew 21:4-5

Why is meekness necessary?

1. To receive God's Word
James 1:21
Psalms 25:9

2. For an effective testimony
1 Peter 3:15

3. To please God
Micah 6:8

4. To keep unity in the church and to put up with one another
Ephesians 4:1-3

5. To act correctly to provocation
Matthew 5:39-40

6. To forgive
Galatians 6:1

7. To correct
2 Timothy 2:24-26

8. To have an abundance of peace
Psalms 37:11

9. To show wisdom
James 3:13

10.To receive our eternal reward
2 Peter 3:13
Matthew 5:5

You must rule over yourself before you can possess the earth. Jesus wants to help free us from the bonds of this world and not to further entangle us. The meek inheriting the earth should be taken in a spiritual sense, not a physical one.

Meekness leads to satisfaction.
Psalms 22:26

Meekness protects us from the wrath of God.
Zepheniah 2:3

Meekness submits to God's authority.
Isaiah 45:21-23

Putting Meekness into action


Meekness is rooted in self control, requires discernment, and displays humility. God wants us to be bold, seasoned with meekness. Jesus was bold and meek. We are to be made into his likeness. Meekness is boldness under control. We must follow the Holy Spirit’s lead to know when to be bold and when to keep silent. God will give us this spiritual wisdom as we follow his will and seek his face.
Titus 3:1-8

If our hearts are motivated by anger, pride, or judgement, it is sin. When we speak or act out of a pure heart motivated by obedience to Christ out of pure love, then we are showing meekness. We must allow God to have control over our mouths and attitudes. When we do this, God can bring us to new spiritual levels.
Psalms 141:3

Without meekness, we are out of control and destruction and chaos will be produced. We must have self-control.
proverbs 25:28
Proverbs 16:32

A meek person doesn't fret or fight, he waits on the Lord and his timing. When you practice meekness and self-control, God gives you everything. As we submit to God's will, he gives us all things.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23

We must remain humble. If we have the right view of ourselves, it is a lot easier to have a right attitude towards others. I believe Romans 12 in verses 3 and 18 could sum the matter up nicely. Don't think more highly of yourself than you should. As much as possible, be at peace with all men.
Romans 12:3;16-18

God's servant must use gentle instruction to lead those who oppose the truth. We are drawn to God by his goodness. God also uses gentle instruction to lead and guide us.

Meekness is trusting in God to defend you. When we lack meekness, we must always be seen as right. We are judgemental we have to be in control. We are defensive and easily offended.

The bottom line is this. We are to seek to love others the way Christ loves us. All of these virtues are made possible by perfect love.
1 Timothy 1:5

“Anyone can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - this is not easy.” Aristotle

“Energy out of control is dangerous; energy under control is powerful.”
Rev. Billy Graham

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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