Feb20-26: The Fruit of the Spirit Is Meekness

Teaching Points

1. Notice the blessings of the meek.

ANSWER:

• Psalm 22:6—They eat and are satisfied.
• Psalm 25:9—God guides them in judgment and teaches them His way.
• Psalm 37:11—They will inherit the earth.
• Psalm 76:9—The meek will be saved.
• Psalm 147:6—God lifts the meek up.
• Isaiah 61:1—Good tidings are preached to the meek.
• Zephaniah 2:3—The meek seek righteousness and meekness will be hid from God’s anger.
• 1 Peter 3:4—God prizes a meek and quiet spirit 

2. Read Matthew 11:28-30 and answer the following questions.

QUESTIONS:

• How does Jesus give us rest in the context?
• What is the reason given for why we should take Christ’s yoke and learn of Him?
• In order to take Christ’s yoke we have to submit ourselves to work as a team like a pair of cows in a yoke. How does submitting ourselves in this way and learning of Jesus relate to His meekness and lowliness?
• Could it be that learning how to be meek and lowly can give us rest of mind, and thus physical rest as well? 

3. What is the definition of meekness or meek?

ANSWER:

• “Meekness” Strong’s Hebrew: H6037—mildness, gentleness; H6038—condescension, gentleness; “Meek” H6035—humble, lowly, poor.
• “Meekness” Strong’s Greek: G4236—gentleness, humility; G4240—mildness, humility; “Meek” G4239—mild, humble; G4235—gentle, humble.

OBSERVATION:

• God grants great benefits to those who are meek. In fact, it is a salvation issue to be meek!
• Meekness is closely related to humbleness and gentleness.
• Christ shows us an example of meekness and humility.
• As we learn Christ’s example of meekness and humility, this will lighten our burden.
• Yoking up with Christ is submitting ourselves to work as a team with Christ (related to abiding with Christ).
• When two animals are yoked together, their necks are locked together so that they cannot pull opposite directions. They must pull together. This gives the idea of ceasing to fight for an agenda and submitting to the will of another.

4. In what ways does Christ demonstrate meekness?

ANSWER:

• Philippians 2:5-8--Christ, equal with God, humbled himself all the way to a criminal’s death.
• Matthew 26:39—Submitted His will to the Father to endure the cross.
• John 18:21-23—He gave a calm answer when hit during trial.
• Luke 23:34—Pleading for forgiveness for those who crucified Him.

5. What was the key to Christ’s success in meekness?

ANSWER:

• John 4:34—He submitted to His Father’s will.
• John 5:30—He did not seek His own but the Father’s will.
• John 5:36—He did what His Father wanted.
• John 6:38—He came to do His Fathers will.
• John 6:57—He lived by the Father.
• John 12:49—He did not speak of Himself.
• John 17:21—He was one with the Father.
• Luke 22:42—Full surrender to His Father’s will.

OBSERVATION:

• Meekness is humility and gentleness.
• Jesus demonstrated the greatest humility and meekness in condescending from the courts above where He received worship from holy angels to this dark world where He was rejected, condemned as the worst of criminals, and crucified to save His enemies.
• Jesus demonstrated meekness and humility in His life on earth, revealing the key to meekness by constant dependence and submission to His Father.
• It is through constant submission to Our Father in heaven that we can develop true humility and meekness. 
• In Philippians 2:5 we are called to have the same mind of humble meekness as Christ had.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS:

• How does Jesus’ example teach us how to have meekness?
• What is it that makes a meek and quiet spirit so valuable to God?
• Why does God want us to develop meekness?
• How is meekness linked with salvation?
• How can we cooperate in this process?

6. Read James 1:21. How are we to receive God’s word?

ANSWER:

• With meekness.

7.  What does 1 Peter 3:15 tell us about giving a reason for our hope?

ANSWER:

• We must set apart ourselves for God first and then we can give a reason of our hope.
• We are to give this reason with meekness (humility) and fear (reverence and love for God).
• There is a connection between sanctifying God in our heart and being able to give reason for our hope with meekness.

8. How is meekness revealed in practice?

ANSWER:

• Matthew 5:39—not fighting back.
• Galatians 6:1—correct to restore with meekness.
• 2 Timothy 2:24, 25—not striving but humbly and gently teaching and correcting.
• Philippians 2:2, 3—Esteeming others better than yourself

OBSERVATION:

• We must receive God’s word with meekness or humility of mind—be teachable.
• It is only as we surrender ourselves to Christ by giving Him a sanctified (holy, set apart) place in our hearts that we can manifest meekness. 
• Trials test our meekness and reveal to us and others if we truly are gentle and humble under provocation. 
• If we esteem others better than ourselves, than we will treat them as Christ would treat them with gentleness and humility.

SOP:

• The most precious fruit of sanctification is the grace of meekness. When this grace presides in the soul, the disposition is molded by its influence. There is a continual waiting upon God and a submission of the will to His. The understanding grasps every divine truth, and the will bows to every divine precept, without doubting or murmuring. True meekness softens and subdues the heart and gives the mind a fitness for the engrafted word. It brings the thoughts into obedience to Jesus Christ. It opens the heart to the word of God, as Lydia's was opened. It places us with Mary, as learners at the feet of Jesus. "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way" (Psalm 25:9).  {SL 14.2} 
• Meekness in the school of Christ is one of the marked fruits of the Spirit. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit as a sanctifier, and enables its possessor at all times to control a rash and impetuous temper. When the grace of meekness is cherished by those who are naturally sour or hasty in disposition, they will put forth the most earnest efforts to subdue their unhappy temper. Every day they will gain self-control, until that which is unlovely and unlike Jesus is conquered. They become assimilated to the Divine Pattern, until they can obey the inspired injunction, "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).  {SL 15.2}

CONCLUSION:

• Meekness is associated with receiving good tidings, salvation, inheriting the new earth, receiving guidance and teaching from God, satisfaction, God lifting them up, and being hid from God’s anger. 
• Meekness is of “great price” or value to God.
• Christ gave us a beautiful example of meekness, humility, and gentleness.
• Surrendering ourselves to Christ to learn of Him and take His yoke is how we can have meekness.
• Looking at Christ’s life and the key to His meekness can show us how to have meekness—full surrender to our Father’s will.  
• Meekness is revealed by how we treat and relate to others, especially under trial.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• How meek are you under provocation?
• How should understanding the humility and sacrifice of Christ make you feel about Him?
• Seeing Christ’s meekness manifested in how He treated others, how do you relate to His challenge to relate to others in the same way?
• Are you willing to surrender yourself and allow God to teach you the lessons of meekness and humility?
• As you look at the blessings of the meek, do you see why meekness is vital for you to develop?
• What aspect or experience of Christ’s meekness makes the deepest impression on your mind? Why?
• Are you willing to ask God for meekness—gentleness and humility?