MEEKNESS, GENTLENESS, AND HUMILITY

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Meekness, gentleness, and humility are fruits of the Spirit. 
      Gal. 5:22-23; Col. 3:12-13; 1 Tim. 6:11; 1 Pet. 5:5-6
      1. When we are led by the Spirit, we produce the fruits of
         the Spirit, and not the works of the flesh. Gal. 5:16
   B. Definitions of those words:
      1. Gentleness - goodness and kindness in heart and actions.
      2. Meekness - gentleness and mildness in heart and actions.
      3. Humility - having a low or humble opinion of oneself,
         lowliness of mind.
   C. Lets look at some ways these fruits of the Spirit are vitally
      important in living the Christian life.

I. These fruits of the Spirit enable us to accept God's Word.
   A. James 1:21
   B. God's reasoning is far superior to our's. Isa. 55:8-9; Rom.
      11:33-36
      1. We try to vision God as ourselves. Ps. 50:21
      2. If we try to filter things from the infinite mind of God
         through our finite minds, we'll find that it just won't
         work. That would be like trying to funnel the water of
         Niagara through a drinking straw.

II. These fruits of the Spirit aid us in accepting the chastening of
    the Lord.
   A. Heb. 12:5-6 - to profit from chastening, we need meekness
      and humility.
      1. The Lord strongly chastens through His Word.
         a. By reading the Word itself. Heb. 4:12
         b. By others trying to point out the Word to us. 2
            Tim. 4:2; Prov. 9:8; Eccl. 7:5
   B. Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to buffet him. He prayed
      for its removal but God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee:
      for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
      1. In meekness, Paul accepted this from the Lord. 2 Cor.
         12:9

III. These fruits of the Spirit will help us in teaching someone the
     truth.
   A. 2 Tim. 2:25
   B. 1 Pet. 3:15
      1. Look at the context where this verse is given. It refers to
         the suffering which Christ did for us and our need to
         imitate Him in our lives.  
      2. Thus, when they hurl insults at us, or ridicule us, let us
         keep the right attitude and show meekness as we
         continue to try to teach.
      3. If we keep the right attitude, it will help to impress those
         we are trying to teach.

IV. These fruits of the Spirit help us in restoring others.
   A. Gal. 6:1
      1. We cannot go to others with a self-righteous attitude.
      2. Eph. 4:1-3; Phil. 2:1-4
         a. The beautiful example of humility of our Lord
            continues in the verses which follow. Phil. 2:5-8
         b. God greatly reward Him for this humility. Phil. 2:9-
            11

V. These fruits of the Spirit make it easy for us to be entreated by
   others.
   A. James 3:17 - "easy to be entreated." (KJV) When someone
      has to entreat me, what kind of person am I? Do I lack an
      open mind regarding myself?
   B. These fruits of the Spirit are vitally important insofar as my
      willingness to repent when I am wrong.
      1. Repenting is too humiliating to those who are full of
         pride.
   C. An often used excuse - "They didn't approach me right." 
      Thus, they are the sinners, not me.
      1. Throw up a smoke screen; i.e., "People are demanding
         unscriptural things of me."
         a. Prov. 11:9
   D. All of us need to be willing to admit that perhaps the
      problem is with me, not others.
      1. A man was noticing that when he talked to his wife or
         asked her a question he didn't get a reply much of the
         time, so he wondered if she was getting hard of hearing. 
         He didn't want to confront her with it until he was sure,
         because she probably wouldn't appreciate it. Finally it
         got so bad that he went to his doctor to see what he
         should do. So, after he told the doctor about it, the
         doctor replied that he should do a test to determine if she
         really was hard of hearing. He was to go home and as
         soon as he entered the front door, he should ask her a
         question and see if she answered. If not, he should go
         into the next room and ask the question. If no reply, he
         should then stand in front of her and repeat the question. 
         "Thanks, Doc, I'll do it," he said. So he goes home,
         opens the front door, and calls out "Hi, Honey, I'm
         home! What's for dinner?" No answer. So he went into
         the front room and again said, "Hi, Honey, I'm home! 
         What's for dinner?" Still no answer. So he went into the
         kitchen where she was and stood in front of her and
         again said, "Hi, Honey, I'm home! What's for dinner?" 
         She said with a loud voice, "For the third time, meat
         loaf!"

VI. These fruits of the Spirit help us suffer injury at the hands of
    others.
   A. Notice the example of Moses when he was criticized. Num.
      12:1-3
      1. When Moses sojourned in the land of Midian, he married
         Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian.
      2. The word "Ethiopian" meant, "Cushite."  Evidently,
         Miriam and Aaron are criticizing Moses for marrying a
         foreigner.
      3. Thus, although this was personal criticism, he didn't
         retaliate in like manner.
   B. If we are serving God faithfully and someone wrongs us,
      remember, it will all be reversed someday. God Himself will
      take the vengeance. Rom. 12:19
      1. The example of Michael the archangel. Jude 9

VII. Here are some ways these fruits of the Sprit are expressed.
   A. Kind words. We need to render a kind, helpful service. 
      Prov. 15:1; 25:11-12; 28:25
   B. A Penitent spirit. It takes great humility, meekness for one
      to say "I'm sorry," "I apologize," and especially, "I repent"
      and truly mean it. 
      1. When Nathan the prophet came to David and said, "Thou
         art the man," David admitted his sin and appealed to God
         for mercy. Anytime any of us sin, we, too, need to
         appeal for mercy.
      2. Each of us need to pray the humble prayer of the
         Publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Luke
         18:13
      3. We know that when we humble ourselves before God,
         He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. Prov. 28:13; 1
         John 1:9
   C. An humble opinion of oneself.  
      1. We need to prefer others above ourselves. Rom. 12:10;
         Phil. 2:3
      2. We need to bear with and forgive others. Col. 3:12-
         13
      3. We need to maintain an humble attitude of ourselves. 
         Rom. 12:3

Concl.
   A. We need to learn humility. Micah 6:8; Matt. 5:3
   B. 1 Pet. 5:5
      1. Notice how being submissive to others is coupled with
         humility.
      2. Truly, it takes an humble person to be submissive to
         others.