THE MANGO OF MEEKNESS
Intro: A mango is a tropical fruit which hasn’t really "caught on" like the orange, the pineapple or the banana. For those who have acquired a taste for it, it’s sweet and delicious. But for those who haven’t, it’s "different" enough to taste "funny." Like the spiritual fruit of meekness, the mango is often misunderstood and under-appreciated!
Today we come to the eighth fruit of the Spirit - "the often misunderstood fruit" of MEEKNESS. Many people have the mistaken idea that meek equals weak, that the meek person is one who always keeps to himself, never takes a stand for anything and lets people walk all over him. Was Moses that kind of person? Well, Numbers 12:3 says, "Now Moses was very meek above all that were upon the face of the earth." Moses was one of the strongest leaders who ever lived - he was, even by nature a very hot-tempered individual. However, on most occasions, Moses was able to control his passion because of his compassion and concern for the people of God. Moses was humble toward God and mild-mannered before the people. He was not so concerned for himself or his own position - but for the glory of God and the good of God’s people.
This is what Biblical meekness is all about: "Strength under control," "being unoccupied with self and genuinely concerned for God and others." It is the exact opposite of "self-assertiveness" and "self-interest."
I. WHAT IS MEEKNESS?
A. Heb. - anvah = "humility"
This word basically refers to our humility before God - "our total dependence on Him, our submission to His will and our hope in Him alone for salvation."
Examples:
-Ps. 25:9 "The meek will God guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His ways."
-Ps. 147:6 "The Lord lifts up the meek, but casts the wicked to the ground."
-Isa. 29:19 "The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor in heart shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."
-Zeph. 2:3 "Seek the Lord, all the meek of the earth-seek righteousness, seek meekness - that you may be hid in the day of the Lord’s wrath."
There are also several proverbs which speak about acting humbly toward others - not proud or boastful:
-Prov. 15:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and before honor is humility."
-Prov. 18:12 "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before victory is humility."
-Prov. 22:4 "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life."
B. Greek - praotes = "mildness" (a gentle, soothing disposition").
Illus: The same word is used of a "domesticated animal" - again, not weak, but strength under control."
So, in the NT, meekness refers primarily to the mild, gentle manner in which we are to treat others- not in pride and arrogance, but in humility and deference. Of course, the supreme example of a "meek man" was Jesus Christ.
Mt. 11:29 He said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls."
i.e. "I don’t put ’unbearable burdens’ on you, as the Pharisees do - My yoke is easy because I have borne the burden for you - I don’t make unreasonable demands, I will treat you with gentleness and kindness."
Mt. 21:5 "Behold your King comes to you, meek and sitting on a donkey."
Again, Jesus didn’t come riding into Jerusalem on a white horse declaring Himself to be King. He humbly rode into Jerusalem on a donkey -to show that He first came, as the servant of the Lord, to suffer for the sins of His people.
1 Cor. 10:1 "I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent I am bold toward you."
i.e. Paul is admonishing them to listen to his teaching based on the meek and gentle spirit of Christ, which also ought to characterize the life of every believer.
Definition: "Meekness is humility toward God and mildness toward people."
F.B. Meyer said, "I used to think, that God’s gifts were on shelves - one above another, and the taller we grow, the easier we can reach them. Now I find that God’s gifts are on shelves - one beneath another, and the lower we stoop, the more we get!"
II. HOW IS MEEKNESS EXPRESSED?
There are only eleven places in the NT where the word, meekness is used…each one of them gives us an area of life in which we should "yield our rights for the benefit of others."
1. Meekness in discipline
1 Cor.4:21 "What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
Even when we are admonishing one another, we can do it without a "holier-than-thou" attitude.
2. Meekness in restoration
Gal. 6:1-4 "Brothers, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."
3. Meekness in forbearance
Eph. 4:2
"Walk worthy of your calling with all lowliness and meekness, forbearing one another in love."
4. Meekness in forgiveness
Col. 3:12+13 "Put on meekness, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any."
5. Meekness in ministry
1 Tim. 6:11 "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness."
6. Meekness in teaching
2 Tim. 2:25 "In meekness, instructing those who are in opposition; if God may give them repentance so that they may know the truth."
7. Meekness in speaking
Titus 3:2 "Remind them…to speak evil of no man, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men."
8. Meekness in receiving instruction
James 1:21b "receive with meekness, the implanted Word which is able to save your souls."
9. Meekness in behavior
James 3:13 "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are don in the meekness of wisdom."
10. Meekness in marriage
1 Pt. 3:4 "…let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."
11. Meekness in witness 1 Pt. 3:15 "Be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and respect."
So, in every area of life, in our relationships with other people, we must treat them with gentleness and respect, not acting as if we are better than others- but humbly, acknowledging that everything good in us comes from God, that apart from Him we are nothing but
"unprofitable servants."
Illus: "A rich man once invited many honored guests for a feast. His own chair, richly decorated, was placed at one end of the long table. While he was away, each guest seated himself according to his own esteem of his position in the sight of the master. When time came and all were seated, the master came in...and moved his chair to the other end of the table!"
(Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Signs of the Times, Paul Lee Tan, page 1100 under "Proud")
A good description of meekness is found in 1 Thess. 2:1-8 (have someone read).
III. HOW CAN MEEKNESS BE DEVELOPED?
A. Humility toward God
1. Meditate on the greatness of God
- He is so far above us! "’To whom will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and see Who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might, and the strength of His power; not one is missing!" Isaiah 40:25, 26
2. Meditate on the humility of Christ- He depended on the Father, submitted to the Father, hoped in the Father and accepted the Father’s will in His life at all times!
3. Spend some time fasting - it will help you see just how much you need God for everything: Ps. 35:13 "I humbled myself with fasting."
B. Mildness toward people
1. Meditate on Phil. 2:1-8 (have someone read)
What is the mind of Christ? "Meekness of heart"
2. Look for opportunities to be a "servant."
"Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
3. Depend on the Holy Spirit to replace "self-assertiveness" with "self-denial;" "self-promotion" with "self- effacement;" depend on the Holy Spirit to be meek, mild and humble through you to others.
There is a great benefit or blessing that comes through meekness - the promise of Christ Himself in Mt. 5:5 "Blessed are the MEEK for they shall inherit the earth."
Notice that the meek don’t conquer the earth - they inherit it as a gift from God- because of their dependence on Him and their service to others - they have lived their lives for the glory of God and the good of others. May we learn to do the same this week!
Let the Spirit speak to your heart this morning. Is there any pride and arrogance that needs to be replaced with humility and meekness? James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." In the quietness of this moment, humble yourself before God, give Him full control of your life.
Consider: "Is there another person I’ve been putting down, degrading or looking down on?" Ask God’s forgiveness, then find a way to put that person’s needs BEFORE your own. James 4:10 "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
"One of Spurgeon’s students went into a pulpit with every expression of confidence but he had an extremely difficult time. He came down distressed, almost brokenhearted, and he went to Spurgeon about it. The words of Spurgeon to him were these, ’If you had gone up as you came down, you would have come down as you went up!’"
(submitted by Al Bryant, #4826 in Illustration book)
~Pastor Jim Westervelt http://LovingGrace.net
gracefellowship3@earthlink.net
