Sermon Tone Analysis

*Today* we’re *going* to go *on* *with* the *8th* *fruit* of the *spirit* listed here in *(GAL.

5:23)* and that’s *“Meekness.”*

This word can *also* be *translated* “*Humility*” or “*Humble*.”

*I) **“MEEKNESS”* is *not* *“WEAKNESS.”*

*A) **Meekness* *sounds* a lot *like weakness*, but they are *nothing alike*.

*1) *I think *people* are a *little* *afraid* to *call* *themselves* *‘MEEK,’* because *others* might *confuse it* with the qualities of being *weak*.

*a) *There is *nothing wrong* with *being weak*; as a matter of fact *it can be good to be weak*.

*(i) **2COR 12:9‑10*

*b) **When you realize you’re weak*, then *you can be made strong in God’s strength*.

*(i) **(ZECH 4:6)* Says, *“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”*

*(ii) *I like to say it like this, *“It’s not by OUR might, nor by OUR power, but by HIS spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”*

*2) **There* *is a **difference between** **Meek and Weak**.*

The *opposite* of *Weak* is *Strong**.*

*When we realize that we can not do it in our own strength*, then *we have to depend on God’s strength*.

*3) *The *opposite* of *Meek is Pride*.

*a) *Look at *PRO 16:18*

*(i) **(PRO 11:2)* Says, *“{When} pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly {is} wisdom.”*

(KJV)

*(ii) **(PRO 29:23)* Says*, **“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”*

(KJV)

*(iii) *In others words *“The humble in spirit will be honored.”*

*B) *There are *quite a few people in the Bible* *who are Meek* *but** definitely **not weak*.

*1) **JOHN 2:13‑16*

*a) **Jesus* was *definitely not weak*, but *He was Meek*.

*b) *In *(HEB 12:2)* it says*, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”* (KJV)

*(i) **It was a humbling experience* *for Jesus to go to that cross*.

*c) **(2COR 10:1)* Says, *“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence {am} base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”* (KJV)

*d) **Jesus was humble.*

And if He was, then *it’s also an attribute of God*.

*(i) **Jesus was led as a lamb to the slaughter, but he also cleansed the temple with a whip.*

*2) **2COR 4:4*

*a) **Jesus* is the *image of God*.

Jesus said, *“If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father,”* in *(JOHN 14:9)*.

*b) **Jesus* has the *same character of the Father*.

*3) **NUM 12:3 *

*a) **Moses was Meek* *yet* he was *1 of the greatest leaders* that ever lived.

*(i) **Yet even in the 1st 2 Vs of (NUM 12) when Aaron and Miriam made an accusation against Moses, Moses didn’t retaliate even in the slightest.

*

*b) **Turn with me to **EXO 32:17‑20.*

That *doesn’t sound like* someone who is *weak to me*.

*c) *The *Bible tells us* in *(1PET 3:4)* that a *meek spirit* *OR* a *humble spirit*, in the *sight of God* is of *great price*.

*4) **There are other examples* of *great men* of God who *were also* *meek** **or** **humble*.

*a) *We have *Stephen* in (*ACTS 7:60*) where he was *praying for those that were about to murder him*.

But in a few Vs back in (*V 51*) he said to them, *“Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers /did/, so /do/ ye.”* *MEEK but NOT WEEK*

*b) *We have *Joseph* in (*GEN 50*).

*c) **Saul* in (*1SAM 9*).

*d) **David* in (*1KINGS 3*).

*e) **John the Baptist* in (*MAT 8*).

*f) **Paul* in (*1TIM 1*).

And *others*.

*(i) **All these people that we just mentioned had a ZEAL for GOD, but MEEKNESS as to self.

*

*II) **Now we are to practice **MEEKNESS**, **HUMILITY*.

*A) **MAT 18:4*

*1) **We are to humble ourselves*, and *if we do* we *will be great in the Kingdom of God*.

*2) **James says** **something similar* to that in *(JAMES 4:10)* Which says, *“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”*

*a) **Nowhere** are we **told to pray for humility*, *we’re told to practice it*, *and* *when we do* *God will lift us up*.

*b) **(1PET 5:5)* Says, *“To be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”*

(KJV)

*c) **If you need more Grace*, *Humble yourself*.

*III) **We have a need to be** **Meek*.

*A) **GAL 6:1*

*1) **Backsliders*, *if they repent*, *are to be restored in a spirit of Meekness* and their *wrong doings** **Forgotten*, *just as God forgets* *our sins*.

*a) **This is a warning from God*, *if we don’t stay humble*, *we will be caught up in* a spirit of *Pride*, *and* *Pride will cause you to fall*.

*B) **If someone asks* us *a question* *or* if they are *even* trying to *argue* *against the Gospel*, *we are still to answer* them *with** **Meekness*.

*1) **1PET 3:15*

*a) **To argue and strive* in a *contentious spirit* is *likely* to *make* the *person* *deny the Truth*, even if they see it.

*C) **We ourselves* *are to receive the Word* of God *with Meekness*.

*1) **JAMES 1:21*

*a) **It happens all too often** **when we have heard something before*; *we get a Haughty spirit*.

[*I’ve heard that before*.]

*2) **Paul said to Timothy* in (*2TIM 1:6*), *“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance.”*

*3) *And *Peter said* in *(2PET 1:12)*, *“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know {them}, and be established in the present truth.”*

(KJV)

*a) **Meekness* *ensures that our heart’s soil* *is Good* *and* that *it will yield a good harvest*.

*b) **Meekness ensures receptiveness to the Word of God.

*

*(i) **That means that it has to lay down all REBELLION IN SPIRIT*, and* have a readiness to receive and OBEY THE WORD at any cost.

*

*(ii) **Pride says that I know all there is to know on any given subject, where as a MEEK man will try to always attempt to learn more even if it is a subject they are well versed in.

*

*IV) **There are rewards of** **Meekness*.

*A) **(PSA 22:26)* Says, *“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.”*

(KJV)

*B) *The *NIV translation* of *(PSA 25:9)* Says, *“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”*

*C) **Probably* *the most famous promise* *on the subject of Meekness* *is* *(MAT 5:5)*, *“Blessed {are} the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”*

(KJV)

*D) **Turn with me* to this *one last scripture*.

*1) **PRO 22:4 *

*2) *The *NIV* says, *“Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.”*

TFC and WOLCC 8~/26~/94 Sun AM and WOLCC Thursday, November 06, 1997