The Fruit of the Holy Spirit- Meekness

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23.

Humility: Meekness: Humility is love's mood.

Read- Gal.5:23; Mat.5:5, 11:29; Zech.9:9; Jn 13:14-16; Phil. 2:5-8; I Jn 2:6; Gal.6:1; Eph.4:2; 2Tim.2:25; Tit.3:2; Ja.1:21,3:13; 1Pe.3:4; Is.53:7; Mat.26:52; 1Pe.2:23.

Characteristics:
* Meekness is not weakness!
* Its is learning to meet criticism with tranquility and pleasantness.
* It is love's prevailing attitude, spirit and disposition.
* Humility is not cowardice, requires high courage-not to repay evil for evil.
* Lord Jesus Christ gave His life, vitality and glory to the word.
* We learn of humility through His teaching, His example, His character.
Humility possesses no self-consciousness.
* Humility is the eye which sees everything except itself.
* Humility is unconscious of itself. The humble person does not know he is humble(DL.Moody said).
* false humility: Col.2:18,23.-Gnostics appear to be humble.
* Judgementations foreign to true humility.

Why humility is important? Psalm 113:5-6; Is.57:15.
* God the high and lofty ne dwells in the humble hearts.
* Lord Jesus' declaration: Mat.18:4.
* Lord requires: Micah6:8.
* Lord Jesus commanded: Lk.14:10;22:26. (mt.5:5, 18:4).
* Paul's exhortation:rom.12:3; Phil.2:5; Col.3:12.
* Peter's exhortation: 1Pet.5:5,6.
* There can be no real love without humility-1Cor.13:4.
* Ps.119: 165. Great peace (no fear of treated disrespectfully).
* Motives: non-self-serving- make people to follow the leader.
* brings credibility to the leader among the people.
* exhorted to put on-Col.3:12; Be clothed-1Pet.5:5.
* Leads to exaltation-1Pe.5:6.
* Brings edification: 1cor.8:1.-knowledge puffeth up.

The Results or Benefits of humility:
(Need to pray and strive for Christ-like humility)
1. serenity: humility fosters serenity-Ps.119:165.
(activity to the point of frantic confusion, uncertainty, worry and fear are all too common today but self-sufficiency does not give them calmness and strength.
2. Enlargement of life: It will lead to learning, faith & service.
Because the humble person is faithful and content where he is and so God can give him more.
3. Banishment of fear:1Jn 4:18. Love casts out fear. 1Pe.5:6-9.
Humility is love's mood. The confidence in God-nothing to fear-dependence upon God gives courage to standup.
4. success: Josh.1:8. God's promise of success-the legitimate goal.
Pretending to knowing everything, learn nothing.
Pride and prejudice prohibit spiritual enlightenment and intellectual advance.
5. availability of unlimited resources: God's strength is made perfect in weakness.-11cor.12:9; Phil.4:13; Jam.4:6.
willingness to recognise our weaknesses and seek His resources. Prov.3:34; Jer.4:6.

How is humility nurtured?-not directly but indirectly by concentrating on the paths that lead to humility-and not on humility itself.
1. By enthroning Christ n your heart: 1Pe.3:15.- to the degree that you yield to Christ. making Him the Lord of your life.
2. By Obeying Christ:: Jn 14:15. as you obey-take rthe practical steps-11Tim.2:24-25;rom.12:18; Jn15:10-12.
3. By assuming the attitude and behavior of a little child: Mat.18:3-4.trusting and innocent and not arrogant.
4. By Following Christ's example in prayer-Mk.1:35, 6:46; LK 6:12.
5. By following Christ's example in personal relationships:-in choosing the disciples Christ demonstrated humility. 1Cor.1:26,27.
6. By serving others: Lk.22:27; Rom 12:10;Prov 27:2, 31:31- to self-exaltation. let others praise/appreciate.

Examples:
- Jacob: Gen.32:10..
- King saul: 1Sam 9:21.
- King david:2Sam.7:18.
- King solomon:1Kings 3:7.
- John the baptist: Mt.3:14; Jn 1:27, 3:30.
- The Centurian:Mt.8:8.
_ The syrophenician woman:Mt.15:27.
- Paul: 1Tim.1:15;Ac.20:19.
- You & I: 1Cor.1: 26-31.
- Lord Jesus: Zec.9:9; Mt.11:29; Jn.13:5; Phil.2:8; 2 Cor.10:1; 1 Pe.2:23; Is. 53:7; Mt. 26:52.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Phil. 2: 5.