FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – MEEKNESS & TEMPERANCE

We are going to discuss the last two fruit of the Spirit mentioned in 
Galatians 5:22-23….Meekness and Temperance.

MEEKNESS means to have and show humility (a modest or low view of one’s importance; lack of pride).   

Paul admonished Timothy to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness (humility). (1 Timothy 6:11)

Jesus taught in Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the meek (humble): for they shall inherit the earth.

1 Peter 5:5 teaches us to be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Having meekness is not about the lack of confidence (you can have confidence in your ability and still be humble), but it is the lack of pride which causes a person to be arrogant.

Have you ever seen or perhaps personally experienced someone turn up their nose at you?  That is not the behavior of a humble person.

The Bible warns, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) 

Pride and haughtiness are the opposite of what Jesus exampled…. Matthew 21:5 – Behold, they KING cometh unto thee, MEEK, and sitting upon a donkey. 

Jesus is the King, and yet He was humble as He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey with the people lining the streets shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord!”  Most would become lifted up in pride and vanity hearing the cheers and praise of everyone surrounding them, but not Jesus.

That is the opposite of what we see and hear pushed in society and through social media.   So many are striving to be seen and gain attention. 

Posting pictures of yourself with your family, friends, and vacations isn’t a sin, but when someone often posts pictures of themself the heart needs to be examined as to the motive.  

Many are trying to become popular, well known, and gain notoriety through their accomplishments, pictures, or posts.

There is nothing wrong necessarily with succeeding and feelings of accomplishment (depending upon what the person is setting out to succeed in and as long as it’s not taking them further away from God and time spent with Him.  For example: becoming a doctor or nurse compared to becoming a rock star).  But whatever a person is striving to succeed in, they need to remain humble. 

Meekness/Humility is the opposite of pride and boastfulness.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns us that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (Many of the things Paul warned about fall under the sin of pride and are the opposite of a meek and humble attitude.) For many shall be:

lovers of their own selves (that’s pride, not humility),
covetous (jealous of what others have or their accomplishments),
boasters (brag on themselves),
proud (appearing above others, haughty),
blasphemers (people lifted up in pride speak against their Maker),
disobedient to parents (that’s not being humble),
unthankful (feel that things are owed to them.  opposite of humility)
highminded (self conceit, lifted up with pride),
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (seeking after what is fun and makes them feel good more than seeking to please and serve God)

Paul wrote in his letter to the Church in Philippians 2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory (self conceit); but in lowliness of mind (humility) let each esteem (think of) other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:4 – Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  (in other words: don’t just think about yourself.  Think about others.  Sometimes we get a little too inward focused when we should be more outward/others focused.)

Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.  (In other words, think like Jesus thought. )

Philippians 2:7-8 tells us that JESUS MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION but rather took upon Himself the form of a servant.  Although Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16 + John 1:1, 3, 10, 11, 14, 15, 30), He HUMBLED Himself.  Jesus wasn’t trying to appear to be someone great (although He definitely was). Instead, He exampled humility.

Many of the attributes attributed to a loving person in 1 Corinthians 13 can also be said of a humble person…

A humble person does not vaunt (boast about) itself.

A humble person is not puffed up (haughty, proud)

A humble person is not self-seeking.

Paul concludes his teaching concerning the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:26 with this… Let us not be desirous of vain glory.  Meaning: don’t be egotistical; don’t be conceited, boasting about oneself, seeking after and desiring the attention of others.

The last fruit of the Spirit is Temperance
(also known as Self Control).

How many battle to maintain self control when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers?

Some people may struggle with self control when it comes to chocolate or sweets.

Anyone else struggle to maintain self control when you’re driving in traffic?

What about Walmart?  Some days it takes more self control than others when trying to navigate through their aisles around people and carts that are taking up the entire walkway. 

It takes self control to bite your tongue and not say what you’re thinking and really want to say to someone.

It takes self control to not retaliate with your words when someone out of the blue says something snarky, snide, or mean and you’re wondering, “where did that come from?  Why did they say that?” 

Sadly, many children (and adults) today lack self control.  That’s why there is so much chaos and lawlessness in our world.  Unfortunately, excuses are made for poor behavior rather than issuing discipline and consequences for it.  

Poor behavior had one means of correction when I was growing up: the ‘board of education’ was applied to the ‘seat of knowledge’ and we learned self control lest it be administered again.

Paul observed how athletes learned self control if they wanted to obtain the prize by winning the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? (several may run but only one will win) So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery (competes to win) is temperate (self controlled) IN ALL THINGS (their eating habits, their sleeping habits, the exercise they do). 

If those runners did not exercise self control concerning what they eat or drank, it could cause them to lose the race.   

If they stayed up half the night, they would be too tired to put as much energy into winning the race.

If they did not exercise and practice maintaining and gaining endurance, they would not be able to hold out and keep up the pace needed to finish the race.  

Paul continued: Now they do it (all this) to obtain a corruptible crown (earthly prize that’s temporary and later forgotten); but we an incorruptible (eternal life that can’t be taken away). I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air (I’m running with purpose and not just aimlessly beating the air): BUT I KEEP UNDER MY BODY AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION.

Paul recognized the need for self control in both the physical and in the spiritual or else he could lose his soul and be rejected by God.

We need to learn to be self controlled in all areas of our lives, especially if our lack of self control could cost us our soul.

 

WE SHALL BE KNOWN BY OUR FRUIT

Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that we shall be known by our FRUIT.  He asked: Do men gather grapes from a thorny bush?  Or do we gather figs from thistles that prick us?  No, neither a grape vine nor a fig tree will prick or hurt us.  Neither should we be exhibiting any behavior that pricks or hurts others.  

Jesus warned in Matthew 3:10 –  A tree that is not bringing forth good fruit is cut down and burned in a fire. 

He went on to teach in Matthew 7:17 – Every good tree will bring forth GOOD fruit.  But a corrupt tree (one that has something <some sin> eating away at it) will bring forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18 - A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 7:19 – Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire

Matthew 7:20 – wherefore by their FRUITS ye shall know them.

Jesus began and concluded this parable of the fruit and trees saying, “by their fruits ye shall know them.”

We find He taught on it again a few chapters later in Matthew 12:33 and again said – Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt for THE TREE IS KNOWN BY HIS FRUIT.

Luke 13 teaches a very sobering lesson -  Jesus said a certain owner came to his vineyard and desired fruit from a certain tree.  For 3 years, he had come looking to eat of its fruit and for 3 years he had found none on it.  He commanded the keeper of the vineyard to cut it down.  It was taking up space and was unprofitable. But the Keeper interceded and asked if the owner would give the tree one more year to see if he could get it to bring forth fruit. The owner granted the tree one more year to produce fruit or be cut down.

There are times when the Pastor stands in the gap through prayer for the soul of someone who is not bringing forth fruit. They’ve received the same spiritual food, the same messages as the rest of the congregation.  Some receive the preached Word, apply it to their lives and begin to bring forth spiritual fruit as they let God’s Word saturate their heart making it good fertile ground. 

Yet, some seem not to hear or receive what has been preached.  Their mind wanders to other things as the seeds of the Word being sown by the Preacher or teacher fall by the wayside or on stony ground.  Their heart does not bring forth fruit because they’re not doing their part to water and prepare their heart with prayer, Bible reading, and fasting.  They’re not doing their part to maintain self control and bring every thought captive and force their mind to focus on the Word of God. (sometimes we have to do that because distractions will come)   

Sadly, they are unaware that they have become like that tree that is not producing fruit year after year.  God is ready to be done with them, but the pastor intercedes to give that person a little more time to hear the preached Word.  Perhaps, this will be the year they will make the turn around.  Perhaps this will be the year they will shed the dead branches of whatever their struggle or sin may be and begin to bring forth good fruit.  

We need to examine our hearts to make sure we are bringing forth GOOD fruit.  If we are feeling irritable, or exhibiting some bitterness, or talking against someone behind their back, or we feel rebellion rising up in us, or anger, or clamour (yelling), and such like then we need to take time to root out whatever is causing our fruit to be rotten.

Repent, pray, saturate your mind with God’s Word, and fasting may be needed and is beneficial to help us root out whatever is tainting our fruit lest God becomes weary with our rebellious heart and ways and wants to cut us down and cast us away.  That’s not something anyone likes to hear taught, yet it's mentioned in the Bible for a reason.  There comes a point when God grows weary as we see from this parable.  Unless, someone intercedes.

I’m so thankful for Pastors who intercede for those under their care. We need to pray for our pastor because he is praying and interceding for us.

How can we make sure we bring forth good fruit?  John 15:1-8 – we cannot bear good fruit unless we ABIDE in the Vine (we need to stay connected and close to Jesus).   Jesus said He is glorified when we produce MUCH FRUIT.  

There is no laws against any of the fruit of the Spirit – not a single one.  You won’t go to jail or get fined for being loving, being happy, showing peace, being longsuffering, being gentle or good or having faith or being humble or having self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)