( 1 Pet. 2:18-20 ) A person who is meek is self-controlled, slow to give or take offense, humble in spirit, lowly in mind and teachable. These attributes make up the fruit of meekness in the life of a believer. A truly meek person is one who does not react negatively even when he is being falsely accused, slandered, afflicted or persecuted.

( Matt. 5:44 ; 2 Tim. 2:24-26 ) Spirit of meekness gives one the strength not to retaliate when falsely accused, refraining from defending self, but allows God to intervene and vindicate him. Instead of responding with rebuttal when he encounters unjust criticism, affliction, persecution or ingratitude, he will possess the self-control to respond with intercession.

( Phil. 2:3-4 ; Exodus 32:30-32 ) Function of meekness enables believers to be humble in spirit and lowly in mind, in opposition to self-assertiveness and self-interest. He is not occupied with self at all, develops the attitude that the welfare of others is more important than his own.

( Gal. 6:1 ; James 1:21 ; Mark 7:9, 13 ; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ) We are to restore others in a spirit of meekness. To restore means a continuous present, suggesting the necessity for patience and forbearance in the process. This requires meditation in the word for the word saves the 'soul', giving the ability to endure unto the end, not to give up. For it is the word of God which washes, cleanses us and renews the mind.

( Eph. 5:25-26 ; John 16:13-15 ; Matt. 16:17 ) The spirit of truth will guide the believer into all truth, becoming teachable, he will receive revelation knowledge. With each new truth we receive and become conformed to, we will begin to become more complete in the whole counsel of God.

( Matt. 5:5 ; Matt. 25:21-23 ; Ps. 35:13 ) Meekness is a fruit, not a gift. It must be cultivated in order to grow. It is to the meek the Lord will hand over the rulership and the dominion of this earth. Fasting is one way to cultivate meekness.

( Heb. 5:8 ; Deut. 8:2-3 ; Acts 7:22-30 ; 2 Cor. 4:7-10 ) Believers can also cultivate this fruit by benefiting from wilderness experiences of life as Moses did - spending 40 years in the desert. God allows believers to go through trials and tribulations in order to learn humility and obedience. As with Paul we learn humility through affliction and persecution.

( 2 Cor. 1:3-4 ) We are to look to God for comfort in the midst of trials. When we allow God to comfort us, we are enabled to share this comfort with others who are going through similar trials. We learn to be meek toward others while our own trial continues.

( Phil. 2:5-8 ; John 8:27-29 ; Luke 9:23-24 ) Developing the fruit of meekness can be done through denial of self. Meekness is the opposite of self-interest. Jesus submitted to His Father unconditionally. He always did those things which pleased the Father. Yielding to the Father is not something one 'does'. It is not an action of the body but an attitude of the heart. Yielding is the absence of resistance.