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Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. Servants’ Meeting December 25, 2011. Overview. What is Gentleness? Some References in Scripture The Example of the Lord Christ The Example of Moses Restoring with Gentleness Gentleness is our Active Witness Gentleness and the Characteristics of the Dove

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Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

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  1. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness Servants’ Meeting December 25, 2011

  2. Overview What is Gentleness? Some References in Scripture The Example of the Lord Christ The Example of Moses Restoring with Gentleness Gentleness is our Active Witness Gentleness and the Characteristics of the Dove The Rewards of Gentleness The Wrath of Man Gentleness is not Weakness Measurements and Obstacles

  3. What is Gentleness? • Dictionary • having a mild or kindly nature or character • soft or temperate; mild; moderate: a gentle scolding • gradual: a gentle slope • easily controlled; tame: a gentle horse • archaic of good breeding; noble: gentle blood • archaic gallant; chivalrous • Some synonyms and other usages in the Holy Bible: • meek, humble, kind, patient

  4. Some References in Scripture “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29) “Brethren, 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.” (Gal 6:1) “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” (Phil 4:5) “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov 15:1) “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient” (2 Tim 2:24) “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:2) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) “rather 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.” (1 Pet 3:4)

  5. Example of the Lord Christ “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench” (Isa 42:3) • Responding to the testing of the Pharisees (Matt 12) • 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” • 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. • 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? • 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

  6. Example of the Lord Christ • 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. • 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. • 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

  7. Example of the Lord Christ • Dealing with the multitudes (Luke 4) • 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. • His response when being slapped (John 18) • 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” • Behavior throughout trials and crucifixion (Matt 14) • 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. • He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. (Isa 53:7) • Content with His place (John 2) • 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water

  8. Example of the Lord Christ • Dealing with the Samaritan Woman (John 4) • 17 You have well said, “I have no husband,” • 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly. • With the woman caught in adultery (John 8) • 11 Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.

  9. Example of Moses • Initially used violence • Learned gentleness in the wilderness • “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.” (Num 12:3) • Patiently endured the complaints and murmuring in Sinai • Endured the betrayal of Aaron and Miriam without complaint, so the Lord intervened on his behalf • Patiently listened, served, and judged his people: • And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. (Ex 18:13) • Wished to spare his people: • Yet now, if You will forgive their sin --- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Ex 32:32)

  10. Restoring with Gentleness “Brethren, 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.” (Gal 6:1) • What is our reaction to the sins and errors of others? • Harsh • Judgmental • Seeking punishment and retribution first and foremost • The Lord’s restoration of Peter • Praise publically, criticize privately

  11. Gentleness is our Active Witness “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” (Phil 4:5) Our responsibility as servants of the Lord Our demeanor and behavior reflect the work of the Spirit within us: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt 12:34) Our testimony to others beyond the walls of the church “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” “If you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad… But if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is sensitive, is constricted. For He does not have a pure place, and He seeks to depart.” –Hermas

  12. Gentleness and the Characteristics of the Dove • “When the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized, God assumed the likeness not of another man, but of a dove, for He wished, by a new apparition of the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, to declare His simplicity and majesty.” –St. Clement of Alexandria • White symbolizing its purity • Sensitive bird: smallest noise causes it to take flight • Flight is soft with hardly a sound • Soft sounds similar to a soft moan • Harmless: does not attack other birds and is not a scavenger • Faithful and loving: monogamous bird

  13. The Rewards of Gentleness “rather 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.”(1 Pet 3:4) • One of the identifiable virtues of the woman • Whereas men are known for their strength and forcefulness when necessary “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel” (1 Pet 3:7)

  14. Gentleness is not Weakness “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matt 10:16) Strength under control The Lord cleansed the temple twice The Lord responded when struck The Lord had strength of character, authority, and an unquestioned presence

  15. Gentleness is not Weakness • Luke 4: • 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, • 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. • 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. • John 8: • 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” • 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

  16. Wrath of Man • Proverbs 29 • 22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression • James 1 • 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; • 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. • Cain • Esau • Moses • Jonah

  17. Measurements and Obstacles • Measurements: • How we deal with those closest to us • How we react when provoked • Obstacles: • Our violent and godless society • Competition drives us in ungodly directions • Christians are often despised, persecuted, and hated • Pride insists on answering back, justifying, getting the last word, returning hurt for hurt and insult for insult

  18. Review What is Gentleness? Some References in Scripture The Example of the Lord Christ The Example of Moses Restoring with Gentleness Gentleness is our Active Witness Characteristics of the Dove The Rewards of Gentleness The Wrath of Man Gentleness is not Weakness Measurements and Obstacles

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