September 05, 2020
Today we are discussing GENTLENESS.
The Greek words translated as gentleness also mean “seemly, equitable, yielding, mildness, humility, meekness, and patient”
As with the other fruit on our Good Tree, Gentleness in word and deed is not a popular characteristic in our world.
What is popular is aggression – The world glorifies power, meanness and rudeness:
• We throw each other under the bus by saying mean, bigoted, racist, sexist things then say, “just joking – can’t you take a joke?”
• We intentionally wound people then excuse it because we’re “speaking our truth”.
• We think nothing of verbally attacking another just because their beliefs are different from ours.
• We criticize and slander and we hide behind computer screens while hurling insults at strangers.
• We are all too eager to pounce on another’s perceived weaknesses.
• We mom shame, fat shame, pro-mask shame, anti-mask shame, because we believe we are entitled to do so.
We do not live in a gentle world. If you’re going to make it in THIS world you have to “do whatever it takes to get them before they get you”
Men don’t want to be viewed as gentle because it’s “too feminine” and wimpy. Women don’t want to be viewed as gentle because they’re trying to make it in a man’s world = tough………. Being gentle is seen as weakness - a gentle person is a pushover and lacks assertiveness. Gentleness = Door Mat.
As Christians we are called to be different!! Unfortunately, Christians seem just as willing to “burn” people as those who do not claim to be Christ-followers.
The story is told ….. One week the preacher’s sermon was on Jesus’ statement, “the meek shall inherit the earth”. Out in the parking lot after the service, a businessman said to his wife, “All I can say, is if the meek are going to inherit the earth, they are going to have to get a lot more aggressive.”
We don’t find the attributes of gentleness, meekness, mildness and humility attractive because we’re into power. We need to understand that being meek/mild/humble/gentle doesn’t mean we lack power, rather we choose to hand over our power and control to someone else = God.
Gentleness is strength & power that is harnessed, channeled and controlled.
Jesus lived His entire life that way.
I like to tell my congregation that the God of the Universe is wild and untamable – after all He just speaks and stuff happens.
• Genesis 1:3 - Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
• Psalm 33:6 - By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
• Hebrews 1:1-3 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.
YET, that same Creator God CHOSE to empty Himself, come to earth and humbly submit to His Father’s will – even to the point of dying on a cross {Philippians 2:5-8}.
What the Prophets said about Jesus:
• Isaiah 40:11 - Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
• Jeremiah 11:19 - But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."
• Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey….
What Jesus said about Himself:
• Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Throughout the Gospels we get a picture of Jesus’ gentleness.
It was not harsh judgment that transformed the life of the woman at the well {John 4:1-30} or the woman caught in adultery {John 8:1-11} or that turned Zacchaeus from a greedy tax collector into a generous believer {Luke 19:1-10} or Peter from an arrogant hothead to a humble and compassionate leader {Luke 23:31-34 and John 21:1-17}.
It was GENTLENESS.
Remember in Luke 15 how Jesus responded to the Scribes and Pharisees who were intent on trapping him?
He told 3 stories: The Lost Sheep – The Lost Coin – The Lost Son.
In each case the Gentleness of Jesus/God was demonstrated - It was with gentle care:
• That the Shepherd searched for, found and restored the Lost Sheep.
• That the woman searched for, found and restored the Lost Coin.
• That the Father embraced and restored the Lost Son who had come home again.
Never did Jesus say, “Come on!!! How hard can it be?” --- But does all that gentleness mean that Jesus was a wimpy doormat? You tell me:
Matthew 23:
• 13 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
• 14 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore, you shall receive greater condemnation.
• 15 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
• 23-24 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
• 33 - You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
Ellen White {GW 392.1}: Jesus never suppressed one word of the truth; but he uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in his intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in his voice as he uttered his scathing rebukes.
What a high and holy calling, it is then, for Christian words and deeds to flow from a Heart of Gentleness.
We can change the atmosphere of our homes – our jobs – our churches – our neighborhoods – our cities by choosing gentleness over harsh criticism and condemnation.
• Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
• Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.
• Ephesians 4:1-2 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,
• Philippians 4:5 - Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
• Colossians 3:12-13 - And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
• 2 Timothy 2:24-25 - And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
• Titus 3:1-2 - Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
• 1 Peter 3:15 - but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Gentleness shows its true power when circumstances are at their worst. Gentleness does not avoid conflict, rather, it shows us how we can disagree without being disagreeable.
GENTLENESS is meant to be a hallmark of the Christian life – it is not an optional extra. However, Gentleness does not come naturally to us --- we have no ability to manufacture it through human effort……….
So how do we become gentle people? By allowing the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide and transform them.
The Holy Spirit will not automatically operate in the life of a Christian. A transformed life only happens as we surrender to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Choosing the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity for Victorious Christian living. Why? Because the power of a fruitful life does not lie with the believer, but with the Spirit.
Just as an apple tree doesn’t think about producing apples – it produces apples because it’s an apple tree and because it’s connected with the source of life, so it is with a believer. A believer doesn’t TRY to produce righteous fruit. He produces fruit BECAUSE he is a believer and BECAUESE he is connected to his source of life --- the Holy Spirit.
• John 15:4-5 – Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
GENTLENESS is produced by God’s work in us --- it’s a gift.
• Galatians 5:22-25 - The FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
GENTLENESS is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives – transforming us into the image of Jesus.
Every Good Tree Produces ---- GENTLENESS
