The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness November 22, 2009
Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

What is Gentleness?

Praütes
Mild and gentle friendliness

“Meekness” – gets a bad rap because it rhymes with weakness – meekness is almost the exact opposite of weakness.

Nicky Gumbel defines it as “Harnessed strength”
Images of gentleness – harnessed Clydesdale
Man holding infant

Matthew 5: 5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

– Jesus before Pilate: the creator of the universe is standing before the governor of a backwater province of an empire that “controlled” a small part of a little planet for a few years. And Pilate thinks he is in charge!
John 19:9-11
"Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.

Jesus at the resurrection – has just defeated death & sin – rose victorious – He simply says Mary’s name.

This Harnessed Strength is not the dipolomacy of Theodore Roosevelt who said “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

The strength that we have is not the threat of violent action. It is an inner strength of having nothing to prove. We have a confidence that is unshakable, therefore we do not have to yell and scream and force our way. We know that in the end, God with have his way, so we can be gentle.

If Gentleness is harnessed strength, the opposite would be unharnessed strength – or the proverbial bull in a china shop.
Do we believe in gentleness? – often times we think that what truly needs to happen to see some change is a big stick wielded loudly. Whether we think it “works” or not, we are called to gentleness – to be gentle is to trust God.

Call to gentleness:
Titus 3
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Need for gentleness: we are more fragile than we appear – there are times that we think that people are impervious, so we are rough with them to break through their tough exterior.

Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Gentle in Evangelism
1 peter 3: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Gentle when instructing
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, (gentle) submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Gentle when a friend is Sinning
Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.