February 8, 2004 Galatians 5:22-23
“The Spirit-filled Life”
INTRODUCTION
An old couple was sitting by the fireside. He looked over at her, had a romantic thought, and said, “After fifty years, I’ve found you tried and true.” The wife’s hearing wasn’t very good, so she said, “What?” He repeated, “After fifty years, I’ve found you tried and true.”
[The wife took the cane that was beside her and hit him over the head with it. Then she said,] “After fifty years, I’m tired of you too,” - SOURCE: Adrian Rogers, Ten Secrets for a Successful Family (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1996), 115.
For the last two weeks, we have been talking about the fruit of the Spirit – those characteristics that are going to be produced in our lives as we give over control of our lives to the Holy Spirit. This morning, we come to parts #7 and #8 of the fruit of the Spirit. The old couple I just spoke of is a good example of #7 – faithfulness – and a poor example of #8 – gentleness. Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about both of these and what God expects from us in these areas.
1. Faithfulness is the confidence of the Spirit-filled life.
One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. ... A few days after the tragedy, Marine Corps Commandant Paul Kelly, visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived. As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were but two words -- "Semper Fi" the Latin motto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful." [Whatever the circumstances, even with tubes coming in and out of his broken body, he was determined to remain faithful.] - J. Dobson & Gary Bauer, Children at Risk, Word, 1990, pp. 187-188.
I can’t give the historical reason why the Marine Corps chose that saying for it’s slogan, but I can tell you the practical reason for it. When a marine goes into battle, he needs to have the confidence that the guy with him is going to watch his back. He’s not going to fade out when things get tough. He’s got to know that the support from his home base is going to be there when he comes under fire, and that he’s not going to be left to fend for himself. The faithfulness of his comrades gives him confidence.
As faithful as marines are to be true to their promises and to support their comrades and their country, there is someone who is even more faithful. That is God himself.
(Deu 7:9 NIV) Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
(1 Cor 1:9 NIV) God...is faithful.
(1 Th 5:24 NIV) The one who calls you is faithful ...
God is faithful to do what He says.
(Psa 145:13 NIV) ... The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
God is faithful to complete what He starts.
(Phil 1:6 NIV) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is faithful to forgive when we sin.
(1 John 1:9 NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us...
God is going to do His part. He is going to fulfill all His promises, and that gives us confidence for living the Spirit-filled life every day. But what about you and me? What does God expect of us in the area of faithfulness?
God expects faithfulness from us in...
...marriage
The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."
Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "There’s no way they’re getting divorced," she shouted, "I’ll take care of this." She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. Your idea worked. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and they’re paying for their own flights."
We laugh at that, but the fact is that marriage in America is in trouble. When a Britney Spears can get married as a stunt and still proclaim that she believes in the sanctity of marriage, or when shows like “Temptation Island” appeal to the lust of men and women to try and get them to renig on their promised love, there is a serious problem. Marriage is under attack from the court system on the inside, and it’s under attack from the faithlessness of men and women from the inside. This weekend, many a husband, fiance and boyfriend will proclaim his undying love for the woman of his life. But women, beware. The Bible warned longed ago that a faithful man is hard to find.
(Prov 20:6 NIV) Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
An older woman was overheard to say about her husband and their relationship together, "I’m married to an archaeologist, and I get the feeling that the older I get, the better he likes me." We need to be able to have the confidence that our mates are going to be there in the morning when we wake up, and that it will be that way for the rest of our lives. God expects faithfulness in marriage.
...in prayer
(Rom 12:12 NIV) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
...in church
Three pastors from different congregations were having a conversation over lunch. After several minutes of animated discussion, the first one says, "Hey, you know, we’ve got a serious problem at our church. We have bats in our attic, and we can’t seem to get rid of them. The singing and organ playing wake them up, and they start flapping around. Then when I start to preach, we can still hear them moving around up there, and it’s really hard for anyone to pay any attention." The second pastor says "Well that’s interesting, because we’ve had the same problem. They won’t stay out of our belfry. We’ve tried ringing the bells at all hours, spraying chemicals, we’ve even had a couple of exterminator companies out. Nothing’s worked yet." The third pastor smiles and nods his head knowingly. "Well, gentlemen. We had that problem a few years ago, and we found a quick solution. It was easy. We got up there, got to know ’em a little bit. Pretty soon we had them come on down, got ’em baptized and made them members of the church. Haven’t seen ’em since." - Received from Frank J Billington IV.
How important is faithfulness to this church to you? How often do you think you can miss the Sunday morning service before it becomes a big deal – one time, 2 weeks in a row, 4 weeks in a row? How important is it that you be on time and that you fulfill the promises that you have made to serve in different areas of this church? Let me be honest with you. One of the things that has hindered this church from growing is the lack of consistency from our membership. When a visitor comes into this church, and they see so many empty seats, it gives them no motivation to return. Folks, barring sickness, family emergencies and dangerous weather, I expect you to be here. And God expects you to be here.
(Heb 10:25 NIV) Let us not give up meeting together...let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
...telling people about Jesus
Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. He was tired and anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. When he saw the approaching car was a black, sleek, new Cadillac, he lost hope. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. After exchanging names and talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fiftyish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, “Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important.” He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. The businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”
Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. “You knew my husband?” Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. “Can you tell me when that was?” “It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.” “Anything special about that day?” Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge. “Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day.” Suddenly, explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.” Roger asked, “Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?” Struggling with words as she wept, she said, “He’s dead. He was in a car crash [soon] after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see—I thought God had not kept His promise.” Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, “I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!” - Why Christians Sin, J. Kirk Johnston, Discovery House, 1992, pp. 39-41
God always keeps His word, and He uses faithful Christians to accomplish His purposes on earth.
(1 Cor 4:1,2 NIV) ...it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Here’s a question that I would like you to ask yourself: “What if God was only as faithful as I am?” - as faithful as I am in my marriage, in prayer, in church and in sharing my faith with other people? What kind of a mess would I be in? But thankfully, even when we are faithless, we can be confident that God is still faithful to His promises, and He will still forgive.
(2 Tim 2:13 NIV) if we are faithless, he will remain faithful...
2. Gentleness is the way of the Spirit-filled life.
Whenever we talk about gentleness, or meekness as some translations have it, all kinds of images start going through our minds. Images of milk-toast men and grandmothers with their padded paddles. This is one of those characteristics that it seems no longer fits in our fast-paced society where aggressiveness and the type-A personality are so valued. But listen to how Chuck Swindoll describes this characteristic:
“In our rough-and-rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so! ... Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.... Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!” - SOURCE: Charles R. Swindoll.
Meekness is used to describe an animal which has been trained by its master. Wild and unruly animals are worthless but when trained they become meek, that is teachable and quiet.
My family recently watched the movie “Seabiscuit”. It’s the unlikely story of a horse that was too small, a jockey that was too big, a trainer that was past his prime and an owner who knew cars not horses. All of them had been beaten up, abused, broken and mangled by people and by life. But they were healed through gentleness.
“Let me suggest that is exactly what the word "gentleness" is all about, dealing with people who have been broken & twisted & mangled in life [and helping them find healing].” Jesus knew a lot of broken people. He encountered them every day. And most of them had been broken due to circumstances brought on by their own rebellion and sin. “Now why didn’t Jesus condemn them? Because His motivation [was] very different. He did not come just to judge. But rather, He came to restore. He came to save.” – Melvin Newland
(John 3:17 NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
We often respond very differently than Jesus did when it comes to our encounters with people who are still exhibiting the works of the flesh. Our first reaction is to condemn them, to judge them and push them away. When we encounter people who have fallen into sin, there are at least 3 things that we do not know. First, we do not know how hard they tried not to sin. ...second, we do not know the power of [the temptation they faced]. [And third], we ... do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. - Stephen Brown quoting F.B. Meyer, Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17. None of these things excuse the sin, but each of them can remind us to be gentle in our dealings with them. Those who are caught in sin need to hear the truth, but they don’t need us to be harsh in our telling of the truth.
Mr. Myrick had to go to Chicago on business and persuaded his brother to take care of his cat during his absence. Though he hated cats, the brother agreed. Upon his return, Myrick called from the airport to check on the cat. "Your cat died," the brother reported, then hung up. Myrick was inconsolable. His grief was magnified by his brother’s insensitivity, so he called again to express his pain. "There was no need for you to be so [harsh]," he said. "What was I supposed to say?" asked the perplexed brother. "You could have broken the news gradually," explained Myrick. "You could have said, ’The cat was playing on the roof.’ Then, later in the conversation, you could have said, ’He fell off.’ Then you could have said, ’He broke his leg.’ Then when I came to pick him up, you could have said, ’I’m so sorry. You’re cat passed away during the night.’ You’ve got to learn to be more [gentle].
"By the way, how’s Mom? After a long pause, the brother replied, "She’s playing on the roof." - SOURCE: John Maxwell in "Be a People Person,"
People need the truth, but they need the truth spoken in love and gentleness. The Bible tells us how to restore someone who is caught in sin.
(Gal 6:1 NIV) Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. [i.e. self-control]
“Notice the terminology. Paul is saying "if someone is caught." It’s like a lure, a trap, a web. A person is caught & all wrapped up in their sin. Then he says, "You who are spiritual" in other words, those of you who are filled with the Holy Spirit, "restore him gently." That’s the way gentleness is to be used. It is to be used to restore.
“Maybe it is a woman who decided to abort her child, & now she must deal with the guilt. Maybe it is a young man who made wrong sexual choices, & is now caught in the trap of homosexuality. Maybe it is a teenager who made wrong choices about drugs or alcohol.
“God is saying, "When you see people who are caught in sin - like the woman at the well, like the woman caught in the act of adultery, like Zacchaeus" - He says, "When you see people like that... Church, be gentle! Be careful. Their lives are so fragile. They could be easily broken. But they can also be restored. So treat them with gentleness. Pick them up & hold them gently. Show them the way to repentance, & the way back to me, because they are mine. I created them, & I want them back. More than anything else, I want them back."
“Listen to these words of prophecy about Jesus found in Isaiah 40:11:
(Isaiah 40:11 NIV) "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms & carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young."
“That’s what God says we need to do as a church. So we have two goals. First of all, to realize how gentle God has been with us, how many times He could have condemned us, how many times He could have punished us. But gently, time & again, He reaches out & takes us in His arms & holds us close to His heart. He gently leads us.
(Psalm 103:14) He remembers that we are dust.
“Secondly, I want you to realize how important it is that we become gentle caregivers, & begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.” – Melvin Newland
Be gentle because of ...
...the example of other Christians
(1 Th 2:6,7 NIV) ... As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
In first and second Timothy, God inspired Paul to include “gentleness” as one of the requirements for leaders in the church. (1 Tim. 3:2,3; 2 Tim. 2:24-26)
...the presence of the Lord
(Phil 4:5 NIV) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
At first glance, you might be wondering what the presence of the Lord has to do with being gentle. I don’t think it means that God is standing over you with a lightning bolt ready to strike you down if you aren’t gentle with other people. That would be kind of contradictory. Maybe I can explain it this way.
Have you ever been in a situation where it looks like your needs are being overlooked, your position is being bypassed, and your feet are about to be stepped on? And it seems that the only way you’re going to get what you need is to push and shove and force your way to the front of the line so that your voice can be heard. It’s the idea that if you don’t look out for yourself, no one else is going to. The Bible says there IS someone who sees your situation and will come to your aid. It’s the Lord. You don’t have to angrily and harshly force your way through. Let God part the waters for you just as He did with the Israelites when they crossed the Red Sea.
...the increased probability of success
(Prov 15:1 NIV) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
(Prov 25:15 NIV) Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
“It’s a harsh & cold world out there. And somehow humanity needs to see that Jesus makes a difference. He brings our tempers & our temperaments & our personalities under control.” – Melvin Newland
CONCLUSION
Have you been going through something and feel like God has not been faithful to His promises?
Have you been faithful to the promises that you have made to God, to this church and to others in your life? There is forgiveness, healing and restoration.
“Are you a gentle person this morning? Have you treated others with gentleness? God created them. God loves them. And more than anything, God wants to restore them, & He wants to use you with your gift of gentleness to bring them back to Him.
“This morning, if you’re here & you need the gentleness of Christ in your life, we invite you to come. We extend His invitation to you. We encourage you to make a decision for Jesus this morning. Will you come as we stand & as we sing? – Melvin Newland
