The Fruit of the Spirit_9_Gentleness

 

 

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV) 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

  • Gentle and Meek people will inherit the earth
  • This seem unbelievable in today’s world…the aggressive, mean people seem to win.
  • But Jesus said it…it is true.

Gentleness or Meekness is not weakness.

It takes strong disciplined people to be Gentle in the face of an arrogant, aggressive world.

Weak people are pushing, rude and mean…it takes no discipline to fly off the handle.

Gentleness = Strength under control

  • Does not over react…not driven by their emotions

Gentleness – Meekness (prah-ot’-ace)…prah-thA-ts

  • EX: As a wild stallion that has been tamed.     This is a Gentle and Meek horse…channeling its strength to serve another.Being patient and loving to those you are mentoring and lifting up…not over reacting.
  • We need to demonstrate Gentleness and Meekness in our strength and gifting.
  •      The strength of the stallion is brought under control for the masters us.

The benefits of learning Gentleness

 

 1. Gentleness defuses conflict

 

 

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

  • Mirror neurons (in the brain) – mimics what it encounters…
  • One gets mad, you get mad…hang around depression, you get depressed…hang around enthusiastic, successful people, you will become likewise.
  • When someone raises their voice…you lower yours. That’s strength under control.
  • This defuses conflict between…spouses, children, workplace Etc.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NLT) 4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.

  • Gentleness response with understanding…
  • He (She) may be dealing with problems…private or from business stress.

2.  Gentleness disarms critics  

  • If you do anything in life of any significance you will be criticized.
  • Don’t want critics…do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing…pretty safe…Boring!!!
  • Most people under achieve for fear of being criticized.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NLT) 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

  • People are “Baiting us” to argue and fuss…some live for turmoil…trolling for a fight.
  • Anger addiction…it’s the only way they fell alive…it’s a “release” to get you mad at them.
  • The Bait of Satan…John Bevere…personal offence…Gentleness throws water on it.
  • This is not WEAKNESS…its “Strength under Control”…not emotionally driven.

Titus 2:8 (TLB) 8 Your conversation should be so sensible and logical that anyone who wants to argue will be ashamed of himself because there won’t be anything to criticize in anything you say! (Gentleness as a response)

2 Timothy 2:25 (NLT) 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

  • I never debate scripture with people…I share scripture, if it’s received great…if not oh well.
  • We need a tough skin and a tender heart…pray “help me love them more than being right.”
  • …This will help in any marriage…
  • Run your race…stay out of the grand stands to debate your critics…it’s a trap.

3.  Gentleness is persuasive

 

Proverbs 25:15 (MSG) 15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.

Proverbs 25:15 (NCV) New Century version 15 With patience you can convince a ruler, and a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed.

  • Yelling at the kids may be a stress releaser for you…but it will cause “hard-headed” in them.
  • “Turn or burn” sermons used to scare people in to submission…God in Gentle Grace.
  • Romans 2:4 (NKJV) 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
  • If your training and leading people…be gentle in instructing others in how to do it right.
  • Don’t be quick to point out weaknesses…be loving and patient.

Proverbs 25:15b Contemp eng ver…Patients and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.

    • Ruler – Boss, supervisor…
    • Proverbs 16:21 (NLT) 21 The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
    • Wise people understand the art of persuasion through pleasant (Gentle) words.
  • I’m never persuasive if I’m abrasive. (a Theme For Life)

 

 4.  Gentleness is Attractive

  • If one want to be attractive outwardly… Develop Gentleness inwardly.
  • You don’t attract what you want…you attract what you are.
  • “Birds of the same feather flock together”
  • (Some Wisdom)…Singles, if you want a Godly mate…be a Godly Man or Woman.
  • Gentleness attract gentleness…Godliness attacks Godliness.
  • I attracted a Godly woman that has help create a Godly house…we have a Godly marriage.

Something for the Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ladies…1 Peter 3:4 (NLT) 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, (Fruit of the Spirit) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (Precious to us guys)

Guys…1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV) 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

 

5.  Gentleness Communicates Love

  • Husbands quickest way to improve your marriage…talk to your wife more gently.             (A Gentleman is a Gentle man)

Colossians 3:19 (New Century Ver) 19 Husbands, love your wives and be gentle with them.

  • Be a great forgiver…Gently regard each other’s feelings.

Ephesians 6:4 (AMP) 4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.

  • Exasperate – raise the bar so high they can’t obtain it.

 

6.  Gentleness earns respect

Proverbs 11:16 (MSG) 16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot.

  • Mother Teresa…little tiny woman (Under 5ft tall)…walk into The U.N. and got respect.
  • Great leadership is gentle…Abraham Lincoln…He treated the southern states with respect.  Washington…Meek…Bagged him to be president…only 2 terms.  Martin L. King…staved off violence with Gentleness.

 

Rehoboam (2 Chron 10)

David…Solomon…Rehoboam

Rehoboam became (young) king and asked the people what they wanted…

2 Chronicles 10:4-5 (NKJV) 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5 So he said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” And the people departed.

So he asked his father’s advisors…

2 Chronicles 10:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” 7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

  • Be gentle with them…they will follow you anywhere.

So he asked his young friends…

2 Chronicles 10:10-11 (NKJV) 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’–thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ”

  • 10 tribes split off…Israel never regained it greatness again.
  • Gentleness earns respect…a must in leadership.
  • Numbers 12:3 (AMP) 3 Now the man Moses was very meek (gentle, kind, and humble) or above all the men on the face of the earth.
  • Moses…Killed an Egyptian…Broke the Tablets…Struck the rock, kept him out of promise land…BUT he was teachable…he learned Gods way VS his way.

We have the fruit of Gentleness working on the inside of us…we are gentleness.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT) 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

  • You have God in you “working in you”
  • Giving not only “Desire” but “Power” to please (Walk like Christians)

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit (AMP) [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Download MP3 Here: The Fruit of the Spirit_9_Gentleness

 

 

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