The Fruit of the Spirit

GENTLENESS

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Blessing of Gentleness

Blessed are the MEEK, for they shall inherit the earth

(Matthew 5:5)

NOT:“Blessed are the WEAK,

for they shall inherit the earth”

NOT:“Blessed are the STRONG,for they can own the earth”

DEFINING GENTLENESS

• Praotes

• Gentleness, mildness, meekness

Gentleness and Lowliness

Matthew 11:29-30“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Gentleness and Lowliness

Matthew 11:29-30“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Gentleness and Lowliness

Matthew 11:29-30“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Gentleness and Lowliness

Ephesians 4:1-3“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Gentleness and Lowliness

Ephesians 4:1-3“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Gentleness and Lowliness

Ephesians 4:1-3“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Gentleness and Lowliness

If we have an inflated opinion of ourselves we are not spiritual and will not be gentle.

Romans 12:3

Galatians 6:1

1 Peter 5:6

David and Gentleness

• When he was persecuted by Saul:1 Samuel 24:14“After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?”

• He placed whatever injuries that came into God’s hands

1 Samuel 24:15“Therefore let the LORD be judge, and

judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand."

Moses and Gentleness

Numbers 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.”

Yet he commanded the Levites to take their swords and kill their disobedient brethren. Because of this, 3000 died.(Exodus 32:25-28)

Jesus and Gentleness

Matthew 11:29“I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Yet - “When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables” (John 2:15)

Yet – He openly challenged hypocrisy and religious error. (Luke 13:10-17)

Jesus and Gentleness

We are called to be like Him:

1 Peter 2:21-23“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”

Gentleness

• Gentleness Doesn’t Forbid

Anger

Firmness

Initiative

• Gentleness Regulates Them

A Gentle Person

• Doesn’t excuse sin

• Doesn’t overvalue personal success

• Forbears and endures when wronged

• Doesn’t seek revenge

• Desires the good of those who harm him

• Is submissive when chastened by God

A Gentle Person

• Understands the effects, the desire, and the power of sin

2 Timothy 2:24-26“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Am I A Gentle Person?

• Do I excuse sin?

• Do I get carried away by my successes?

• Do I forbear revenge when wronged?

• Do I desire the good of those who sin?

• Am I submissive when God chastens me?

What Do I Need to Work on This Week?