Gentleness

Titus 3:1-2

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 to show true humility toward all men.

NIV

Go ahead and turn into your bibles ahead of time to 1 Peter 2:11–25; 3:13–4:5

Introduction:

You all remember the story of mice and men. Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, have been let off a bus miles away from the California farm where they are due to start work. George is a small, dark man with “sharp, strong features.” Lennie, his companion, is his opposite, a giant of a man with a “shapeless” face. The book starts out they are overcome with thirst, the two stop in a clearing by a pool and decide to camp for the night. As the two converse, it becomes clear that Lennie has a cognitive impairment, and is deeply devoted to George and dependent upon him for protection and guidance. George finds out that Lennie, who loves petting soft things but often accidentally kills them, has been carrying and stroking a dead mouse. George angrily throws it away, fearing that Lennie might catch a disease from the dead animal. George complains loudly that his life would be easier without having to care for Lennie, but you see the reader senses that their friendship and devotion is mutual. He and Lennie share a dream of buying their own piece of land, farming it, and much to Lennie’s delight, keeping rabbits. George ends the night by treating Lennie to the story he often tells him about what life will be like in such an idyllic place.

Gentleness is number seven in the fruit of the spirit, and an off chute of goodness in which we talked about last week.

You see when I think of gentleness I always think of Lennie. You see even though he was a big fellow he had a very gentle soul about him. He was like a child. Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-5.

Matthew 18:2–5 (NIV)

2 He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Christians as Citizens

Christians were often looked on with suspicion in the Roman Empire because their conduct was so different, and they met in private meetings for worship (see Acts 1:14, 1 Peter 2:11–25; 3:13–4:5).

Acts 1:14 (NIV)

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

1 Peter 2:11–25 (NIV)

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 3:13–4:5 (NIV)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Chapter 4

1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1. It was important that they be good citizens without compromising their faith.

a. Their pagan neighbors might disobey the law, but Christians must submit to the authority of the state (see Rom. 13).

2. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

Matthew 5:13

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

3. If we are not producing this fruit of the spirit, then what good are we? a. We should be thrown out and trampled on underfoot.

Works don’t get us to heaven , but it is a good start. (Titus 3:1)

“Ready to every good work” means “cooperating in those matters that involve the whole community.”

1. Our heavenly citizenship does not absolve us from responsibilities as citizens on earth.

a. Paul said to the Philippians in Phil. 3:20:

Phil. 3:20

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

2. The believer should not have a bad attitude toward the government and show it by slanderous accusations and pugnacious actions.

a. The believer should not have a bad attitude toward others.

You know sometimes I have a short temper, just ask my wife. If I don’t understand something or someone, I just tend to be short with them. I get frustrated because I am not understanding and I don’t know how to make the person I am talking to understand me. So many times, throughout life I can think of times that I am ashamed of. I am grateful that I am surrounded by wonderful loving people who forgive me. I serve a wonderful God who forgave me even to the point of death.

Hebrews 12:1

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

NIV

Titus 3:2

The word gentle in the Cambridge dictionary means: the quality of being calm, kind, or soft, the quality of not being violent, severe, or strong.

Ephesians 4:31

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice

1. Christians with this quality do not insist on the letter of the law but are willing to compromise where no moral issue is at stake.

a. Notice I said no moral issue.

i. Pornography

ii. Abortion

iii. Murder

iv. Drunkenness

v. Slander

vi. Gossip

2. Just because we are not compromising on these issues doesn’t mean that we are not loving those who do. You see remember that the first fruit is Love. Jesus says in Matthew 5:43–45

Matthew 5:43–45 (NIV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

a. Why must we be the ones to compromise, because that is gentleness, that is a fruit of the spirit.

3. Crist is our example when it comes to being gentle.

a. We have several examples in scripture of His gentleness.

i. John 14:1-4

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

ii. Matthew 18:2-5

2 He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

iii. John 18-19:30 We see how Christ handled His enemies with grace even when facing death.

Richard L. Dunagin wrote; At their school carnival, his kids won four free goldfish (lucky us!), so out he went Saturday morning to find an aquarium. The first few he priced ranged from $40 to $70. Then he spotted it--right in the aisle: a discarded 10-gallon display tank, complete with gravel and filter--for a mere five bucks. Sold! Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of clean-up a breeze.

Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day. But by Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly up. They called in an expert, a member of their church who has a 30-gallon tank. It didn't take him long to discover the problem: he had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no. His uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives he was trying to protect.

Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the lives of others, we unfortunately use "killer soaps"--condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper. We think we're doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is more than they can bear.

Conclusion:

Don’t ever think that being gentle is a bad thing. Our Lord was gentle; He is gentle with us. If you say you are a Christian, then this fruit along with the other fruit of the spirit should be growing in you.

Jesus said in John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Pray with me.

Father, produce in me the fruit of your spirit. I want to grow this fruit, I don’t want to be a fruitless fig tree.