The Eighth Fruit : Gentleness
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gentleness is defined as meek or unassuming. What does it mean to be gentle in the Biblical sense? Some may say that gentle means to be soft, some may say gentleness means to be quiet and to yourself. If I asked everyone in this room we would likely have 10 different definitions of what Gentleness is. Because of this it is important for us to understand the Biblical importance and definition of Gentleness. The word used in the scripture is
prautēs- This word means humility.
hose You may be thinking to yourself, didnt we already discuss humbleness? We have covered humility in almost every fruit but the concept of Gentleness in this passage is to be a humble leader. The concept in most aspects of humility is to not think too much about yourself. In this aspect it is speaking of those who have power not Lording it over those they are called to serve. This type of humility says, you have the power, you have the right, you have the strength, but you will not use it. Today we will explore this aspect of Gentleness in Matthew 20:20-28
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In this passage of Scripture Jesus is explaining the demand of those who desire to be with Him to be Gentle. The word is translated humble in Matthew but is the same word used in Galatians. So what is it that Jesus is calling us to do?
We all think we are Humble don't we?
Two monks were discussing humility.
"I have been praying and fasting, meditating and studying religion for 20 years. I have finally reached the level of humility. I am truly a nothing." said one monk.
The other monk nodded gravely. "I too have spent my life devoted to serving God. I am also a nothing."
At that moment a janitor passed, holding his mop. Overhearing the conversation, and feeling quite spiritual, he interrupted. "You know what, i am also a nothing."
The monks looked away in disgust. "Who the heck... does he think he is trying to be a nothing???"
In Matthew we will see three aspects of Gentleness. First Gentleness is not abandoning authority, second, Gentleness comes with a cost, and third, Gentleness results in a reward.
Gentleness is not abandoning authority
Gentleness is not abandoning authority
Those who do not understand gentleness automatically assume that it means laying down your authority and acting weak. Gentleness is not abandoning your authority but understanding your position and using it to serve. Look in the scripture with me.
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Humility is not abandoning your authority it is using the authority to serve others. The be a servant leader. Gentleness is to embody servant leadership. There is an unsaid expectation that those who are gentle are soft spoken, quiet, and pushovers. This however is not the case. Notice the scripture here. James and John were the sons of Zebedee and their mother approached Jesus and asked him to set her sons at his right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus’ authority was not abandoned. While Jesus made himself a servant to all people He did not abandon His position as the one and only Son of God. This authority was not lost on those around Him but it also was not Lorded over them. Jesus was gentle in the fact that He understood His position and title in the Kingdom but He did not use it. What are the practical applications for us in here today with this? With a raise of hands how many of you in here are parents or grandparents? OK we did not cover everyone, how about supervisors of some sort at work, even if it is not an official title? OK still didn't cover everyone, how about the older sibling in your family? Now we have almost everyone in here today. How do you use your position as a parent? When your child does something that you can hold over them how do you react? I am guilty of this and we do it in general because at some level we have all recieved the treatment. You know what I am talking about the “Becasue I said So!” statement. We use our position to get the reaction we want from our children. I am not saying that sometimes this is not needed but I do wonder what it would be like if we actually took the time to be gentle with our children in our responses to things and took the time to explain to them why we do not want them doing something. Would it make it any easier for the child to listen? Even if it did not would it help that child to carry on Gentleness to the next generation? How about those in supervisory positions at work? Do you use your position as a way to serve? Does the title go to your head? How about being the older sibling, do you use that as a way to serve your younger siblings or are you proud of being the oldest sibling? You see the idea is not to abandon the title but to hold the title in dignity, to understand that God gave you the title and with that He expects you to serve. Notice that John and James mother did not see Jesus as a pushover and understood His position in the kingdom asking that her sons get to be set at His right and Left Hand.
When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.
"Excuse me," Governor Herter said, "do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?"
"Sorry," the woman told him. "I'm supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person."
"But I'm starved," the governor said.
"Sorry," the woman said again. "Only one to a customer."
Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.
"Do you know who I am?" he said. "I am the governor of this state."
"Do you know who I am?" the woman said. "I'm the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister."
Sometimes our “authority” given by God goes to our heads. We forget that the authority is given so we can be greater servants. Lets see what the Bible says about this.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
Gentleness does not mean abandoning ones authority, it means using it appropriately. No matter where you are in your life today there are people around you that you have some type of authority over, do not abandon that authority and call it gentleness, gentleness maintains that authority and uses it to serve. Gentleness though will come at a cost.
Gentleness comes at a cost
Gentleness comes at a cost
22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
I want to point out two aspects of cost here. First Jesus discussed the cost with James and John. Jesus was discussing the cost at the Cross. Jesus asked James and John both if they were prepared to drink of this cup and they both said they would. Jesus then tells them both that they will drink of the same cup but that who gets to sit at his right and left hand is up to the Father. The second cost is what the other disciples were likely upset at. You see the disciples were not unlike any of us. If we are in a group with one leader we are all positioning ourselves to be the leaders next in line. By having their mother ask James and John got an answer that none of the disciples wanted to hear. They have all been doing what they can to position themselves as Jesus’ right hand man and now they are told that all of their jockeying for position means nothing and they Jesus himself will not make the decision. The fact is that Gentleness will cost us something. Gentleness calls for us to be willing to continuously be wronged knowing that we hold the authority to end it.
Years after the death of President Calvin Coolidge, this story came to light. In the early days of his presidency, Coolidge awoke one morning in his hotel room to find a cat burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to keep. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and discovered he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet -- which he had also persuaded the dazed young man to give back! -- declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he had come so as to avoid the Secret Service!
Gentleness means that we are willing to hold the power and withhold using it. Withholding that power though will mean that people are going to get away with mistreating us, they will get away with harming us. The fact is that most of us at this very moment are saying, I am not doing that! I beg of you before going to our American roots and rights look at the cross.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine
Gentleness is about having the ability to stand up for yourself and to bring justice to the person harming you but making a choice not to do it. In the scriptures we just went though we find that throughout scripture God is telling us to be like Him and like Jesus. Ill give you one more in case you think that this is just an idea from a guy who has gone too far on the live at peace train.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Jesus had the authority in the garden to stop the false imprisonment He would go through, to stop the crucifixion he would face, but yet He chose to be gentle and to led to slaughter because he knew that His Father was in control. Our desires to right our own wrongs to have the power and to wield the power comes from us lacking faith that God is in control. Gentleness does not abandon the authority but uses it to serve others, Gentleness comes at a cost that while you hold the ability to stand up for yourself and to fight for yourself, you withhold it and wait on the Lord. This gentleness though does not come without its reward.
Gentleness results in reward
Gentleness results in reward
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The act of being a Gentle servant will result in a reward from God the Father. If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God you must learn to be Gentle in spirit. You must learn that while you have the authority and power to handle your own affairs, you serve a God who is in the ultimate control of it all. God has called us to live gentle lives to be humble and to serve. We as believers are not marked by war, fighting, harsh words, or an attitude of dissension. We should be marked as people who have the power and ability to handle our affairs but are willing to be wronged and will give goodness in return for the evil against us. In living in Gentleness we will secure for ourselves the rewards in Heaven. What happened with Jesus? That’s right He lived His life continually wronged by those He came to save, He forgave those who nailed him to the cross and divided His garments, then He intercedes for us before the throne of God, the ones who caused His death. He is now elevated to the Right Hand of the Father. So many of us are fighting to make it as far as we can go on this earth while abandoning ourselves to entering the Kingdom of God as one who smells of smoke. It is time for the church to live in the gentleness that God is calling us to live in. Be willing to love others though they wrong you. Be willing to love those who hate you. Seek to live at peace with all people. Believers are called to be gentle and if you live a life of gentleness you will be rewarded. Each of us has the ability to defend ourselves and to do what is necessary to help our own causes. By not doing so we are dependent on God to handle our affairs, do we not trust that He can do it? The rewards of God are greater than anything we will ever earn on this earth.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I will end with this Poem this morning. The following poem was written by Amy Carmichael and points out the fact that so many of us do our very best to avoid the gentleness that would cause us to have any scars. We liken Gentleness to being soft spoken or weak not realizing that the strongest people are the ones willing to love though being wronged.
NO SCAR?
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spend,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wounds nor scar?
Amy Carmichael.
Are you truly Gentle in the sense of what the Bible calls for? Jesus the only Son of God was willing to lay aside His deity and His rights as the Son of God to be ridiculed, beaten, and nailed to a tree. Why? To provide to you and me a path to the Father and an example of biblical Gentleness.