Fruitful | Gentleness

Galatians 5:23 NKJV

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Original Word: πραΰτης Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prautés Pronunciation: prah-oo'-tace Phonetic Spelling: (prah-oo'-tace) KJV: meekness  NASB: gentleness, consideration, humility, meekness Word Origin: [from G4239 (πραΰς - Meek)]

Gentleness is an internal strength that is controlled by the Holy Spirit

It is a retraining or redirection of power and strength. It is not weak, passive and affirming of improper behavior. It is targeted and controlled power bridled by Holy Spirit.  It is not a timid spirit as many would expect. It’s a submitted disposition.

Gentleness is a testimony of grace and reminds us that there will come a time when all aggression will end.

We have to know when to apply pressure.

Has there ever been a moment when you have been too harsh?

Have you ever been damaged by someone who mishandled you because they had been mishandled?

Heavy handed discipline

Cursing , yelling and other types of verbal abuse

Power Principle: Power with no control will destroy recklessly. Power under control will sculpt, redirect and guide intentionally. 

A scalpel and a sword are both sharp. But they serve different purposes.

A scalpel is small and precise.

It is designed to cut flesh with minimal cellular damage. It’s only about 2000 atoms thick.

It’s goal is to open up a human which will cause some pain. But it is ultimately used as a healing too;

It is not designed for battle.

A sword is more blunt and concussive. It is designed to do maximum damage. Even as sharp as a katana blade is, you wouldn’t want your surgeon using it on you.

It cannot precisely open blood vessels.

It cannot remove tumors safely.

You use the two instruments to different ways.

SS: Gentleness is a choice in how we respond to people and situations around us.

I. Where does True Gentleness come from?

It requires inner strength and restraint. Its root is Holy Spirit. The world’s root response is revenge, self serving behavior and anger.

It takes self control and intention to be gentle. 

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

II. We see gentleness in Jesus

Christ is gentle. Christ is our example.

Matthew 11:28–29 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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.

Jesus knows how to handle us

, Isaiah 40:10-11

Isaiah 40:10–11 NKJV

10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

“11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”

Christ is not weak 

Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

John 8:1-11

Jesus uses a controlled measured response while still giving a stern warning

John 8:10–11 NKJV

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 5:14 NKJV

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Gentleness does not have excuse sin.

Galatians 5:14-22 rather it participated and promotes righteousness.

III. Gentleness Can Change our Outcome

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.15.1.NKJV

Over the years I found how you respond to things matters. Being able to answer and address conflict in a spiritually spawned and emotionally regulated response Chan

Somebody needs our gentleness 

IV. We have to learn when to be the Lion and When to be the Lamb

A. When to apply the proper pressure as we are led by the spirit

B. My strength won’t be engaged by my triggers but rather Holy Spirit

C. We must both rebuke and restore

Titus 1:9–13 NKJV

9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 NKJV

24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 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.

Presenting

Ephesians 4:11–15 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Colossians 4:6 NKJV

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Conclusion:

Biblical gentleness is strength that is bridled and disciplined by God’s love. It contains both courage to tell truth along with wisdom, compassion and self control that will restore rather than demolish. We have to to put the sword to false arguments 2 Corinthians 10:5

2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

We have to put the sword to spiritual attack.

Ephesians 6:17

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

This is us fighting against darkness and demonic forces.

But when we are facing those for which Christ died, we should use a scalpel

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Today I ask in all gentleness, in the Lord speaking to your heart today? Is the Spirit moving in areas of your life showing you what needs to be submitted to him?