Fruits: Gentleness and self-control

Galatians 5:22–26 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

previous

. The fruits of the Spirit are the divine attributes and characteristics of God

. They are his very nature, God cannot act or behave in ways that are contrary or opposite to his nature

Ephesians 4:22–24 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

. If we are to be imitators of Christ, then we will be examples of the fruits/ nature of God being shown through our lives.

. We have already established according to scripture that the ways of the flesh or the natural human ways are opposite to the ways of God. human nature is opposite to the nature of God.

. Each of us that have accepted Jesus and believe fully in him have each of these fruits growing/ developing in us right now.

this week

. Today we are going to look at the final two fruits on this list, Gentleness and self control.

each and everyone one of these fruits are the spirit are important and need to be present in our lives, i believe that for us as a church these two if developed and produced in us properly will help us make a large positive impact on this community in the coming year.

. The first one is Gentleness

Matthew 11:29–30 NKJV

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.”

. This is something that is very important, that we understand gentleness the way that Jesus was Gentle. Gentleness does not mean weakness and it does not mean backing down from the truth of what we believe.

. Jesus was never rough, abusive or aggressive with people about what he believed he never tried to force any to believe in him, he behaved and spoke in a way that people would be lead to believe .

. There is a reason that gentleness is so important, and that gentleness one of the divine characteristics of God, that he desires for us to develop and produce in our lives.

. and i believe its found in this scripture Jesus says “i am gentle and lowly in spirit, and you will find rest for your souls.”

. Have you ever had a tired soul? have you ever been so tired and worn out on the inside?.... maybe some of you are felling this way right now....

. The thing that we need most when our souls are tired, is someone who is gentle with us someone who fills that tiredness with Love and Joy and comfort.

. who doesn't make us fell worse or who doesn't burden us with the why you feel this way and all the wrongs things we have done or believe to make us feel this way.

. Jesus was gentle and kind to the people whose souls were tired.

. There are people in our community right now whose souls are tired, and they are in desperate need of someone who will be gentle with them, and just allow them to find true rest for there souls. you and i can be like this.

. ultimately its Jesus who will bring the relief that they need, but we can show them what the gentleness of God is like, and through that help lead people to this place where they find rest for there souls.

SELF CONTROL

. I genuinely think that self control is highly undervalued, and also our need for it is very much underrated, we think at times that just because we don't want to do wrong that means that we wont.

. and sometimes because we think that way, we believe that because we don't want to do wrong, and yet we want to do this thing then that means that this thing must actually be OK.

. But if we are not careful, a lack of self control can lead us to a very dangerous place, and can have us living in sin, yet think ourselves genuine believers and followers of God.

Romans 7:18–19 NKJV

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

. Even Paul recognized the need for the self control that is not of human origin but the self control that is of God, that the Holy Spirit develops in each of us.

Proverbs 25:28 NIV

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

. this is a pretty important scripture. without self control, we as believers are un protected, God gives us a way out of situations that are trying to cause us to sin

. as says (NIV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

. however the way out requires self control, the ability to say no to something that you know is bad for you, or sometimes its saying no to taking the easy way out, when we know we should do it the right way!

. the scriptural example for this come from , Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Satan was offering Jesus the easy way out, he offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world

. Think about the self control needed at this point after having fasted for 40 days, this is the kind of self control that we are able to have because of the Holy Spirit in us.

. Power to hold onto the truth even when we are tired/hungry/desperate for our current situation to end, self control will allow us to continue to walk according to the truth.

. And not give into temptation or the easy way out.

. I said earlier that i believed these two fruits are important for us this year, self control being displayed and outworked in our lives is the difference that people need to see. to many Christians say they believe, but then there actions and their lack of self control at times makes it look as if God has no power to change us.

. But the fruit of self control being evident in our lives will make people realize that God does have power and he is able to help people change and get people out of a mess they got themselves into.

. We need every fruit of the spirit to be evident in each of our lives every single day, and we are able because the Holy Spirit dwells inside of each of us.