Hammer or a Hug: Gentleness

Introduction:

When I was 11, I fully and directly disrespected my dad in front of my brother and my friends. He made me mad and I made a remark so that they could hear it so that I wouldn’t seem like a push over..but the second it came out of my mouth I knew it was wrong.

In my house weren’t afraid to get loud and we were afraid to enact loud displays of justice. My parents were not push overs. So I knew that the Hammer of Justice was coming. But instead my dad took me aside and he said, “Pat, those words you used were disrespectful. Not only that, but they hurt my feelings. Your words matter, son. What you say matters and I don’t want to hear you say things like that.”

If I miss the power of Gentleness I mess a deeper experience with God and others.

Galatians 5:23 “Prautas” — a mildness of disposition.

Another greek word is epieikeia (epi-ikea) and it suggests the yielding of a judge, who, instead of demanding the exact penalty required by strict justice, gives way to circumstances which call for mercy.

Big Idea: When I deserved the Hammer, God gave me a hug

Scripture: Revelation 5:5-6 NIV

“Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.”

1. The Lion may be powerful but it’s the Lamb that sets us free

Here is John at the very moment of discovering how the end of human history will unfold. But there is NO ONE worthy enough to open the scroll to understand

The Lion Biblically is usually a picture of strength, power, even royalty (Jesus is known as the Lion of the tribe of Judah)

When John turns around he doesn’t see a LION but a LAMB looking like it had been slain

But when it came to dealing with sin or reconciling humanity to God, it wasn’t the sacrifice of the Lion that brought people closer to God, but the sacrifice of the Lamb

Story: 19 on a mission trip to Israel…I got water dumped on my head

Scripture: Revelation 5:12 NIV

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

2. The Freedom God renders through Gentleness can never be matched by force

Look at the reaction of the heavenly scene when the people recognize the Lamb of God that looked as if it had been slain.

There is celebration, there is repentance, there is worship of a NEW SONG…the gentle lamb literally enables a NEW SOUND of worship to take place

Jesus said, “I am humble and gentle of heart…I’ll give you rest”

Paul says:

“Let your gentleness be made known to all men” in Philippians

“I appeal to you by the humility and gentleness of Christ..” 2 For 10

“How shall I come to you w/ a rod or love and a gentle spirit?” 1 Cor. 4

Story: Les Miserable the Movie:

Jean Valjean is imprisoned for stealing bread. Upon his release and looking for a place to sleep, he is rejected by everyone except for a kind Bishop.

During the night Jean steals the Bishop’s silver and when confronted assaults him and runs away. He is caught the next morning by police. The Bishop tells the police that he gave the silver to Jean but that he forgot to take the candlesticks. After they release him, Jean Valjean asks, “Why are you doing this?”

The Bishop responds: Don’t forget. Never forget…you’ve promised to become a new man. Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil. With this sliver I bought your soul. I’ve ransomed you from fear and hatred and now I give you back to God.

Application: Think about the WAY I speak and act.

* Tarah after our budget talk: It’s not THAT you say it, but it’s HOW you say it.

Conclusion: When I deserved the Hammer, God gave me a hug

Gentleness is a strong arm with a soft touch.

The challenge in understanding ‘gentleness’ in English is because it is so connected with the word ‘meekness’ and the English (western) understanding of meekness is so closely related to weakness. By contrast the Biblical and Heavenly understanding is that gentleness or meekness is a FRUIT of POWER.

This week there will be a moment when you are about to say something, I want to challenge us to think about HOW we are going to SAY it. This week there will be a moment when you will do something, I want to challenge us to think about HOW we are going to DO it.

It could be the difference between being RESTRAINED by because we appealed entitlement or in being RELEASED because we appealed to the fruit of the power of God’s gentleness in your life.