The Taming of a Wild and Dangerous Animal: Gentleness and Self control

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The taming of a wild and dangerous animal…. Us!

Gal 5:23 Gentleness and Self control

Outline:

Lee must have laughed assigning these topics

Kicked out of Sunday school story

            *when we fail, there is grace from our heavenly father

                        -we may not represent these perfectly, but we grow (Sanctification)

What does Gentleness mean?

            =Humility (james 1:21), meekness

            Mat 5:5

"“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."

  • A soothing medicine – given to relieve high fever – medicine out of control is dangerous
  • Training of wild animals – described a colt that had been broken – a horse out of control is dangerous
  • Gentle refreshing, gentle breeze – out of control = Hurricane Katrina!
  • All of these describe power under control

meekness is due to a person’s conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.

What does it look like?

            Proverbs 15:1-

" A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."

            1 peter 3:15-16 defend ourselves with gentleness, makes accusers look stupid

" always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."

            Gal 6:1- Restore a sinning brother gently

                        Karate- hitting someone without hurting them

How can I be gentle?

            2 tim 2:25- Gentling correcting others

                       *Point out something wrong strong enough to get their attention, but not hurting them

*get very different reactions if your gentle or harsh

            *How do you respond when you are wrong? Right?

                        =*Be humble

            *Be teachable- learn from others (Lee)

            *Submit to God, let the fruit grow

Self-control

Self control is what ties all these things together…. To have power under control! (need to put sin under control)

Why Self-control?

            Rom 7:20- Sin dwells in us, we have to fight it

"But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."  Fight it

Turn to 1 cor 9:25-27… Lack of can hurt our ministry

                        Mexicali Story

                        Lack of self-control can disqualify you from the race

            Christs love (Titus 2:11-14)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

                        *We train waiting for Christ who gave Himself for us

                                    Its all about Christ

            2 tim 1:7- Self control goes with power and love, against fear

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

                        *do not fear Satan or the flesh

How

            2 peter 1:5,6- part of the progression of Godliness

                        *one can and must develop self-control, put a lot of effort into it

            *God does the work, fruit is a natural outgrowth

            *But we have to make every effort

            *Both are true, we have nothing except from Christ

I’ve worked really ahrd, but God’s given it to me

            Like an athlete trains, so must we

                        Stretch= stretch our minds/understanding with scripture

                        Practice= putting scripture into action in familiar places (home)

                        Endurance= Continuing in Prayer and disciplines/Graces

                        Push beyond what can normally be done= Going outside of what’s comfortable

Remember, of the spirit, can’t do this one your own

Living it out:

Know what scripture says on topic:

            *Not getting angry….

            *Jesus got angry (mark 3:5).. but he didn’t sin

                        Still… control the duration of anger (eph 4:26)

Control every thought (2 cor 10:5)

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"

Say no to ungodliness (Titus 2:12 ESV)

"training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age," (Titus 2:12, ESV)

Eph 4:31-32… Put on godliness instead

 

Jesus response to temptation with scripture (Mat 4, Luke 4)

            *Memorize scripture for moments of temptations

            Pray!

                        =be dependent on God everyday


 

Gentleness & Self-control = The taming of a wild and dangerous animal.

Gentleness:

            4240 πραΰτης [prautes /prah·oo·tace/] n f. From 4239; TDNT 6:645; TDNTA 929; GK 4559; Three occurrences; AV translates as “meekness” three times. 1 mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

            *James 1:21= humility

In other versions: humility, meekness

            Meekness=

  • A soothing medicine – given to relieve high fever – medicine out of control is dangerous
  • Training of wild animals – described a colt that had been broken – a horse out of control is dangerous
  • Gentle refreshing, gentle breeze – out of control – Hurricane Katrina!
  • All of these describe power under control

Verses of gentle

            Gal 6:1- Restore a sinning brother gently

            Proverbs 15:1- Gentle answer turns away wrath

1 cor 4:21- contrasted with a rod

1 peter 3:15- defend ourselves with gentles, makes accusers look stupid

James 3:13- Gentleness of wisdom

kindness, consideration, a spirit of fairness and compassion. The apostle Paul declared that Christians should have a spirit of gentleness toward all people (Phil. 4:5; 2 Cor. 10:1)[1]

MEEKNESS — an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward people, springing from a recognition that God is in control. Although weakness and meekness may look similar, they are not the same. Weakness is due to negative circumstances, such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person’s conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.

The apostle Paul once pointed out that the spiritual leaders of the church have great power, even leverage, in confronting a sinner. But he cautioned them to retrain themselves in meekness (Gal. 6:1; 5:22–23).

Meekness is a virtue practiced and commended by our Lord Jesus (Matt. 5:5; 11:29). As such it is part of the equipment that every follower of Jesus should wear (2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 5:23; 6:1; Eph. 4:1–2).[2]

In the New Testament prautēs is used to describe three attitudes: submissiveness to the will of God (Col. 3:12), teachableness (James 1:21), and consideration of others (Eph. 4:2).[3]

Self Control

What is self control:

            2 peter 1:5,6- part of the progression of Godliness

                        *one can and must develop self-control, put a lot of effort into it

            Acts 24:25- Paul talks about self-control as he talked about righteousness with governor Felix

            2 tim 1:7- we have spirit of power yet selfcontrol (esv)

Some examples:

            1 cor 9:25- an athlete controls himself in training

                        *warning, if don’t have, then could disqualify self

                        Lack of self-control can disqualify you from the race

            Pr 21:17- Opposite of self control

            Daniel in the king’s court… not eating the food that was unclean (dan 1)

Self-control (enkrateia; this noun is used in the NT only here and in Acts 24:25; 2 Peter 1:6) denotes self-mastery and no doubt primarily relates to curbing the fleshly impulses just described. Such a quality is impossible to attain apart from the power of God’s Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:16)[4]

Living it out:

Anger

            *Not getting angry….

            *Jesus got angry (mark 3:5).. but he didn’t sin

                        Still… control the duration of anger (eph 4:26)

            *Everything done in control.. problematic when not (our hearts are naturally wicked….Jer 17:9)

Control every thought (2 cor 10:5)

Say no to ungodliness (Titus 2:12 ESV)

Jesus response to temptation with scripture (Mat 4, Luke 4)

Why:

            Christs love (Titus 2:11-14)


----

[1]Ronald F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, R. K. Harrison and Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995).

[2]Ronald F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, R. K. Harrison and Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995).

[3]John MacArthur, Galatians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1987). 169.

NT New Testament

cf. confer, compare

[4]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985). 2:608.

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