Gentleness

Cultivate Series: We are coming down the home stretch! Next week we will finish up the series, and Jim will be teaching on Self Control.
• Remember this series is all about working together with the Holy Spirit in our lives to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.
• Important for us to remember that we can’t grow in the fruit of this spirit without the spirit!
• Today we are talking about GENTLENESS…

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

• Unfortunately, today, gentleness is more closely associated with weakness.
• Biblical definition of gentleness: Meekness, humility and strength under control.1

DID YOU KNOW JESUS ACTUALLY CALLS HIMSELF GENTLE?

Matthew 11:29 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.
o Does this mean that Jesus was weak? Have you noticed that throughout our study of the Fruit of the Spirit, Jesus is the perfect example of each of the fruits? And gentleness is no different.
• Gentleness and meekness are used almost interchangeably throughout Scripture.
• Just because meekness rhymes with weakness does not mean that they are the same.
o Weakness: Lacking in Strength
o Meekness/Gentleness: Strength under control

3 THINGS THAT WILL KILL GENTLENESS IN OUR LIVES (If we let them):
o In other words: If we struggle with these things, it will be difficult to grow in this fruit.

1. SELFISHNESS: Selfishness and gentleness can’t co-exist. (See also James 3:16)
• When I am selfish, it means that I think, “I am the most important person, and therefore my needs are the most important needs. Your needs don’t matter!”

Philippians 2:3-4 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

• The world we live in breeds selfishness!

2. ARROGANCE: Arrogance and gentleness can’t co-exist.
o Arrogance is different from selfishness. Selfishness is all about getting what I want, but arrogance means I believe I’m better than you. Arrogance means that I believe my value is more than your value.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

3. FEAR: Fear and gentleness can’t co-exist. (See Philippians 4:6 and Luke 12:22-23)
o When we live in fear, we only have two options: fight or flight. There is nothing gentle about either of those.
• People are so afraid today. Fear drives so many daily decisions. Many people are living in a “what if” state of mind.
• We are called to fight back against these things!

HOW DO WE FIGHT SELFISHNESS, ARROGANCE, AND FEAR?
Fight selfishness with humility. (See also John 13:3-5)
• If selfishness is being most concerned with ourselves and our wants, while humility is putting others before ourselves and caring more about the needs of others.

Philippians 2:3-7 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

• Jesus modeled humility perfectly, and because of that, He modeled gentleness perfectly.

Fight arrogance with a godly perspective of ourselves and others.
• This doesn’t mean that we shame ourselves. This doesn’t mean that we walk around with our heads hung as if we are the worst person in the world. It does mean that we recognize that our value and our worth comes from God.

James 1:16-17 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

• The enemy wants us to believe that we would be better off without God—that we are entitled to our own kingdom.

Fight fear with confidence—not confidence in ourselves, but confidence in our God.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5 4Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

“FAITH IS A LIVING, DARING CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S GRACE, SO SURE AND CERTAIN
THAT THE BELIEVER WOULD STAKE HIS LIFE ON IT A THOUSAND TIMES.”
– Martin Luther, Preface to Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Luke 12:4-7 4I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

HOW DO WE GROW IN THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS?
• ASK God for a spirit of gentleness.
• Then practice, practice, practice!
• Invite someone you trust to hold you accountable.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 25:15; Philippians 2:5-11 & 4:4,5
Icebreaker: What are some of your top things to do when the weather is beautiful?
1. What from the sermon was significant to you?
2. Choose a passage used in the sermon. Read it twice. What is it showing us about gentleness?
3. After hearing the sermon, how would you define gentleness? In what ways is that different from how you have thought of gentleness before?
4. Where are you most likely to be gentle? A) When are you least likely to be gentle?
5. Read Philippians 2:5-8 and Colossians 3:1,12. What place does gentleness have in your day-to-day life? A) What actions and attitudes does this challenge you to cultivate?
6. What fruit are you working with the Holy Spirit to cultivate in your life?
Try it! Read Galatians 5
Passages to prepare for next week, Cultivate! Week 10, Self Control
This week, read Titus 2:11-14, Proverbs 16:32, Proverbs 25:28