INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Have you ever walked into the produce section of the store and just glanced at some of the various fruits.
• When you start to look, you will see a lot of the familiar fruits like bananas, strawberries, oranges, and apples.
• If you are in one of the stores with a big produce section, you will find some fruits that are not too familiar.
• I have seen some strange looking fruits that I am not sure I would ever want to try. I cannot even begin to name them all.
• There is one fruit that looks like a plastic star, which just does not look good. I have seen some little rotten looking bananas; it is some fruit from Honduras I think.
• If you are like me, I have a hard time trying new foods, especially when they do not look very appetizing to the eye.
• Have you ever decided how something was going to taste even before you took a bite? You looked at something and from what you saw; you already had in your mind what it was going to taste like?
• I can remember looking at Kiwi fruit in the store at one time thinking it would not taste very good. It is a fruit that is not very appealing to the eye, but when I tried it I really liked it.
• I love blueberries, but one time I purchased some blueberries at the store. I took them home and washed a few and then took a few to eat, I bit into them only to find out they were sour tasting. I found out they need a lot of sugar to taste good to me.
• Today we are going to look at a fruit that is one of those that as we look at it in the store, it may not look too appealing to us. It is a fruit that does not have outstanding color, or a great smell, it is one that may be hard for us to take our first bite of because we do not know what to expect.
• The Fruit of gentleness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s look at Galatians 5:22-ff
• SLIDE #2
• Galatians 5:22-25(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. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS?
• I bet we all have our own ideas as to what gentleness means.
• I am going to start us off with a definition that will at first make the fruit of gentleness lose some of its appeal.
• This word association may turn many of us off to wanting to obtain this fruit, but stick with me and we will see it is not as bad as it sounds.
• SLIDE #4
1. Gentleness can be defined as meekness.
• Do you want to be meek? What image does that conjure up? Meekness is defined as “showing mildness or quietness of nature.”
• The KJV by translating the word as “meek” has led many people to an unfortunate misunderstanding of this virtue.
• Paul meant “the fruit of power,” but the English word “meekness” depicts someone who is weak and wimpy.
• Paul’s concept was a person who has strength under control; “meekness” implies a weak person who acts timidly because he cannot help himself.
• If we switch from “meek” to “gentle” we have improved the situation, but we still have not caught the real force of the word.
• The Greeks used this word to describe strong animals that were brought under control.
• Aristotle spoke of the “easy-tempered and easily domesticated” elephant; and Plato described a mighty and strong beast which could be tamed and fed by a man who learned how to handle it. Barclay says the best illustration is the watchdog “who is bravely hostile to strangers and gently friendly with familiars whom he knows and loves.” (College Press Commentary)
• There is something we need to understand when we speak of gentleness or meekness.
• SLIDE #5
2. Meekness is not weakness.
• When I think of someone who is meek, I think of someone cowering in the corner, afraid of their own shadow.
• That is not what gentleness or meekness is all about.
• There are only two individuals in the Bible who are described by this word, Jesus (three times) in Matthew 11:29; Matthew 21:5; and in 2 Corinthians 10:1, and in the Old Testament, Moses in Numbers 12:3 is described as meek.
• Both display the obedient response to the reins of a good horse, the gentle strength of an elephant, the ferocious courage of a watchdog to guard his master’s property. Their “meekness” was not weakness; it was a heart surrendered to God, a teachable spirit, a gentle strength. (College Press Commentary)
• Gentleness is power under control, it is power under God’s control.
• The domesticated animal allows the master to control them, we allow God to have control of us.
• Gentleness is that attitude of spirit we accept God’s dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist.
• The Life Application Bible states concerning gentleness: Gentleness—Humble, considerate of others, submissive to God and his Word. Even when anger is the appropriate response, as when Jesus cleared the temple, gentleness keeps the expression of anger headed in the right direction. Gentleness applies even force in the correct way. (LAB)
• When Jesus exhibited anger as he cleansed the temple, His anger sprouted from the fact that the money changers were making God look bad by cheating the people they dealt with in God’s house.
• A gentle person is even-tempered, but they are not some weakling who is afraid to do anything.
• I hardly think Jesus or Moses would be considered as weak people.
• SLIDE #6
II. HOW DO WE GROW THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS?
• I do not believe gentleness is a fruit that too many of us come by naturally. We really need the Spirit to work with us in developing this beautiful fruit in our lives.
• I want us to look at three things we can do in order for us to be able to better cultivate this fruit in our lives.
• SLIDE #7
1. Plant in the soil of being submissive to the will of God. (Philippians 2:1-8)
• This is where it all has to begin. If we are going to be gentle, we must relinquish our power to another, that one is God.
• If we cannot be submissive to the will of God, we will have trouble being gentle because we will be under our own control.
• Jesus was the best example of being submissive to the will of the Father.
• In the garden before His crucifixion, He told God He would be submissive to His will.
• SLIDE #8
• Matthew 26:42(ESV) 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
• In Philippians 2:1-8 we find that Jesus was the picture of humility and submissiveness.
• SLIDE #9
2. Fertilize the soil with a teachable Spirit. (James 1:21)
• If we do not have a teachable spirit, we will not be able to receive the instruction we need to be able to be like Jesus.
• If we think we know it all already, we will never grow, and if we cannot grow, we will not be able to be the gentle person God wants us to be.
• SLIDE #10
• James 1:21 (NCV) So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.
• We must be willing to learn, we must be willing to grow.
• We will nitpick at things but we will let the more important mattes of faith slip through our fingers.
• A teachable spirit is part of being submissive to the will of God. It is God’s will for you to grow, are you willing to learn so you can be submissive to His will for you?
• SLIDE #11
3. Water the fruit with consideration for others. (Ephesians 4:1-2)
• When you re-read the Philippians 2 passage, you see that we are to put others first.
• We need to be considerate of others feelings, we need to be able to put ourselves in their shoes, we need to be able to empathize with others.
• SLIDE #12
• Ephesians 4:1-2(ESV) 1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
• Our walk with Jesus is not worthy if we are not showing tolerance for one another.
• You can call yourself anything you want, but if we cannot show tolerance, patience, love, and gentleness, we cannot call our walk worthy.
• Talk means nothing without walk!
• SLIDE #13
III. THE RECIPES THAT NEED THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS.
• When you are cooking, certain recipes need certain ingredients; I am going to give you a few recipes that require the fruit of gentleness in them to be good.
• SLIDE #14
1. Helping a struggling brother. (Galatians 6:1-4)
• SLIDE #15
• Galatians 6:1 - 4 (GWT) 1Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted. 2Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings. 3So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself. 4Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.
• It is easy to feel morally superior around people who do not share our particular failings. But the Scriptures teach us to beware of spiritual pride and to seek to restore those caught in a sin in a "spirit of gentleness." What attitudes do you have toward people caught in sin? How would God have you speak to sinners, remembering that you were once outside His grace?
• SLIDE #16
2. In extending forgiveness. (Colossians 3:12-13)
• SLIDE #17
• Colossians 3:12 - 13 (GWT) 12As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• If we are going to forgive people, we need to do it in a spirit of gentleness. We are giving up our right to be angry and we are giving up our right for retribution. A Spirit controlled person will be able to do this by the grace of God!
• SLIDE #18
3. In the marriage relationship. (1 Peter 3:4)
• SLIDE #19
• 1 Peter 3:4(ESV) 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
• There needs to be a lot of gentleness exhibited in the marriage relationship
• In the passage I want you to look at, it is directed at the wives, but husbands would do well to take heed!
• SLIDE #20
4. When trying to reach others for Jesus. (1 Peter 3:15)
• This ties in with teaching or correcting, we need to exhibit a gentle spirit as we try to win people to Jesus!
• SLIDE #21
• 1 Peter 3:15 (NASB) 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, 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;
CONCLUSION
• The fruit of gentleness is a fruit that will be a real blessing to possess, but you will not truly possess it on your own.
• Give yourself over to Jesus and see what He can do with you!
• Use the fruit of gentleness in all the recipes of life and what you produce will taste so much better!
