Title: The Spiritual Fruit of Gentleness
Text: Philippians 4:4-7
“Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is at hand.” (v5)
1.In order to let our gentleness be known to all we have to first know what gentleness looks like
2.The definition of gentleness
A.A modern day definition of gentleness
To be mild, kindly, not severe, rough, or violent
3.The biblical definition of gentleness is nothing like the modern day definition
It is that attitude of spirit by which we accept God’s dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist
4. Gentleness is the fruit of an unwavering belief in the goodness of God
5. Text: Philippians 4:4-7
V5 “Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is at hand.”
That’s why I believe when Paul writes “The Lord is at hand” what he means is the goodness of the Lord is at hand.
“Let your gentleness be known to all. The goodness of the Lord is at hand.”
Paul could have written this verse differently
Instead of putting “the Lord is at hand” at the end, he could put it at the beginning
The Lord is at hand. Let your gentleness be known to all.
But Paul knows from experience most times in life you don’t really see the goodness of the Lord till later…
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Shall Follow me –not go before me!
Gentleness is the fruit of an unyielding belief in the goodness of God
Going back to our biblical definition of gentleness
It is that attitude of spirit by which we accept God’s dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist
If we are to let our gentleness be known to all there are 2 dangers we must avoid
Danger 1 is to dispute the goodness of God in his dealings with us
Danger 2 is to resist the goodness of God in his dealings with us
Danger 1
If you want to let your gentleness be known to all - You can’t dispute the goodness of God
Text: Philippians 4:4-7
“Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is at hand.” (v5)
Let’s now add the previous verse (v4)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Paul is trying to help us from falling into danger #1
Someone who rejoices in the Lord always is someone who refuses to dispute the goodness of God!
I think Paul again has the goodness of God in mind here in verse 4
Rejoice in the goodness of the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!
Rejoice in the goodness of the Lord always. Again I say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The goodness of the Lord is at hand.”
Notice our text is not telling us to rejoice in the terrible circumstances we may face
What it is telling us is to rejoice in the Lord always.
Of course the enemy tries to uses our terrible circumstances to get us to dispute the goodness of God
That’s why Paul repeats the command
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
The interesting thing to remember here is that Paul is writing this from prison.
If anyone had the right to dispute the goodness of God it was Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:24-25
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep
But he never disputed the goodness of the God! Why not?...
Because Paul had a favorite scripture
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Application
Do you desire to let your gentleness be known to all?
Then never dispute the goodness of God in your life?
“When I cannot trace His Hand. I can always trust His heart”
Memorize Romans 8:28
And no matter how bad things look. Look for the goodness of God in bad things
Joseph: you meant it for evil but God turned it around for good.
Determine to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord always.
Danger 2 If you want your gentleness to be known to all you can’t resist the goodness of God
I know what some of you are thinking
Who in their right mind resists the goodness of God?
The reality is lots and lots of people resist the goodness of God all the time
For example everyone who refuses to accept Jesus as savior resists the goodness of God.
The goodness of God that they resist is Peace with God!
Out of his goodness God sent Jesus into the world to bring us peace with God
But unbelievers in rejecting God’s offer of peace resist the goodness of God
But lots and lots of believers also resist the goodness of God
And how do lots and lots of believers resist the goodness of God?
Back to our text
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is at hand. ”
The next 2 verses tells us how lots and lots of believers resist the goodness of God
(v6-7) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
We resist the goodness of God when we forget that some of the goodness of God is conditional on us asking.
You have not because you ask not..
Matthew 7:11 how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Who does God give good gifts too?
…To those who ask him
The verse does not say…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who don’t ask him
God wants to give us his goodness but we resist Him by not asking…
God has decreed that there are some things that He will only give to those who ask.
If you don’t ask you don’t get!
If you are not asking you are resisting the goodness of God in your life
If you are not asking you are preventing God from being good to you.
The parable of the prodigal son Luke 15
elder son (v29)
look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Why did the Father never give the older son a young goat? He never asked!
He resisted the goodness of God
Now our text uses the words Prayer, supplication, requests
But they are all asking words
Now Unbelievers who don’t ask Jesus to be their savior resist receiving Peace with God
Believers who don’t ask resist receiving the Peace of God
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
What an incredible thought…
When we don’t pray we resist the goodness of God!
So why don’t we pray?
1.unbelief
We don’t really believe that some things can only be received by prayer
We don’t really believe that if we pray and keep on praying we will receive
Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. And to him who knocks the door will be open.
Application
Are you resisting the goodness of God in your life?
Is there things God wants to give you but He can’t give them to you because you are not asking?
Do you identify with the elder Son.
If you have never accepted Jesus as your savior you are resisting your only opportunity to have peace with God.
