The Strength Of Being Tender ~ Gentleness Series

Opening illustration: There is a story of a corporal at Valley Forge who was directing three men as they tried to lift a log into place. It was too heavy, but the corporal commanded again and again, “All right, men, one, two, three, lift!” A man in an overcoat came by and said to the corporal, ‘Why don’t you help them?” The corporal pulled himself up to full height and replied, “Sir, I am a corporal.” Without a word the man stepped over and with his help the log went easily into place. The man was George Washington.

Gentleness includes true humility that does not consider itself too good or too exalted for humble tasks. Let us look at God’s Word and see what it tells us about the FOS ~ Gentleness.

Introduction: Gentleness (Proverbs 15:1; Isaiah 40:11; 42:2-3; Philippians 4: 5; Matthew 5:5; 11:29; 12:15; Ephesians 4:1-2; Col. 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:24; 1 Thessalonians 2:7); is the character that will show humility, calmness, personal care, tenderness and the Love of Christ in meeting the needs of others. It is to be more than just a personality; it is to be who we are from the work of the Spirit within us.

Roughness and violence are the opposite! When we have the mindset to just see what we can get out of life and make a name for ourselves we miss out on what is best for our benefit. Then it causes us to run over others and we end up being like the men who built the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Their downfall was not the building project but the pride and arrogance. To seek significance outside of glorifying God by their achievements alone, ignoring God’s love, care, plan, and providence for a cheap and temporary substitute.

Defining Gentleness

Old Testament: (`anah; epieikeia, chrestotes): In 2 Samuel 22: 36 `anah, "to bend low," "to condescend," is translated "gentleness," "Thy gentleness hath made me great," the Revised Version, margin "or condescension"; so also Psalm 18: 35, where the word is `anwah "humility," "gentleness," or "condescension."

New Testament: The eighth quality which serves to constitute the fruit of the Spirit is "gentleness" ("meekness" in the KJV)

• The Greek word is prautes {prah-ot’-ace}

• This is a difficult word to define, for there really is no English word that corresponds to the Greek

• Also, while "meekness" is a good attempt to translate the word...

(i) There is a common misconception about the meaning of "meekness" itself

(ii) It is often used to suggest a form of cowardice and weakness, but there is no such idea in the Greek word "prautes"

The word “gentleness” comes from the Greek word, “prautes”. A better English word may be “meekness.” Meekness does not mean weakness, as we will see in the Scripture. Meekness to the world and by Webster’s definition is to be “too submissive – spiritless.” What an irony that the world sees meekness or gentleness as spiritless, when it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, direct from the throne of God! Gentleness is a submissive and teachable attitude toward God and His purpose and plan for all that He has created, this coming with full joy, trust, and confidence in God’s will. We live in excited expectation for whatever He has planned, no matter how it shall affect us. With that knowledge, we in turn, submit our will to God in everyday life so that others see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in us. [Greek, prautes, ‘humble gentleness’]

1. How can Gentleness help us form better relationships?

(a) People who always have a better idea OR challenge our opinion:

2 Timothy 2: 25 says, “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,”

When we are around people who seem to constantly disagree with us, we may become defensive, we may turn quiet and unresponsive, or we may give a controlled response. A controlled response is not defensive, nor is it passive. It is a thought-out, rational reply to opposition. There are times when we simply give a calm verbal reply to someone’s challenge. Other times the situation lends itself to a very strong but controlled response because it is the only thing that will be effective.

It has always been intriguing when Jesus entered the temple are and drove out all those who were buying and selling there as stated in Matthew 21: 12. His statement to the merchants was, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’ (v.13). Because of the serious nature of the situation, strong action was required. Jesus did not react impulsively; He knew exactly what He was doing.

• People were being exploited in the name of religion [Is it happening even today ~ pastors charging money for praying, donations required for healing etc.]