December 25 2011 Fruit of the Spirit Gentleness Overview What is Gentleness Some References in Scripture The Example of the Lord Christ The Example of Moses Restoring with Gentleness Gentleness is our Active Witness ID: 294408
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Servants’ Meeting" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Servants’ MeetingDecember 25, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit: GentlenessSlide2
Overview
What is Gentleness?
Some References in Scripture
The Example of the Lord Christ
The Example of Moses
Restoring with Gentleness
Gentleness is our Active Witness
Gentleness and the Characteristics
of the Dove
The Rewards of Gentleness
The Wrath of Man
Gentleness is not Weakness
Measurements and ObstaclesSlide3
What is Gentleness?
Dictionary
having a mild or kindly nature or character
soft or temperate; mild; moderate:
a gentle scolding
gradual:
a gentle slope
easily controlled; tame:
a gentle horse
archaic
of good breeding; noble:
gentle blood
archaic
gallant; chivalrous
Some synonyms and other usages in the Holy Bible:
meek, humble, kind, patientSlide4
Some References in Scripture
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am
gentle
and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29)
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness
, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Gal 6:1)
“Let your
gentleness
be known to all men.” (Phil 4:5)
“A
soft
answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (
Prov
15:1)
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be
gentle
to all, able to teach, patient” (2 Tim 2:24)
“to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable,
gentle
, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:2)
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle
, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)
“rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a
gentle
and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Pet 3:4)Slide5
Example of the Lord Christ
“A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench”
(Isa 42:3)
Responding to the testing of the Pharisees (Matt 12)
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said,
“This
fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons
.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:
“Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand
.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges
.Slide6
Example of the Lord Christ
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.Slide7
Example of the Lord Christ
Dealing with the multitudes (Luke 4)
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them
.
His response when being slapped (John 18)
23 Jesus answered him,
“If
I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me
?”
Behavior throughout trials and crucifixion (Matt 14)
61 But He kept silent and answered nothing
.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth
. (Isa 53:7)
Content with His place (John 2)
9 When
the master of the feast had tasted the water Slide8
Example of the Lord Christ
Dealing with the Samaritan Woman (John 4)
17 You
have well said,
“I
have no husband
,”
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly
.
With the woman caught in adultery (John 8)
11
Neither
do I condemn you; go and sin no more
.Slide9
Example of Moses
Initially used violence
Learned gentleness in the wilderness
“Now
the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth
.”
(
Num
12:3)
Patiently endured the complaints and murmuring in Sinai
Endured the betrayal of Aaron and Miriam without complaint, so the Lord intervened on his behalf
Patiently listened, served, and judged his people:
And
so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening
. (Ex 18:13)
Wished to spare his people:
Yet now, if You will forgive their sin --- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written
. (Ex 32:32)Slide10
Restoring with Gentleness
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
(Gal 6:1
)
What is our reaction to the
sins and errors
of others?
Harsh
Judgmental
Seeking punishment and retribution first and foremost
The Lord’s restoration of Peter
Praise publically, criticize privatelySlide11
Gentleness is our Active Witness
“Let your gentleness be known to all men
.”
(Phil 4:5)
Our responsibility as servants of the Lord
Our demeanor and behavior reflect the work of the Spirit
within us:
“out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks”
(Matt 12:34)
Our testimony to others beyond the walls of the church
“You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”
“If
you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad
… But
if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is sensitive, is constricted. For He does not have a pure place, and He seeks to depart
.” –
HermasSlide12
Gentleness and the Characteristics of the Dove
“When
the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized, God assumed the likeness not of another man, but of a dove, for He wished, by a new apparition of the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, to declare His simplicity and majesty
.” –St. Clement of Alexandria
White symbolizing its purity
Sensitive bird: smallest noise causes it to take flight
Flight is soft with hardly a sound
Soft sounds similar to a soft moan
Harmless: does not attack other birds and is not a scavenger
Faithful and loving: monogamous birdSlide13
The Rewards of Gentleness
“rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
very precious in the sight of God
.”
(
1 Pet 3:4)
One of the identifiable virtues of the woman
Whereas men are known for their strength and forcefulness when necessary
“Husbands
, likewise, dwell with them with understanding,
giving honor
to the wife, as to the weaker
vessel”
(1 Pet 3:7)Slide14
Gentleness is not Weakness
“Behold
, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves
.”
(Matt 10:16)
Strength under control
The Lord cleansed the temple twice
The Lord responded when struck
The Lord had strength of character, authority, and an unquestioned presenceSlide15
Gentleness is not Weakness
Luke 4:
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.
30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
John 8:
58 Jesus said to them,
“Most
assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM
.”
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.Slide16
Wrath of Man
Proverbs 29
22
An
angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in
transgression
James 1
19
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Cain
Esau
Moses
JonahSlide17
Measurements and Obstacles
Measurements:
How we deal with those closest to us
How we react when provoked
Obstacles:
Our
violent and godless society
Competition drives us in ungodly directions
Christians are often despised, persecuted, and hated
Pride insists on answering back, justifying, getting the last word, returning hurt for hurt and insult for insultSlide18
Review
What is Gentleness?
Some References in Scripture
The Example of the Lord Christ
The Example of Moses
Restoring with Gentleness
Gentleness is our Active Witness
Characteristics of the Dove
The Rewards of Gentleness
The Wrath of Man
Gentleness is not Weakness
Measurements and Obstacles