TEXT: Galatians 5:22-23

SUBJECT: The Fruit of the Spirit #5: Gentleness

Our study is called The Fruit of the Spirit. Thus far, we learned three important lessons: (1) every believer bears this fruit; (2) every believer bears all of it; and (3) every believer bears it only because He is possessed by God's Spirit.

"The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness". That's the topic for today. God give it to us, for Christ's sake. Amen.

THE MEANING

What is "gentleness"? It is more than a soft voice or good manners. It is a tenderness or sweetness of soul. It becomes visible in acts of loving kindness.

You know gentle people, of course. And you admire them. But are you gentle? If not, are you growing gentler? If not, do you at least want to become more gentle? We all say "yes". But I wonder how serious we are about it? George W. Bethune wrote

Is he right? I suspect he is. To make it worse: He wrote 160 years ago--an age much more refined than ours. Things have gotten worse. There is no doubt about it. What's the answer? Not more books on civility, but God's Spirit poured out from on High.

"Gentleness" is an attribute of God. The prophet saw Him "Feeding His flock like a shepherd, gathering the young with His arm, carrying them in His bosom, and gently leading those with young" (Isaiah 40:11).

Another heard Him "quieting [us] with His love and rejoicing over [us] with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). The picture is a gentle mother, singing her baby to sleep.

A third likens Him to a father "who pities his children". Another makes Him a spurned husband who pleads for his wife's return.

"How can I give you up?

How can I hand you over?

My heart churns within Me

My sympathy is stirred".

How gentle God is! His gentleness was "made flesh" in Jesus Christ. Nobody had a bigger job than He; nobody was more focused on doing it. Yet He wasn't gruff. When people interrupted Him with their petty needs, He sweetly met them all.

I think of Bartimaeus. When he cries out for mercy, other people tell him to "Be quiet". The Lord has better things to do than to fool with a poor blind man. But the Word says, "Jesus stood still". He took time out of His busy schedule to listen to the man and to give him what he asked for. That is "gentleness".

A better example: Our Lord has had an exhausting day. He preached to thousands, healed sick people, and argued with those aggravating Pharisees. At last, He turns into a friend's home where He hopes to get some peace and quiet. But, wouldn't you know it? No sooner does He sit down than someone's at the door. Some young ladies have popped in hoping He'll bless their children. The disciples, though, run them out of the house with angry voices and threatening gestures. But before they get out of earshot, they hear another Voice. It is the voice of gentleness.

"Let the little children come to Me

And do not forbid them; for of such

is the kingdom of heaven".

How different our Lord is than most people. It's no wonder bad people are cruel and heartless--they're "of their father, the devil". But even good people can be rough and pitiless. Think of Jonah, steaming mad because God didn't incinerate 120,000 kids--"and much cattle". Or James and John who wanted to "nuke" Samaria for not inviting them to lunch.

To recap: "Gentleness" is tenderness of soul, seen in kind deeds. God is its source; our Lord its perfect example. Some of His people haven't been very gentle, but their failures were written as a warning--to us.

THE DUTY

Does God want us to be gentle? Of course He does. He says so very often. He forbids things that make us harsh. Things likes selfishness, pride, and impatience. It's hard to give up these things are remain an ugly old bear! He also commands us to be gentle. "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all..." Or "Speak evil of no one, be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men". Or, "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy..." (cf.II Timothy 2:24; Titus 3:2; James 3:17. Many other verses could be cited to the same effect.

The duty is general. "Speak evil of no one...be gentle to all men". But it's also specific.

Let's start with pastors. Pastors must be gentle with God's people. For the last forty years, God has greatly blessed the Reformed Baptists in America and England. I'm thankful to be one of them. But a few years ago, a book was written called Shepherding God's Flock. All of its contributors were Reformed Baptists, some of whom are well-known. You know what the book's about? Overbearing pastors. Shepherds who don't care for the flock, but dominate them! Leadership in the Church is not imposing your will! It is "setting an example". Following these men blindly do you no good. Or them, either. To the pastors, Paul says, "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle".

Let's go to members of the Church. How does God want us to behave with each other? The short answer is "gently". The verses are quite clear: "Submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:21). Or "Be kindly affectionate to each other in brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10). And to follow Paul' example, "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children" (I Thessalonians 2:7). Is there anyone you're rough with? If so, repent of that--right now. For God wants you to be "Compassionate, to love as brethren, to be pitiful, to be courteous" (I Peter 3:8).

Let's go home. "Gentleness" is a branch of love. For "love suffers long and is kind". Are you gentle with your husband or wife? Are you gentle with your parents or children? Are you gentle with your brothers and sisters? You say, "I don't know". But of course you do. Do you treat your wife delicately--or like "one of the guys at work?" Are you sweet to your husband or eager to disagree and point out his faults? Are you nice to your kids--or do you ride them all the time? Do you obey your parents with a good attitude--or do you grumble all the way? Are you kind to your brothers and sisters--or do you fight with them all day long? "By their fruits you shall know them". Everyone has a bad day now and then. But honestly, in the fear of God, are you gentle at home?

Are you gentle at work? Do you treat those under you with respect and understanding? Or do you give them a hard time? You can get away with it for now. But not forever. "Masters, do the same things for them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master is in heaven...and there is no partiality with Him" (Ephesians 6:9).

What about the lower workers? They can't be rough with the boss to his face. But they can be vicious behind his back. Remember, God hears what you say. And doesn't like it any better in you than He does in the boss. "There is no partiality with Him"!

I needn't labor the point. God wants you to be "Gentle with all". Not to "the good and gentle" only, but "also to the harsh". In short, "As much as lies in you, be at peace with all men". When you can't be at peace with them, then do the next best thing,

"Love your enemies,

Bless those who curse you,

Do good to those who hate you,

And pray for those who spitefully

use you and persecute you".

"Gentleness" is every believer's duty. And that means you.

THE BLESSINGS

The blessings of gentleness are many.

It is good for you. For one thing, it permits a good conscience. If others repay your kindness with evil, at least you know you've done the right thing. "This--Peter says--"is commendable before God".

It also gets you into the habit of gentleness. Much of our raging is not intentional, but reactive. We get in the habit of answering harshly or yelling or some such thing. You can't break bad habits, but you can replace them with good habits. "Put off the old man and put on the new".

It is also good for others. Gentleness has a calming effect. "A soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger". Anger is a fire. Rough words are gasoline; soft words are water. Which is more likely to put out the fire? How many ugly confrontations could be avoided with a few gentle words?

Nobody will benefit more from your gentleness than your own children. Have you ever heard a father screaming at his son for...screaming? The father didn't teach him to scream, of course (original sin did that), but he did confirm him in it. Parents are never told to do this, but to "bring them up in the nurture and the admoninition of the Lord".

It is good for God. Your gentleness makes God happy. It is a "sweet smelling savor, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God". Don't you love to see your children gently playing with each other? God does too! It makes Him happy.

It also represents Him to the world. When believers act like the devil the world blames God for it! But when we act like God, "Men see our good works and glorify [our] Father who is in heaven".

THE WAY OF GENTLENESS

How do you become gentle? In two ways. Number one: Think about your Savior. It is hard to think about Christ and to be rough at the same time. Paul urged his friends to holiness "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ".

The second way: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ". What does this mean? My wife and I were talking about it the other day. "It's a beautiful thought" I said, but "How do you say it in English?" She came back with a perfect answer: "It means impersonate Him".

Now go do that! Study what He did. And do the same thing yourself. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Nothing would make your Lord happier than to see you "imitating" Him.

One last thing: What I've said may be good in a sermon, but will it work in the real world? It seems if you're not hard on others, they'll never do anything. Is that right? Well, the Bible says otherwise. Of God, David says, "Your gentleness has made me great". He wasn't alone. Peter says, "God's longsuffering is salvation". Paul adds, "The goodness of God leads you to repentance". And who effected real change in their disciples? Was it the Pharisees with their "heavy burdens" or the Lord with His "easy yoke"?

God can do anything, of course. Maybe He can change people with His goodness, but we can't can we? With His blessing, we can. How do you help a fallen brother? Everyone knows that--by threatening him, of course! Is that true? Paul doesn't think so. "If a brother is overtaken in a fault, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted".

Earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes scare the dickens out of people. But it's the "still small voice" that brings them back to God. Use it. And God be with you. Amen.