GENTLENESS IS FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SERIES: THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

TEXT: GALATIANS 5:22-23; PHILIPPIANS 2:4-11

Some people everyday go around destroying people happiness, lives and character. Destruction is their way of life, they are walking disasters. The Bible tells us that you will know them by their fruit they bear-Matt. 7:16-17, “Ye shall know them by their fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”

Galatians 5:22-23, teaches us what kind of fruit we should produce. We have already talked about love, joy, peace, patience and kindness. Today we talk about gentleness.

We ought to let the Holy Spirit teach us how to be gentle because each day that passes we meet with people who are rough and they have a way of bringing the worst out of us. For example they might say:-

“Why did you buy such an ugly car?”

“How much weight have you gained since the last time I saw you?”

“You have aged so much that I almost did not recognize you!”

As believers in Christ, we cannot turn people to Christ is we are turning them off with our rude disposition. Let us learn:-  

THE DEFINITION OF GENTLENESS.

• What is gentleness?
• The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language.
• When the Greeks developed a word, they gave it a definition and an illustration or example.
• The Greek meaning of “Gentleness” was “Power under control.”

1. Gentleness is like a powerful elephant under the complete control of a trainer.
2. Gentleness is like raging water that is kept under control by a large dam holding it back.
3. Gentleness is a big bulldozer under the control of a skillful operator.
4. Gentleness is like a dangerous disease that could kill millions but it is controlled by a vaccine that prevents it from affecting people.
5. Gentleness is power under control, anger under control or our emotions under control.

JESUS CHRIST AND GENTLENESS.

• When you think about life of Jesus Christ, you have to think of several things.
• Jesus Christ was the most powerful person that has ever walked on this earth.
• Jesus Christ had the power to destroy everybody on this earth.
• But His power always under control.
• Unites States of America is the most powerful country on earth today.
• Their power is kept under control, otherwise they could release the nuclear bombs to the universe and we all would be dead.
• Jesus Christ holds the whole world together including the atom. If it were not for gentleness of Christ, everything will just explode!!
• Yet today you could take all the superpower USA, China, India, German, Britain etc and their power is nothing compared to the superpower of Jesus Christ.
• On the cross Christ was gentle to this molestors- He threatened to call the angels of heaven but Christ is gentle.

1. Jesus Christ has power over nature-Mark 4:37-41.
2. Jesus Christ has power over the devil-Mark 5:1-16.
3. Jesus Christ has power over diseases-Mark 5:15-34
4. Jesus Christ has power over death-Mark 5:38-42.

• What a powerful Savior we serve.
• What would happen if Jesus Christ is not gentle?-Matt. 23:37.
• He who is so powerful is so gentle.
• Jesus Christ had power to turn this world into a vacuum when they cursed Him. When the sput upon Him, when they mocked Him, when they nailed Him to the cross.
• He prayed “Father forgive them.”
• This was power under control!! He was gentle.

THE USE OF GENTLENESS.

• If the lost world of sinners is going to see JESUS CHRIST in our lives, we have got to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to bear the fruit of gentleness!
• We have to learn how to be gentle in all situations.
• If somebody falls into sin we must be gentle-Galatians 6:1.
• Apostle Paul says christians should demonstrate power under control and restore such one in the spirit of meekness. Considering the same thing could happen to you also.
• There are many christians who have fallen to sin and they are hurting. The last thing they need is for someone to add into their misery.
• To restore is to bring back to health.
• Not everyone in the church can “restore” but those who are spiritual (mature). A mature christian is the one who can carry his/her own load and can help others carry their load as well-Matt. 7:1-5.
• As christians we live in a war zone, there are cries of sufferings, there are mangled lives and relationships, young girls giving birth outside wedlock.
• Others have had an abortion, another is facing criminal charges and another has contracted Hiv/Aids, yet another the marriage is broken down and a child has run away from home, those that are (mature) gentle are to restore.
• When we see people who are caught in sin:-

1. Like the woman caught at the well.
2. Like the woman caught in the very act of adultery.
3. Like Zacchaeus.

• God wants us to be gentle, careful, their lives are very fragile.
• They can easily be broken, but they can also be easily restored.
• Treat them with gentleness, pick them up and hold them gently. So then the way to calvary, the way back to God, because they belong to God, He created them and He wants them back.
• Let us be gentle with one another.
• We all need to know how gentle God has given with us.

CONCLUSION

• Can the fruit of gentleness be seen in your life?
• Are you rude, rough, uncaring?
• Do you use all the power you have to shout at people?
• The more power you use the more power you lose.