Embracing Gentleness: Strength in Meekness and Humility
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound and often misunderstood virtue of gentleness, as highlighted in Galatians 5 and Matthew 11. Gentleness, or meekness, is not a sign of weakness but a powerful reflection of the Spirit of God within us. It is an active trait that describes how we should treat others, while meekness is a passive trait that describes our response when mistreated. Jesus exemplified these virtues, demonstrating that true strength lies in restraint and humility. He was the most powerful man who ever lived, yet He was gentle and humble, choosing to endure the cross for our salvation rather than call upon His divine power to escape it.
The world often values might, wealth, and assertiveness, but Jesus taught that the meek are truly blessed. This is contrary to societal norms, which often equate gentleness with weakness. However, gentleness is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit, cultivated through a close relationship with God. It requires us to surrender our lives to God, allowing Him to guide our actions, attitudes, and words. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His gentleness, cultivate it in our lives, and demonstrate it in our interactions with others.
Gentleness also involves defending our faith with humility, restoring those who have fallen with compassion, and submitting to God's will with meekness. It is about controlling our power and using it for good, much like a trained horse or harnessed wind. In a world that often demands rights and retaliates with aggression, we are called to be different, to be gentle, and to reflect the character of Christ.
Ultimately, gentleness is about living a life committed to deepening our relationship with God and allowing His Spirit to transform us. It is an invitation to rest in Jesus, who offers us peace and salvation. If you have not yet accepted this invitation, Jesus gently calls you to come to Him, to find rest for your soul, and to experience the transformative power of His love and grace.
Key Takeaways:
- Gentleness as Strength: Gentleness is not weakness but the restraint of power. It takes more strength to respond with gentleness than to react harshly. Jesus exemplified this by choosing the cross over calling down angels, showing that true might lies in meekness. [43:26]
- Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated through a close relationship with God. It requires daily surrender to His will, allowing Him to guide our actions and attitudes. This supernatural trait reflects the Spirit of God within us. [47:02]
- Defending Faith with Humility: We are called to defend our faith with gentleness, not aggression. When faced with opposition, we should respond with compassion, understanding that we are not trying to win arguments but souls for Christ. [49:34]
- Restoring the Fallen with Compassion: As believers, we are spiritual surgeons, called to restore those who have fallen with gentleness. This involves approaching others with humility, recognizing that we too are capable of sin. [55:29]
- Submitting to God's Will: Meekness involves submitting to God's will and allowing Him to control every area of our lives. It is about giving God our time, resources, and decisions, trusting Him to guide us in His ways. [53:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:15] - Introduction to Gentleness
- [05:30] - The Example of Jesus
- [10:45] - Understanding Meekness
- [15:20] - The Power of Restraint
- [20:10] - Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
- [25:00] - Defending Faith with Gentleness
- [30:15] - Restoring the Fallen
- [35:40] - Submitting to God's Will
- [40:05] - The Call to Emulate Christ
- [45:30] - Invitation to Rest in Jesus
- [50:50] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Virtue of Gentleness
Bible Reading:
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Matthew 11:28-30
Observation Questions:
1. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit, and how is gentleness described among them?
2. In Matthew 11:28-30, how does Jesus describe His own character, and what does He offer to those who come to Him?
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between gentleness and meekness? [43:26]
4. What examples from Jesus' life were given in the sermon to illustrate His gentleness and meekness? [47:02]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the concept of gentleness as a form of strength rather than weakness? [49:34]
2. What does it mean to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, particularly gentleness, in our daily lives? [53:30]
3. How can defending our faith with humility and gentleness impact our witness to others? [55:29]
4. What role does submitting to God's will play in developing a gentle and meek spirit? [53:30]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you reacted harshly. How could you have responded with gentleness instead? What steps can you take to respond more gently in the future? [49:34]
2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to surrender control to God. How can you practice meekness by submitting this area to His will? [53:30]
3. Think of someone in your life who has fallen or is struggling. How can you approach them with compassion and gentleness to help restore them? [55:29]
4. When faced with opposition or criticism, how can you defend your faith with humility and gentleness? What practical steps can you take to prepare for such situations? [55:29]
5. Consider the societal norms that equate gentleness with weakness. How can you challenge these norms in your interactions with others and demonstrate the strength of gentleness? [43:26]
6. How can you cultivate a closer relationship with God to allow His Spirit to transform you into a more gentle and meek person? What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine? [53:30]
7. Reflect on the invitation to rest in Jesus. How can you make space in your life to experience the peace and rest He offers? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this rest? [47:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Gentleness as True Strength
Gentleness is often misunderstood as weakness, but it is, in fact, a profound strength. It requires more inner power to respond with gentleness than to react with harshness. Jesus exemplified this strength by choosing to endure the cross rather than calling down angels to save Himself. This act of restraint and humility demonstrates that true might lies in meekness. In a world that values assertiveness and might, embracing gentleness as a strength is countercultural and deeply transformative. [43:26]
"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (Proverbs 14:29, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you reacted harshly. How could you have responded with gentleness, and what would that have looked like in practice?
Day 2: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated through a close relationship with God. It requires daily surrender to His will, allowing Him to guide our actions and attitudes. This supernatural trait reflects the Spirit of God within us, transforming our interactions with others. As we deepen our relationship with God, we become more attuned to His Spirit, enabling us to embody gentleness in our daily lives. This process of cultivation is ongoing and requires intentionality and commitment. [47:02]
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17, ESV)
Reflection: What daily practices can you incorporate to cultivate a closer relationship with God and allow His Spirit to guide you in gentleness?
Day 3: Defending Faith with Humility
We are called to defend our faith with gentleness, not aggression. When faced with opposition, our response should be one of compassion and understanding, recognizing that our goal is not to win arguments but to win souls for Christ. This approach requires humility and a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions. By defending our faith with gentleness, we reflect the character of Christ and open the door for meaningful dialogue and transformation. [49:34]
"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness." (2 Timothy 2:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt defensive about your faith. How can you approach similar situations with humility and gentleness in the future?
Day 4: Restoring the Fallen with Compassion
As believers, we are called to restore those who have fallen with gentleness. This involves approaching others with humility and compassion, recognizing that we too are capable of sin. By acting as spiritual surgeons, we can help others heal and find their way back to God. This process requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to walk alongside others in their journey of restoration. [55:29]
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)
Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs restoration? How can you approach them with gentleness and compassion to help them find healing?
Day 5: Submitting to God's Will
Meekness involves submitting to God's will and allowing Him to control every area of our lives. It is about giving God our time, resources, and decisions, trusting Him to guide us in His ways. This submission requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own desires and plans. By submitting to God's will, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience the peace and fulfillment that comes from living in obedience to Him. [53:30]
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to submit to God's will? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Quotes
1) "Friends, I can tell you that is what is true of a mule is true of people as well. We are in a, we're going to continue our series called Amazing Grace going through the book of Galatians. For the last eight weeks, we have been camped out in the fruit of the Spirit in chapter five. We've gone through all of the fruit. Next week will be our last one. And yes, it is, it is singular. It is fruit. It is what difficult to define." [43:26] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Jesus said blessed are men who are meek. There is might in meekness, and there is greatness in gentleness because gentleness is a reflection of the Spirit of God living in us." [43:26] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Jesus' entire demeanor was so gentle that it gave everyone rest around him. People flocked to him. They could tell there was something different about Jesus. Well, he's God. So, of course, there was something different about Jesus. But his way of treating people was so gentle. Gentle and meek and humble." [43:26] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "First of all, meekness is not weakness. Many people think that if your reaction to mistreatment is to be calm and to not retaliate, that you're weak. That is just the opposite, because meekness is the restraint of power. It's the restraint of power, and it really takes more power to restrain yourself in gentleness, than it does to speak out harshly against someone." [47:02] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Moses was that fellow who stood before the most powerful man on earth, Pharaoh. He had nothing but a stick and a stammering tongue, and he said, let my people go. He was anything but a wimp." [49:34] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Meekness is letting God control every area of your life. Meekness is giving God your wallet and saying, Lord, how much do you want me to give? It's giving God your time and saying, Lord, how much do you want me to spend of this doing good for you? It's giving God your entire life and say, Lord, how do you want me to use my life?" [53:30] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "A true follower of Jesus Christ is someone that says, Lord, I surrender all. I give it all to you every day. I'm going to live for you. Take me, cleanse me, fill me, use me for your and for your honor. And when we say that, we are truly bearing the fruit of gentleness and meekness in our lives." [55:29] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "The fruit of gentleness is seen in your attitude, your behavior, your consequences, actions, attitudes, and words, particularly when things don't go the way that you want them to. Your spouse disappoints you. Your boss rubs you the wrong way. Your kids disobey. Your friends betray you. Even your church has failed you." [01:09:46] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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