Strength in Gentleness: Power Under the Holy Spirit
Summary
In my sermon, I explored the concept of gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit, and how it is often misunderstood and undervalued in our society. I likened gentleness to the overlooked fruits in a grocery store, such as figs, dates, and rhubarb, which are often ignored in favor of more popular fruits. I argued that gentleness is not a sign of weakness or passivity, but rather a demonstration of strength and power under the control of the Holy Spirit. I used the metaphor of a powerful horse under the control of its rider to illustrate this concept. I also discussed the struggle between the sinful nature and the Spirit, likening the sinful nature to weeds that choke out the fruit in a garden. I emphasized the need to deal with these 'weeds' in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
In the second part of my sermon, I delved deeper into the biblical definition of gentleness, explaining that it is not the absence of power or strength, but rather power and strength that is under control for the benefit of others. I used the example of my wife and daughter running a horse farm, demonstrating how they can control these powerful animals because they hold the reins. I likened this to the Holy Spirit holding the reins of our strength and power, guiding us in how we react and respond. I concluded by encouraging the congregation to not mistake gentleness for weakness, but to see it as a sign of strength under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Key Takeaways:
- Gentleness is not a sign of weakness or passivity, but a demonstration of strength and power under the control of the Holy Spirit. ([37:17])
- The sinful nature can be likened to weeds that choke out the fruit in a garden. To bear the fruit of the Spirit, we need to deal with these 'weeds'. ([37:51])
- Gentleness is power and strength that is under control for the benefit of others. ([35:13])
- The Holy Spirit holds the reins of our strength and power, guiding us in how we react and respond. ([35:53])
- We should not mistake gentleness for weakness, but see it as a sign of strength under the control of the Holy Spirit. ([36:35])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit #!!32:09!!#
2. Galatians 5:17 - The sinful nature and the Spirit #!!37:51!!#
3. Galatians 5:19-21 - The acts of the sinful nature #!!36:35!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What are the characteristics that describe a follower of Jesus according to Galatians 5:22-23?
2. How does Galatians 5:17 describe the relationship between the sinful nature and the Spirit?
3. What are the acts of the sinful nature as listed in Galatians 5:19-21?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Bible define gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit?
2. How does the conflict between the sinful nature and the Spirit affect our ability to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit?
3. What does it mean to have our strength and power under the control of the Holy Spirit?
Application Questions:
1. How can you demonstrate gentleness in a situation where you usually respond with strength or power?
2. Can you identify any "weeds of the flesh" in your life that might be hindering the growth of the fruit of the Spirit? How can you address these?
3. How can you practice handing over the "reins" of your power and strength to the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
4. Can you think of a situation where you struggled to exhibit gentleness? How could you have handled it differently?
5. What is one specific way you can seek to grow in gentleness this week?
Devotional
Day 1: The Weeds of the Flesh
The journey of becoming a better Christian is often hindered by the weeds of the flesh, the sinful nature that chokes out the fruit of the spirit. These weeds need to be dealt with for us to bear the fruit of the spirit in our lives. The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and they war with each other, causing conflict within us ([37:17]).
Bible passage: Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."
Reflection: Reflect on the 'weeds' in your life that are hindering your spiritual growth. How can you deal with these weeds to allow the fruit of the spirit to grow?
Day 2: Strength Under Control
Gentleness is not the absence of power or strength, but rather power and strength that is under control for the benefit of others. It is about handing the reins of our strength and power over to the Holy Spirit each day ([35:13]).
Bible passage: Proverbs 16:32 - "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city."
Reflection: How can you practice handing over the reins of your power and strength to the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
Day 3: The Forgotten Fruit
Gentleness, like the overlooked fruits in the grocery store, is often forgotten or disrespected. However, it is a crucial aspect of the fruit of the spirit that we should desire and strive for in our lives ([28:52]).
Bible passage: 1 Peter 3:4 - "Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."
Reflection: How can you cultivate the 'forgotten fruit' of gentleness in your life?
Day 4: The Misunderstood Quality
Gentleness is often misunderstood as weakness or passivity. However, it is a significant characteristic of a follower of Jesus, and it is not about being weak but about having strength and power under control ([31:07]).
Bible passage: Matthew 5:5 - "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Reflection: How can you challenge the common misconceptions about gentleness in your own life and demonstrate its true meaning?
Day 5: The Tamed Horse
The Greek word for gentleness, 'pro-outace', is illustrated as a powerful horse under the control of its rider. This image teaches us that gentleness is about having our strength and power under control, guided by the Holy Spirit ([34:07]).
Bible passage: James 3:17 - "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
Reflection: Reflect on the image of the tamed horse. How can this image guide you in practicing gentleness in your life?
Quotes
1. "Varna identified a research group identified 30 characteristics in scripture that describe a follower of Jesus and that asked Christians to rank those 30 characteristics of a follower of Jesus in order of significance one through 30. Number 30 on the list you want to guess? Gentleness the least significance of all the qualities and yet what we find in scripture is that this word consistently is used to describe people who follow Jesus they're gentle." - 32:09
2. "Gentleness is not an absence of strength, it's not an absence of power, strength and power under control of the Holy Spirit. Gerald has modeled that, like he spoke of the gift of encouragement and the gift of prayer that God has given him and I have benefited from that in my life over the last decade or so." - 28:52
3. "A biblical definition on this would be power and strength that is under control for the benefit of others. It's not the lack of power and it's not the lack of strength, it's power and strength that's under control for the benefit of others." - 35:13
4. "We're starting the day in power but we're handing the reins of that power over to the Holy Spirit. Nobody else gets to control how you react and how you respond, he does. That's the picture if we want to understand this word." - 36:35
5. "The reason why we're not bearing this fruit of the spirit in our lives is that there are these weeds of the flesh or these weeds of the sinful nature that need to be dealt with. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature, they go against each other, they war with one another, there is this conflict with each other so that you don't do what you want." - 37:51
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