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Sunday Worship 24 October 2021 : "The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness"

Text: Galatians 5:22-23; 6:1-2
24 October 2021

INTRODUCTION

1. Gentleness today

a) Seems to be in short supply today
b) Few truly value this virtue
c) It is almost seen as weakness

2. It is nevertheless listed as a Fruit of the Spirit

REVIEW OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Longsuffering

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

WHAT IS GENTLENESS?

1. Blessed are the Meek   (Matthew 5:5)

a) The word “Meek” (πραυς… praus)
b) The same word as “Gentleness”   (Galatians 5:23)

2. Nuances

a) Quietness
b) Humble reverence
c) The opposite of arrogance

3. A key quality of the Lord Jesus as King

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”   Matthew 21:5
a) The Messiah-King
b) Sitting on a donkey
c) A colt, the foal of a donkey
d) The word “lowly”
i) Humble
ii) The same word “meek” (πραυς)

THE CULTIVATION OF GENTLENESS

1. As the Elect of God

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering”   Colossians 3:12
a) The elect of God
b) Holy and beloved
c) To put on:
i) Tender mercies
ii) Kindness
iii) Humility
iv) Meekness (gentleness)
v) Longsuffering

2. As a man of God

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness”   1 Timothy 6:11
a) Things to flee from   (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
i) The love of money
ii) Avarice
b) Things to pursue
i) Righteousness
ii) Godliness
iii) Faith
iv) Love
v) Patience
vi) Gentleness

3. Walking worthy of God’s Calling

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”   Ephesians 4:1-3
a) An exhortation to walk worthy of God’s calling
b) How may this be done?
i) Lowliness
ii) Gentleness
iii) Longsuffering
iv) Loving forbearance

CONCLUSION

1. Gentleness is a virtue worth pursuing

It is clearly enjoined

2. It is a special feature of the work of the Spirit of God too

Let us be moved to cultivate this Fruit of the Spirit