Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0501

The Fruits of the Spirit Series: Gentleness I

Excerpts froma sermon on 3rd May 2009 at Champions Pariah, Redeemed Christian Church of God Edmonton, AB Canada 

Minister: Joseph Agbi

 

Bible Nugget 0501 [Galatians 5:22-23]

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

Fruit Triangles

1. Love, Joy and Peace
2. Longsuffering, gentleness and goodness
3. Faith, Meekness and Temperance

 

 Introduction

What is Gentle or Gentleness?

Oxford Dictionary:

Not rough: mild or kind

 

Gentleman: well-bred man

Gentlewoman: a woman of good birth or upbringing

 

            These are very kind words to say of somebody or a group of people. Because it has become very common to use these words people do not know the weight or take time to reflect on the meaning of these words.  Therefore what an irony if you are addressing an audience and you call them ladies and gentlemen and in the midst of them are murderers, adulterers and fornicators, liars, thieves, etc. all the sins of Gal:5: 19-21 a stack contrast to Gal 5:22 – 23

 

Gal 5: 19-21

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Implying non-well bred or people without good upbringing are those living in the flesh:

 

The root word Gentleness in Greek [original text of the new testament] in v 22

 Gr. Chrestotes and it means a disposition to be gentle, soft spoken, kind, even tempered, cultured and refined in character and conduct.

           

            Because, you can identify the character of somebody by the words they say or their actions or by their behavior, gentleness is a character that can easily be read by others. It is a fruit and you know a fruit when it is ripe because it is attractive. When you see a bunch of yellow bananas they are very attractive and inviting to a hungry man. So is the character of gentleness. It is mild, very affective.

 

Source of Gentleness

            The source of the fruit gentleness is the Holy Spirit Gal 5:22, so as children of God if you are walking in the spirit, or a man living in the spirit, the fruit becomes more ripe everyday as you submit yourself to the Holy Spirit. You become gentler to yourself and others. You become more even tempered.  Pleasing the Holy Spirit is all you become interested in. Things that easily harass you and make you soil your testimony as a Christian such as anger, strife, and bitterness have no meaning to you. You become more broken, thoroughly broken. When you get to that stage, then you can truly say yes, I am a gentleman or gentlewoman. The secret of gentleness as a Christian is to be led by the Holy Spirit because against such there is no law.  Compare

Gal 5:18

18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

and

Galatians 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

Implying walking in the spirit makes a person to walk free from the law of sin and death; the punishment awaiting those who break the laws of Gal 5:19-21.

To be continued

 

Prayer Points 0501

1. Oh Lord, saturate my spirit with your Holy Spirit. Make me to walk in harmony with your Holy Spirit always in Jesus Name.
2. Gentle Holy Spirit; make me a friend of God all the days of my life in Jesus Name.
3. Jesus, I want to walk like you, talk like you have compassion like you. Give me the grace to be your good ambassador in Jesus Name. Amen