Rick Warren - The Strength God Gives to the Gentle and Meek (Part 2)

The Bible says, if you want to be more attractive,

you need to learn to be more gentle in your life. Now,

this is true in both men and in women.

Now, one of.

The laws of life is I attract what I am.

I don't attract what I want. I attract what I am.

If you want to attract a godly man, you have

to be a godly woman. If you want to attract

a godly woman, you have to be a godly man.

You can't be some rude dude in a crude mood

and say I really want one of those good women.

Now you will attract what you are. And so gentleness

attracts gentleness, and godliness attracts godliness. Now, since we've got

a bunch of singles in this service for some guys,

let me show you this one Timothy six eleven here

on the screen. Here's the I'm gonna give a verse

for guys and verse for guiles. One Timothy six eleven.

As a man of God, and I want all of

you guys to be men of God. As a man

of God, pursue what God approves of, and then he

gives you the five marks of a godly man. This

is Paul talking to Timothy. He's mentoring his son in

the ministry. He says, pursue what God approves of. And

here are the five things that make a godly man Godliness, faith, love, endurance,

and oh, by the way, gentleness, gentleness. Now, he says,

God approves of godliness. What is God in thiss? It

means I'm trying to let Jesus live through me. And

then he says, another mark of a man of God

is faith. I trust God in every area of my life.

Another mark of a man of God is love. You're loving,

You're unselfish. Another mark of a man of God of endurance.

You don't give up, you don't quit. You have endurance,

you have diligence, you have determination. And then one of

the marks of a man of God is gentleness. That

is strength under control, and that is attractive. Now, I

don't want to belabor this point, but for you single guys,

I'm gonna give you a little advice tonight, because doctor

Love is in the house, all right, Doctor Ricky Love.

Here he is. Guys, if you want to attract.

A good woman, you need to do what Boaz did?

Who Boas? Where is he in the old Deskma, where

is it? Look it up? No, No, I'll tell you.

I'll tell you.

Bo As is in the Story of Ruth, named after her.

In the Book of Ruth. Now here's the story of Boaz.

Boas is a young businessman and he is pretty successful,

and he's got a wheat farm and he's doing a

good job, and he's got he's got his business interest

going pretty good. And one day he looks out on

his field and he sees some stragglers taking wheat from

his crop. Now, he'd already harvest the crop, but there's

a little left over. And a lot of times homeless

people are very poor. People would go out into the

fields that had already been harvested and find the little extra.

This is called gleaning.

And he looks out and he sees one of these

people is a woman named Ruth. And she's very, very

poor because her husband has died. She's a widow, she's young,

but her husband has died. And Ruth decides, I'm going

to take care of my aged mother in law.

My husband has died.

She has no legal responsibility to take care of her

mother in law, but she goes, this is what God

would want me to do. So, I'm going to take

care of my aged mother in law, even though my

young husband has died. And so she's out out here

picking grains in the fields in bo As' this field. Now,

bo As could have gone out. He could have been rude.

He could have been ruthless. He could have been demanding,

and he could have said, get off my property. This

is my property. You don't have any right to be

harvesting my grain. It's my grain, and if I want

to leave it out, there can. But he was not rude,

he was not ruthless. He was not crude. In fact,

he was gentle with Ruth. And not only does he

allow her to pick, he says, I got enough, Let

her pick some grain on my crops. Go ahead and

let her do. He then commends her. He compliments Ruth

for taking care of her aged mother in law, and

he compliments her, and he's very kind, and if you

read the whole story, he's very gentle with this total stranger.

And so then Ruth responds this way.

In Ruth Chapter two, verse thirteen fourteen, Ruth said to Boaz,

you're very kind to me. You have made me feel better.

You have made me feel better by speaking gently to me. Pause, guys,

A woman always feels better when you speak gently to her,

when you're not in a hurry, when you're not rushing,

you're not rude, you're not forceful. A woman always feels

better when you speak gently to her. You have made

me feel better by.

Speaking gently to me, and so it's going good.

So Boas invites her at the lunch And then at lunchtime,

Boaz says to Ruth, come have a piece of bread

with me, and dip it in the sauce. Now you

thought fondue was Swedish two thousand years before anybody said

the word fondu. Boas is dipping in the sauce with Ruth,

and it says, then Boas pastor some roasted grain to eat,

little granola, and she ate it until she was satisfied,

and she still had food left. He gives her a

doggie bag. Now this is a good thing. He's being kind,

he's being gentle. Now here's an interesting thing out of that?

Simple is it? Because he was kind?

Because he was gentle, they end up becoming an item,

falling in love and getting married. Now, why is that

story even in the Bible? Because Ruth was not even Jewish,

and it was illegal for a Jewish man Boaz to

marry a non Jewish woman, but he did, and God had.

A plan in it.

And in Matthew chapter one, where it gives the genealogy

of Jesus Christ the Messiah, there are four women mentioned

in that genealogy and one of them is not even Jewish.

Her name is Ruth, and God used that marriage as

one of the marriages to bring the Messiah into the world.

In fact, Ruth had a grandson and his name was

King David, King David, And it all happened because Boaz

was gentle with a woman he didn't even know.

Here's the point.

If Boaz had been ruthless, he would have been ruth less.

I've waited all week to share that with you. Okay,

come on, that's pretty good.

Right, Okay.

If Boaz had been ruthless, he would have been ruth less,

and all of that history would not have happened. But

it all started with him just being gentle. Would you

write this down. Gentle Men are gentlemen. Gentlemen are gentlemen.

The way you become a gentleman is by being gentle.

Now that's for the guys. Let me talk to you

women for just a minute. Gentleness is attractive not just

on a gentle man, on a man, but gentleness is

attractive in women too.

One Peter, chapter three, verse four says this talking to women.

You should be known for the beauty that comes from within,

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which

is so precious to God. Now I want you to

circle the word on fading. God says, I want you

to focus on unfading beauty. I hate to tell you this, ladies,

but your beauty is gonna fade. In fact, all men

and all women are beauty. Faith some of us are beauty.

Start about year one. We recute as babies. But he says,

there is an unfading beauty that is attractive. And what

is that unfading beauty that is attractive The beauty of

a gentle spirit. Gentleness is attractive. Number five. The fifth

reason why you want to learn this quality in your

life is it Gentleness communicates love. Gentleness communicates love, It

diffuses conflict, it disarms critics, it's persuasive, it's attractive, and

gentleness communicates love. Guys, those are her husbands and are married.

The quickest way to improve your marriage. The quickest way

to improve your marriage is to start talking to your

wife more gently. It'll do wonders if you'll begin to

talk to your wife in a more gentle way. Colossians,

Chapter three, verse nineteen. Husbands, love your wives and be

gentle with them. Any fool can be selfish, any fool

can be rough, any fool can be rude. But gentlemen

aren't gentle men. Now this is true not only in marriage.

The key a great marriage is simply the union of

two great forgivers, because you're going to hurt each other

a lot in life. I've been married to Kay thirty

eight years. I've heard her so many times, and she's

hurt me so many times. But we're both great forgivers,

and that's part of gentleness. Now, it's not only a

key to effective marriage. Gentleness you're going to need this

someday is the key to effective parenting. Never discipline, I

said out of anger or out of frustration, but always

gently out of love.

Esian six'.

Four, fathers do not irritate your. Children do not provoke

your children to. Anger, now they don't do things that

make them intentionally. Upset do not exasperate your children to resent,

it rear them, tenderly gently in the training and in the,

discipline and in the council of The. LORD i can

honestly say to you THAT i never remember my father

ever raising his voice against me growing, Up not one.

Time did you ever get? Angry of course he. Did

was he ever upset with? Me of course he was.

Upset DID i ever really blow? It and have every

reason for him to get at, many many, times almost

a daily. Basis but he was a gentle. Man he

had strength under, control and he would not yell at.

Me gentleness communicates. Love one of the greatest joys of

my days reading letters from our. Listeners it truly is

inspiring to see How god is working in your, lives

and it encourages me just as much AS i hope

to encourage. You so TODAY i want to share a

note From, heather who has been discovering the incredible benefits

of Studying god's word every. Day heather wrote to, me she, Said,

Hi Pastor, rick a friend of mine recently sent me

your podcast And i've been feeling lost and, helpless AND

i DIDN'T i wasn't sure what to pray or how

to pray or when to, pray and it's LIKE i

hit a wall AND i haven't been sure how to

get back on. Track, well your message really spoke truth to,

me and it made me realize the missing PIECES i

had in my life BECAUSE i was not In God's word.

DAILY i was basically living my life Without god AND

i was trying to do everything on my. Own, well Pastor,

rick it goes without saying that doing life Without god

has been miserable. Failure so thank you for stirring The

Holy spirit in my heart with the words THAT i

needed to. HEAR i have now made the commitment to

Read God's word every day and to pray, daily AND

i even started praying in the CARS i go about my.

Day just like, you it's hard for me to close

my eyes and not fall. Asleep you were. Listening please

keep doing what you're doing and reaching people who really

need to hear About jesus And god's. Love, Well, HEATHER

i am so glad to hear that you're back In

god's word and that you're making it a part of

your daily. Life there really isn't anything more important than

deepening your relationship With, him AND i love the fact

that you are praying every, day especially keeping your eyes

open while you're. Driving do you or somebody know or

even feel lost yourself Like heather once? Did, well the

best way to find hope and strength is by staying

connected To god every.

Day that's the purpose Of Daily.

Hope and that's WHY i started it to help people

Like heather dive Into God's word and experiences encouragement on

a daily. Basis, now Our Daily hope devotionals and our

podcasts are completely free and they're delivered straight to your

inbox every. Morning so if you're not getting, these sign

up today and start each day with biblical wisdom and

encouragement From God's.

Word, hey would you like to sign up For Pastor

rick's email.

Devotional you can just scan THE qr code or go

to dailyhopetv dot. Com gentleness communicates. Love it diffuses, conflict

it disarms, critics it's, persuasive it's, attractive and gentleness communicates.

Love number. Six this is an important earns.

Respect gentleness earns Respect proverbs, eleven verse.

Sixteen.

Women if you want to be respected as a, woman

here's what The bible. SAYS a woman of gentle grace

will be respected a woman of gentle grace will be.

Respected that's also true of. Men if you want to

be a leader in any area of, life you're going

to have to learn what we're talking about. Tonight if

you want to be a leader in the, church if

you want to be a leader in, government if you

want to be a leader in, business if you want

to be a leader in your, home if you want

to be a leader in your, community in your, school

or in any other. Organization every great leader is a gentle.

Leader the greatest leaders of all time were the most

Gentle jesus being a supreme. Example but for, instance the

greatest president in our history Was Abraham. Lincoln no one

was more gentle Than Abraham. Lincoln and he even showed

gentleness in the way he treated the Defeated southern states

with respect and brought them back.

In in a gentle.

Way if he hadn't been a, gentleman that we haven't divided.

Nation gandhi was a gentle. Person Martin Luther king was

a gentle. Person George washington was a. Gentleman he was

truly known as a. Gentleman and great leaders are Gentle you,

know there's a story in The bible that you really

ought to know, about and it's the story of a

guy Named Ria.

Bohm in The, bible.

There was a guy Named King david who united all

twelve tribes Of israel.

And they became one.

Nation and together the twelve tribes became quite, powerful and.

They had a lot of, land and they were very.

Strong it was the.

Apex of the Power solomon, HAD i Mean Abraham david

had a son Named. Solomon solomon expanded the empire Of

israel and united the tribes even, more and they were

at the greatest power at that point in.

History they were the most powerful nation at that.

Time solomon was the wisest man in the. World he

was the wealthiest man in the, world and he was

the most powerful man in the. World and he had

this great united. Kingdom and Then solomon dies and he

turns this, enormous huge kingdom to his young son Named Ria.

Boham Ria boham had no experience.

In leadership at, all and so he starts by doing

the right, thing and then he does the wrong. Thing

he starts by going to the older leaders of the.

Nation they are called the, elders And Ria boham goes said,

Look i'm just a young. GUY i don't know anything about,

leadership And i'm thrust in this. Position would you guys

tell me what DO i need to do to earn

the respect of the nation and be the kind of

leader my Father solomon and my Grandfather david.

Were and he did the right. Things he.

Listened he went to the, elders the, wise and you

should be listening to older men and older women in your,

life listening to them, always at every stage of your.

Life and the elders of the nation say To Rea,

Boem i'll tell you, what if you'll just do two,

things the people will follow you. Anywhere first if you

genuinely serve them and you show that you're there to

meet their.

Needs and, second if you always speak to them.

Gently don't do a power, surge don't do a power,

grab don't be on an ego. Trip speak to them.

Gently he, said these people will follow you anywhere'll they'll

be petty in your.

Hands they'll do whatever you ask them to do as. Leaders,

now that's the good thing he.

Did the bad thing is he paid no attention to

the advice of the. Elders and so then he goes

to all the young. Guys he grew up with all

of his, peers and he, says what do you guys

THINK i should do? Now they weren't any wiser than he,

Was they had no more experience than he. Did so

he says to his, friends young, friends what do you

THINK i should do as the new leader of this?

Nation and the young men gave him the exact opposite.

Advice they, said you got to prove that you are an.

Authority you got to prove you have the right to be.

King you got to be, tough you got to be,

hard you got to do me. Demanding you need to

lay down the law right now and let everybody know

that you're in, charge and you. Can't you have to

be unbending and you need to. Prove because you're, young

you're going to need to prove that you are the

authority and the. Leader and that's exactly what he followed that.

Advice you know what. Happened the whole nation. Rebelled they

went into riots and chaos and eventually civil, war and

ten of the twelve tribes Of israel split from Rear

broham's kingdom and started a whole new. Kingdom and that

was the end of The United. Israel and from then

on they have no more power as a. People why

Because Ria boham refused to be. Gentle it was just

a stupid. Thing, instead he threw his weight. Around, listen

anytime you have to stand up in front of a

group of people says excuse, me everybody in ther business,

room in a, clubhouse or or in a, boardroom anytime

you say excuse, ME i am the. Leader if you

have to tell the people you're a, leader you. Ain't

if you have to tell him you're. Not it he who,

thinketh he, leadeth and hath no one following him is

only taking a. Walk so leadership is, earned it is,

learned and it is. Discerned it is never. Demanded if

you demand that you're the, leader you're not a. Leader

you're a. Dictator and that's a big. Difference there's ma

being a boss and a. LEADER a leader leads by

example and leads by. Influence, now gentleness earns, respect and

the more gentle you, are the more respected you're going.

To be as a.

Leader the greatest leader in The bible, was of, Course.

Moses moses Liberated israelites from four hundred years of. Slavery

he took on the most powerful men in the world

at that. Time pharaoh let my people. Go he had

nothing But god on his, side and that was. Enough

and he was, fearless and he was unafraid to go

speak truth to. Power and, yet here's what The bible

says About, moses the greatest leader in The bible numbers chapter,

twelve verse. Three moses was a very meek and gentle.

Man in, fact he was more gentle than anyone else

on the face of the. Earth this is why you

can understand meekness is not. Weakness gentleness is not. Weakness

in The, bible there are only two people in the

Entire bible who were called meek or. Gentle only two

in the Entire. Bible you know who they, Are moses And.

Jesus neither of them were. Weak jesus knew how to

call the shots and turn the tables upside down when

he needed, to and you, know turn over the money.

Changers and he had no problem being. Strong he was

strength under. Control here's the amazing. Thing moses is the

only other man in The bible called. Meek and yet

do you know what moses persistent sin. Was he had

an anger management. Problem moses had a, temper a violent.

Temper in, fact it is moses temper That god trouble

throughout his entire.

Life one Day.

Moses got so, mad got so, angry he killed An.

Egyptian he murdered a guy out of. Anger that's pretty.

Angry another, Time god gave him The Ten commandments up

On Mount. Sinai he came down and he saw all

the people and they were, all, like you, know having an.

Orgy and he got so angry at. That he throws

down the Ten commandments That god had made for him

and they break And god, says you're making the second, set,

buddy it's. True and he had to go back up

and he had to carve personally the second. Set god

had given him the first, set but he broke him

out of his. Anger another, Time god said that people were.

Thirsty he, said, WELL i want you to speak to

the rock and water will come out Of he, says, No,

lord we've always done it another. WAY i want to

do it the traditional, way and he struck the. Rock

he got angry and struck the. Rock it was anger

that Kept moses out of The Promised. Land she had

a lifelong. Problem how the guy has a lifelong problem

with anger be the only other guy in The bible called.

Gentle here's the, reason and this should give hope to

you who struggle with anger. Management moses was, teachable and

when people spoke to him about areas of his life

that needed to be, changing he didn't get angry back at.

That he learned from. Them, now you may have a

struggle controlling your. Temper the real issue is not. That

the real issue is are you? Teachable and when somebody

points out that you have a temper, problem do you

humbly listen and respond with gentleness or do you get

mad at that too and have a hissy fit and a.

Cow moses was meek because he was. Teachable now there's number.

Seven gentleness is a witness to. Unbelievers gentleness witnesses to.

Unbelievers when people look at, you and non believers are

watching you all the, time and they're watching to see

are you any different than they are when you're? Understressed

are you any different than they are when you are under?

Pressure when you respond to pressure.

With, gentleness that is an incredible testimony to the.

World here's what The bible.

Says titus three to Two believers should never speak evil of.

Anyone circle that if you're a, believer not only AM

i as a pastor not to do, That you're not

to do. That believers should never speak evil of.

Anyone that means you can't disagree with.

Them, no of course you can disagree with, people you

just can't speak evil of. Them you can't malign, them

you can't slander, them you can't do personal attacks against.

Them not if you claim to be a follower Of,

jesus you. Can't believers should never speak evil of, anyone

even the people who hurt, you even the people who hurt,

You nor be.

Quarrelsome you're not allowed to be.

Quarrelsome, instead they should be gentle and show courtesy to. Everyone,

circle be gentle and show courtesy. You if you claim

to be a follower Of, jesus you are not allowed

to speak evil of. Anyone you are not allowed to be. Quarrelsome,

instead you must be gentle with, everybody and you must

show courtesy to. Everybody that means even people of a

different political.

Party, yes