From Ephesus: Gentleness

Yeah, did Pastor Johnny kind of look like one of

those old pictures with the halo over his head and

that you did anybody else notice that besides me?

Nobody? Okay?

All right, well, happy Fourth of July weekend.

Everybody. Everybody have their fingers and toes.

Any fireworks people out there, you like to light off

your own? Okay, you don't live in this area because

it's illegal and you wouldn't be. Oh, maybe that's why

you're in church today. Is a little repentance. I see,

I get it, I get it. Thank you Lord, you're

doing good things.

Well.

Hey, I get to close down, shut down. Put a

period at the end of this message series that we've

been in called from Ephesus Life in the Spirit, and

we've been going through the nine fruit of the Spirit.

Have you enjoyed this sermon series? Yeah?

We have. Well that's like three of us. I'm glad

you've enjoyed it. Got something out of it. That's our

goal is really have inspiration like that. We have an

amazing team of speakers at this church. Are you thankful

for them?

Yeah?

And every Sunday this past several months, I've left each

message going all right, how am I doing on self control,

and it's always not good, right, How am I doing

on patience?

Even worse?

Like?

Okay, self evaluation. It's good that we do that.

And Paul is writing to this church in Galicia in

the language of Greek, and we'll.

Get to that in just a second.

But he lists this group of bad fruit, like things

we don't want to see in our life, and then

this group of good fruit, and let's take a look

at it together. In Galatians five nineteen. Let's read this

aloud together. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy.

I can't hear you forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and

self control. Against such things there is no law. Yeah,

these are nine qualities that Paul is encouraging us to

grow on our life. And as you read the Bible,

you will see that these attributes are actually characteristics of

God himself. Did you know that you and I are

supposed to look like Jesus.

Look at your.

Neighbor and say that's inspiring. These are qualities of God.

First John four to eight says that God is love.

Neamiah eight ten says that the joy of the Lord

is my strength.

Whose joy is it? It's God's joy.

Philippians four seven says, the peace of God will guard

your hearts.

Whose peace is it? It's God's peace.

These are God's qualities, and I want you to think

about those qualities of God as we look back on

another part of scripture that's called the parable of the

vine and the branches.

Are you familiar with that?

Raise your hand if you remember the parable of the

vine and branches. Okay, God is the vine, and if

we are the branches, the only way we are going

to bear fruit and become imitators of God. Like Paul

says in Ephesians, we need to be connected to the vine.

That's really logical.

A vine that is separated or a branch that separated

the vine is not going to bear fruit. In fact,

the fruit that's on that branch is probably gonna rot

and look bad. Why did I say it like that rot?

That was impressive, Sean King. We are supposed to look

like God. Ephesians five to one says, be imitators of

God then, as beloved children.

Isn't it on any parents in the room? Parents?

Isn't it fun when someone says, oh, she's got your

nose right?

Like?

Or like when they say you look like your mom.

I'm like, I don't know how to take that, but

as a parent, it's great to see the qualities of

our kids. And I don't know about you, but as

I've gone through these fruit of the Spirit, I would

love it for someone to say, Sean, when you're gentle

like that, you really start to look like your father.

How cool is that? Don't you want that in yourself?

The way you.

Respond to situations, to have self control, to have patience

and love. That's what I want to see in my

life today. The more we stay connected to Jesus, the

more we look like him. Pastor Christian kicked off this

series on May fourth. Can you believe that May fourth?

That seems like an eternity? You go? And he said

that we need to starve and cut off anything in

our life that bears bad fruit. And that list of

bad fruit is listed in Galatians five, and we need

to feed and nurture the good fruit. And the passage

that we just read, and we've heard it several times

through this entire sermon series, but it's worth repeating that

fruit does not grow overnight. Say that fruit does not

grow overnight. Fruit only grows when it's connected to the vine.

And that's just logical.

I believe that in this church and in churches around

the world, we have Christians that kind of see their

faith as like an electric car. You come in, you

plug in, you get fueled up, and you just go

as long long as you possibly can. Like usually it's

like Sunday afternoon, self control is already waning, Like our

patience is already waiting, like you've already run out.

And you got the whole week.

Like there's no way that a Christian that lives an

electric plug in life is gonna.

Bear good fruit.

You just can't do it unless you stay connected to

the vine.

Is anybody with me? This is logical? Again.

I have the honor of wrapping up this sermon series,

and today we're gonna talk about gentleness. But I'm telling

you what, all eight of these messages have been really,

really good, and they have some really important things that

I want to tie in.

To this conclusion today.

Eight messages times thirty minutes is two hundred and forty minutes.

Hold on, people, this is gonna be a long service. No,

I promise you we're gonna get out of here time.

But I'm gonna challenge myself. I'm gonna give you all

of the points of all eight messages in five minutes.

Are you ready? Team?

Put up a five minute timer. This is what we're

gonna do. I'm gonna yell three two to one, and

then you're gonna say the first fruit, which is love.

Try it three two one okay, And then I'm gonna

go through the points, and then I'm gonna say next,

and you're gonna say joy, okay.

And that's how we're gonna do it. You feel good.

I've got good crowd participation today. You know what, I'm

gonna do this thing in four minutes. I know, right,

four minutes. Let's change that timer to four minutes. Here

we go, three two one Love. Morgan talked about the

fruit of love. He reminded us that love is the

very nature of God. Love is not a feeling but

a command. Love begins with God's work in our lives,

but it's not intended to stay there.

It's supposed to.

Come out and be demonstrated in how we act and

treat others.

Next.

Joy Die talked about joy on Mother's Day. Joy is

not a feeling but a command. I sense a trend

here joy is not the same as happiness, an event

or a choice. The more we try to have joy,

the more frustrated we can grow, we can become and

trying to achieve it. But true joy, the kind of

joy that you and I have in the middle of

a trial. That kind of joy only comes through being

connected to Jesus. Next, Peace, Pev talked about peace and

that means peace means wholeness and soundness in life.

It's not a lack of.

Not a lack of conflict, but harmony, serenity, and tranquility

in all aspects of life. He said the Hebrew word

shaloam say that shalom just brings you peace. And he

talked about subjective versus objective peace. Subjective peace is the

kind of peace that wanes, It comes and goes depending

on our circumstances. But objective peace is the kind of

peace that has permanence and can only become can only

come from Jesus. Next, patience, Peev also talked about patience.

He shared a funny story side note about this Hebrew

word that means long nostrils. Okay, and like, if you

think about an impatient person, they might breathe like this,

But A person with peace takes long breaths, long nostrils.

All right alone, peace, where are we? Patience is a

slow growing fruit. Ironic patience involves enduring unexpected changes in life.

Patience involves a lot of waiting. We learn to trust

God's timing, not our own, and patience with others involves

self control, restraint, and tolerance.

Jesus is patient with us. We need to be patient

with others. Amen. Amen.

Next kindness, Morgan talked about kindness. There's nothing worth sharing.

I'm just kidding. Nothing just kidding. Kindness does not have

to be a grand gesture or to be powerful. Kindness

is not weak, but it is God's strength and action.

Kindness is fierce, decisive, and intentional. We grow in the

area of kindness by pausing before we react, by praying

for a kind heart and practicing intentional acts and speaking

life over others. Next, Goodness, Say it Goodness. Christian talked

about this last week. Goodness is courageous, moral clarity, and

spirit empowered strength to do what is right even when

you would rather know. We are created good. It is

renewed when the accepted Christ. It has grown in us

through the power of the Holy Spirit. But we have

to choose it. That's goodness. Next, faithfulness, say it faithfulness.

I talked about this.

She said that human faithfulness has its limitations. We're faithful

as long as it serves our purposes. The story of

God is about God's faithfulness and the best way for

us to demonstrate faithfulness is to be faithful to Him

and to our promises. Good word, pastor die. Next self control,

say it self control. We had two guest speakers. This

is eating in my time. Bret Allen talked about without

self control, we can self destruct.

Amen.

Self isn't something that the self controls. The spirit of

God must be allowed to work in us. If we

don't grow in this area, there will be consequences. He

also says, the more we can, the more control we

give to God, the more control you'll have over yourself.

So good.

And then Marty Solomon took us to school. He talked

about this word called sarks, which equals flesh or animal appetites,

and he talked about this innate desire that we have

to satisfy our earthly appetites. But God, but we are

more than a beast to the God. Out of all creation,

God put his breath in you say amen, and God

it during creation, he said, he knows when to say enough.

And you, having Christ in you through self control, through

the power of the Holy Spirit, you can exercise self control.

Can I get an amen? Woo? That's it?

People, eight messages, two hundred and forty minutes in four

all right, today we're going to talk about the fruit

of gentleness.

Say that word gentleness.

On the surface, gentleness seems to be a pretty easy

thing to understand. I asked my wife, Rebecca. I said,

when you hear the word gentleness, what does that remind

you of? And Rebecca, she loves children, She especially loves babies,

And she said, well, I think if I had a

toddler and I had a newborn, and I let my

toddler hold my newborn, I would say, now be gentle, right,

And that really aligns with the Dictionary definition of gentleness.

It says the quality of showing kindness, tenderness, or being

mild mannered. It often comes as a result of humility, patience,

and a willingness to be fair and sensitive to the

needs of others. Gentleness is a noun would look like

a person who is soft, calm, sweet with other people

like a kindergarten teacher stooping down and talking with her

little kids in her class. But this, this definition isn't

necessarily aligning entirely with what the biblical definition of gentleness is.

We've seen that with so many of these words. We

think we have an idea, but it's so much more. Again,

Paul spoke this in Greek to the church in Galicia,

and the Greek word for gentleness is pro taste. Say

that protasetes protaste. The Hebrew equivalent is the word annava.

These words are similar in definition, but they're defined as

this meekness. It signifies humility and a gentle disposition. Gentleness

and meekness are fairly synonymous. So if you hear me

say those words, that's what that's where we're going. How

does that definition strike you? Humility and a gentle disposition.

I know that we're not supposed to be prideful, right,

everybody know humility is important.

You're with me, right?

So humility is bad, But meekness or gentleness aren't we

aren't men supposed to be like manly and like tough,

and aren't women in twenty twenty five supposed to be

courageous and bold and outspoken. You know, there's a song

from nineteen eighty five by Tears for Fears, and we

know those guys, and it said everybody wants to rule

the world. I hope you sing that this afternoon. Not

right now, that would be inappropriate. A meek person, a

gentle person isn't gonna rule the world. But listen to

what Jesus said in Matthew five five. He says, God

blesses those who are gentle. The whole earth will belong

to them. Come on, well, we may start with the

feelings that gentleness may look may make us look weak.

When the Bible uses this word gentle or meek, it's

not portraying a weak person. Let me illustrate it this way.

Is there anybody over six feet tall in the room today?

If you're six feet tall, stand up, all my big

brothers and sisters six feet tall?

Oh wow?

In heaven someday, friends, look out, my numbers are gonna

be flipped. Stay standing for just a second. I need

to pick one of you. Uh, I'm gonna pick this

guy right here, all right? Does this guy look strong?

Say yes? Does he look tough to you? Say yes? Now?

What biblical gentleness looks like is this, I see that

you have a baby.

Can you stay standing? Can you come stand here right

with me?

And I want you to grab that little person that's

right with you right there and hold that little dude

in your arms. If you want to know what biblical

gentleness looks like, it looks like this.

Can we thank them? Beautiful family?

The Greek word protaste actually has an illustrated word that

goes along with it, and it's a stallion. Has anybody

ever stood next to a giant horse like you've been

to the fair?

Those dudes are.

Ominous, like they are scary. I mean, I'm a pretty

giant person, but when I stand next to a horse,

even I look small and you look into an eyeball

of a horse and it's like you've gone to another planet.

They are scary.

A stallion is huge, and it's strong and powerful, and

it can trample any one of us. But this word

gentleness biblically means attamed stallion. Have that if you walk

away with anything today, Sean is I'm just like it's kidding.

A biblical gentleness is strength under control. Say that strength

under control. That is biblical gentleness Gentleness does not equate weakness,

equate to weakness. Gentleness does not equate to passivity. It's

a quote from author L. R. Nost. She says, gentleness

is not weakness, just the opposite. Preserving a gentle spirit

in a heartless world takes extraordinary courage, determination, and resilience.

Do not underestimate the power of gentleness, because gentleness is

strength wrapped in peace, and therein lies the power to

change the world. I know a lot of people in

my life that are strong and powerful, yet gentle.

I'm sure you know of someone as well.

But as a person who is not soft spoken, thank you.

Like I, I am not the person that is known

for being I don't know like I'm not known for

being a gentle, quiet person. So if you're like me,

or you have character traits, how do we as Christians

today take this fruit of gentleness and grow it in

our life? That's the question we're going to answer today.

All right, all right, thank you, thank you. First, I

have three points for you. First, we need to understand

that meekness does not equal weakness. Say that with me.

Meekness does not equal weakness. Gentleness is one of God's

character traits and this concept of gentleness is seen throughout

the Bible, and often it is relating to the character

traits of God. I love the vision in Psalm eighteen

thirty five that says this, you give me your shield

of victory.

Wait, I need to read that differently.

You give me your shield of victory, and your right

hand sustains me.

You stoop down to make me great.

I love that illustration of this all powerful God carrying

this shield of victory, who's strong enough to hold the

entire world in his hand, and yet he stoops down

to make me great. So good Isaiah forty verses ten

and eleven says, See, the sovereign Lord comes with power,

and his arm rules for him. See his reward is

with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends to

his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in

his arms, and he carries them close to his heart.

He gently leads those who have young. There it is again,

this sovereign ruler, this unmatched, supreme, unlimited, unrestricted, infinite and

ultimate Lord, comes with power, and yet he holds his

lambs in his arms close to his heart. I think

about the anger that God could have towards me out

of all the times I've asked for God's grace or

his help, and then I break my promise. I just

think about an angry God, how would he treat.

Me out of my rebellion?

But aren't you thankful that God doesn't use his power

to crush us?

Because he could, but that's not in his character.

We see this same gentleness in Jesus, who is a

great reflection of the Father. Isaiah forty two is a

long prophecy about Jesus. I'll paraphrase, but it says that

Jesus will be filled with the Holy spirit to.

Carry out justice for the entire world world.

I don't think a meek or weak person could carry

out justice for the whole world. And then it goes

on to say that in Isaiah forty two to three,

a bruised read he will not break. In other words,

those that are weak spiritually, he won't crush them. Jesus

has the strength of God coursing through his veins, but

he will not use that strength again us strength under control.

Paul refers to the character of Jesus in tewod Corinthians

ten to one. It says, by the meekness and gentleness

of Christ, I appeal to you. And then he goes

on to list these weapons that are powerful, that have

divine power to demolish strongholds and take put into submission

anything that sets us up itself up against God. These

divine weapons, but he implores us, in the meekness and

gentleness of Christ, to use them. Writer Hannah Looper wrote

this article in called the Strength in Gentleness and read

this with me. She says, when we look at the

heart of jesus ministry, he showed his strength but also

his tenderness. From his birth in a lowly state to

how he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus demonstrated

greatness and power in his character. His gentleness, however, does

not make him yield from showing his might and justice.

He turned over tables and called out the Pharisees. This

is not Jesus contradicting himself. This is him demonstrating a

godly exercise of power. The one who will wipe every

tear from our eyes also crushed Death's power under his

feet when he took his final breath on the cross.

It is possible to have incredible gentleness in the presence

of great strength.

It's a great quote.

Meekness does not equate to weakness as the world may

see it. Gentleness is a character quality of God and

of Jesus the Son, and through the Holy Spirit.

It can be yours as well. Amen point number two.

Gentleness is important in the life of a follower of Christ,

Paul says in Ephesians four to two. He says, be

completely humble and gentle. Olympians four five, he says, let

your gentleness be evident to all. What is the evidence

of gentleness? What does it look like to you? How

do you how do you demonstrate gentleness? Gentleness to me

looks like calmness when everything in you wants to explode.

I think gentleness looks like self control when you want

to erupt, yell, or swear at a situation. I think

gentleness looks like kindness in resisting retaliation, maybe repaying an evil.

Word with a soft word.

Humility generalist looks like humility in conceding victory when everything

in you just wants to win the argument at any cost.

I think some of you married today might resemble that.

Hm in a way.

Gentleness looks like the other fruit in action, generalis is

important in the life of a follower of Christ.

Point number three.

There are sick at least six tangible benefits to exercising

gentleness turned in agbor say this is gonna be good.

All six of them. They're all good.

The first tangible benefit, we just heard it from Proverbs

five to one that a calm word turns away wrath.

You want to stop an argument, don't add fuel to

the fire a calm word. Let kindness and action be

a demonstration of gentleness. The second tangible benefit is genderness

will weaken your enemies. That sounds awesome. Weaken your enemies,

have Sean tell me, well, when people gossip about you,

when people say something on Facebook or online, and you

know they're gaslighting, you listen to what Romans twelve twenty says.

It says, if your enemy is hungry.

Feed them. If he's thirsty, give them a drink. And

I love this.

By doing this, you will heap burning coals on their head.

Gentleness weakens your enemies. Don't take the bait. Let self

control an action the evidence of the fruit of gentleness

in your life.

That's good.

The third tangible benefit is gentleness is sexy. Okay, gentleness

is attractive. Can you handle me saying that this morning

I thought you were with me?

All right?

One Timothy six eleven says this, But you, man of God,

flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance,

and gentleness. How many singles are in the room today?

Let me see your hand. I know there's more singles

than that in the room. Okay, there you go, singles around.

How many married couples are in the room today?

All right? How many of you are in a relationship?

There we go there? Okay?

Well, I would guarantee that no one in this room

would be looking for character qualities of someone who gets

ticked really easily. I know you're not out there looking

for someone who loves to just swear, who loves to

pick a fight, who loves to argue at all costs,

someone who lacks any moral compass, who lacks self control,

who gives up easily, who's selfish or angry, curses and yells,

am I wrong?

Does that sound good to any of you? Okay?

If it does, we have some wonderful counselors in our church.

Who can break that down for you.

But with these kinds of fruit, growing in your life,

growing in the life of you. I was going to

say in the growing in the life of your spouse,

But let's look inward. What's not attractive about a person

who has some patience, who is faithful, who has self control? Man,

gentleness is attractive. The next hands will benefit is gentleness

sets you apart. You want to look different from your workers,

Try a little humility. You want to rise above the

status quo. Stay calm under trial, don't lose your cool.

Proverbs eleven sixteen says a kind hearted woman gains respect,

but a ruthless man gains only wealth. And I love

how the writer just dismisses wealth like it's only wealth.

But you know what wealth can't buy, kindness and action gentleness.

The next tangible benefit is that gentleness brings blessing on

your life. Matthew five nine says, blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God. When you

carry strength under control and gentleness comes out through kindness,

and you bring peace to a situation, you will be

a blessing to others, and God in return will bless you.

Sounds awesome.

Finally, the greatest of what I think The greatest of

these tangil benefits is that gentleness overpopulates heaven. Let me

say that again, gentleness overpopulates heaven. When you and I

begin to grow the fruit of gentleness, we begin to

look a lot like a lot less like our old self,

and we begin to look more like Jesus. And what

does the Bible say that it is God's kindness that

leads people to repentance. It's not anger, it's not a

lack of self control or running into arguments. But when

you demonstrate gentleness and that kindness in action is reflected,

people will want to be around you. People will want

to be around you. That's another form of being attractive.

You will attract people to yourself. And then, when we

say it all the time around the church, we're all broken,

we all come from different paths. But what holds us

together or it is commonality, is at just the right time,

Jesus crossed our path and he changed everything. Right you

exercising gentleness, you might be the person that crosses someone's path,

and you demonstrating gentleness will make the Father look great.

So come on, gentleness overpopulate heaven. So how are you

doing and reflecting Jesus today, gentleness, how are you doing

in that? I'll tell you there are several things that

wage war against gentleness. Pride, your refusal to give in.

You would rather be miserable and in a fight than

to give in for the sake of peace in your home.

Come on, I am preaching to somebody here. Did you

know that if you would just stop being so prideful

and such a jerk and always needing to win, that

you could solely be responsible responsible for bringing peace into

your home. You laying down your pride, kind sir, could

be the one thing that brings your kids back around

because they can't stand.

Being around you. That sounded angry. I'm not angry. I'm gentle.

I'm gentle.

I'm gentle, strength under control, Thank you Lord, that's awesome.

Anger.

Do you struggle with anger? Do you have outbursts? Are

you listening to things that could be contributing to that?

Do you work around people that are constantly feeding this

angry attitude? I get it, it's hard when you work

in that environment. But did you know that you can

control who you allowed to influence you and the things

you allow into your life?

Rage? Do you have outbursts? Of rage. Do you jump

to argue?

Could it be a lack of self control or maybe

selfishness contributing to that. Because you don't get your way,

you throw a fit. I've seen that in my life.

You just want to win the argument. Say you just

blow up. You make a mountain out of a molehill

talking harshly. Do you swear like a sailor. I'm not

saying that swearing is causing you to not be gentle,

but if gentleness is strength under control, perhaps you should

exercise some of that God given control and control your tongue.

Misuse of power, strength out of control. We talk about strength.

Gentleness is strength under control. But you using your strength,

the strength of your personality, the strength of you physically,

to harm yourself or harm others has no place in

the life of a Christ follower. So I just pray

that that is broken off of you today.

A misuse of power.

Ephesians four thirty one says, get rid of all bitterness,

rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form

of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving

each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

I know that I.

Mentioned our counselors earlier in kind of a funny moment,

but I mean it, Heather, Taylor and Hopkins, your pastors

were here for you. If these are things that you

struggle with and you want to see this fruit of

gentleness grow in you, we want to help. When gentleness

is growing in our lives, we can carry ourselves with confidence,

with strength and authority, yet filled with the same kind

of gentleness that Jesus and God the Father has.

Demonstrated to us.

Amen, I want to close this entire sermon series by

us reading one of my favorite psalms together. It's from

Psalm Want In fact, will you stand with me, We're

going to read this together out loud.

Here we will read it out loud.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the

council of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight

is in the law of the Lord, and on his

law he meditates day and night. He is like a

tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit

in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they

do prospers. I love that which yields its fruit in season.

We've learned about a lot of fruit. You're a fruit,

I'm a fruit.

I know I'm a nerd.

But we do want we want these fruit to be

evident in our lives because we want to be an

imitator of God.

We want to look like him.

And the only way we know if fruit is growing

in our life is for the Lord to put us

on opportunities to demonstrate it. How do you know which

fruit is in season? Well, when you're needing patience because

you're on four or five in traffic, patience is the

fruit that's in season.

Right when you have.

That opportunity to go back to the cupboard because you

lack self control in that area, or you're tempted again

in your thought life, self control is the fruit that's

in season in that moment.

Right.

This is why it's so important, friends, for us to

not disconnect from the vine, but to stay connected to

Him at all times.

We just bow your heads.

I'm just gonna ask two quick questions and then we're

gonna be dismissed. God wants these fruit to grow in

your life, friends, but we cannot come to church on

Sundays and then disconnect like an electric car you've got

to be like a tree planted by streams of water.

And if you have failed, and if the fruit aren't growing,

or the fruit in your life is one of these

other things that I've discussed, don't be condemned, don't let

the enemy hold that over you.

Just plug back.

In, reconnect today, day, reconnect. Or maybe you're like you've

never accepted Christ into your life, but you're like, this

sounds like a great way to live, and you want

to let this grow, this fruit grow in your life.

If either of those things, will you just raise your

hand right now, Sean, pray for me. I want these

fruit to grow in my life. Yep, thank you, Thank you, Jesus.

We're thankful that you're patient with us and you're gentle

with us. You have all authority in your name, and

you could so easily just condemn us or use your

power to squash us.

But you don't. That's not in your character. Lord.

Will you please remove all rage, all anger, all bitterness,

all these fruit that are rotten out of our life,

And will you grow the fruit of gentleness so that

all these.

Other fruit in action can make you famous.

Lord, forgive us of our sin, purify us from all unrighteousness.

Set us free, make us different, Help us live our

lives that reflect you will in the name of Jesus.

Somebody said, amen, Yeah, let's give it up for the

word