Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness & Self-Control

**Due to technical difficulties there is no audio recording of this sermon. Below is a detailed outline:

The Fruit of the Spirit
Living in the Light of His Leading
Galatians 5:22-23
Sermon Eight: Gentleness & Self-Control
Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1-7

• Opening Illustration: Attitudes that lead to actions.
• Gentleness. What are we talking about?—Defining our terms
  • Gentleness translates the Greek term πραΰτης which means, “the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness (BDAG).”
  • In Classical Greek: “A calm and soothing disposition; is contrasted with rage and savagery.”
    • It implies moderation.
    • It implies reconciliation.
  • Our translation: Gentleness is the voluntary restriction of your own power.
  • Some Illustrations:
    • A little kid petting a dog or a cat.
    • What do we tell them? Be gentle.
    • What do we mean? Don’t tug on the cat’s tail as hard as you can.
    • Why do we say this? So that the child doesn’t get scratched or bitten.
  • Gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit
    • What does it mean that faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit?
    • What does this lead us to assume?
• What Else does the Bible Say about Gentleness? Jesus is Gentle.
  • Jesus calls us to come to Him because He is gentle.
    • Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
  • Jesus’ gentleness fulfills messianic prophecy.
    • Matthew 21:5 (Quoting Zechariah 9:9) “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'”
    • Matthew 12:20-21 (Quoting Isaiah 42:3) 20 “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”
  • Paul was Gentle.
    • 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
    • Philemon 1:8-9 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–
  • We must be Gentle in confronting error.
    • 2 Timothy 2:24-26 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
    • Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
    • Galatians 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
  • We must be Gentle towards everyone.
    • To brothers and sisters in Christ
      • Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
    • To Outsiders
      • Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

• Self-Control. What are we talking about?—Defining our terms
  • Definition—“Self-control” translates the Greek term ἐγκράτεια which means, “restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires.”
  • Our translation- Self-Control is the voluntary restriction of our own desires.
  • Illustrations
    • In classical Greek philosophy, self-control was a central focus. Mastering the self was seen as the highest virtue.
    • Remarkably, the Bible doesn’t emphasize self-control quite like the stoics or the ascetics did. Why?
    • Because Christianity preserves a high honor for the body.
    • Because Christianity understands that the self cannot be totally mastered by our own efforts.
  • Self-Control as a fruit of the Spirit
    • What does it mean that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit?
    • What does this lead us to assume?
    • That the self must be controlled.
    • This point is made absolutely obvious in the context. See Galatians 5:16-24
• What else does the Bible say about self-control?
  • It requires discipline
    • 1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
  • It is necessary because of the battle between the flesh and the Spirit
    • See Galatians 5:16-24
    • 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
• Conclusions to this Study
  • Walk in dependence, not in independence.
  • Make your life an exercise in constant, willing submission to God.
  • Submit to His commands.
  • Submit yourselves to His leading and power.
  • Remember, all these things are FRUIT, not ROOT!
  • The fruit of the Spirit is what God produces in us, not what we produce for God.
  • Keep fighting no matter how often or how badly you fail.
  • The battle will last for the rest of your life. You might as well fight until the battle is won.
  • 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

Remember: You cannot walk by the Spirit if you have not yet received the Spirit.
You cannot lead the Christian life if you are not a Christian.