Fruit that Remains
Kingdom Gentleness…
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Hedge Laws: Man-made laws designed to keep you from breaking God-given laws
Mark 7:8-9 NLT
“For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” 9 Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.”
The Yoke of Jesus: Gentleness, Humility, Rest, Grace and the Holy Spirit
- “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.” Matt 11:29
- “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26
The Kingdom of God
- “For the Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
The Early Church
- “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—” -Paul 2 Cor. 10:1
- “The answer to a million and one questions, is to be led of the Holy Spirit!”
- “…we were gentle when we came to you. We were like a mother caring for her children.” 1 Thess 2:7
- “By patience and a calm spirit, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].” Proverbs 25:15 AMP
Yokes of the flesh:
- Yoke of hostility: Anyone who disagrees with us and our mindset is not worthy of our time or dialogue. We will fervently argue points with no hope of reconciliation or desire of reconciliation.
- Yoke of pride: Promotes self-first and causes us to fear ever being wrong or walking in humility.
- Yoke of resentment: Cynical towards the very people God sent us to serve and help, and even resentful of those who also identify as Christians.
- Yoke of offense: Perpetuates the mistrust of others, and believes that everyone is out to get us, and everyone has a personal agenda against me.
- Yoke of passivity: Willingness to allow others to fulfill our kingdom assignments, while we pursue our personal interests that serve our benefit only.
- Yoke of legalism: Constantly critical of others and their walk with God, or lack of walk with God. This yoke can be incredibly judgmental and constantly fault finding.
Committing to the life of a Kingdom Christian: (Take Away’s)
Be sensitive to the many yokes that will compete for your attention.
Make it a non-negotiable to be Spirit-led in all your decisions, interactions, and representations of Jesus to others.
Do a self-inventory of yokes you are currently carrying and begin to lay them down and pick up Jesus’ gentleness in their place.
Step into a place of rest in Jesus, knowing that you do not have to take up all the battles, worries and fears that life throws at you.