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By The Spirit… Gentleness
There is a transformation expectation.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. —ESV Galatians 5:16–26
Hope to be made new…
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” —NLT 1 Samuel 16:7
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. —ESV Numbers 12:3
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. —ESV Matthew 5:5
True meekness is a quality only the strong can possess… those who have the power and strength to exert themselves but choose not to…
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! —NIV Philippians 2:1–8
Honest evaluation… 1 – 10 … is gentleness / meekness a descriptive term others would use to describe you…
Three times when it’s difficult to be gentle:
- When I’m not filled up
- When I feel slighted
- When I take people for granted
What do we do to walk in the direction of meekness and gentleness…. 3 Keys
1. Stay in step
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. —NIV Galatians 5:16; 25–26
Sudden death vs. gradual death
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. —NLT Ephesians 5:15–19
2. Choose to walk in the gentle way
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —NIV Philippians 4:4–7
3. Ask God to shape and transform you daily as you walk in the way of gentleness
Mindful and intentional
Filled and transformed
Poured out for all to see
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