Tonight we will study Gentleness in our Ladies’ Bible class. Things are pretty hectic around here and have been for a while so I feel very unprepared. Thankfully, the lesson book we’re using (Heading For Harvest: A fruit of the Spirit Study by Joyce Jamerson) is written well and is easy to use.

Gentleness is strength. We typically don’t think of it that way but to be truly gentle we must be strong.

Gentleness, Kindness, Meekness and Patience all work together. You can’t be truly patient and ungentle at the same time. As we begin to work on one of these on our lives, we simultaneously add the others. It’s not like the steps on stairs that we get kindness, then we move on to patience, and then to gentleness and so on. We work on the whole package at once.

A gentle person will calmly discuss with others subjects that they might disagree on. A gentle person will take the time to explain his/herself completely — not assume someone already gets it or that someone is not capable of getting it. A gentle person will “cultivate ways to be more loving”. These three descriptions of a gentle person are things we have to work at to accomplish. It is the “hard thing” the thing that needs strength to accomplish.

Proverbs 16:32 READ

Gentleness requires strength. It also requires planning. We don’t just one day appear gentle. It is something that is worked on day to day, event to event. Like anything worth doing, it may be hard at first, it may seem awkward but eventually, it will be second nature. It will be a part of who you are.

We all have trying times in our lives. Whether we are:

Raising Children
Dealing With Co-workers or other adults in our jobs
Growing Old Gracefully

Each of these stages of our lives will be more productive, more pleasant and we will be loved by others more if we are gentle.

Ephesians 4:1-2
Phil 4:5
1 Pet 3:3-4
Col 3:12

Gentleness is something we put on — adorn ourselves with. We must actively pursue it.

2 Peter 1:5-11 Especially verse 8 Typically called the Christian Graces.

Our spiritual gentleness comes into play when:
 
1) Titus 3:1-4 Considerate, not contentious, like our Savior
2) 1 Peter 3:15 We teach others with gentleness and reverence. We first prepare ourselves by “setting Christ in our own hearts” and then tell others about the hope that is in us.
3) 2 Timothy 2:25 Gently teach those that are in opposition so they can escape the snare of the devil.
4) Galatians 6:1 Restore and erring brother or sister with a spirit of gentleness and wisdom

Moses was gentle. He was strong, he was brave. He talked boldly with God and told him his true feelings. God listened. Moses was bold and brave but he was gentle and meek. Moses boldly stood before Pharoah. We may not be asked to do anything as grand as Moses but we can be as gentle, as meek, as strong and as brave in our daily encounters with others.

Nebuchadnezzar? Opposite of Moses. He was arrogant. God showed him who he truly was and eventually, Nebuchadnezzar realized it was not all about him. Daniel 4:33-37

Consider the arrogance of Haman as well.

Proverbs 3:5-8 READ

How can we begin to cultivate gentleness? Use our previous experiences to help us relate to others. Sickness? Death of loved one? All life experiences can help us feel for the other person. Consider Job — his friends thought they would be helpful — they weren’t. Learn from their mistakes.

Making ourselves available while holding our tongues while we’re learning is a good plan.

Philippians 4:6-7 READ

We show our strength when we trust in God. Is it possible that we think we’re trusting in God (because we prayed about a problem) and then we lean on our own solutions? Ezra had enough faith in God to depend on His solution for their dilemma not his own. Read Ezra 8:21-23. Read vs 31 too see how God helped them.

We should find strength in our weaknesses as Paul did 2 Corinthians 12:10.

When we say someone is wise, what are really saying about them? How do we know they are wise? James 3:13 says: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Also:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17