Sermon Tone Analysis

*Today* we’re going to be *talking about* the *5th* *FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT* *and that is* *GENTLENESS*.

*If you we’re to look up this word* *in the Strong’s CONCORDANCE*, *it would tell you that* *this word means* *“GENTLENESS”*, *but* it *goes on to say* that *it can also mean* *“KINDNESS”*, *and* *many translation word it that way*, *like* *the Living Bible*, The *NKJV*, *and* the *NIV*.

(The most common)

*I) **KINDNESS** and **GENTLENESS* *are ATTRIBUTES OF GOD*.

*LUK 6:35*

*A) **We think of God as ALMIGHTY* *and* *HE IS*, *but* *we also think of Him as* *SHEPHERD*.

*The ONE WHO GENTLY LEADS HIS SHEEP*, *CARES FOR HIS SHEEP*, *and* *LOVES HIS SHEEP*.

*1) **PSA 18:35*

*(a) **This Gentleness** **of the Lord** **not only made DAVID great**, **but it also led him to write 1 of the most loved PSALMS*.

(*PSA.

23*) *“The LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.”

*

*2) **Probably* *1 of the best scriptures* *to describe the GENTLENESS OF the LORD is found in ISAIAH*.

*(a) **ISA 40:10-12*

*(b) *(*V 11*) *talks about* *HIS GENTLENESS*, *but* *the V BEFORE** **and AFTER** **talk about the STRENGTH and POWER* *of the ALMIGHTY*.

*3) **2COR 10:1*

*(a) **That V tells us** **that** the Lord **Jesus** Christ **is GENTLE*, *but this same Paul* *wrote of Jesus in* (*COL 1:16*) *saying*, *“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether {they be} thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”* (KJV) (His strength and power)

*(b) **You can see the GENTLENESS of the LORD* *when* He was *dealing with the* *SICK*, the *POOR*, the *CHILDREN*, *and** **EVEN* *the FALLEN*.

*B) **MAR 5:35-43*

*1) **This same Jesus** **who CREATED the HEAVENS* *and the EARTH*, *went to this little girl*, *took her by the hand* *and said*, “*ARISE*.”

*After she arose*, *He told the parents to FEED HER*.

*2) **That’s amazing that someone with a great ministry like Jesus’ ministry** **would take time out for 1 little girl**.

*

*3) **I’m impressed with** **the bigger name ministries** **who come to the smaller churches**.*

GETTING *BACK TO the POINT*...

*II) **WE ALL NEED GENTLENESS*.

*A) **1THES 2:7*

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*1) *The *NIV* *says*, *“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.”*

*B) **We need to be GENTLE** **with NEW CHRISTIANS*.

*PETER DESCRIBES them** **in** *(*1PET 2:2*) *as* *“NEWBORN BABES.”*

*C) **Older believers**, **MORE MATURE CHRISTIAN**, **sometimes forget that they set the standard** **for the new born babes*.

*1) **Sometimes the standards that we set for them** **CAN BE HARMFUL*.

*(a) **For instance**, **a Christian**, **who is older in the Lord**, **might tell a NEWBORN BABE* *to* *“JUST STAND IN FAITH.”*

*(b) **That new Christian doesn’t have the WORD IN HIS HEART yet* *TO STAND IN FAITH**.*

*(i) **But if He thinks that’s what he is supposed to do,* *but doesn’t have faith in his heart yet,* *he’s going to fall flat on his face,* *and he may fall away from the Lord because of it*.

*2) **We need a few more Elisha’s** **to tell the NAAMAN’S** **to** **“Go in peace”** **(2KINGS 5:19)* *instead of loading them down with heavy burdens.*

*And we need to hold them up before the Lord* *with prayer* *and* *using our faith for them*.

*(a) **Many times we just have to let them grow in the Lord**.

*

*(b) **It is WISDOM TO BE GENTLE*.

*(i) **JAMES 3:17*

*(c) **That V says* *that the Wisdom* *that is from above* *is GENTLE*.

*(i) **Being GENTLE is using the Wisdom of God*.

*The WISDOM OF GOD** **SAYS** **BE GENTLE*.

*III) **(COL 3:12)* in the *NIV* *says*, *“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, **GENTLENESS** and patience.”*

*A) **This is the same with all the Fruit of the spirit*; *WE NEED TO PUT ON** **LOVE*, *JOY*, *PEACE*, *PATIENCE*, *and** **GENTLENESS**.*

*B) **They’ve already been given to us in our hearts*, *but it’s up to us* *to BRING THESE THINGS TO the SURFACE*.

*1) **Paul said in* *(EPH 4:32)* *“And be ye kind one to another,”*

*2) *And *in* *(2TIM 2:24)* *Paul said*, *“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all {men},”*

*(a) **Let’s walk in this fruit of GENTLENESS*.

!

TFC and WOLCC 7~/31~/94 Sun AM and WOLCC Thursday, September 25, 1997