Fruit
Of The Spirit
Fruit
Of The Spirit
Lesson Twelve: The Fruit Of Gentleness
TEXT: Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. <emphasis mine>
Gentleness comes from the Greek word chrestotes that means “not wanting to hurt someone or give him or her pain.” Another definition is “a kindly disposition toward others” or “usefulness’ to others.”
Gentleness is very similar to the Fruit of Goodness listed in the same list in Galatians. We will discuss the Fruit of Goodness in depth next lesson. Gentleness is what people see in a believer, while goodness is what they experience from that believer. Without kindness, or gentleness, there will be no manifested goodness.
Ephes. 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Kindness brings a tender disposition. The main function of the fruit of kindness is that it enables believers to be the salt of the earth.
Matthew 5:13 - Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savoir, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
To the degree to which we believers are useful to God is determined by the degree to which the fruit of gentleness has been developed in our lives, for believers are only good to God (useful) as they are good to people. A believer who loses his kindly disposition toward someone automatically loses his usefulness for God. Jesus said when this happens, such a person might as well be “cast out.” and “trodden under foot of men.”
Philip. 2:14-15 - Do all things without murmurings and disputing: [15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Paul said if believers murmur and dispute and complain, their lights would not shine. The murmurings cause their disposition to change. (Jesus said ye are the light of the world). When this happens our good works, (Matthew 5:16), cease to be manifested. The fruit of kindness or gentleness must be developed if we are to shine as lights in the world (v.15) and show the goodness of God to a lost and dying world.
1. The Fruit of Gentleness Is Comparable To The PURIFYING Quality of Salt.
Titus 3:3-5 - For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, [5] not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Salt is used as a fertilizer to prepare soil for bearing fruit. In the same way, kindness prepares the hearts of unbelievers for receiving the implantation of reconciliation. We received the New Birth because of the KINDNESS or GENTLENESS of God. Kindness is a forerunner of regeneration. When an unbeliever experiences the kindness of God, his heart is literally prepared to receive the Word of God.
Romans 2:4 - Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Believers are Gods expression of kindness to the world. The kindness of God manifested through us is the fullness of Jesus to the world.
1 Peter 3:1-4 - Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; [2] While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [3] Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [4] But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
The word conversation means behavior. Peter Is saying that unbelievers will be won by watching and beholding the “goodness” of a believer’s attitude and actions. So many lost people are not saved because the “light” of our Father is hidden in a rude disposition or angry spirit. How can we believers be rude to people and expect to win them over to Christ? (This is why many Christian wives do not win their lost husbands and\vice versa. In addition, when we Christians are rude and hateful to waitresses and waiters in restaurants, we destroy our chance to win those people to CHRIST!)
2. Kindness Is Also Comparable To The Universal Quality of Salt.
From the most elite restaurant in a huge metropolitan complex to the humblest village cafe, salt is universally identical. It tastes the same no matter where it is shaken on. Just as salt is ‘no respecter of restaurants,’ kindness or gentleness is no respecter of persons.
James 2:9 - But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Being respecters of persons Is one of the most widespread sins in the Body of Christ today. Most Christians mix a little pepper In with their salt. They judge those they deem unworthy of their own standards of righteousness. THIS IS SIN!
Mark 9:50 - Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
The recent race war that we witnessed before our very eyes is a direct reaping of the race and denominational war that is being fought in the church. Since the fruit of kindness enables believers to always be the same regardless of where they are or whom they are with, it also enables them to be peace with everyone.
To The Unbeliever
To be separate from evildoers does not mean that we be unkind of sinners. Jesus fellowshipped with the sinner without partaking of the sin. He did this to win them to Himself.
Hebrews 7:25-26 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
To The Believer.
We are not to elevate ourselves or even other members higher than the ordinary people in our church.
1 Thes. 5:12-13 - And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; [13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
James 2:1-4 - My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. [2] For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; [3] And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: [4] Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
When we find ourselves being kind or gentle to someone in the Body of Christ even though that person cannot help us materially, spiritually or in any other way, then we can be assured the fruit of gentleness is being developed in us.
To Our Families
Many believers have no trouble being kind-EXCEPT OR UNTIL THEY GET HOME. The fruit of kindness enables one to be gentle and sweet to the members of our own family in spite of all the little irritations that go with living together day in and day out. God is concerned about how believers treat their spouses. He impressed the Apostle Paul to write:
1 Tim. 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Titus 2:4-5 - That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
The fruit of kindness enables husbands to be kind to their wives no matter how they respond and vice versa. It allows the husband and wife to fulfill the Word of God concerning how they treat one another.
3. The Fruit Of Kindness Is Like The Antiseptic Quality of Salt.
Like salt, kindness has antiseptic qualities that make it useful as a mouthwash.
Col. 4:6 - Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Ephes. 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
When a believer’s tongue is seasoned with kindness. It will affect the words he speaks to people.
1. It will help him turn away wrath.
Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
So many times, our response usually dictates whether we have a ‘knockdown-drag-out” fight or avoid all division, confusion and arguing. A kind response will prevent many misunderstandings.
2. It will enable a believer to withhold wounds.
Proverbs 18:8 - The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
A talebearer is one who “whispers.” that is one who is unkind in his words. Unkind words are very hurtful to people, leaving deep, festering wounds in their hearts. Words hurt worse than even physical beatings. Words possess a power to wound the heart unlike nothing else:
Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Believers whose speech has been salted with the fruit of kindness will be able to speak pleasant words that bring health rather than harmful words.
3. It will enable the believer to cease from strife.
Proverbs 26:20 - Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
Strife within a local church will continue to spread until it encounters a believer who has the fruit of kindness in his life. The devil needs only one talebearer to ignite a rumor, and the resulting slander and gossip will spread to believers until it encounters and is thus extinguished by a heart full of kindness.
Matthew 5:15 - Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house.
Proverbs 20:27 - The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Jesus wants the candles that He has lit be placed on candlesticks so that light might shine to all that are in the house. In Matthew 5, Jesus warned us to guard our candles against bushels that would prevent our lights from shining. Bushels are anything that would come against a believer and distort his disposition in order to affect his kindness, which inevitably quenches his goodness. There are many “bushel-heads” in the Body of Christ.
The Bushel of Offense.
Proverbs 18:19 - A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
An offended believer displays contention, not kindness. Jesus said two consequences of becoming offended are hatred and betrayal. (Matthew 24:9.10). Overcoming being offended is found through the Word of God, practicing love and ministry.
The Word of God.
John 16:1 - These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
Psalm 119:165 - Great peace have they that love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
The only reason a believer ever gets offended is because he is shallow in the Word of God.
Love
Love is not easily offended. It’s longsuffering and is not easily provoked. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). During times of offense, the temptation is to point a finger at everyone else for our own problems. The time of temptation should be a time of self-examination.
Ministry
After Jesus washed the disciples feet, He told them, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15). Jesus knelt beside the feet of Judas knowing that he would betray Him. Surely, Jesus was tempted to be offended with Judas, for the Bible tells us that He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15). He had poured His life and soul into Judas and now at the end, Judas would sell him out. Jesus overcame this temptation by MINISTERING love to the very person who would betray him to his death.
Paul echoed the Spirit of Christ in these words:
Romans 12:19-21 - Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Bushel of Intimidation
2 Tim. 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The word fear is from the Greek word deleia that means “timidity.” God has not given us believers a timid, shy, spirit. Timidity is a thief that will rob us of our potential for goodness. A believer cannot have a sound mind when he is timid, neither will he be as powerful as God Intends for Him to be:
Proverbs 28:1 - The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Timidity will hinder the fruit of kindness from developing in a believer’s life. Becoming bold is done through spending time with Jesus, and simply asking God for boldness.
Being in the Presence of Jesus.
Acts 4:13 - Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
The reason Peter and John possessed such boldness is that they had been with Jesus, who is called the Lion of Judah.
Who can help but speak when the lion roars? When we believers get In the presence of the “LION” and clearly hear Him roar, we cannot help but speak up! Many believers are hesitant to speak forth what God has laid on their hearts to say.
Asking God for boldness.
Acts 4:29-30 - And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, [30] By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
God answered the disciples’ prayer and gave them BOLDNESS. We should never hesitate to ask God for boldness.
By Praying for One Another
Ephes. 6:18-20 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; [19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
We can develop boldness in our own lives and see it developed in the lives of others by our prayers.
Study Questions For Lesson Twelve Are Combined At The End Of Lesson Thirteen