Remember that? Its host, David Horowitz, encouraged taking aggressive action in order to demand one's rights. It seems to me that the spirit of the Fight Back program was something of a reflection of the spirit of man and of this humanistic age. Of course, there are times when it is entirely appropriate to insist upon one's rights. But that spirit is not the kind that should mark a Christian who is conducting himself as God's
royalty. Human royalty may, in fact, be characterized by a certain arrogance or a pompous attitude. But never, never should heavenly royalty be characterized that way. To walk worthy of our high calling in Christ Jesus, we are to be known for certain qualities. He tells us here, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness. We are in the first place to be known for our
humility. Not thinking of ourselves as worthless, but regarding ourselves as unworthy. Not thinking less than we should of ourselves, but then not thinking more than we ought. Not failing to have a proper self -esteem, but considering others as more important. and failing to properly assert ourselves by denying the aggressive, self -serving ways of the natural man. That's humility. Humility is a slippery thing, for just when you think you've attained it, you've lost it. The smaller
we are, the more room God has to work. It seems to me that's why that particular... quality heads this list in Ephesians 4. But there are other qualities here, other qualities which also must mark the character of those who are God's chosen called children. These qualities being present will preserve the unity of the fellowship, and that, by the way, is the context of this whole first paragraph. But in addition to preserving unity, these qualities will prove to be an acceptable
lifestyle to God. Now let's move ahead in our text and look today at this matter of gentleness. Gentleness is sometimes misunderstood. We notice here that it's paired in a yoke with humility. Sometimes in Scripture these two are in fact associated, as here, Colossians 3 .12. There's another list of qualities which we are to bring into our lives, and there also humility is paired with gentleness. The reason for that is probably that only the humble can be gentle. Gentleness
flows from humility. wrote, it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and that word is synonymous with gentle, and which as such, he continues, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with him. This meekness or gentleness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face
of men, even of evil men. out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by God for the chastening and purifying of his elect. Humility and gentleness go together. This word is also translated, as does Trench in some translations of the Bible, meekness. It means power that is under control. It is a dynamic that comes from energy that is harnessed and channeled in the right direction. A horse is a powerful animal
and a beautiful animal. It is fun just to watch horses run wild. But it is not until that horse is brought under control. placed into a harness and attached to some equipment, that that energy is brought into usefulness. And so it is with this idea of gentleness. It is a dynamic energy that is harnessed and then channeled in the right direction. It is the fruit, not of weakness,
but of spiritual power. The linguistic key to the Greek New Testament says this about this word, the humble and gentle attitude which expresses itself in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice and desire for revenge. I repeat, gentleness is not weakness. Rather, it is the full strength of human personality which is in
submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words says, It is that temper of spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing and resisting. It is in submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Synonymous words might include consideration. Gentleness is kindness. It is thoughtfulness, graciousness. Gentleness is not rudeness. It is not harshness. A gentle
spirit is a soothing disposition. Undoubtedly, the greatest example in all of human history of gentleness. He is the person of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He said of himself in Matthew 11, 29, I am gentle and humble of mind. Our Savior possessed all power. It was his. All authority resided in our Lord, and yet it was never out of control. So never think of gentleness as weakness. Our Savior was gentle as well as humble. His majestic power as God was completely
under control. And yet, it might be good to point out that there were times when Jesus was angry. That's not a contradiction to gentleness, by the way. That person who cannot be angry is an emotional cripple. A person who hears that our legislature is considering what it is this week, that I talked about earlier, and is not angry about that, does not become indignant because of it, is somehow missing something in his personality. There are appropriate times when anger is the
right response. And then it also must be expressed in an appropriate way. Anger is not necessarily the opposite of gentleness. In fact, I see gentleness and anger as complementary. Anger is a human emotion. It may be righteously felt and expressed, or sinfully so as well. We ought to become indignant at injustice, at oppression, and sin. And if we don't, something's wrong. Our world was indignant
about these things. J. Adams, in his edited New Testament entitled The Christian Counselor's New Testament, says this, Anger is not sinful in itself. It is an emotion designed to mobilize force to tear something apart. Anger is sinful when it grows out of pride, hurt feelings, etc. Anger is sinful when it's expressed in sinful ways. Two sinful expressions are Blowing up and clamming up. Blowing up, ventilation, is energy wasted and used to tear up others. That's sin.
Clamming up or internalization is energy wasted and used to tear up ourselves on the inside. He continues, there is a scripturally acceptable expression of anger. Anger released under control and aimed at tearing up the problem while building up persons. Those are good words. If you want a helpful book on anger, there is one in our bookstore that's available. There are eight copies that are left. And I didn't mention the first service. I forgot to. So they may still be there.
But it's called Anger, Yours, Mine. what to do about it. I encourage you to buy it. Gentleness is not in contradiction to indignation. Our Savior was a perfect example of this balance. Gentleness is one quality that should characterize our relationships. How then is it to be expressed? The New Testament gives us some ways in which gentleness may be appropriately evidenced in the life. I'd like you to look at these with me. In the first place, the Bible teaches us that gentleness should be
exercised in matters of discipline. Turn with me to Galatians, just back a couple of pages from where we are, to the sixth chapter in the first verse. He says, Brethren, if any man is caught in a trespass, You who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Now the apostle is dealing here with all of us in this matter of discipline. You see, church discipline is not just for the pastor
and the elders of the church. Biblically, church discipline is the responsibility of each one of us. We are to look out for each other. Now he says if we see one who is overtaken, who is caught in a trespass, one who has been ensnared in sin, what are we to do? We are not to gossip
about that person. We are not to make... accusations about that person, but it says that we are to go to that person and to seek to restore, to bring healing, to free that person from being caught and to pull them back so they may be put back together. That is the responsibility of each of us. But notice it tells us that we who are spiritual are to do that. Now someone says, oh, well, you know, I'm not a spiritual person. Shame on you. What a terrible admission ever
to make to say I am not a spiritual person. That's an awful confession. You say, well, what is a spiritual person? Well, I'm glad you asked. Because, you see, a spiritual person in the first place is not a perfect person. A spiritual person is not a sinless person. In fact, a spiritual person may not even be a mature Christian. A brand new
baby in Christ can be a spiritual person. A spiritual person is one who is simply walking, that is living, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit and not himself, according to chapter 5 where it's defined for us. That is a spiritual person. It's one who has confessed his sins as fully as he knows them to be, has claimed God's forgiveness faithfully, freely extended to us in Christ, and who then says, Lord, you dominate me. You, by your Holy Spirit, control my life, energize
me. That person, from that point on, is a spiritual person until he chooses to sin, and then the Holy Spirit obviously isn't in control anymore, and he has to confess and yield afresh to the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual walk continues. It is a terrible thing to say, I am not a spiritual Christian, because every one of us can and should be spiritual, because we are walking with God, dealing with our sins when they erupt in their ugliness. And then allowing the Holy Spirit to
go on and control us from that point on. Now he says, we who are spiritual, who are dealing with our sins, who are not caught at the present time, because all of us have at times been caught. We have been overtaken and we've needed someone to come to us. This morning there are some of us who are sitting here who are caught in sin. And our greatest need is for someone here to love us enough to do what this verse tells them to do. To come to us and wrap their arms around
us and help to restore us. And when they come to us, by the way, we must not reject them, be angry with them. Even if at first it burns a little bit, it stings when they say what they do. Let's be thankful they love us enough to come. And we who are going and obeying the word of God in this matter, he tells us here we're to not only be spiritual, but he says that we're to do this with a spirit of gentleness. We're not to be harsh. We're not to go out to grab
them by the tie and say, now look, fella. No, that's not the way we restore people. We don't like to be talked to that way. And as we deal with people, we must be gentle with them. Paul pled with the Corinthians. He says, look, do you want me to come to you with a rod of correction? You know what that is. Or may I come with gentleness and humility. He did not want to come with a spanking stick. By the way, boys and girls, young people, young men and women, Your parents don't
enjoy coming to you with a spanking stick. I know there are times you think that their greatest delight is beating you. And I put that in quotes. Your parents do not enjoy spanking you. They seek to obey the word of God and discipline you, bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They would much rather come to you with gentleness. And they can if you'll let them. Because a lot of it depends upon your attitude and the way you're willing to receive their instruction,
their chastisement, their discipline. If you'll be receptive to that, then it helps them a great deal to be able to avoid that rod, which must at some times nonetheless be used. When we deal with people in matters of discipline, it's to be with gentleness. Secondly, We are to exercise discipline in matters of difference. Turn over to 2 Timothy 2. Here, through the Apostle Paul, we are instructed this way. Verse 24, 2 Timothy 2. And the Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome.
But be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness, correcting those who are in opposition, that perhaps God may grant them repentance, leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. Now, these are words written really to all of us, and especially the leaders. You know what he tells us here? He tells us that we can't expect
opposition. You write it down that if you're not being opposed in what you're doing to serve the Lord, something's wrong with you. Opposition is just natural. It's going to be there. Now, the important thing is how we handle it, and that's what he addresses. And among other things, he says that we are to with gentleness seek to correct those who are wrong. Now he tells us that God may grant them repentance so that they
can see what the truth really is. He tells us at the present time that they're out of their senses. They're intoxicated and need to sober up is the idea. And they're not necessarily intoxicated on booze. You can be intoxicated on false ideas and thinking. He tells us, furthermore, that they're held captive by Satan to do what he wants. Now, rather than getting unrighteously angry, we are to gently seek to restore them. In fact, we may get angry with those who are opposed.
But that anger should not be expressed in either ventilation or internalization. That's only a waste, a waste of energy. But rather, under control, we are to seek to correct the problem and at the same time build up the person. Gentleness is to be used in matters of difference. There are differences here. There's not a congregation in the world where there are not differences. You have a congregation of two people and you've got differences. Here's how to handle them with
gentleness. Now a third proper exercise of gentleness is in the matter of discipleship. Turn over with me please to James chapter 1 and verse 19. This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. The life verse of every parent. Right? The one that should be written over the mirror. So that whenever you look at yourself, you have to see what those words say. They're hard words to put into practice in my life. He tells us
why. Because the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. You know when we are angry people. When we have anger that is churning down inside of us. And sometimes we don't even know when that is. Often it's expressed by depression. Depression is often anger that's internalized. When there is anger that is churning down inside of us, it never accomplishes the righteousness of God in our lives. We have to deal with that anger in a right way. Sometimes we need help
to do that, professional help. There's nothing wrong with that. Anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God in our lives or in the lives of others. Do you know an angry person begets angry people? Then he goes on to say, therefore putting aside all filthiness and all the remains of wickedness, in humility, and here's our same word, gentleness. In gentleness, receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. He draws a picture here of our hearts, and he
says our hearts are like a garden. They can go to weeds. If you have a garden, maybe that's the way yours looks right now, if you haven't planted it yet. Weeds are very natural to soil, just as they're natural to the human heart. He tells us that we have to first of all get the weeds out of the garden. He says get rid of the filthiness, all of it. Get rid of all the remains of wickedness. Tear out all of that excess growth. Remove it so that the word of God can be implanted
down to the soil of your heart. Now he tells us that as it's planted, it needs to be planted with some fertilizer. You see what it is? It's gentleness. He says as you open up your heart, all the weeds being pulled out, as you open up your heart to the Word of God, as hopefully you do when you come to church on Sunday, or when you sit down in that Bible study at home, or in the small group that you meet with, or as
you personally open God's Word. As you have the Word of God planted down in your heart, he says, fertilize it, receive it, appropriate it with gentleness. And he says if we do this, we'll get a nice crop. He says it's able to save your souls. That's a pretty good produce. He's not talking about salvation from hell. He's addressing believers here who've already been saved in that sense. He's talking about being saved from the misery, the woe, the destruction of a life that's
overrun by weeds. A Christian life overrun by weeds of filthiness and wickedness. Want to save yourself from a life of misery? You want to save yourself from going in the same direction you're going now and experiencing destruction and everything falling apart? Here's how to do it. Get rid of the weeds. Then begin implanting the word of God in your heart with gentleness. Wherever the discipleship is coming from, let it be received with gentleness so that that seed can be carefully
planted there and not disturbed. So then the Spirit of God can cause it to germinate and bring forth this produce to get your life straightened out. That's what James says. Now there's a third way in which gentleness is to be exercised, and that's in the matter of defense. Turn with me to 1 Peter. Chapter 3 and verse 15. We briefly looked at this last week. Let's come back at
it. It says, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence and keep a good conscience. He tells us here that we can expect to be questioned. There will be times that all of us will face the inquisitor. And someone will say, why do you believe this and that? Now he says, always be ready to give a defense. He doesn't mean defensively.
He doesn't mean to get in a fight about it. You can win an argument and lose a soul. But he says, always be ready to give a reasoned explanation, a rationale for why you believe what you confess to anyone who asks you about it. But notice that in our defense, we're to keep in mind gentleness. He says, do this with gentleness and reverence. Reverence toward God. and reverence toward that person. You know, one of the basic rules of being a good witness for Christ is just to respect
people. Once more, you don't go up to people and take them by the nap of the neck and shake them and try to get them to see their sin and need to trust Christ. Respect that person. Be considerate and courteous of that person, he says, with reverence and with gentleness. Give your answer. to that one who seeks a reason for the hope, that living hope that you have in Jesus Christ. You see, gentleness is very practical.
It should be a part of our everyday life. Gentleness is a grace of spirit that needs to be enjoyed by every child of God. In 1 Timothy 6 .11, Paul says to that young man, There are some things to flee, Timothy. You get away from them. And there are other things that you must pursue with every ounce of strength and energy that you have as a person. And among those things that he lists is gentleness. Pursue gentleness, he says. The book of Titus is so practical. Look at Titus
chapter 3 and verses 1 and 2. He writes to Titus to... Remind all of us to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious. Here's our word, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. Whether they're saved or lost, we are to be a considerate kind of people, gentle people. I'll tell you what, this gentleness presents a powerful testimony in our world today. But in addition to that, it preserves the unity of
the body, a body which is diverse. Just look at us this morning. Almost any way you can think of, we are a diverse people. But he says that gentleness, when it marks our character, will preserve unity in the church. Now the Holy Spirit produces it. You and I are not expected by God to conjure up gentleness. Galatians 5 .23 says that it's one aspect of the fruit of the Holy
Spirit. And so it is as we yield to the Holy Spirit, as we were talking earlier, as we are spiritual people, not carnal, gentleness will be expressed in our lives. It will come. Now, Satan and the world, frankly, have sold us a lie. That lie is that gentleness is not desirable. That gentleness will result in your being taken advantage of, so therefore you had better fight back. And you know, some of us have bought that lie. Like the manager who boasts, I don't have
ulcers, I give them. Or the husband who, if is questioned by his wife, or has a disagreement with his wife, attacks her, even physically abuses her. I want you to know that I believe everything the Bible says regarding the authority of the husband in the home. along with the mutual submissiveness, by the way, of husband and wife, mutual submissiveness. But nowhere is there one word in all the scriptures regarding a wife having the right to touch his
wife to abuse her. Not one word. In fact, that's sin. That's a lack of gentleness. And it's true of wives toward husbands, too. That sometimes happens. And it's true of parents toward children. There's not a place for harsh physical abuse. Now, if in fact that exists in your relationship to somebody, you need to find some help with that. Because not only is that a sin, but there are times when we are predisposed to that because
of experiences that we ourselves have had. The greatest tragedy would be for that to go on and continue and not to be dealt with. It is not a shame for you to seek help from someone if you have that problem in your life, in your home. It's the shame if you don't do something about it. That's the shame. The roommate who gets fed up with the living habits of the other. You know, sometimes a room becomes actually a habitat. You ever experience that? I was 25 when I got
married. I had time to have a lot of roommates, college years and afterward. And I'll tell you, sometimes roommates are tough to get along with. They're just nasty. They're sorry people, as much as I am. It's possible, I'm talking to some career people here today, it's possible that you may want to even take some severe action against that roommate of yours. Hey, be gentle.
Be gentle. Oh, I'll tell you anyway. I remember the one roommate that we had when I was in college and we, because of certain problems that we were confronted with, took him down to the shower and gently showered him. But what you do, do it with gentleness. That's the point. And again, I'm trying to dig myself out here. You may even be angry about some aspect of a relationship with another person, but don't allow that anger
to be sinfully expressed and handled. It may be righteous anger, but deal with it in an appropriate way, not an abusive, wasteful way. Rather than attacking and destroying that other person, get to the problem and build up the person. That's what Jay Adams was trying to tell us. To lack gentleness, folks, to lack gentleness in our lives is a symptom of worldliness. Now some of us would rather... have a list of things that we could say, well, this is worldly if you do
these things. I want to tell you something. If you have that idea of worldliness, you're missing a whole lot that the devil wants you to miss. Because a lack of gentleness is worldliness. Because our world is not gentle. It's militaristic. It's oppressive. It's greedy. It's pushy. Our whole world is based upon the idea, fight back. Gentleness is not the only quality that should mark us as God's children, but it is one quality. Is it a characteristic of your dealings with
others most of the time? With your family? With your co -workers? If not, will you today ask God to make you a gentle person? Will you today allow the Spirit of God to do a fresh work in your heart so that this fruit might be born, this fruit of the Spirit? It is with this very same tenderness and gentleness that the Savior calls us to a place of faith and obedience. He calls His wayward child this morning, maybe you.
And with the tenderness of the father who waited for his prodigal to come home, he waits for you to come. That father that Jesus told about saw his son coming and he ran down the road to meet him. And when he saw him, he didn't say, I told you so. I warned you you would waste your substance if you went out that way. That was true. But rather he just reached out and embraced that
son of his and welcomed him home. I want you to know that's the same gentleness with which the Savior waits for you this morning, prodigal son of his. And it's the same gentleness with which he seeks that lost person. Like the shepherd who went out looking for the one lost sheep. I don't know what the thicket is that you may be caught in this morning. I don't know the predicament.
that your sin has worked you into. I don't know the mess you're in, but I know this, there is a gentle shepherd who came to seek and to save that which is lost. And if you're lost today, he's looking for you, and he wants to save you. Will you let him? Let's bow together. Our Heavenly Father, may the Holy Spirit work into our lives the practical applications of this message that
all of us have to respond to in some way. And if there are those who need particular prayer help this morning, I pray that humility and courage will be seen in their lives as they're willing to step out from where they are and come to the front in response to that gentle voice that they hear inside right now telling them to come. In Jesus' name, amen. Our closing hymn is 301.