Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness | Sermon, 10/8/26

Gentleness is best understood as strength under control. Jesus was present at creation, He commanded the wind and waves to be still, He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance, He tells the sea; *"this far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt!"* And yet, He tends His flock like a shepherd and gently leads those with young. He invites the weary and heavy laden to come to Him declaring Himself to be gentle and lowly at heart. He is the purest example of strength under control; physical and authorittive power intentionally deployed or withheld based on Love - what is best for the other. There is no selfishness in Jesus' use of His strength.

Like all other fruit, this is not something we can develop in ourselves. Rather as we understand and experience the Grace of the Lord, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God, gentleness begins to develop in us. And always we have a Shepherd who is tender, for a bruised read He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not quench. When our flesh and our hearts fail, and they will, God remains our help, our strength and our portion forever. Oh what a Savior, isn't He wonderful!!

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with Isaiah 42:1-4, Isaiah 40:10-18, Job 38:1-12, Psalm 73:26, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 11:27-30, Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 4:2