INDWELLING SPIRIT: THE SIDE EFFECT OF KINDNESS

               

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INDWELLING SPIRIT: SIDE EFFECT OF GENTLENESS

“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

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Gentleness and Meekness are similar in meanings and both refer to the attitudes or behaviors of humility, kindness, quiet surrender, restrained strength, no desire, whatsoever, for revenge, unselfishness, a prompt of love.“…Remind the believers … they should be gentle  and show true humility to everyone….” (Titus 3:1-2 NLT).  

It takes a SPECIAL kind of POWER to be truly GENTLE. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that GIVES this SPECIAL indwelling POWER to the believer. “…The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness …” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

This SPECIAL fruit enables the believer to be MORE like JESUS. “…Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the HEAD of his body, the church…” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT). “...Be … imitators of [Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV).

Jesus, who is the HEAD of the believer’s LIFE says he “IS” GENTLE. “…the HEAD  of EVERY man (believer) is Christ ...” (1 Corinthians 11:3 KJV). “…I am gentle and HUMBLE IN HEART…” (Matthew 11:29 NIV).

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey they said this about him: “…‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey…” (Matthew 21:5 NASB).

The indwelling Spirit takes full and complete responsibility for managing the gentleness in the covenant relationship. “…God will generously provide all you need (gentleness)…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness …” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…Everything [the believer has] … has come from … [God] …” (1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT).

Apostle Paul would petition to believers through the indwelling Spirit of gentleness or meekness. “…I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:1 NASB).

Apostle Paul treated those, under his care, with the indwelling Spirit of gentleness. “…We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children…” (1 Thessalonians 2:6 NASB).

Many thought Apostle Paul was WEAK in person, even though his letters to them expressed BOLDNESS, POWER and authority. “..I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!” (2 Corinthians 10:1 NASB). “…I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away…” (2 Corinthians 10:1 NLT).

Yet Apostle Paul’s gentle, indwelling Spirit was simply POWER under control. “…God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (sound mind)…” (1 Timothy 1:7 NLT). AND “…The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness …” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

Jesus’ GENTLENESS was a necessary trait because he had so MUCH POWER his WORDS could knock an army to the ground. “…Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground…” (Romans 18:4-6 NASB). “…I am gentle … IN HEART…” (Matthew 11:29 NIV). “….GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL. …glorify HIS MIGHTY WORKS…” (Job 36:22-33 NLT). “…POWER belongeth unto God...” (Psalms 62:11 NIV).  “… they drew back and fell to the ground…” (Romans 18:4-6 NASB).

Like Jesus, leaders, such as bishops, are to “… gentle…” (1 Timothy 3:3 NASB). In fact, the bible says, “…pursue … gentleness…” (1 Timothy 6:11 NASB).

Jesus’ gentleness is motivated by his DEEP love and understanding of a believer STILL subject to weakness, sin, finiteness, and mistakes. He HELPS restore EVERY wrong with the Spirit of GENTLENESS. “...Be … imitators of [Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV).

“…Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted…” (Galatians 6:1 NASB). “…The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness …” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).“…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV).

The Spirit of GENTLENESS prevents or offsets a response of anger, or hostility, or revenge when talking to the antagonistic. “…Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth…” (2 Timothy 2:25 NLT).  “…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…” (1 Peter 3:15 NASB). “…A gentle answer deflects anger…” (Proverbs 15:1 NLT). “…A gentle answer turns away wrath…” (Proverbs 15:1 NASB).

The indwelling Spirit endows the believer with the FRUIT of GENTLENESS and they will be KNOWN by their fruit! “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). The bible says let the fruit of a believing wife be “…be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God…” (1 Peter 3:4 NASB). “…clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God…” (1 Peter 3:4 NLT). “…Always be humble and gentle…making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love….” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT). “…As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of … gentleness…” (Colossians 3:12 NASB).

The indwelling Spirit not only ENABLES the expression of GENTLENESS, but reinforces it with opportunities to display and exercise it onto others. “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

God wants the believer to surrender control of the FRUIT of GENTLENESS to him.  He is the HEAD in the covenant relationship. “…Now may the God of peace, … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the HEAD  of EVERY man (believer) is Christ ...” (1 Corinthians 11:3 KJV).

Without the indwelling Spirit, the believer can NOT bear spiritual FRUIT. “…I AM THE VINE AND YE ARE THE BRANCHES…” (JOHN 15:1, 5 NIV).  “…Abide in Me, and I in you…” (John 15:4-6 NASB). “…Apart from Me you can do nothing…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).

Human POWER produces NO spiritual FRUIT. God’s Holy Spirit is its ONLY source! “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL [gentleness]…” (John 3:6 NLT). “…It is the SPIRIT who gives [gentleness]…” (John 6:63 NASB). ).  “… [God’s] …Holy Spirit …is the SOURCE [of gentleness]…” (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 NLT). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS, and self-control….” (Galatians 5 NLT).  “…Apart from Me you can do nothing…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).