Living Beyond Yourself - Session 9 - Gentleness

Galatians 5:22

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness...

1) Love never fails. 2) Joy cometh. 3) Peace rules.

4) Patience waits.5) Kindness tenders.

6) Goodness does. 7) Faith fights.

8) Gentleness bows.

A stormy night with awesome lightning strikes, resplendent with God's glory for me. I never knew that gentleness encompassed the lightning strikes that begs for healing. Beth addressed 5 points using the sufferings and attitudes of Job and Jesus.

Job:

e.g. when Job lost his possessions and sons and daughters: Job 1:20-22..." At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:"Naked I came from my mohter's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

Job 2:9-10..."His wife said to him,"Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."

Jesus:

Hebrews 10:5-7..."Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said:"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God.'"

Hebrews 5:7..." During the days of Jesus life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

1. The acts of submission involved far more than right words and the desire to have the right attitude.

2. Both were committed to righteousness and obedience yet neither downplayed the enormous difficulty of submission.

3. Both trials were deeply wounding and emotionally charged.

Yes, gentleness bows, but sometimes with the rawest of emotion.

4. Wounds need binding and binding takes time.

Many of us are walking around with a facade --saying all the right things--yet inside we are bleeding, holding on to that shred of 'control' that still needs to be 'mad' at the people or circumstances that wounded us...we need to submit to Him, accept the hand of God in the situation...and allow Him to bind...we have to be still...

5. Their resultant scars from wounds God healed became the marks of grace and trust.
From what God has bound for you, you can allow other people to touch your redeemed scars, let them know you understand, let them know that it does not hurt anymore because God has bound it. Unbound wounds hurt, scars do not.

Father, uncap in us that attitude of reverent submission to produce gentleness in our spirits. Give us the courage to accept sufferings from Your Hand for Your glory. Help us to be still so You can pour Your balm into that wound. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Psalm 147:3: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."