Gentle Giants

Gentle Giants

Words of Faith 2-25-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Ephesians 4

     [1] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.   [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.   

       Paul gives us an appeal that is purely from the heart of God. We are to "walk," live and breathe in a manner that is worthy of the calling we have received.  The Holy Spirit teaches us that a walk worthy of the call should reflect three attitudes and one action-- completely humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love.

       Walking in gentleness is, most simply, the opposite of rudeness, harshness, or sharp self-assertion. Gentleness is not weakness; it is power under self-control.  Gentleness is not a temperament or a personality trait that only some have.  Gentleness is an expression and fruit of the Spirit who lives in us.  Gentleness is to be part of all believers.

       Gentleness does not mean that we are to communicate poorly by not asserting our needs.  Needs can be communicated appropriately with gentleness.  Opinions can be focused without being harsh. Gentleness is the quality that shapes appropriate communication.

       Gentleness does mean that the more I get out of the way, the more God becomes apparent in my life and the manner of my living. Gentleness is a fruit of the spirit that is manifested in the way we interact with people. Don’t miss this: Humility is an attitude, and gentleness is an action or manner of behavior that reflects that attitude. 

      What about righteous anger? There is an appropriate time for anger, and it can be expressed with gentleness.  Jesus was gentle (or meek) and humble at heart (Matthew 11:29) yet, He also was angry when the Pharisees refused to see the purpose of the Sabbath (Mark 3:5) and when the Temple was abused (Matt. 21:12-13).  We can trust that Jesus perfectly expressed and communicated the righteous anger that He was experiencing. 

       The Bible teaches that Moses was the most gentle or meekest of all men (Numbers 12:3) yet, he also got angry when the people sinned against God (Exodus 32). His expressions were not always perfect like Jesus’ were, and there was a consequence for that.

      Gentleness, like all fruit of the Spirit, will be developed in us through difficult situations that require us to temper responses and deal gently.  As we encounter such situations and we realize the need to surrender more and more to the Spirit for our walk, we grow in gentleness.  In family relationships, community relationships, and church relationships, gentleness will mark our conversations and actions as a believer.

      The Spirit teaches us that there are two major functions in leadership and community that especially require gentleness.

      Gentleness is the posture for Godly instruction.  Paul wrote to young pastor Timothy regarding leaders saying that the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Gentleness is the opposite of a quarrelsome nature.  Truth is not always easy, so it must be taught in gentleness.

      Gentleness is also the manner in which we are to restore those who fall. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Restoration will never take place without gentleness.  The word translated "restore" means literally to put a dislocated joint back in place-- or set a bone.  Ouch! This must be done gently because it can be so very painful.

      The true giants of Christian leadership are not known for their thunder but for their gentleness.  The genuine heroes of the Christian walk are gentle giants.

       Father God, give me a walk that will honor You.  Manifest the gentleness of Your Spirit in my life and relationships.  Help me to get out of the way so that You might be seen.  Help me in the points of leadership that You call me to, to walk in gentleness. Lead me to teach in gentleness and restore gently that I might grow into the gentle giant You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2010, 2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.