Fruits of the Spirit – Gentleness and Self-Control

November 24, 2013

Galatians 5:22-23“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Introduction• Whose calling the shots in your life?• Believers most in control are those who have given up

control• Final fruits are about yielding control

Review• Recognize them by their fruit Matt 7:16• Types of fruit depends on type of soil of hearts• Pathway People, Rocky People• Thorny People, Productive People• Love is unique, comes from God• Joy is not happiness, from God’s presence• God is source of peace, peace brings healing• Patience is suffering under adversity, requires perseverance• Goodness of God draws genuine love or intense hatred• God’s faithfulness to me enables my faithfulness to Him

Gentleness• Described as humility and meekness • Not typical qualities people seek to succeed • Unless I make my mark, I will be forgotten• Success defined differently in Matt 18:4• Enables us to see ourselves as we really are• Meekness is not weakness• Jesus lowered Himself to become one of us• Humility is soil from which faith springs up• Show me Lord areas to demonstrate humility

Self-Control• Moderation, self-restraint, temperance• Not behaving inappropriately, unseemly manner• Self-Control does not come from self-discipline• Putting ourselves under God’s control • Giving up my rights on regular basis• Pray a prayer of submission

Conclusion• Gentleness is not weakness, but strength under God’s control• Self-control comes not through discipline but surrender to

God• Fruits of spirit being produced in our lives is an expectation of

God