My message from 6-14-14 The Importance of Gentleness: By Evangelist Jeremy Major Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if you see your brother overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.(KJV) Are you doing that? There are many of us who have read this verse many times, but sometimes we dont always do this, and were just SO quick to want to point out to our brother or sister in the Lord the very thing that theyre doing wrong, but were not careful about HOW we say it to them, and then we as humans naturally get defensive, and the next thing you know, the conversation turns into an argument. Thats the exact scenario that the Lord is describing here, because we may be tempted to get in argument with them, which accomplishes nothing at all, and actually only serves to make matters worse. Its easy to forget this verse and there have been times that the Lord has even had to correct me on this issue. But guess what? When He does, He always corrects me in that same spirit of meekness mentioned in this verse. Theres a more gentle way to tell people what theyre doing wrong. Its not about pounding people over the head with the Bible! Yes, we see that theyre not doing something right, and were just so quick to point out others flaws, that we forget how to go about it, and we need to pray and ask the Lord to help us when we have to deal with these situations. Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5, And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye. (NKJV) We also have to be careful who not to say anything to at all, because lets face it. There are some people, even ones who profess to be Christians, but their actions show that theyre clearly not. These people have become so bitter and lash out at you in a mean way no matter how gentle you are with them, and lets face it. Sadly, were finding these types of people to be more common than ever before. These people are professing Christians, but they will twist something you say into something its not, and then go to yet another person like them within the church, and say something like, Did you know what brother so and so had the nerve to say to me? and then the devil just wreaks havoc in that entire situation! So, thats why Jesus went on to say in verse 6 in that same passage in Matthew chapter 7, Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.Thats why its very important that we spend much time in prayer before trying to correct our brothers and sisters, even though we may mean well, because if were not careful, it may not only achieve the results you were looking for, but will actually make matters worse. Its not about quoting Bible verse after Bible verse, and not letting them get hardly even a word in, but instead letting the gentleness of the Lord flow through you so much while youre telling them that they feel Gods love AS youre telling them. You know what I mean? James 3:14-18 is a passage of scripture that is very important. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (NKJV) I want to keep peace, because Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (NKJV) Also, Proverbs 6:19 lists sowing discord among the brethren as one of the things the Lord hates! In order to keep the peace with someone, Ive had to agree to disagree with someone in order to keep the peace. Take a look at this passage of scripture in 2 Timothy 2:23-26, But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (NKJV) Theres many more verses pertaining to this subject, but I just want you to see what Im saying, and thats that you can tell people the error of their ways, but instead of being harsh, we have to show them Gods love. I have brothers in Christ that Im very close friends with that I see them getting into pride, or I see something that they did wrong, but if Im not careful, and Im not gentle about it, they get very defensive and the wall is put up, but when I AM gentle, the walls come down, and the Holy Spirit is able to get through to them because its done in love, love that is shown through the gentleness of my words. I hope these words have helped some of you to come to a clearer understanding on this issue. I always try to let people know that Im no better than they are, and that it doesnt mean that theyre any less of a person than I am, and if it werent for the grace of God, then I could be in the flames of hell by now and I deserve it as many times as Ive disobeyed my Father, so Im just thankful that He wrote my name in the Lambs Book of Life, and Im thankful that He made me the soft person that Hes molded me into over the years, and its only because of Him that I even stand at all. God bless you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lets all let there be unity in the body of Christ from this day forward, Amen?
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 08:40:59 +0000
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