Blessed Are - Week 3

Philippians 4:5 (ESV)

5 Let your reasonableness[a] be known to everyone. 

Greek: Epiekēs

A Sweet reasonableness that does not push its own rights or opinions without listening to and respecting others.

BIG IDEA TODAY >> To truly love Jesus, is to treat souls as gently as newborns.

Gentleness is unAmerican.

However, it is rage that is easier to produce, so for years now our news agencies and digital information sources have left all objectivity behind as they seek to find creative ways to induce rage.

Living peaceably and gently is no way to get famous. 

New Believers are to be taught Gentleness. (Titus 3:2)

Church family treats one another with Gentleness (Eph 4:2)

Of course we should be famous for our Gentleness (Phil 4:5)

It’s also a choice we make - to be Gentle (Col 3:12)

Twice to Timothy, Paul lists Gentleness as a prequalification for Pastor (1 Tim 3:3, 2 Tim 2) (Imagine if we still disqualified Pastors for lack of gentleness). I would have been thrown out, y’all. Realtalk.

We are supposed to correct someone found in sin with Gentleness (Gal 6)

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us if we have Him in us. That is gentleness (Gal 5:22-23)

1 Cor 13 describes perfect love and a primary characteristic of love is Gentleness (1 Cor 13:4-5)

We are supposed to respond to enemies of the Gospel with Gentleness (1 Peter 3:15)

And best of all, Jesus only ever used two words to describe His own heart. One of those was: Gentle (Matt 11:29)

The Bible unequivocally calls Christians to choose to be gentle in every situation with every person like Jesus is, to such extremes that we will become famous for Gentleness just like Him.

BIG IDEA TODAY >> To truly love Jesus, is to treat souls as gently as newborns.

“We are naturally gentle with things we value greatly.”

1 Cor 13

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b]  

A Sweet reasonableness that does not push its own rights or opinions without listening to and respecting others.

A Sweet reasonableness that does not push its own rights or opinions without listening to others and respecting others.

We are supposed to respond to enemies of the Gospel with Gentleness (1 Peter 3:15)

1 Peter 3:15

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Jesus only ever used two words to describe His own heart. One of those was: Gentle (Matt 11:29)

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We’re leaving the peace of Christ, and allowing this world to overwhelm us. 

We lack faith that the end is already written.

 We aren’t seeing people the way Jesus sees us.

BIG IDEA TODAY >> To truly love Jesus, is to treat souls as gently as newborns.