THE FRUIT OF GENTLENESS
“Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way” Mat 15:32.
Gentleness is a state of being kind, not desiring to hurt anyone or cause them pain. In the days when Jesus Christ walked on this earth, people were very unkind.
The Romans were very unkind with their harsh policies, the Jews were unkind with their practice of stoning and indifference to the plight of other people.
The Jewish sects and leaders were equally unkind with their religiousity and zeal to maintain the status quo.
Jesus stood against all these with his uncommon kindness and compassion towards all, especially sinners and the downtrodden.
“And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. And sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
But He turned, and rebuked them and said, you know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village." Luke 9:51-56.
Jesus is indeed the gentlest person that ever walked on this earth.
Gentleness or kindness is a huge signpost that directs unbelievers into the kingdom of God.
It is the fruit of gentleness when manifested just like Jesus did in the above verses, that makes a believer a great soul winner.
If you want to win even the chief of sinners, be over-kind to them.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. Luke 23:34.
To forgive your enemies and pray for them is the highest act of kindness you can display on this earth. Can you imagine Jesus asking God to forgive the Jews who said that His blood should be on them and their children?
Our beloved brother Stephen also displayed this highest level of kindness as we read in Acts 7: 60:
“And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord; lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Here is a man at the very point of death, praying for God to forgive his murderers.
In the modern church of today, that has been taken over by witches and occultists, and Christians are praying for God to kill their enemies with fire and brimstone, how many of us can take a cue from brother Stephen?
Do you still wonder why witches have taken over the church, including the pulpit?
Do not wonder anymore!
The reason is because we don’t love ourselves as Christ commanded us, talk less of loving unbelievers; and that explains why we pray that God should kill the very people Jesus died to save.
Whenever any sinner dies in his sins, it is a terrible loss to heaven because Jesus Christ has already died for that person.
That is why we need to put a stop to all these witchcraft prayers flying up and down right now!
If you don’t know what to pray for a sinner, ask God for mercy over the person (Luke 18: 13).
When believers begin to manifest the fruit of gentleness in abundance, not one, but several express ways leading into the kingdom of God will be built for unbelievers and even Satan will not be able to close them.
“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today, I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord. Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:1-10.
Do you think pride can allow our religious leaders of today to do this little act of kindness?
Do we sit in our well-furnished and beautified cathedrals and auditoriums and wait for unbelievers to come to us, or do we go out and seek for them?