WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.280 There was a newly ordained curate. 00:00:03.780 --> 00:00:08.779 She'd been given her list by her vicar of people to go and visit. 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:14.339 And this young curate, being full of zeal and enthusiasm, 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:19.980 thought that this was the day that she would go out and make a huge impact 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:23.940 on the first person that she was called to visit. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:30.060 The first person that she was going to was a guy who rarely came to church. 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.980 He was described by a vicar as a sort of bohemian type sort of character. 00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:41.140 Lived in a large house, beautiful sort of enclosed garden. 00:00:41.680 --> 00:00:44.719 And it was a hot day, a bit sort of like yesterday. 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:48.620 And she was desperate that she thought, this is great. 00:00:48.680 --> 00:00:49.900 He's going to offer me a drink. 00:00:50.180 --> 00:00:51.299 It's about lunchtime. 00:00:51.299 --> 00:00:54.539 I may even get offered to stay for lunch. 00:00:54.879 --> 00:00:57.179 And there'll be an opportunity to pray as well. 00:00:57.519 --> 00:01:01.119 So she goes with all this enthusiasm and she knocks at the door. 00:01:01.459 --> 00:01:08.179 And she sensed that she just may have heard something or somebody in the back garden. 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:13.819 She, being a person of gentle spirit, she thought, I won't give up. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:14.859 I'm quite persistent. 00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:17.319 So she went and knocked on the door. 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:22.099 And with that, she's sure she maybe heard somebody in the house. 00:01:22.199 --> 00:01:23.319 But she wasn't quite sure. 00:01:23.639 --> 00:01:26.219 But she thought she'd just make her presence known. 00:01:26.559 --> 00:01:30.159 And she said, hello, hello, it's the curate. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:34.619 But she didn't really want to give up again. 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:36.719 So she tried the doorbell this time. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:38.939 But there was no response. 00:01:39.399 --> 00:01:43.079 So being perfectly trained, she thought, I'll leave a note. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:49.640 And being really full of zeal and full of the Lord and full of her Bible knowledge, 00:01:49.759 --> 00:01:54.099 she thought, I'll just leave a note for this person. 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:57.500 So she left Revelation 3.20. 00:01:58.419 --> 00:01:59.259 Here I am. 00:01:59.839 --> 00:02:01.559 I stand at the door and knock. 00:02:02.119 --> 00:02:08.120 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and I will eat with that person 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.019 and they with me. 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:15.900 It was the day after that she found a note left on her email. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:18.219 She was very surprised. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:20.939 It was from the chap that she just visited. 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:27.719 And he said, dear curate, thank you for your persistence in trying to see me on a wonderful, 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:29.219 hot, sunny day. 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:32.800 I heard you knocking and calling out to me. 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:35.139 Thank you for your Bible verse. 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.780 And I would have loved for you to come in and have a drink with me. 00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:44.159 But perhaps the following may explain why I couldn't have come to the door. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.280 Please read Genesis 3.10. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:53.500 Not readily recognizing the passage, she went straight to her Bible. 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:56.060 And as she blushed, all was revealed. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:58.360 Or perhaps luckily not. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:03.240 I heard you in the garden and I was afraid. 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:06.340 Because I was naked, so I hid. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:21.240 As you see, Paul says to the Colossians, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:31.900 clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:37.860 You see, Paul is saying to the early church and says to us now, it's something that we should 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:39.620 clothe ourselves with. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:47.960 Naked aggression, naked anger, naked rudeness isn't very pretty for God's chosen people. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:50.040 It doesn't suit us. 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:57.759 So we are called to cover ourselves amongst other things with gentleness. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.019 Gentleness is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:11.120 It's an important part, but so often we don't readily understand or recognize what it is. 00:04:11.739 --> 00:04:13.399 And maybe we need to do that more. 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:15.459 Bear with each other. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:16.539 Forgive one another. 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:19.759 If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.839 Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.379 Don't bite back. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:29.159 Take a gentle response. 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:32.120 Bear with one another and forgive. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:37.980 It's a benchmark, I guess, for each and every one of us as a disciple people, 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:46.500 is to how we should react to others when maybe we are provoked or anxiety raises. 00:04:46.659 --> 00:04:51.560 Yet I appreciate that we are like aliens often in a foreign land. 00:04:51.560 --> 00:05:00.360 In this world, our culture of rough and rugged individualism, we see it in politics, we see it in business, 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:05.879 self before others, mention gentleness as a strength of leadership, 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.879 and people look at you as literally you are from another planet. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:12.699 You know, are you serious? 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.139 Do you know what happens to gentle people? 00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:20.860 You know, they get stepped on, they get walked over, they get laughed at. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:22.459 No thanks, pal. 00:05:23.039 --> 00:05:23.699 No thanks. 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:28.740 I'll take all the others, but I won't buy into gentleness. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:39.939 How is it that the world has missed that essential element of gentleness that we saw in Jesus? 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:42.219 But don't be deceived. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:45.959 Gentleness is strength under control. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:54.120 I think that is my strongest definition for me, is strength under control. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:59.100 In fact, immense strength sounds like the character of Jesus to me. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:01.600 I hope it sounds like the character of Jesus to you. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:06.879 In fact, the Greek word translated in Galatians 5.23 that we heard, 00:06:07.200 --> 00:06:13.260 gentleness comes from a term that was described to tame a wild horse, 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:20.460 to actually, with a bitten bridle, to bring that gentleness back into that animal. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:24.560 Great power, but brought under control. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:31.740 I don't know whether you've had much to do with autism in your life, 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:35.339 or whether you've been affected by autism around you. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:40.079 About two years ago, Mandy and I were watching the TV. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.459 We were really moved. 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:45.980 And a real sign of gentleness when there was a program, 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:52.139 and I'll introduce you shortly, to Joel and to his dog, Caddy. 00:06:52.139 --> 00:06:58.939 They'd come to their wits end, because if you know of autism at all, 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:03.120 there's a lot of anxiety, there's a lot of fear that is generated, 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:08.079 a lot of social unrest that it brings around a household. 00:07:10.039 --> 00:07:13.139 And into that needed to come some gentleness. 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:15.800 But how did you introduce that? 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:19.060 A little clip about gentleness. 00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:19.539 Hello. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:24.140 Well, he knows I'm a little bit nervous or something. 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:28.100 So he's just like, hey, don't worry. 00:07:28.700 --> 00:07:29.600 I'm here. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:31.480 Well, I'm Joel. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.340 I'm 14. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:36.900 And I've been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:39.000 and a few others, I'm pretty sure. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:42.340 But I found it hard to basically live. 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:46.299 It felt like there was a big cloud over us. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:47.819 We couldn't go to the park. 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:49.579 We couldn't go to the shops. 00:07:49.859 --> 00:07:52.019 We couldn't go on holiday, because he was scared. 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:52.839 Scared of everything. 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:54.759 I wouldn't go outside. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:57.359 I wouldn't focus on anything. 00:07:59.359 --> 00:08:00.399 It's just... 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:09.299 The pediatrician had told me about Dogs for Good and said, they can help you. 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:14.180 They brought Caddy in, and Joel stood back for a while. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:17.759 But within 20 minutes, Joel was outside throwing a ball. 00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:19.040 That was Caddy. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:21.800 And I can remember just crying. 00:08:22.460 --> 00:08:24.300 Because I thought, finally... 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:30.680 Finally, there was going to be something there to make us a normal family, with smiles. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.200 He changed my life. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:40.180 Caddy changed not only Joel's life, but that of the whole family. 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:42.799 Smiles have come back into our house. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:44.879 It's not, how's Joel going to cope? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.659 What are we going to do? 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:47.620 It says, has Caddy got his ball? 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:48.680 Have we got some water? 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:52.100 So the whole focus on Joel's disabilities have gone. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:54.460 What a moving clip. 00:08:55.800 --> 00:08:59.399 Gentleness comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:05.340 and can come through introducing something into our lives. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:11.100 Gentleness means finding a loving, kind way to do a tough job. 00:09:12.060 --> 00:09:18.899 Gentleness means bringing control, again, over one's own life and situations 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:26.379 that allows kindness and compassion to flow through in us and through us 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:30.019 and out into the people and into the communities, 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:33.000 whether that's at home or at work or wherever that is. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:38.539 Gentleness is not afraid to do what is needed. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:42.839 As I was thinking about gentleness, I thought, 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:46.299 what is one of the strongest parts of our body, 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.480 yet often the least gentle? 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:50.919 And that's the tongue. 00:09:53.579 --> 00:09:57.980 And my northern neighbour used to tell me of a lady down the road, 00:09:58.059 --> 00:09:58.740 and she said, 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.079 she's a sharp tongue, that one. 00:10:01.459 --> 00:10:03.699 It'll slice you in half when your back's turned. 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:09.520 And the tongue can be so powerful. 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:16.259 We can use the tongue to speak of strength and the power of God, 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:21.500 yet so often we allow it to become the least gentle part of our body. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:27.940 It reveals something about our nature, or perhaps lack of it. 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:32.780 And Paul wasn't afraid to do some tough talking. 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.940 But when speaking to the people of Corinth, 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.640 it started off here, it said, 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.440 he said, 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:42.620 by the humility and gentleness of Christ, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:44.140 I appeal to you. 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:48.400 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:51.520 I appeal to you. 00:10:52.380 --> 00:10:53.800 We can do it. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:55.100 Paul did it. 00:10:55.640 --> 00:10:56.660 Jesus did it. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:11:02.259 Strength can come in gentleness, softness, and tenderness. 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.519 While I was researching for this, 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.719 I read in World War I, 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:11.459 the early aeroplane pilots, 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.259 the most precarious job to do, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:19.860 surrounded by bits of paper and string and cardboard and wood. 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:28.720 And they found that if they wrapped silk around their heads several, 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:29.759 several times, 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:36.519 that actually several layers of silk deflected the shrapnel that came. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.360 That actually silk was stronger than steel. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:46.379 Jesus showed us that gentleness, 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:48.159 that softness, 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:50.159 that soft heart towards others, 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.820 that tenderness. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:57.420 It's compliant and allows us to show compassion. 00:11:57.420 --> 00:11:59.160 It opens the door. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.299 Why put on gentleness? 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:03.740 Why should I do that? 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:05.299 Why should I do that as a Christian? 00:12:05.699 --> 00:12:05.919 Well, 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:06.799 in Matthew 11, 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:07.439 29, 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.419 Jesus says, 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:13.279 tells us to take his yoke upon him and learn from him. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:17.919 Because he is gentle and humble in heart. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.740 And if we do, 00:12:19.839 --> 00:12:22.439 we will find rest in our souls. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.839 I don't know about you, 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:27.439 I often don't find rest in my soul 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:30.740 when I know that I don't have a gentle nature 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.559 or a gentle thought 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:37.000 or a gentle disposition towards a situation. 00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:41.039 Learn from me and find rest in my soul. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:42.059 I don't know what my soul, 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.259 my soul isn't at rest. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:46.959 Gentleness is immensely powerful. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.159 I was sharing earlier, 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.919 we were having a nice afternoon in the garden 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.139 a few days back 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:57.740 and some neighbours over the back, 00:12:57.839 --> 00:12:58.799 they'd had a party 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:02.279 and two of the lads had actually come and trespassed 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:04.259 into our neighbour's garden. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.319 We had a word with them. 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:08.719 They clearly had a very lot to drink 00:13:08.719 --> 00:13:10.459 and all the rest. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:12.059 And they'd got a little bit leery 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:13.139 and a little bit gobby 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.779 when we'd asked them to leave 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.919 and they didn't leave. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:17.959 The police arrived. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.319 Now, this is where, 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:22.279 this is confession time, isn't it? 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.779 People are smiling back at me. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.860 My old life kicked in. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:31.979 I couldn't wait to see strength in action. 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:38.080 But as an observer, 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:42.080 as an observer of these police officers that arrived, 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.860 I saw strength way beyond the physical. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.920 The officers were calm. 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.159 They were extremely calm. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.200 They were gentle. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.960 They were gentle in their tone. 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:55.779 They were gentle. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.980 They were firm. 00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:59.320 But they were very precise. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:02.519 They were amazingly patient. 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:05.960 Yet I knew at a moment's notice 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.580 these two young officers 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:11.779 would have thrown themselves into action, 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:13.320 would have handcuffed these people up, 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:15.120 put them in the back of the car. 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.680 But they didn't need to. 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.259 There was strength. 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.460 It was gentleness. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.840 It was patience. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.860 It was self-control 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.980 that dealt with the issue. 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.580 In Isaiah, 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.920 in the Old Testament, 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:31.660 he gives us this wonderful, 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:33.220 beautiful picture of God. 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.500 He tends his flock like a shepherd. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.220 He gathers the lambs in his arms. 00:14:37.560 --> 00:14:40.500 He carries them close to his heart. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:44.300 He gently leads those that have young. 00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:46.840 What a beautiful picture 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.560 that Isaiah gave us 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:50.280 in the character of God 00:14:50.280 --> 00:14:51.360 that we saw in Jesus. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.940 that we see in Jesus today. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.960 Maybe the Spirit's already speaking to you already 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:01.660 about that thing within our own character 00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:05.700 that catches me out time and time and time again. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.560 Yet, put on gentleness. 00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:13.700 Perhaps the Spirit maybe is talking to you 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:15.019 about our dealings with others, 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.080 dealings in the workplace, 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.900 dealings with our relationships, 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.900 dealings with our communications, 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:24.299 dealing with things that we do in the everyday 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:27.879 where gentleness could make such a difference 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:32.419 and add to what people see in us 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:35.600 and for people to meet with Jesus. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:40.120 never be afraid of gentleness. 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.519 It's not weakness. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.519 It takes great strength. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.379 And we ask the Lord 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:48.180 in the power of the Holy Spirit 00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:52.399 to come and bring that gentleness of spirit 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.019 to us 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.259 to give us, 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.319 to give us strength. 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:56.639 to give us strength. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.799 To avenge us 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.740 to give us strength.