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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - The Strength of Gentleness (Part 3)

May 31, 2026 | 27:29

Rick Warren - The Strength of Gentleness (Part 3)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#WordofGod #Gentleness #Strength #Control #Meekness #Wilderness #Weakness #Grace #RickWarren

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - The Strength of Gentleness (Part 3) | May 31, 2026
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: in our hard-driving, ego-driven,
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  • Market-driven culture, you don't hear a whole lot about
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  • Gentleness, and the reason why is we don't understand what it
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  • Really means to be gentle.
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  • We think gentleness means weakness, and god says,
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  • "absolutely not.
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  • The gentle are the strongest people on the planet, and the
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  • Earth will be theirs."
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  • It's the weak people who are arrogant.
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  • It's the weak people who are prideful.
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  • It's the weak people who are pushy and rude and mean
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  • And gossip.
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  • Those are weak people.
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  • He said, "the truly strong people in life are the gentle,
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  • And the world will be theirs."
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  • Now i want you to write down a definition.
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  • This is not the first fill-in, so don't put it on that line.
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  • You're just gonna have to write it somewhere else on
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  • The outline.
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  • But let me give you a true definition of gentleness.
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  • It's here on the screen.
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  • Gentleness is strength under control.
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  • Gentleness, the bible teaches, real gentleness, is not
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  • Weakness, but rather it's strength under control.
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  • A gentle person does not overreact.
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  • A gentle person is not driven by their own emotions.
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  • A gentle person is not someone who just is so moody and
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  • Anything can let them fly off the handle.
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  • A gentleman--gentleman person is strength under control.
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  • The greek word in the bible for gentleness is the word
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  • "prautes", "prautes".
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  • In the old translations of the bible in english, it is
  • 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:06.709
  • Translated as the word "meek," "meek."
  • 00:02:06.709 --> 00:02:10.113
  • Now nobody uses that word anymore, because meek has become
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  • A synonym for weak, and gentleness, or prautes, is
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  • Anything but weak.
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  • In fact, the word "prautes" or gentleness, in the bible, was
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  • Actually used to refer to a wild stallion that had been tamed.
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  • If you go out into the fields or in the hills and you find a wild
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  • Stallion who's strong and unbridled, and they have
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  • Enormous strength and they could kick you and kill you pretty
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  • Quickly, but if you bring that stallion back and you tame it,
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  • Then the strength is brought under control.
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  • The strength is bottled up for the master's use, and now
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  • It's useful.
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  • A tamed horse is no less strong than a wild horse.
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  • It has just as much strength.
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  • It can go just as fast.
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  • But a tamed horse, a prautes horse, a meek horse, a gentle
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  • Horse, is one that it is strength under control.
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  • It is bottled up for the master's use.
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  • And when you learn true gentleness as a man of god, when
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  • You learn true gentleness as a woman of god, it doesn't mean
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  • You're weak, it doesn't mean you're a doormat, it doesn't
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  • Mean you're any of those things that you might think meekness or
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  • Gentleness means.
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  • It means you're not overreacting.
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  • You're in control of your emotions.
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  • And you have strength under control.
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  • When people look at you, and nonbelievers are watching you
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  • All the time, and they're watching to see, are you any
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  • Different than they are when you're under stress?
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  • Are you any different than they are when you are under pressure?
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  • When you respond to pressure with gentleness, that is an
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  • Incredible testimony to the world.
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  • Here's what the bible says, titus 3:2: "believers should
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  • Never speak evil of anyone."
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  • Circle that.
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  • If you're a believer, not only am i as a pastor not to do that,
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  • You're not to do that.
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  • Believers should never speak evil of anyone.
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  • Does that mean you can't disagree with them?
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  • No, of course you can disagree with people.
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  • You just can't speak evil of them.
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  • You can't malign them.
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  • You can't slander them.
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  • You can't do personal attacks against them.
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  • Not if you claim to be a follower of jesus, you can't.
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  • "believers should never speak evil of anyone."
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  • Even the people who hurt you?
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  • Even the people who hurt you.
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  • "nor be quarrelsome."
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  • You're not allowed to be quarrelsome.
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  • "instead, they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone."
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  • Circle "be gentle and show courtesy."
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  • You, if you claim to be a follower of jesus, you are not
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  • Allowed to speak evil of anyone.
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  • You are not allowed to be quarrelsome.
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  • Instead, you must be gentle with everybody, and you must show
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  • Courtesy to everybody.
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  • That means even people of a different political party?
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  • Yes.
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  • You know, god gave me the gift of evangelism, which means i
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  • Spend most of my time when i'm not at saddleback speaking to
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  • People i totally disagree with.
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  • I disagree with what they believe, or i disagree with
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  • Their lifestyle, i disagree with their concept, or whatever.
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  • But my definition of evangelism is you cannot win your enemies
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  • To christ.
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  • You can only win your friends.
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  • And to me, evangelism is you build a bridge of love between
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  • Your heart and theirs, and jesus walks across.
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  • Now, people aren't gonna trust jesus till first they trust you.
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  • People don't ask me, "is the bible credible?"
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  • They wanna know, are you credible?
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  • Rick warren, are you credible?
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  • Are you exactly what you appear to be?
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  • Are you the real deal?
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  • Do you live with integrity?
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  • Are you gentle?
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  • Are you loving?
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  • Are you compassionate?
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  • If people like what they see, they will listen to what
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  • You say.
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  • But first, they gotta like what they see.
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  • Gentleness is a witness to unbelievers.
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  • "we are to be gentle and show courtesy to everyone."
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  • Now, let me just tell you something.
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  • I know this from experience.
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  • If you actually obey this verse, you're going to be criticized by
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  • Other christians.
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  • Because they're gonna tell you, they're gonna say
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  • You're compromising.
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  • You see, when i say i have friends who are muslims, and i
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  • Have friends who are atheists, and i have friends who are gay,
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  • And i have friends who are secularists, and i have friends
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  • Who are mormon, and i have friends who are, you can name
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  • It, democrats, republicans, and in between.
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  • And they go, "how could you do that?"
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  • And they accuse you of being compromising.
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  • No, you don't compromise what you believe, you just treat
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  • Everybody with respect.
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  • You treat everybody with courtesy, whether you agree with
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  • Them or not.
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  • Does that make sense?
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  • And you are to do that.
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  • If you do, there will be people saying, "hey, you can't be nice
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  • To those liberal people."
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  • Well, why not?
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  • "because then you're a liberal."
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  • Or, "you can't be nice to those conservatives."
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  • Why?
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  • "because then you're a conservative."
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  • You've heard me say this many times before.
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  • People ask me, "are you left-wing or right-wing?"
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  • I say, "i'm for the whole bird," okay?
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  • I'm actually for america.
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  • Have you ever seen a bird fly with one wing?
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  • If you only have one wing, you fly around in a circle.
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  • It actually takes both wings.
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  • Nobody gets it right all the time.
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  • Independents don't get it right all the time.
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  • Democrats don't get it right all the time.
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  • Republicans don't get it right all the time.
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  • I have friends who are republicans, i have friends who
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  • Are democrats.
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  • I'm for my friends.
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  • Why?
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  • That's what jesus would do.
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  • Because there's something more than politics that's important,
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  • And it is, do they know jesus?
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  • And that's what we're to do.
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  • Gentleness as a witness to unbelievers.
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  • Look at this verse, 1 peter 3:15.
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  • "always be prepared to give," he's talking about witnessing to
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  • An unbeliever.
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  • "always be prepared to give an answer to everybody who asks you
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  • To give the reason for the hope that you have.
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  • But," he says, "do this with gentleness and," what?
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  • "respect."
  • 00:08:39.101 --> 00:08:40.469
  • No matter what they believe, and no matter how they act, and no
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  • Matter how ungodly they are, you are to do it with gentleness
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  • And respect.
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  • In other words, you don't go out thumping bibles on people
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  • Saying, "turn or burn, you're gonna die and fry while we go to
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  • The sky."
  • 00:08:53.015 --> 00:08:56.452
  • That doesn't work.
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  • That doesn't work.
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  • Gentleness witnesses to unbelievers.
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  • Number eight, gentleness makes me like jesus.
  • 00:09:01.123 --> 00:09:06.662
  • Gentleness makes me like jesus.
  • 00:09:06.662 --> 00:09:09.465
  • And this is the biggest one of all, and that's why i saved it
  • 00:09:09.465 --> 00:09:11.500
  • For last.
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  • In matthew chapter 11 verse 28-29, it says, if you wanna be
  • 00:09:13.202 --> 00:09:16.872
  • Like jesus, you wanna be a godly woman, a godly man, you're gonna
  • 00:09:16.872 --> 00:09:21.377
  • Have to learn gentleness.
  • 00:09:21.377 --> 00:09:24.013
  • Jesus says in matthew 11, "come to me.
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  • Come to me, all you who are weary, and you're burdened,"
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  • You're stressed out, and he says, "i will give you more work
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  • To do."
  • 00:09:38.995 --> 00:09:40.463
  • No, he didn't say that.
  • 00:09:40.463 --> 00:09:41.831
  • "i will give you," what?
  • 00:09:41.831 --> 00:09:43.165
  • "rest," yeah.
  • 00:09:43.165 --> 00:09:44.533
  • Then he says, "take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for i am
  • 00:09:44.533 --> 00:09:50.272
  • Gentle," circle that.
  • 00:09:50.272 --> 00:09:51.907
  • God says, jesus says, "i am gentle and humble in heart, and
  • 00:09:51.907 --> 00:09:58.981
  • You will find rest for your souls."
  • 00:09:58.981 --> 00:10:02.018
  • Now, question number one.
  • 00:10:02.018 --> 00:10:05.554
  • Doesn't this mean that if i wanna be like jesus, i've got to
  • 00:10:05.554 --> 00:10:09.825
  • Learn to be gentle?
  • 00:10:09.825 --> 00:10:11.160
  • Yes.
  • 00:10:11.160 --> 00:10:12.528
  • Question number two.
  • 00:10:12.528 --> 00:10:13.863
  • Is it possible that the stress you're feeling in your life, and
  • 00:10:13.863 --> 00:10:20.836
  • The pressure that you're feeling in your life, is because you are
  • 00:10:20.836 --> 00:10:24.774
  • Not gentle?
  • 00:10:24.774 --> 00:10:27.810
  • Yes.
  • 00:10:27.810 --> 00:10:29.345
  • Because the bible says, the more gentle you become, the more
  • 00:10:29.345 --> 00:10:33.482
  • Christlike you become, and the more at peace you become, and
  • 00:10:33.482 --> 00:10:36.986
  • The more at rest you become.
  • 00:10:36.986 --> 00:10:38.821
  • The reason why you're stressed out all the time, why you're
  • 00:10:38.821 --> 00:10:42.725
  • Tired all the time, why you feel pressured all the time, is
  • 00:10:42.725 --> 00:10:46.228
  • Because you are not gentle.
  • 00:10:46.228 --> 00:10:49.932
  • He says, "i'm gentle, and if you come get with me, i'm gonna give
  • 00:10:49.932 --> 00:10:55.004
  • You rest and peace, not stress and pressure."
  • 00:10:55.004 --> 00:11:02.645
  • You say, "oh man, i want that.
  • 00:11:02.645 --> 00:11:04.914
  • I wanna be at peace.
  • 00:11:04.914 --> 00:11:06.248
  • I wanna be like jesus.
  • 00:11:06.248 --> 00:11:07.783
  • I don't wanna be stressed out all the time, so i'm just gonna
  • 00:11:07.783 --> 00:11:11.120
  • Go out and tomorrow i'm gonna force myself to be gentle."
  • 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.892
  • And so you get up in the morning and you go out, "and how are
  • 00:11:16.892 --> 00:11:18.894
  • You today?
  • 00:11:18.894 --> 00:11:20.362
  • And you?
  • 00:11:20.362 --> 00:11:21.731
  • Oh, just fine, thank you.
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  • And you, how are you today?"
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  • No, no, no.
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  • You can't fake gentleness.
  • 00:11:25.768 --> 00:11:27.103
  • You can't manipulate gentleness.
  • 00:11:27.103 --> 00:11:29.538
  • You can't manufacture gentleness.
  • 00:11:29.538 --> 00:11:32.575
  • It's gotta be an inside job.
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  • God has to produce it inside you.
  • 00:11:35.911 --> 00:11:38.247
  • Look at the next verse.
  • 00:11:38.247 --> 00:11:39.615
  • "the fruit of the spirit is," what?
  • 00:11:39.615 --> 00:11:43.419
  • "gentleness."
  • 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:44.754
  • It is god's spirit producing it in you.
  • 00:11:44.754 --> 00:11:47.423
  • You can't fake gentleness, because inside you're gonna
  • 00:11:47.423 --> 00:11:51.660
  • Still be under stress.
  • 00:11:51.660 --> 00:11:54.029
  • It is something that god does to you.
  • 00:11:54.029 --> 00:11:58.234
  • And there is a prayer that i've prayed now for over 30 years.
  • 00:11:58.234 --> 00:12:01.303
  • I've prayed it almost every day.
  • 00:12:01.303 --> 00:12:02.905
  • And as i walk out and i see people and i walked out on the
  • 00:12:02.905 --> 00:12:05.374
  • Patio, i say, "lord, help me to treat people the way
  • 00:12:05.374 --> 00:12:08.544
  • Jesus would."
  • 00:12:08.544 --> 00:12:11.213
  • Why?
  • 00:12:11.213 --> 00:12:12.581
  • Because i am not by nature a gentle person.
  • 00:12:12.581 --> 00:12:15.384
  • I'm not.
  • 00:12:15.384 --> 00:12:16.719
  • And you know what?
  • 00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:18.087
  • Neither are you.
  • 00:12:18.087 --> 00:12:19.421
  • You are not by nature a gentle person.
  • 00:12:19.421 --> 00:12:21.857
  • You have to learn it, and you have to let god produce it in
  • 00:12:21.857 --> 00:12:25.127
  • Your life.
  • 00:12:25.127 --> 00:12:26.495
  • God, help me to treat everybody i meet with like jesus today.
  • 00:12:26.495 --> 00:12:29.999
  • Not rude, not crude, not incivil, in all of those ways.
  • 00:12:29.999 --> 00:12:35.638
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:35.638 --> 00:12:41.510
  • Pastor rick: hi, everybody, i'm pastor rick warren.
  • 00:12:41.510 --> 00:12:43.512
  • You know, when i started saddleback church over 40 years
  • 00:12:43.512 --> 00:12:46.115
  • Ago with just a handful of people in our living room, i
  • 00:12:46.115 --> 00:12:49.418
  • Also began writing a simple devotional, just for the people
  • 00:12:49.418 --> 00:12:53.923
  • In our church, to help them start each day with hope, and
  • 00:12:53.923 --> 00:12:58.060
  • With truth, and with peace that comes from jesus christ.
  • 00:12:58.060 --> 00:13:01.964
  • Well, you know, that little devotional grew and grew and
  • 00:13:01.964 --> 00:13:04.233
  • Grew, and today, "daily hope" is one of the largest email
  • 00:13:04.233 --> 00:13:07.937
  • Devotions in the whole world.
  • 00:13:07.937 --> 00:13:10.606
  • And each day, people all around the globe are reconnecting with
  • 00:13:10.606 --> 00:13:13.776
  • God's promises and finding fresh strength in his word to face
  • 00:13:13.776 --> 00:13:19.048
  • Whatever comes their way.
  • 00:13:19.048 --> 00:13:20.482
  • And here's the best part.
  • 00:13:20.482 --> 00:13:21.951
  • It's absolutely free, okay?
  • 00:13:21.951 --> 00:13:23.953
  • We don't have any charge for this.
  • 00:13:23.953 --> 00:13:25.754
  • Every day you'll get a quick devotional read and a podcast
  • 00:13:25.754 --> 00:13:30.626
  • That you can listen to on the go.
  • 00:13:30.626 --> 00:13:33.529
  • Now, you know, in a world that's more distracted and uncertain
  • 00:13:33.529 --> 00:13:37.299
  • Than ever, i want to help you start your day centered on what
  • 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:43.372
  • Never changes.
  • 00:13:43.372 --> 00:13:45.040
  • And what never changes is god's love, his unconditional love for
  • 00:13:45.040 --> 00:13:49.478
  • You, and his promises to you.
  • 00:13:49.478 --> 00:13:52.414
  • You know, if you just spend just a few minutes a day in the
  • 00:13:52.414 --> 00:13:54.583
  • Morning with the lord, it can bring so much more clarity, more
  • 00:13:54.583 --> 00:14:00.623
  • Purpose, more peace to everything that happens in
  • 00:14:00.623 --> 00:14:04.627
  • Your day.
  • 00:14:04.627 --> 00:14:05.961
  • Particularly, psychologists have said that what you do with the
  • 00:14:05.961 --> 00:14:08.697
  • First five minutes of your day pretty much sets the tone.
  • 00:14:08.697 --> 00:14:12.935
  • So, friend, you were never meant to go through life alone.
  • 00:14:12.935 --> 00:14:16.939
  • I wanna personally invite you to just sign up for the "daily
  • 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:21.143
  • Hope" devotional.
  • 00:14:21.143 --> 00:14:22.478
  • Do it today.
  • 00:14:22.478 --> 00:14:23.846
  • I think it's gonna bring fresh encouragement to your walk
  • 00:14:23.846 --> 00:14:28.217
  • In god.
  • 00:14:28.217 --> 00:14:29.551
  • God bless you.
  • 00:14:29.551 --> 00:14:31.820
  • Announcer: would you like to sign up for pastor rick's
  • 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:34.089
  • Email devotional?
  • 00:14:34.089 --> 00:14:35.624
  • I know you'll love it.
  • 00:14:35.624 --> 00:14:37.126
  • You can just scan the qr code,
  • 00:14:37.126 --> 00:14:39.194
  • Or go to dailyhopetv.com.
  • 00:14:39.194 --> 00:14:42.231
  • Pastor rick: now, let me wrap this up.
  • 00:14:44.400 --> 00:14:46.735
  • Who could you practice gentleness with this week?
  • 00:14:46.735 --> 00:14:50.606
  • Oh, let's just get down and dirty, really practical.
  • 00:14:50.606 --> 00:14:54.176
  • I'm gonna give you three statements.
  • 00:14:54.176 --> 00:14:55.711
  • Just write these down.
  • 00:14:55.711 --> 00:14:57.079
  • They're not in your outline.
  • 00:14:57.079 --> 00:14:58.414
  • Here's three things i want you to practice gentleness this week
  • 00:14:58.414 --> 00:15:02.051
  • With three different kinds of people, okay?
  • 00:15:02.051 --> 00:15:04.153
  • So write these down.
  • 00:15:04.153 --> 00:15:05.721
  • Number one, this next week, here's the first sentence, when
  • 00:15:05.721 --> 00:15:10.492
  • Someone serves me, be understanding, not demanding.
  • 00:15:10.492 --> 00:15:16.732
  • When someone serves me, be understanding, not demanding.
  • 00:15:16.732 --> 00:15:23.405
  • That's what gentleness is, strength under control.
  • 00:15:23.405 --> 00:15:26.275
  • What are you talking about, rick?
  • 00:15:26.275 --> 00:15:27.609
  • I'm talking about waitresses, when they serve you.
  • 00:15:27.609 --> 00:15:31.947
  • Clerks in stores, when they serve you.
  • 00:15:31.947 --> 00:15:35.551
  • A secretary or a government official or a clerk, or
  • 00:15:35.551 --> 00:15:41.090
  • Employees if people work for you.
  • 00:15:41.090 --> 00:15:43.559
  • Or people in fast food.
  • 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.261
  • You know, a while back, i went into mcdonald's, ordering my
  • 00:15:46.261 --> 00:15:51.567
  • Daniel plan.
  • 00:15:51.567 --> 00:15:52.935
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:15:52.935 --> 00:15:55.971
  • Just seeing if you'd catch that or not.
  • 00:15:55.971 --> 00:15:59.341
  • And i'm standing in line, and there was this young girl,
  • 00:15:59.341 --> 00:16:04.013
  • Very flustered.
  • 00:16:04.013 --> 00:16:05.381
  • It was obvious she was a trainee at mcdonald's.
  • 00:16:05.381 --> 00:16:07.116
  • She was just like in her first day or first couple days.
  • 00:16:07.116 --> 00:16:10.152
  • And she was pressured, and there was a long line, and she was
  • 00:16:10.152 --> 00:16:13.489
  • Making a lot of mistakes, and the more she made mistakes, the
  • 00:16:13.489 --> 00:16:16.825
  • More people got upset, and they were not understanding, they
  • 00:16:16.825 --> 00:16:19.528
  • Were demanding.
  • 00:16:19.528 --> 00:16:20.896
  • And the more demanding, the more pressure she felt, and i thought
  • 00:16:20.896 --> 00:16:24.099
  • She was gonna burst into tears.
  • 00:16:24.099 --> 00:16:26.368
  • And when i came up to get my daniel plan meal, i looked at
  • 00:16:26.368 --> 00:16:33.709
  • Her and i said, "it's okay.
  • 00:16:33.709 --> 00:16:36.612
  • It's not that big a deal.
  • 00:16:36.612 --> 00:16:38.147
  • Don't worry about it.
  • 00:16:38.147 --> 00:16:39.515
  • It's not anything for people to have to wait a few extra
  • 00:16:39.515 --> 00:16:41.884
  • Seconds, and tomorrow will be a whole new day.
  • 00:16:41.884 --> 00:16:44.319
  • You're just learning, it's okay."
  • 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:47.790
  • And she looked up at me and she goes, "aren't you that guy
  • 00:16:47.790 --> 00:16:53.829
  • From saddleback?"
  • 00:16:53.829 --> 00:16:55.264
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:16:55.264 --> 00:16:58.467
  • Whew!
  • 00:16:58.467 --> 00:17:00.969
  • I'm glad i was understanding, not demanding.
  • 00:17:00.969 --> 00:17:04.740
  • And then i got to thinking, i wonder what is the reputation of
  • 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:08.210
  • Our church family in orange county when we go out for
  • 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:11.713
  • Fast food.
  • 00:17:11.713 --> 00:17:14.049
  • Are we understanding, or are we demanding?
  • 00:17:14.049 --> 00:17:17.453
  • The bible says in philippians 2, this.
  • 00:17:17.453 --> 00:17:20.289
  • "don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in
  • 00:17:20.289 --> 00:17:23.926
  • Others, too, and what they're doing.
  • 00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:26.295
  • Your attitude should be the same as that of jesus christ."
  • 00:17:26.295 --> 00:17:30.332
  • So when people serve you this week, be understanding,
  • 00:17:30.332 --> 00:17:33.836
  • Not demanding.
  • 00:17:33.836 --> 00:17:35.204
  • And if you don't get your burger right, and it didn't come back
  • 00:17:35.204 --> 00:17:39.441
  • Animal style, that's also on the daniel plan, don't sweat it,
  • 00:17:39.441 --> 00:17:46.748
  • All right?
  • 00:17:46.748 --> 00:17:48.083
  • Okay, number two, write this one down.
  • 00:17:48.083 --> 00:17:50.185
  • When somebody disagrees with me, this week, when somebody
  • 00:17:50.185 --> 00:17:55.124
  • Disagrees with me, be tender without surrender.
  • 00:17:55.124 --> 00:17:59.561
  • Be tender without surrender.
  • 00:17:59.561 --> 00:18:02.264
  • I'm not saying gentleness means you have to cave in on your
  • 00:18:02.264 --> 00:18:05.400
  • Convictions, and if somebody tells you something is wrong
  • 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:09.071
  • When you know it's right, or somebody tells you that
  • 00:18:09.071 --> 00:18:11.874
  • Something is right when you know that's not right, it's wrong,
  • 00:18:11.874 --> 00:18:16.545
  • According to the scripture, you don't back down.
  • 00:18:16.545 --> 00:18:18.881
  • You don't become wimpy.
  • 00:18:18.881 --> 00:18:20.516
  • You don't become a chameleon and, "well, to each his own
  • 00:18:20.516 --> 00:18:25.087
  • Ways, and that's your interpretation, wah, wah, wah."
  • 00:18:25.087 --> 00:18:28.624
  • No, no, that's a cop-out.
  • 00:18:28.624 --> 00:18:31.393
  • But you can be tender without surrender.
  • 00:18:31.393 --> 00:18:35.764
  • Some of my best friends are people who violently would
  • 00:18:35.764 --> 00:18:39.501
  • Disagree with me on what i believe about certain things.
  • 00:18:39.501 --> 00:18:43.972
  • I don't compromise on what i believe.
  • 00:18:43.972 --> 00:18:46.175
  • I know what the bible says.
  • 00:18:46.175 --> 00:18:47.743
  • And i'm not afraid and i'm not ashamed, and i fear god's
  • 00:18:47.743 --> 00:18:50.479
  • Disapproval more than theirs, but i treat them with gentleness
  • 00:18:50.479 --> 00:18:53.515
  • And respect.
  • 00:18:53.515 --> 00:18:55.250
  • And that's why we can have a friendship.
  • 00:18:55.250 --> 00:18:56.885
  • Let me show you a verse, romans 14:1, in the paraphrase of
  • 00:18:56.885 --> 00:19:01.056
  • The message.
  • 00:19:01.056 --> 00:19:02.424
  • I love this.
  • 00:19:02.424 --> 00:19:03.759
  • "welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things
  • 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.362
  • The way you do."
  • 00:19:07.362 --> 00:19:08.730
  • In other words, they may be another brand of christian.
  • 00:19:08.730 --> 00:19:11.967
  • They may be pentecostal or catholic or presbyterian, or
  • 00:19:11.967 --> 00:19:16.572
  • Lutheran or baptist or calvary chapel or vineyard or--i don't
  • 00:19:16.572 --> 00:19:21.176
  • Really care.
  • 00:19:21.176 --> 00:19:22.544
  • Just maybe they don't even agree with you on certain different--
  • 00:19:22.544 --> 00:19:24.680
  • "welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things
  • 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:28.350
  • The way you do.
  • 00:19:28.350 --> 00:19:29.751
  • And don't jump all over them every time they do or say
  • 00:19:29.751 --> 00:19:34.289
  • Something you don't agree with."
  • 00:19:34.289 --> 00:19:36.058
  • That's the exact opposite of what people are doing on the
  • 00:19:36.058 --> 00:19:37.926
  • Internet right now.
  • 00:19:37.926 --> 00:19:39.661
  • They jump over everybody, anything.
  • 00:19:39.661 --> 00:19:41.363
  • Then he says, "even when it seems that they're strong on
  • 00:19:41.363 --> 00:19:44.800
  • Their opinions but weak in the faith department.
  • 00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:48.370
  • Remember, they have their own history to deal with.
  • 00:19:48.370 --> 00:19:51.273
  • Treat them gently."
  • 00:19:51.273 --> 00:19:54.476
  • That's being like jesus.
  • 00:19:54.476 --> 00:19:56.845
  • That's what god wants you to do, to treat everybody gently.
  • 00:19:56.845 --> 00:20:01.183
  • You be tender without surrender when somebody disagrees
  • 00:20:01.183 --> 00:20:05.420
  • With you.
  • 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.755
  • Would you write this down in your outline?
  • 00:20:06.755 --> 00:20:08.557
  • "i never get my point across by being cross."
  • 00:20:08.557 --> 00:20:13.662
  • You can tweet that one too.
  • 00:20:13.662 --> 00:20:15.764
  • This is a really tweetable sermon.
  • 00:20:15.764 --> 00:20:18.166
  • "i never get my point across by being cross."
  • 00:20:18.166 --> 00:20:23.972
  • You don't have to devastate those you disagree with.
  • 00:20:23.972 --> 00:20:26.908
  • A lot of people make verbal overkill to make a point, and
  • 00:20:26.908 --> 00:20:30.412
  • They turn everything into win/lose.
  • 00:20:30.412 --> 00:20:33.181
  • You have to decide, do i want to make a point or do i want to
  • 00:20:33.181 --> 00:20:35.550
  • Make a friend?
  • 00:20:35.550 --> 00:20:37.252
  • With that unbeliever, or even another fellow christian.
  • 00:20:37.252 --> 00:20:42.524
  • All right, and then one more.
  • 00:20:42.524 --> 00:20:43.892
  • Let me give you this one.
  • 00:20:43.892 --> 00:20:45.227
  • When somebody disappoints you, and you're gonna be disappointed
  • 00:20:45.227 --> 00:20:47.729
  • This week, when someone disappoints me, be gentle,
  • 00:20:47.729 --> 00:20:51.700
  • Not judgmental.
  • 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:54.403
  • When somebody disappoints you this week, be gentle,
  • 00:20:54.403 --> 00:20:59.241
  • Not judgmental.
  • 00:20:59.241 --> 00:21:02.511
  • Galatians 6:1 says this.
  • 00:21:02.511 --> 00:21:05.547
  • "if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
  • 00:21:05.547 --> 00:21:11.353
  • Restore him gently."
  • 00:21:11.353 --> 00:21:13.355
  • That may be somebody in your small group.
  • 00:21:13.355 --> 00:21:16.758
  • "you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
  • 00:21:16.758 --> 00:21:21.163
  • But," it says, "watch yourself or you may be tempted too."
  • 00:21:21.163 --> 00:21:24.533
  • In other words, given the right situation, we're all potential
  • 00:21:24.533 --> 00:21:28.003
  • Sinners in any potential area, then we don't
  • 00:21:28.003 --> 00:21:30.972
  • Surprise ourselves.
  • 00:21:30.972 --> 00:21:32.307
  • If somebody's caught in a sin, restore them gently.
  • 00:21:32.307 --> 00:21:35.277
  • In ephesians chapter 4, verse 32, it says this: "be gentle
  • 00:21:35.277 --> 00:21:40.515
  • With one another, and sensitive with one another.
  • 00:21:40.515 --> 00:21:45.887
  • Forgive one another as quickly and as thoroughly as god in
  • 00:21:45.887 --> 00:21:50.892
  • Christ forgave you."
  • 00:21:50.892 --> 00:21:52.260
  • We're gonna come back to this verse in another week.
  • 00:21:52.260 --> 00:21:54.796
  • It's saying this: god cut you a lot of slack.
  • 00:21:54.796 --> 00:21:59.368
  • You better cut everybody else a lot of slack.
  • 00:21:59.368 --> 00:22:02.571
  • God has shown you grace.
  • 00:22:02.571 --> 00:22:04.339
  • You better show everybody else a lot of grace.
  • 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:07.008
  • God has forgiven you a whole lot more than you're gonna have to
  • 00:22:07.008 --> 00:22:10.379
  • Ever forgive anybody else.
  • 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:13.115
  • That is gentleness.
  • 00:22:13.115 --> 00:22:15.484
  • So how do you react when somebody really screws up
  • 00:22:15.484 --> 00:22:18.620
  • Their life?
  • 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.955
  • They really mess it up.
  • 00:22:19.955 --> 00:22:21.757
  • And you go, "i told you so.
  • 00:22:21.757 --> 00:22:24.559
  • I could see it coming.
  • 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.461
  • Serves you right.
  • 00:22:26.461 --> 00:22:28.163
  • I would have never be that dumb."
  • 00:22:28.163 --> 00:22:29.498
  • And you actually get a secret satisfaction when you see
  • 00:22:29.498 --> 00:22:32.033
  • Somebody fall, particularly if they've criticized you.
  • 00:22:32.033 --> 00:22:37.339
  • Do you know what angered jesus the most?
  • 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:40.475
  • It wasn't sin that angered jesus the most.
  • 00:22:40.475 --> 00:22:43.578
  • What angered jesus the most were self-righteous people who
  • 00:22:43.578 --> 00:22:47.749
  • Thought they spent all their time being god's appointed judge
  • 00:22:47.749 --> 00:22:52.220
  • On earth of everybody else.
  • 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:55.524
  • And jesus got really ticked off at those people.
  • 00:22:55.524 --> 00:22:58.727
  • They were called the pharisees.
  • 00:22:58.727 --> 00:23:01.863
  • Happiness is when you can accept people who haven't attained your
  • 00:23:01.863 --> 00:23:05.333
  • Level of perfection.
  • 00:23:05.333 --> 00:23:09.838
  • That was sarcasm, if you didn't get it.
  • 00:23:09.838 --> 00:23:11.573
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:23:11.573 --> 00:23:13.275
  • This is what it means--all right, it's time to close.
  • 00:23:16.077 --> 00:23:20.949
  • Let's bow our heads.
  • 00:23:20.949 --> 00:23:25.187
  • Do you really wanna be like jesus?
  • 00:23:25.187 --> 00:23:27.456
  • If you do, you're gonna have to learn the third beatitude.
  • 00:23:27.456 --> 00:23:32.794
  • "god blesses those who are gentle.
  • 00:23:32.794 --> 00:23:37.399
  • The whole world will belong to them."
  • 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:40.569
  • Why?
  • 00:23:40.569 --> 00:23:41.903
  • Because they don't overreact, and they're not out of control.
  • 00:23:41.903 --> 00:23:45.307
  • It's strength under control.
  • 00:23:45.307 --> 00:23:48.543
  • Would you pray this prayer in your heart?
  • 00:23:48.543 --> 00:23:50.679
  • "dear jesus christ, i am not by nature a gentle person.
  • 00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:54.783
  • I'm just not.
  • 00:23:54.783 --> 00:23:57.319
  • And i need your spirit of power and love and self-control.
  • 00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:03.558
  • And this week, when people serve me, help me to be understanding,
  • 00:24:03.558 --> 00:24:07.863
  • Not demanding.
  • 00:24:07.863 --> 00:24:11.633
  • And this week, when people disagree with me, help me to be
  • 00:24:11.633 --> 00:24:14.903
  • Tender without surrender.
  • 00:24:14.903 --> 00:24:19.241
  • And this week, when people disappoint me, help me to be
  • 00:24:19.241 --> 00:24:24.846
  • Gentle, not judgmental.
  • 00:24:24.846 --> 00:24:29.251
  • Lord, i wanna be like you.
  • 00:24:29.251 --> 00:24:33.522
  • I wanna have a gentle answer that turns away anger, not stirs
  • 00:24:33.522 --> 00:24:37.392
  • It up.
  • 00:24:37.392 --> 00:24:38.760
  • Help me to lower my voice when everybody else raises theirs.
  • 00:24:38.760 --> 00:24:42.931
  • And when evil things are said about me, help me to respond
  • 00:24:42.931 --> 00:24:45.834
  • Like paul, to respond gently and disarm my critics.
  • 00:24:45.834 --> 00:24:50.972
  • And when people are headstrong and i'm trying to persuade them,
  • 00:24:50.972 --> 00:24:54.776
  • Help me to remember that i'm never persuasive when
  • 00:24:54.776 --> 00:24:57.178
  • I'm abrasive.
  • 00:24:57.178 --> 00:24:59.047
  • But the more pleasant my words, the more persuasive i'll be.
  • 00:24:59.047 --> 00:25:04.653
  • Lord, i want my life to be attractive.
  • 00:25:04.653 --> 00:25:09.457
  • I want the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty
  • 00:25:09.457 --> 00:25:14.829
  • Of a gentle spirit which is so precious to god.
  • 00:25:14.829 --> 00:25:20.569
  • And lord, help me to use gentleness this week to
  • 00:25:20.569 --> 00:25:23.371
  • Communicate love to those that i love in my life.
  • 00:25:23.371 --> 00:25:28.843
  • Help me to be gentle with them.
  • 00:25:28.843 --> 00:25:33.682
  • You said that gentleness earns respect, that a woman of gentle
  • 00:25:33.682 --> 00:25:38.753
  • Grace will be respected and a godly man will be gentle.
  • 00:25:38.753 --> 00:25:44.092
  • Lord, i wanna be a gentle leader.
  • 00:25:44.092 --> 00:25:48.630
  • I wanna be meek like moses, and like jesus.
  • 00:25:48.630 --> 00:25:53.101
  • Strength under control.
  • 00:25:53.101 --> 00:25:55.337
  • I want my life to be a witness.
  • 00:25:55.337 --> 00:25:58.173
  • And lord, i ask you to help me to never speak evil of anyone,
  • 00:25:58.173 --> 00:26:02.544
  • To not be quarrelsome, to show courtesy to everybody,
  • 00:26:02.544 --> 00:26:08.984
  • Regardless of what they believe or how they live.
  • 00:26:08.984 --> 00:26:13.254
  • Help me to share my faith with gentleness and respect.
  • 00:26:13.254 --> 00:26:18.827
  • Most of all, jesus, you've promised that if i would come to
  • 00:26:18.827 --> 00:26:24.132
  • You and team up with you, because you're gentle, i would
  • 00:26:24.132 --> 00:26:27.936
  • Find rest for my soul.
  • 00:26:27.936 --> 00:26:31.306
  • Replace my stress with your gentleness.
  • 00:26:31.306 --> 00:26:34.909
  • I want the fruit of the spirit to grow in my life."
  • 00:26:34.909 --> 00:26:40.315
  • If you've never invited jesus christ into your life, say,
  • 00:26:40.315 --> 00:26:42.584
  • "jesus christ, put your spirit in me, beginning tonight.
  • 00:26:42.584 --> 00:26:46.154
  • I wanna follow you and love you and learn to trust you the rest
  • 00:26:46.154 --> 00:26:49.858
  • Of my life.
  • 00:26:49.858 --> 00:26:51.426
  • I give my life to you, jesus christ.
  • 00:26:51.426 --> 00:26:54.696
  • In your name i pray, amen."
  • 00:26:54.696 --> 00:26:58.199
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:59.267 --> 00:27:30.001