Those who walk in the spirit, possess a quality of gentleness that is one of the hallmarks
necessary for Christian unity. Paul challenges believers to a life worthy of their calling
in Christ Jesus that is characterized by lowliness, gentleness and longsuffering, mutual
tolerance, and peace {Ephesians 4:1-3}
 Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called,
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love;
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
 

"Gentleness" or "meekness" refers to a humble, submissive attitude that is the opposite
of pride. Not to be confused with weakness, gentleness is strength that is submitted to God
and channeled into service for others. The old testament, characterizes God as gentle
{2 Samuel 22-36}
2 Samuel 22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath
made me great.

{Psalm 18:35} The New Testament describes Jesus as "gentle and lowly {humble}
in heart
Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath
holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
{Matthew 11:29, 2 Corinthians 10:1}, believers like their Lord should pursue gentleness
 Mathew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(1 Timothy 6:11) and wear it like a garment
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
( Colossians 3:12)
 Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
The Godly virtue of gentleness, which is a quality of the heart, is counted as being more
influential than outward beauty in winning an unbelieving husband to Christ
(1 Peter 3:1-4)
1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not
the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1 Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
 1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and
of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even
the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of  God of great price.

A gentle spirit is precious to God, Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit necessary for
godliness (holy Christi like living), goodness (kindness toward others) and giftedness
(service in the name of Jesus)

The New Man

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as
the truth is in Jesus:
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor,
working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that
needeth.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil
speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Walk in Love

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given
himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints;
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Paul’s words admonish us to speak only good, not corrupt, words--- ones that build us up
encourage, and edify. Our words are to constitute a gift to the hearer ( Ephesians 4:29)
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is
good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Jesus and Paul are examples for us in their use of uplifting words to encourage. Even when
his ship started to sink, Paul gave words of encouragement  (Acts 27:22)
Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's
life among you, but of the ship.
When Jesus' disciples were sinking , He spoke encouragement to them ( Matthew 14:27).
Mathew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I;
be not afraid.
When Paul was being persecuted, the Lord appeared beside him and encouraged him (Acts 23:11).
Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for
as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Many people are bowed down under heavy emotional loads and are weary of life's struggles.
How eager they are to hear a word of encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11)!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Often we turn the other way, but the Lord wants to give us kind words to say if we are willing
to make ourselves available (Isaiah 50:4 )
Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to
speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakened morning by morning, he wakeneth mine
ear to hear as the learned.

In Proverbs, the book of wisdom , much is written about the value of encouraging words
(Proverbs 16:24; 25:11)
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Not only do pleasant words taste sweet, but their use can lift us up to high places Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
(Proverbs 22:11)
Proverbs 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Whether we want to be encouragers because Jesus said "be of good cheer" because Paul urged
us to "take heart" or because we are simply called to lift up the weary, edify the saints ,
and evangelize the lost--- whatever our reason for wishing to bring sweetness to the soul,
now is the time to start (James 4:17).
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.