The Master’s equipment

Last week, I referred briefly to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s book Britain Reimagining.

It is a most courageous attempt to redefine the British values with a Christian input.

Dealing with the major issues of housing and health, education and the economy, it is a most relevant treatment about the present condition of the British nation.

Having had a high-level career in the oil industry before entering the priesthood, the Archbishop’s Christian assessment of the economic and financial world of London and the City is clear and clinical.

He always strives to examine secular Britain from a Christian point of view. So it is not surprising that he describes the contribution of the Churches and other faiths as “healthy disruptors”.

The churches, along with other faith communities, should disturb with their critical voices of faith the settled order of the secular state.

Christians are fitted for the task of challenging society’s secular standards and redefining that society according to Christian principles, because we are people who use the Master’s equipment.

Today, we study the last three of the nine great gifts of Jesus given to us through the Holy Spirit.

Paul finally wrote:“The fruits of the Spirit are faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5.22).

Faith is a much-used but worn-out word. Try thinking of trust instead.

A faithful friend is someone you can trust, or deeper still, someone to whom you can entrust yourself, with your secrets and confidences. Such a friend is reliable. All that is contained in the dynamics of trust. Trust and faith mean the same thing.

If we are faithful and trustworthy to our friends, then supremely this gift of the Spirit enables us to be reliable for Jesus. We should always strive to be trustworthy in our commitment to Jesus so that Jesus can rely on us.

I once had an elder who was often overlooked in the Kirk Session. He was too quiet and gentle for the more brash and noisy Session members.

But when he spoke, everyone listened. His measured speech and gentle demeanour had the power to bring calm to a disruptive debate.

That is Christian gentleness. Willie Barclay shows that in the New Testament gentleness means three things.

First ,it is someone who is submissive to God.

“Blessed are the gentle they shall inherit the earth”(Matthew 5.5).

Secondly, a gentle person is open to learn something new and is not above instruction.

As James taught:“Receive with gentleness the implanted word which is able to save your soul” (James 1.21).

Finally, such a person, as Willie Barclay points out, is considerate towards others.

Paul urges:“Lead a life worthy of your calling with all gentleness”(Ephesians 4.2).

A Christian living in this way is using the Master’s equipment.

The exploits of Alexander the Great feature greatly in the records of ancient history.

No nation could oppose him, nor was any continent too vast for him to cover and conquer.

Yet, he had an uncontrollable temper.

In a drunken passion, he threw a spear at his best friend, killing him outright. The man who ruled the world was unable to conquer his own temper.

Self-control is so necessary for civilised living, and is so lacking in many areas of our society.

Paul gives a strong example of self-control.“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things”(1 Corinthians 9.25). Just as an athlete disciplines himself through training and personal living to achieve physical perfection, so the Christian must strive to achieve spiritual self-control.

In secular Greek, self-control is the mental attitude that has mastered the basic desires of the flesh to achieve a stronger and more mature outlook to life.

As Willie Barclay so aptly wrote:“Self-control is the virtue that makes a man master of himself so that he is fit to be servant for others.”

For a Christian, self-control means Christ-control. As that wonderful hymn sings:“Make me a captive Lord and then I shall be free.”

We have studied these nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are so human. We are all capable of using them. These gifts will strengthen us and enrich the experiences of others.

“The Father will send the Holy Spirit in my name”(John 14.26).