Untitled Sermon (12)

Can we lose our salvation?

Dream about

Title: Growing in the Spirit: Patience, Kindness, and Goodness

Introduction: Hey, everyone! So glad to see you all here today as we continue our series on the amazing topic of the Fruit of the Spirit. As followers of Christ, we're called to bear this fruit in our lives, reflecting His character and love to the world. Today, we'll focus on three essential aspects: patience, kindness, and goodness. It’s important to remember, we aren’t capable of producing the fruit of the Spirit. We don’t pray for more patience, so we can live the life of the Spirit. We surrender to the Spirit so we can grow the fruit of patience. We don’t choose kindness, we choose to see each other as God sees us, as the Spirit fills us, and that produces kindess in us. We don’t live a life of goodness, so the Spirit can fill us, but we lean into the Spirit, so we He can conform and constrain our lives into the likeness of Christ.

In short, we do not produce the fruit of the Spirit by trying to produce the fruit. We produce the fruit of the Spirit by pursuing the Spirit.

The first three fruit that Paul identifies are Love, Joy and Peace. The Next three are Patience Kindness and Goodness, and the final three he identifies are Faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Just as God is trinitarian in nature, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and we interact with Him in all three persons, He makes a command for us to worship with all of the parts that make us up. We love Him with all our heart and mind and soul and strength.

Love and Joy are not limited to our feelings, but they are attached to our emotional selves. This fruit primarily grows out of the work of the Holy Spirit touching our hearts and replacing our stony hearts with hearts of flesh. Hearts that are surrendered to the Lord will produce love and joy.

Peace and Patience are fruit that impact our soul. When we live by Spirit we find our soul is less troubled by the things that would otherwise rob us of peace. And

Patience: Trusting God's Timing

Patience isn't just sitting around and twiddling our thumbs. It's about trusting in God's perfect timing. In Galatians 6:9, it says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Patience means sticking with it, even when things get tough. It's about having faith that God is working things out for our good, and He'll come through at the right moment. So, let's embrace the life of the Spirit, and let the fruit of patience increase, which will allow us to keep believing that the best is yet to come!

Kindness: Showing God's Love

Kindness is a powerful way to express God's love to others. Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Just like God's kindness draws us closer to Him, by the Spirit we can extend that same grace to those around us. Kindness breaks down walls, bridges gaps, and leaves a lasting impact. Let's ask ourselves: How can we show kindness to those who need it most? A smile, a listening ear, or a helping hand can make a world of difference.

Goodness: Living with Integrity

Goodness means living a life of integrity and doing what's right. Jesus is our ultimate example of goodness. Acts 10:38 tells us that He "went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him." Goodness isn't about being perfect; it's about being intentional in our actions, speaking truth, and standing up for justice. Let's strive to live lives that reflect the goodness of our Heavenly Father and make a positive impact on those around us.

Cultivating the Fruit: Praying and Surrendering

Growing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives takes purposeful effort and intentionality. We need to pursue Him, surrendering our own desires and embracing His will. There are many ways we can move from living in the sinful nature, gratifying the desires of the flesh, but they begin with the acknowledgement that we are ultimately powerless without Jesus. Through surrender, prayer, forgiveness, and by encountering His transforming presence, we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to transform us from the inside out. As we submit to His leading, patience, kindness, and goodness flow through us. When we align our lives with God's purposes, He equips us to bear abundant fruit that impacts the world.

Bearing Fruit: Impacting Others for Christ

Remember, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit isn't just for our own benefit; it's about making a difference in the lives of others. Our actions and attitudes can draw people closer to Christ. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, we become vessels of His love and grace. Let's let our lives be a living testimony to the transformative power of the Fruit of the Spirit, pointing others to the abundant life found in Christ.

Conclusion: Friends, as we wrap up, remember that growing in the fruit of the Spirit is a lifelong journey. It's not about ticking boxes; it's about continually surrendering to God and allowing Him to fill us and shape us. As we grow in patience, kindness, and goodness, we become more like Jesus and impact the world around us. So, let's keep leaning on God, trusting His timing, showing kindness, and living with integrity. Together, let's make a difference and bear fruit that lasts!