Goodness
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Introduction
Introduction
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
What do you think of when you hear the word good?
We all remember times when we were reminded to be good, and then we weren’t.
How is goodness defined within the confines of a humanity that has cast off every restraint in favor of fulfilling every lust of the flesh?
-- good words?
--good actions?
--good attitudes?
--good in patience?
--good character?
Good works! It is a needed fruit of living Christ-like.
Practical Goodness is applying God’s principles and kindness in our daily relationship to our enemies as well as friends.
From the very beginning of human existence, the choice of GOOD and BAD has been set before our hearts.
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Choices
Choices
Adam and Eve had a choice.
We have choices, GOOD is not automatic, man has to set his mind and heart after the Word of God, to DO the Will of God.
Eve made a choice to side step what was GOOD. The testing process before us this day is will we decide GOOD or bad?
We sometimes laugh at rebelliousness but it is a much more serious matter than many will give attention to.
GOOD AND BAD START IN THE MIND, it starts as a thought, then the thought establishes a pattern of thinking, we a habit is reinforced until a dominion or stronghold has rooted and grounded it’s way into our heart, the BATTLE IS BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD.
WE SEE THE CHOICE OF GOOD VERSES EVIL BECOME A SAD TRAIL THAT REINFORCES AND STRENGTHENS ITSELF UNTIL ONLY GOD CAN TURN THE LIFE AROUND.
The trail starts as ANGER and this leads to CONTROL based on --
performance
spirit of perfectionism
and when this PERFECTION is not reached --
this leads to a spirit of PAIN...
and disappointments; ---
and this leads to BITTERNESS ---
and this leads to REJECTION ---
and this leads to ALIENATION AND DIVISION ---
and this leads to HATRED, HOLY HATRED?
and this leads to REBELLION ---
and this leads to A SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE ---
I don’t need you!
I don’t need this family!
I don’t need the church!
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS TRAIL AND HOW IT LEADS AWAY FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN AND HOW IT LEADS AWAY FROM GOD AND GOODNESS!
God Defines Goodness
God Defines Goodness
So WHAT IS GOODNESS?
Can you define goodness?
--of a favorable tendency
--upright in character
-- fit
--free from injury
-- sound
-- can be relied on
-- profitable
--honorable
-- deserving respect
-- virtuous
--right Morally pure
--loyal
-- beneficial
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF GOOD --- THE GOOD SAMARITAN!
Is our goal to be pleasing to God first, to be good to others second, and keep our hearts and motives pure?
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Goodness CAN NOT BE SEPARATED FROM HOLINESS...holiness of life will always expresses itself in always of doing what is in the best interest of others.
Moral Goodness is not optional, to keep the Commandments and God’s Word must be of the utmost priority.
We must conform to all God’s laws and principles.
COURAGE IS NICE, BUT WE NEED GOOD COURAGE.
Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
Hitler had men full of courage.
Beer and drugs can give some young people courage to stand in front of a train or perform lewd sexual acts, but this is not GOOD COURAGE!
Goodness or the absence thereof
Goodness or the absence thereof
Our tongue has a lot to do with goodness.
The MOUTH SPEAKS FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART!
A bad man will have a bad tongue, a good man will exercise a GOOD TONGUE!
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Our mouths must hunger for the goodness of God.
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
You will not know goodness with a foul mouth and dirty jokes.
You will hurt the heart of God.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
TO KNOW GOD’S GOODNESS --- YOU MUST CONTROL THE TONGUE AND MOUTH.
Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
YOU NEED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE HOUSE OF GOD TO STAY SUBMITTED TO GOODNESS...
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
The Endurance of Good Fruit
The Endurance of Good Fruit
WHEN GOOD MEN DIE, THEIR GOODNESS DOES NOT PERISH.
GOODNESS IS A CHOICE AND A RESULTS OF ONE’S OWN MERITS.
The Fruit of GOODNESS will bear seeds that reproduce goodness, and a good habit reinforced grows to bear more fruit.
As we are studying the FRUIT of the Spirit - we hear much focus on the gifts of the Spirit, but the fruit must reign the spirit-person.
We must grow to be Christ-like character, and allow the Holy Spirit to produce in us as God wills. As we grow and abide in Christ we develop and maintain a close personal relationship with Him.
May God’s fruit grow and reproduce in our daily walk and talk!
Kindness and goodness are married to each other, and to separate them is very hard.
There are many sinners that seem to be kind, gentle, gracious, good and generous for many reasons; but there are no humans who are good by nature.
To be good is a Spiritual FRUIT!
WE MUST NOT LET GOODNESS CAUSE US TO LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS THAT MAY DIFFER FROM US. WE ARE NO BETTER, WE AT BEST ARE SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE.
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
It is easy to think of self as good and thus but down others that move under a different flag?
We have the ability to overestimate our strengths and underestimated others heart. There are no big I’s and little you’s in this work, we are yielded vessels at best.
Only GOD is good, all good things come from the Father. GOD is perfect, pure, lovingly, holy, righteous and just.
GOD knows the motive as well as the deed.
Many work for applause, recognition, rewards, benefits, trophies.
God knows and moves in what is accomplished for the best, for the whole.
GOD is the source of all goodness
There is BIG a difference between BEING good and DOING good:
BEING GOOD comes as part of the fruit of God’s Spirit.
As God gives us the new life, the process begins, this is a life long process.
We just don’t wake up one morning good.
We grow toward the light. God plants within us when we are born again into His family, others water, God gives the increase, so doing good is the spiritual out working, growth of that inward change of heart.
Many try goodness from the outside, it is most effective from the inside out!
IF A WELL HAS DIRTY WATER, PAINTING THE PUMP WILL NOT HELP!
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Once we have come to know Christ, that The word of God will do the work of God, moral goodness is maintained by daily Bible study and the continual meditation and application of God’s holy Word to our daily walk and talk.
GOD’S GOODNESS REACHES BEYOND WHAT IS EXPECTED!
For the Romans, you had to carry what they asked one mile.
Jesus said so what, that is what the law requires, go two and go beyond what is expected, the second mile will testify of GOODNESS.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
THE BIBLE IS GOOD, KNOW IT AND LIVE IT!
The Bible is daily bread, not Birthday cake.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
May we focus on what is Good and develop it!
-- good words?
--good actions?
--good attitudes?
--good in patience?
--good character?
Teach us O, God!