Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23 (2)

The Fruit of Goodness

As we focus our attention this morning once again to the fruit of the Spirit found in Gal. 5:22-23. Let us remind ourselves of some of the lessons we have learned from the fruit of the Spirit.

We need to walk by the Spirit & be lead by the spirit! That begins when we cloth ourselves with Christ Gal. 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” In that we Gal. 5:24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We commit to not letting our passions rule our lives but we allow God’s Spirit to led us. That means we allow Jesus teaching to rule our lives. We constantly surrender to Christ & abide in Christ. We must live by the spirit, walking in the spirit day by day, yielding to the spirit hour by hour, depending on the spirit moment by moment. Only then will be bear the fruit of the spirit in our lives and

secondly we have seen how the fruit can be divided up into three groups: love, joy, & peace which turns our hearts to God. patience, kindness, goodness that directs our attention to our fellow man. Faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control which directs our focus on us.

Thirdly All of these graces, virtues, fruit are found in God and his Spirit. These graces originate in God, are demonstrated and seen in God. They come from God and in order to display these graces in our lives we must know God/abide in God and His Word.

This morning we now turn our attention to the fruit of goodness = active goodness, maybe more properly translated for us benevolent. It is to be kind and gentle but expressed in kind and gentle actions. It’s something you do. It’s how you treat people.

Scripture tells us that Barnabas was Acts 11:24 “for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.” Barnabas was a man of action for left and went to find Saul. He put is arm around him and listened to him and encouraged him and acknowledged the truthfulness of his story.

he was happy to see the progress of others, he was not envious Acts 11:23 “Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;” he encouraged people. He was liberal with his good words Acts 4:36 “Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),” Acts 4:32-37 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” He was generous with his possessions.

Another great example of goodness is Dorcas Acts 9:36-39 “Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.” she was full/abounding in good deeds, good works, charitable kindness. she helped widows and made tunics and garments I’m sure to help sustain the widows. The widows were so upset because she was gone.

You may be asking yourself this morning, what about God is he benevolent. Good and kind. Absolutely.

Ex. 33:18-19 “Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.””

Here the words of the Psalmist.

Ps. 33:5 “He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.”

Ps. 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Ps. 100:4-5 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”

Ps. 107:8-9 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.”

Ps. 145:9 “The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.”

Mark 10:18 “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

James would say it this way

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Of course the greatest demonstration of his goodness was in the sending of His son to die on the cross for our sins so that we can have everlasting life with Him.

Make benevolence a daily routine.

Pray for a heart of benevolence.

Greet people genuinely with a smile.

Genuinely listen to people.

Begin with little gestures.

Give of your time.

Give of your possessions.

Give of your money.

Imitate God!

Have you responded to the Lord’s goodness this morning thru belief, confession, repentance, and baptism this morning?

Are you imitating God and living a life of goodness? Eph. 5:8-9 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),” Those led by the light produce the quality of goodness. We were created for this very purpose Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Gal. 6:10 “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” The scriptures furnace with everything we need to accomplish this task. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Are you walking in the spirit this morning and producing goodness in your life? If not then why not repent and come to Jesus this morning and begin anew. Please come while we stand and sing.