DEFINING THE OUTWARD FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

INTRO:

3 Outward Fruits: Patients, Kindness, and Goodness

STORY: TROWING DARTS

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because f time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus . .

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. Dr. Smith said only these words, "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ.

MESSAGE:

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #4: PATIENCE

“But the fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering [patience]” (Gal. 5:22).

I. PATIENCE IN TEMPTATION

A. Reason for temptation—1 Corinthians 10:13. Be patient when you are tempted. God knows how much you can bear and will not allow you to be tempted beyond that. He will give you the strength that is needed to overcome all temptations.

B. Result of temptation—James 1:2, 3. Temptation teaches patience. Temptation is not sin until one yields to it.

C. Release from temptation—2 Peter 2:9. He knows how to deliver the godly from temptation. As we live godly lives, He will free us from all temptation.

D. Rewards in temptation—James 1:12. After we have been tried, He will reward us in heaven, as well as on earth.

II. PATIENT IN TROUBLES

A. Attitude—Romans 12:12. Being patient during tribulation is one of the hardest things to practice. God doesn’t always deliver from trouble, but He will help us go through it. Patience in trouble shows stability.

B. Affect—Hebrews 10:36. All need patience in time of trouble.

1. Patience—“For ye have need of patience.”

2. Promise—“After ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

C. Answer—Psalm 40:1. Note how the psalmist waits patiently on the Lord. He was in no hurry. Isaiah tells the value of waiting before God (Isa. 40:31).

III. PATIENT IN TRIALS

A. The work of patience—James 1:4. We are to allow patience to have her perfect work. Patience not only tests us; it purifies us. It teaches us complete dependence on God and allows God to have His will and way. Trials teach more than a smooth life can.

B. The waiting in patience—James 5:7. Be patient for the coming of the Lord. Though many long for His coming, we must remember He has a timetable. We must be patient, knowing that all our trials will end when He shall appear.

C. The way of patience—Psalm 37:7. God is never late; He is always right on time.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #5: KINDNESS

“But the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness [kindness]” (Gal. 5:22).

I. THE PURPOSE OF KINDNESS—Colossians 3:12

A. Kindness is more than words; it is deeds and actions.

B. Humbleness of mind is realizing we are nothing without God.

C. Meekness is putting Christ first.

D. Longsuffering is needed for one to be kind.

II. THE PRACTICE OF KINDNESS—Ephesians 4:32

A. Considerate. “And be ye kind one to another.” The Spirit-filled Christian is considerate of both Christians and sinners.

B. Concern. “Tenderhearted.” Kindness leads to charity. Charity is love in action. It sees men’s problems, then helps.

C. Christlike. “Forgiving one another.” We need to practice the teaching of Christ by being forgiving.

III. THE PERSONALITY OF KINDNESS—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, LB

A. The patience of kindness—“Love is very patient and kind.”

B. The practice of kindness—“never jealous or envious.”

C. The practicality of kindness—“never boastful or proud.”

D. The pardon of kindness—“It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do wrong.”

IV. THE PROOF OF KINDNESS

A. Joseph—Genesis 50:18–24. Joseph forgave his brothers. He could have sent his brothers to prison for selling him as a slave, but he forgave and forgot the past.

B. David—2 Samuel 18:5. David forgave Absalom who was seeking to kill his father.

C. Christ—Luke 23:34. Upon the cross, Christ prayed that God would forgive those who were crucifying Him.

D. Stephen—Acts 7:60. Stephen forgave the religious leaders and others who were stoning him to death.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT #6: GOODNESS

“But the fruit of the Spirit is goodness” (Gal. 5:22).

I. SUPERNATURAL GOODNESS

A. Personality of God—Psalm 25:8. “The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray” (LB).

B. Place of goodness—Psalm 33:5. The earth is filled with the goodness of the Lord. Should the Lord remove His goodness, men would be helpless and hopeless.

C. Pardoning goodness—Romans 2:4. It is God’s goodness that leads men to repentance, and salvation. God doesn’t have to forgive men of their sin. Men deserve punishment. It is only God’s goodness that keeps men from being sent to hell.

D. Peace and goodness—Psalm 34:8. Here is an invitation to “taste and see” that the Lord is good.

II. SENSIBLE GOODNESS

A. Practical goodness—Luke 6:27. We are to not only love our enemies, but to do good for them. This is not man’s nature. Unless man lives in the Spirit, he cannot expect to fulfill God’s rules.

B. Pity and goodness—Romans 12:20. It is easy to be good to those who are good to us and it is easy to help those who will repay us. But when our enemy is hungry we should feed him; if he is thirsty we should give him to drink.

C. Prayerful goodness—1 Thessalonians 5:15. Never return evil for evil. Always return good for evil. Only as we are filled with the Spirit will we be able to practice this.

III. SPIRITUAL GOODNESS

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6).

A. Reaping—Galatians 6:6–7. God promises that we will reap what we sow. We are always paid for what we do, whether it be good or evil.

B. Reward—Luke 6:38. If we give, God will give back. This includes our money, time, life, and work. Withhold from God, and He will withhold from you.

C. Results—Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2. “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need much help” (LB).

CONCLUSION: