Fruit of the spirit

KINDNESS

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Against there is no law…you don’t get these by being told to get these. - OT was a list of laws, external, and made you feel bad about not keeping them.

God did away with old law instead having to do these things you wil, become them. - When the fruit over takes us by love, they will pop out. - You can’t learn fruit.

Fruit is the by product of who we are. -We were saved, made new, but sanctification is getting things out that’s not like him.

Proverbs 11:17 “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”

When we do kind things endorphins are released that gives us pleasure. Ex. Giving Ella a check; what if we lived daily like this?

Definition of kindness- friendly, generous, considerate, meek.

Greek, kindness: useful to others.

How do we get kindness to pop out?

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Tenderhearted…kindness is a heart issue; it’s the best gauge to see how our heart is.

In the end times many hearts will grow cold or hard hearted.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Difficult- fierce or demonic, same word for the man of many devils Jesus encountered. - It’s something spiritual on the inside. - Reject not the knowledge of God, but the power.

2 Timothy 3:2–3 “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,”

1. UNthankful- lost the awe of what God has blessed us with. W

Study show the more we have the most miserable we are. - The more we get, less content we are.

Romans 1:18–21 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Titus 3:3–5 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

- The more I am grateful for the kindness of God towards me, the kinder I will be to those around me.

2. UNholy- hidden sin. - We still expect God to bless us as we live in comprise. - Some of us are exhausted from managing sin and hiding sin because it takes more energy to hide it and fake it then expose it and let God heal it. Ex. Woman making brownies with poop in it

Romans 11:22 “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”

Titus 1:15 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.”

Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

True repentance means we change our mind and our direction so deeply it changes us.

3. UNloving- not moved by love for others, you pick sides. - Church should be known for by loving others no matter what. - Church is ‘t for us, but for others.

Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” - We are not this good, only God did it.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” 4. UNforgiving- holding offense. - It’s impossible to be kind by holding offense. - We would rather punish those we hate instead of loving and forgiving. Ex. Setting yourself,on fire.

Ephesians 4:31–32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Colossians 3:12–13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

- Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was me.