Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

Intro

“Man was made to dwell in the garden of the Lord, to worship in the beauty of holiness, and to walk in unbroken fellowship with his Creator.” -A.W. Tozer

goodness n. — the quality of moral excellence; especially as a quality that is not stagnant, but actively working itself out.

The Spirit’s work is to restore in us the goodness that was lost in Eden—a moral excellence that is not passive, but active, alive, and radiant.

Goodness in Genesis

Genesis 1:31 states after God made man God looked at creation and described it as very good

The world, us had a moral excellence about it, untainted.

Romans 1:20 was on perfect display

Luke 19:40 “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”” Creation declares the wonders of God

But the good creation did not remain untainted for long at all, Genesis 3:6-7

Genesis 3:6–7 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

As we see human attempts at goodness start right off the bat too to try to restore ourselves to that goodness of the garden

In our sinfulness we were forced to leave the garden of perfection behind Genesis 3:21-24

Genesis 3:21–24 ESV

And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Something to note here though we already see scripture alluding to the restoration of goodness comes through the shedding of innocent blood

Restoration of What Was Left in the Garden

So why this journey to Genesis, to show a major part of the Spirits work is returning us to the garden state where everything was very good, so what did we leave behind in the garden that was very good

One: A harmony of nature, Genesis 1:30 shows all of creation was originally herbivores (bonnethead shark eat seaweed) and Genesis 9:2-3 shows at one point animals did not fear us

When we looked at nature we were not worried about it killing us, we could hold a snake or a spider and marvel at the creativity of God, but now we see spider or a snake and a fear of death creeps in not a wonder of God

See as the restoration of goodness happens we can look at nature with the power of death taken and admire the goodness of God even in what we declare as scary

We can look at a spider web and be marveled by the strength of God as we reflect on the strength of spider silk

Silk is as strong as steel and can observe more energy than kevlar. Theoretically if you could weave spider web together to the thickness of a pencil it could stop a boeing 747 midflight which can be up up to 800,000 pounds going 660 mph

Two: Rest was left as a regular pattern Genesis 2:1-3

A part of walking in the original goodness God has called us to is resting, not filling our lifes with constant buisness

When you work and go 7 days a week, do you not find your patience growing thin

So in the restoring work of the Spirit we find Spiritual rest, but also physical rest

Rest is very much a spiritual practice

Three: Work of all type would have been seen as holy Genesis 2:15. A call to work the ground was a call from God

As we are restored to the goodness of God we realize there is no such thing as a holy and a secular job for the believer, all work becomes holy

We realize the same standard for the preacher should be the same standard we should set for ourselves, we begin to strive for moral excellence

You realize all day your words/actions are communicating a sermon so to say

Your behavior is either declaring the goodness of God or just saying he is ok

What is the difference in you and a lost coworker?

“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act.” -A.W. Tozer

As we realize all work for the believer is holy we can find joy in even the most mundane jobs

Believer you are not wasting your life away by punching a clock everyday at a mill, office etc.

You were called to provide for your family, that is a holy obligation

You were gifted with strength, work ethic, a passion for math, a passion for health, with eye for detail, and you are using these gifts to one provide for needs, but two unique oppurtunities to build relationships with people you would have not met otherwise

In your lifetime it is estimated you will have around 100,000 encounters with people

Out of that number between 500-1,500 will you become aquainted with

So through our unique paths here at Hurricane if we had about 50 people that means at total of

5,000,000 people encountered

25,000-75,000 people we become aquainted with

We may be small, but we have huge potential to radically impact this world if we raise up generations to embrace a concept of all holy work

Four: Companionship without strife and valued, Genesis 2:18

The goodness of God is seen in how we interact with one another

Strife did not exist, we were able to completly enjoy one another and everyone done their role perfectly

We are all uniquely gifted, we are all strong in our own ways, but just like in marriage we are stronger when we depend on one another and know how God has gifted us

Five: Not only did we walk in perfect companionship with one another, but also we walked with God in perfect companionship Genesis 3:8-10

They were able to walk with God in the Garden, and nothing was able to hinder that walk until that took that fateful act of eating from the forbidden tree

What tree do you keep eating from that hinders your walk

A walk in the Spirit is a constant journey back to that perfect goodness we exprienced in the garden, a state we will not reach until complete perfection in eternity

This morning I want to challenge you to evaluate your life for hinderances in that journey, when people show up at Hurricane at our homes let it be a shadowing of the restored garden state of very good:

Unconfessed sin

Wrong Motives like Simon the magician

Matthew 5:24 ESV

leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mark 11:24 ESV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Are you going through the motions?

Are you preservering?

James 4:2 ESV

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Conclusion

1. Evaluate: What Hinders Your Walk in the Garden?

➤ What “forbidden fruit” do you keep reaching for? ➤ Is there hidden sin, bitterness, addiction, pride, or spiritual laziness hindering your intimacy with God?

2. Embrace the Call to Holy Work

➤ Your job isn’t secular—it’s sacred when done for God’s glory. ➤ Are your words and work reflecting moral excellence?

3. Rediscover the Sabbath Pattern

➤ Are you glorifying God by resting well and trusting Him enough to stop striving? ➤ What’s one habit this week you can change to embrace rest?

4. Rebuild Christlike Relationships

➤ Do you pursue unity, value others, and delight in their giftings? ➤ Is there someone you need to reconcile with?

5. Return Daily to the Spirit for Restoration ➤ Let the Spirit shape you daily into the “very good” image we lost but will one day fully regain.

One day, believer, you will walk again in that very good Garden. But until then, let the Spirit bring Eden into your heart, your home, your work, and your worship.