Kindness

Intro

Introduction to Fruit of the Spirit

The measure of kindness.

Illustration: TSA

A kindness that is moved up and down by circumstances is not a godly kindness.

Outline: Psalm 136

God proves his kindness…

By Who He Is (vv. 1-3)

By What He Made (vv. 4-9)

By How He Saves (vv. 10-16)

By Where He Overcomes (vv. 17-22)

By When He Loves (vv. 23-26)

Outline: Ephesians 4:23

What true godly kindness looks like…

Godly kindness is a state of being // Worldly kindness is a one time action

We tend to think that we are kind people, that do bad things sometimes.

Sometimes we do good, sometime we do bad.

But Christ says that true kindness comes out of our very nature.

Luke 6:45 ESV

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Do you want to be kind? Then you won’t be able to be kind by changing your actions. You have to change you, your nature first.

Godly kindness is focused on others // Worldly kindness is focused on self

Matthew 6:2–3 ESV

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Godly kindness forgives to it’s own hurt // Worldly kindness disappears after hurt

Matthew 5:43–48 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Godly kindness comes from God’s help

1 John 4:10–11 ESV

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Conclusion

Christ was kind to you. That is all the kindness you need.

If you feel a need to be satisfied by people’s kindness, you will never be satisfied because people were never kind enough.

Christ came to say “that kindness hole in your heart is meant to be filled by me.”