Traits of the Spirit-Controlled Life: Kindness
Dr. George Bannister
Living Life in the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted
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New Living Translation Chapter 5
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Traits of the Spirit-Controlled Life: Kindness
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David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?” There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?”
Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”
The king asked him, “Where is he?”
Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”
Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”
So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home.
6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.
13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
Introduction:
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace , longsuffering, gentleness
χρηστότης: to provide something beneficial for someone as an act of kindness—‘to act kindly, to be kind, kindness.’This virtue is a zeal toward another in a good sense. It is seen in two ways:
(1) By God toward men as shown in mercies and benefits He provides on the basis of grace; and (2) By one man to another man shown in doing mutual favors, benefits, compassion, etc.
(1) By God toward men as shown in mercies and benefits He provides on the basis of grace; and (2) By one man to another man shown in doing mutual favors, benefits, compassion, etc.
He provides on the basis of grace; and
(2) By one man to another man shown in doing mutual favors, benefits, compassion, etc.
When you and I live under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit our Lives will exemplify kindness.
What does God' s word teach us about kindness?
I- KINDNESS IS ACTIVE ( )
I- KINDNESS IS ACTIVE ( )
1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
A. Just as with all of the other fruit of the Spirit, kindness is to be an active virtue .
A. Just as with all of the other fruit of the Spirit, kindness is to be an active virtue .
1. The Lord expects the believer to live out his commitment to Christ: a faith that is not lived is worthless.
Spirit, kindness is to be an active virtue . 1. The Lord expects the believer to live out his commi tment to Christ: a faith that is not lived is worthless.
a. The real essence of the Christian life does not consist of the things we are not to do; but rather the things that we are to do.
1) Jesus did not live his ministry in the rabbinical schools (as did rabbis in his day), but in the highways and byways – sharing real life with people.
2) Jesus instructs his followers to do likewise. ()
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
B- kindness actively seeks out opportunities to operate. ()
B- kindness actively seeks out opportunities to operate. ()
1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
1- David sought out opportunity to be kind.
a- He inquired concerning any descendents of Jonathan.
1- Mephibosheth was discovered.
2- If we take a careful look, we will find those who need acts of kindness.
a- Where are they?
1) Those who have recently lost a loved one due to death.
2) Those who are in financial difficulties.
3) Those who have hardships that make them feel like the whole world is against them.
4) Those who need someone to love them to Christ.
5) Those who were sick. Etc.
()
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
( )
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
II- KINDNESS IS ENABLED BY ALLOWING GOD TO WORK THROUGH YOU. ()
II- KINDNESS IS ENABLED BY ALLOWING GOD TO WORK THROUGH YOU. ()
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
()
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A- Kindness gets its example from the Lord himself.
A- Kindness gets its example from the Lord himself.
1- He extends kindness and blessing toward us.
a- God’s provisions prove his kindness.
()
43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.
(1) in this he proves his love – for it is the motivation behind his kindness.
()
(a) notice his acts of kindness:
redemption () ()
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
help in distress ()
6 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.
7 He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.
bringing satisfaction to our soul ()
9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
healing ()
20 He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
providing food and water ()
35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.
36 He brings the hungry to settle there and to build their cities.
37 They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops.
38 How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of livestock increase.
B- Kindness is a natural expression of a supernatural filling. ()
B- Kindness is a natural expression of a supernatural filling. ()
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
1- the Christian life is Christ living through the believer. ()
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
a. if the Lord is kind… And (as the Scriptures tell us) actively seeks to show his kindness… As he lives his life through us, we will seek to exercise kindness!
2- All the believer needs to do is to allow the Holy Spirit to feel him and flow through him.
a- Yield yourself to him… The kindness will flow.
(1) As you yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, you will begin to see those who are in need and respond to them.
III- KINDNESS IS EXTENDED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE WORTHINESS OF THE RECIPIENT. ()
III- KINDNESS IS EXTENDED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE WORTHINESS OF THE RECIPIENT. ()
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
A- Kindness does not measure the worthiness of another before giving.
A- Kindness does not measure the worthiness of another before giving.
1- By the rules of the world in the day of David, all descendents of Saul were worthy of death.
a- Mephibosheth’s statement in verse 8 emphasizes his own unworthiness.
b- In spite of his unworthiness, he received gifts of kindness from David.
(1) Restoration of all property (which by Kings rights were David’s).
(2) Daily provisions provided by the king.
(3) Labor for his land provided by the king.
2- Many people today judge worthiness before extending kindness.
a- The standards by which they judge worthiness are not godly standards.
(1) Social status
(2) ethnicity
(3) Do they agree with me?
(4) Do I approve of all of their actions?
B- Kindness is not extended upon the assumption of some type of repayment.
B- Kindness is not extended upon the assumption of some type of repayment.
1- There was no possible way for Mephibosheth to repay David’s kindness… It was not even expected!
a- Any time repayment is expected, in any form, it is not kindness!
2- There is no way we can ever repay the Lord for his kindness!
a- All he has done for us is done by grace – we are to follow his example.
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8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
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6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Conclusion:
There are 3 things we need to remember about kindness:
kindness is active.
Kindness is enabled by allowing God to work through us.
Kindness is extended totally by grace
The only way that you and I can have the strength to be genuinely kind is to allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of our lives. ()
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Why not surrender control of your life to him now?