Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

We’ve been going through the gifts.

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...

Why?

It gives us the opportunity to look at our lives and take and assessment of how we are doing and make adjustments as necessary.

It is part of a larger program to train Christian leaders up, because not only as Christians, but especially as leaders these are the characteristics we need to have.

Today we talk about Goodness.

what is good as defined by the world.

What is goodness as defined by God and his Holy Word.

How do we assist the Holy Spirit in helping us to attain the goodness he is talking about

World’s Definition of Goodness

Google - the quality of being good

to be desired or approved of. "we live at peace with each other, which is good"synonyms:healthy, fine, sound, tip-top, hale and hearty, fit, robust, sturdy, strong, vigorous More 2. having the qualities required for a particular role. "the schools here are good"synonyms:fine, superior, quality; More

Good - to be desired or approved of or having the qualities required for a particular role.

As a noun - that which is morally right; righteousness, or benefit or advantage to someone or something.

1. that which is morally right; righteousness. "a mysterious balance of good and evil"synonyms:virtue, righteousness, goodness, morality, integrity, rectitude; More 2. benefit or advantage to someone or something.

Used in the dictionary’s example “a mysterious balance of good and evil.”

So the problem that we are going to find as we try to define what is good is the ambiguity of the word goodness in today’s society.

The problem is that for whatever argument that there is to do a thing, there are varying opinions to the contrary.

Years ago I owned a house on Wyoming Ave. I needed to repair the roof and talked to a number of contractors to get it done. Everyone had a different cost and a different solution. However, I’m pretty convinced all of them were good ideas. But some are better than others.depending on what criteria I was using.

I talked to a person the other day who wanted to buy a vehicle. They weren’t sure exactly what they were looking for but they knew they wanted a car because it would be better on gas. They wanted a truck because the 4wd would handle the snow better and they were thinking of buying a camper that they would need to pull. They possibly wanted a SUV because it might have the best of both worlds but they wouldn’t be able to carry 4x8 sheets of plywood. In the end, there was only one decision — wait to buy until you figure out which qualities would be GOOD for them and their family.

In their mind GOOD depended on weighing the qualities that they desired.. which fits the dictionary definition “advantage to someone or something.

In cars, that’s acceptable. In some life choices however it’s not something to be desired.

Morality in todays world is incredibly ambiguous. There are things in the Bible that are set in stone as sinful things… they are called immoral by the creator of the universe. There are no arguments. It is not brave to fight for your right to do whatever you want whenever you please. But we are in a world where the sinful nature is applauded and defended. Sin is sin is sin. I had a friend once tell me that I was too black and white on this issue. But here is the thing..... It is black and white!!! If God calls something evil… it is evil.

In .

Galatians 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ga 5:

WE WERE SET FREE FROM SIN AND THE FLESH.

Galatians 5:13 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

gA 5:

CHRIST BECKONS US TOWARD THAT FREEDOM.. NOT A FREEDOM THAT SAYS I CAN DO WHAT MY FLESH DESIRES BUT A FREEDOM THAT SAYS I CAN LIVE THE WAY I WAS CREATED BY GOD TO LIVE.

Galatians 5:19–21 NIV

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

GA 5:

THESE THINGS ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT AND ARE OPPOSED TO THE WAYS OF THE SPIRIT. THEY ARE EVIL. THEY ARE NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND APPLAUDED, THEY ARE TO BE AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE - BECAUSE THEY DO LEAD TO DEATH — NOT MY OPINION, BUT THE TRUTH FROM HIS WORD.

Biblical Goodness.

3

As Christians we need to realize that Biblical goodness has nothing to do with the world’s goodness.

It is NOT dependent upon our opinions on what is good and evil.

Goodness in

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Goodness - agathosyne - it is always translated as goodness. It is also a double superlative meaning its the MOST excellent good. I can also be said that it is an extension of the word agape which is the most perfect love.

Let’s boil that down.

Biblical goodness is a quality that directs behavior from a hear t of most perfect love.

As a fruit -

we remember that fruit in this statement is not something that you go up to the “goodness tree” and pick like you would and apple or a pear.

It is something that grows and becomes more beautiful and attractive in your life.

This means we have to ask a few questions?

Is goodness a fruit that is growing in our life?

Would the people in your life say you exhibit great goodness?

How do we get goodness?

Before we get there.

Matthew 7:17 ESV

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Matthew 7:17–18 ESV

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

IN ORDER TO BEAR THE GOOD FRUIT YOU MUST BE A GOOD TREE.

Philippians 1:6 NIV

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

pHIL

AS WITH ALL THE FRUIT - IT’S A PROCESS. TODAY MIGHT NOT LOOK SO GOOD AS YOU MEDITATE ON WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THIS FRUIT AS EVIDENCE OF YOUR WALK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT SHOULD LOOK BETTER THAN BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED, AND IT SHOULD LOOK BETTER AS YOU WALK CONTINUES.

We Fake It Til We Make It.

We apply our mind and our actions not just to “doing good” but we apply them to “being good” as the Bible defines it.

Romans 12:20–21 NIV

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12

DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY: FIND THE NEED. FILL THE NEED. EVEN IN THE ONES YOU FEEL ARE LEAST LIKELY TO DESERVE IT.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Micah 6:8 NIV

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

3 John 11 NIV

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Go to the Source.

God is the standard. Not your friends or enemies.

Mark 10:18 NIV

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Matthew 19:16–17 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

2 Co 9:8

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

IT IS GOD THAT BLESSES YOU WITH GOODNESS.

Conclusion

we talked about the ambiguity of the word goodness in today’s world. There are too many uses for the word and worse than that, if goodness is synonomous with morality, we live in a world where there is no standard of what is GOOD.

We talked about how the Bible defines goodness. It is not dependent on man’s standards or even our opinions. In stead is is a reflection of His perfect love exhibiting itself in our lives through our behaviors.

We talked about the fact that whileit is a team effort and we need to apply our heart and actions to the attaining of His goodness we recognized that the only way to get it is through walking with His Spirit

SO I WANT TO ISSUE A CHALLENGE AND I WANT IT TO COST YOU SOMETHING.

Pray to God.

Talk with your spouse.

Put an amount of money in an envelop with a note… “I just wonted to let you know God loves you and so do I.”

Look for an opportunity to give it to someone… not the offering plate.

Tell me about it next week.

LET US PRAY.