Flesh or Fruit: Kindness
Flesh or Fruit • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
We are in a series on the Fruit of the Spirit entitled, [Flesh or Fruit]. The subject of today’s message is [Kindness].
Some students of the word might think, he is going out of order, it is love, joy, peace, patience, then kindness. If you thought that you are right.
I planned to preach about patience, and I will, but you will have to be patient! During the past week, I had a thought about kindness that I could not get past.
Author Wilbur Rees wrote:
“I would like to buy $3 worth of God please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 dollars worth of God please.”
I want $3 dollars of God. As I arrived to kindness I thought of this example. When we study the fruit of the Spirit, it is easy to get stirred and excited about love, joy, and peace.
We need to love God and love each other.
It is easy to get excited about Joy. Clyde mentioned to me, you had an easy one this morning, everyone loves to hear about joy.
To hear of the peace God gives can stir our hearts!
As we get farther down the list it almost seems that Paul begins to meddle. I am happy with love, joy, and peace, but I do not know about patience, let alone kindness.
What is kindness: goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
One of the students in Bekah’s Sunday School class defined Kindness as, putting the needs of others before your own.
People who are kind prefer others over themselves. How do we become kind people? I read a few articles that provided steps on how to be kinder.
I can summarize each article with this, just be kinder! The articles suggested:
Be nice
considerate
focus on kindness
prefer others
do not judge
be optimistic
Sounds easy right! How can I be kind? Just be kinder. I am pretty sure I have heard that since I was a little child. We may put some of these into practice, but can we really be kind on our own?
Jeremiah answers:
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Life would be easy if everyone was kinder, but we live in a selfish society that prefers self above everyone else! I would love to be kind all the time, but by myself I cannot do that.
Yet when Paul wrote this list the Holy Spirit prompted him to include kindness. Why? Because it is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of Daniel.
On my own I fail miserably in regards to love, joy, peace, and now kindness. But when I surrender my life to Jesus and let His Spirit work in and through me, I can become a kind person.
How does kindness work? How can we be kind? I want to look at the life of Jesus.
Initially, I had a few thought about Jesus’ kindness. I thought about the Good Samaritan or the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
It is not secret that Jesus was kind. But to really understand the kindness of Christ, I want to look deeper. Yes Jesus showed kindness to His disciples and those to whom He ministered.
That is relatively easy. He is God we are not. He is superior and we are inferior, why wouldn’t He show US kindness, it is in His nature.
I think of it in our lives. It is easy to show kindness to the poor and disenfranchised. We are approaching the holiday season. It is easy to be kind to kids who do not have presents. We want to show kindness by giving food to those who do not have any.
But the question I want to answer is not, how do I show kindness to people who are hurting and struggling?
How do I show kindness to those who look like me, act like me, and live near me?
How do I show kindness to those who do want my kindness and will not show kindness in return?
Rather, how do I show kindness to those just like me?
How do I show kindness to those on my job?
How do I show kindness to those who look like me, act like me, and live near me?
How do I show kindness to those who do want my kindness and will not show kindness in return?
To see how kindness works among equals, we cannot so much look at Jesus and His disciples. Instead, I want to see the relationship of Jesus with the other members of the Godhead.
We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are One! Each member of the Trinity is distinct in its role, but united in its purpose!
There is no competition within the Godhead. Instead, they compliment each other. Each member’s role is unique, yet they work in concert with the other.
To see how we are to show kindness, preferring others, I want to look at three areas where we see kindness within the Trinity, [The Father’s Kindness], [The Son’s Kindness], and [The Spirit’s Kindness].
Let’s begin
1. The Father Preferred the Son and Spirit
1. The Father Preferred the Son and Spirit
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
As we look at the Trinity, we need to know that they are not listed in order of rank. It is not as though the Father is first, the Son is second, and the Spirit is last.
All three members of the Godhead were at work throughout the Old Testament. However, it was not until Jesus walked the earth that the distinct roles started to make sense.
My dad’s cousin, who is not in church very well, told me once, “Daniel, this is basically what I know about the Bible, in the Old Testament God was sad because He couldn’t have a Son. Then Christmas came and He had a baby boy, and now He is happy!”
I explained that is not quite what scripture tells us. In the Old Testament, people loved God to the extent they could, yet there was something separating them.
The cause for the divide? SIN! God had to deal with sin before He could be close to creation again. Therefore the Godhead developed a plan.
It is best summarized in:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God the Father wanted to reunite with humanity
The Son chose to lay down His life
The Holy Spirit prepares hearts
In , Jesus speaks of His Father’s house. In the Father’s house there are many rooms/mansions. God wants us to come home to Him when the time is right!
How would the Father enable sinful creation to come to be with Him?
He preferred the Son to come to earth. He wanted His Son to succeed in His role in saving humanity. He knew when His Son went to the cross, the work of sin would be overcome.
That is why Jesus explained:
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
There is no competition between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. God knew when Jesus came to this earth, He would be the way, the truth, and the life.
You and I are here today because the Father displayed kindness. He showed preference to the Son and the Spirit.
2. The Son Preferred the Father and Spirit
2. The Son Preferred the Father and Spirit
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
After telling the disciples of the hope they had in the Father’s house, Philip wanted to see the Father. He begged Jesus, show us the Father.
Remember, the Jesus was in the process of displaying how the roles of the Father, Son, and Spirit works. When they saw Jesus they saw the Father. When they heard Jesus, they head the Father.
Why? Because Jesus spoke what the Father said. Everything He did was under the direction of the Father’s work! As I read this passage, it made sense to me why Jesus preferred the Father and the Spirit.
As we look to Jesus, we have a model of how we can walk in relationship with the Father. Remember, prior to the Cross, a personal relationship with God was a foreign idea.
God displayed His love through His Son Jesus. Jesus knew His responsibility was to point people to the Father. He wants us to know how much God loves us!
Now that we have an avenue to have a relationship with the Father, look at what will happen.
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
4
We know have a pathway to answered prayers. When we pray, we pray to the FATHER in the name of the SON, Jesus. Jesus wants to meet our needs and answer our prayers.
Why? So that the FATHER might be glorified in the SON! What kindness and what love? Jesus promises to meet our needs, not just so we can be better or feel better, but to glorify the Father.
We see that the Father showed kindness to the Son and the Son shows kindness by desiring to glorify the Father. Let’s read on:
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Next Jesus issues a promise, if you love me, I will ask the FATHER, to send another comforter/helper. Who is the Helper? He is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus shows kindness now by pointing to the Holy Spirit. His focus was to send the Holy Spirit so that we might know Him in a new dimension.
Jesus preferred the Spirit to come. As He walked on earth, He was limited to one place at a time. He knew when the Spirit came, He would dwell in us.
Notice verse eighteen, I will not leave you as orphans. What do we think of when we hear orphan? An orphan does not have parents.
Now Jesus says, when I am gone, I will not leave you as orphans. Instead, because of His sacrifice, He knew the Spirit would draw us to Him, who could then introduce us to the Father!
Remember, kindness is generosity to others. Jesus pointed us to the Father and the Spirit!
3. The Spirit Prefers the Father and Son
3. The Spirit Prefers the Father and Son
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
People often have a grasp on the Father and the Son, but what does the Holy Spirit do? He is not, as one author described Him, “the forgotten God.” Or another book is titled, “The God I Never Knew.”
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract being. He is the part of the Godhead at work in the world. The Father is in heaven, the Son is at the right hand of the Father.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit works in and through us. But does the Holy Spirit direct us to Himself? No! The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to us through the Son.
When He comes, His goal is to teach us what Jesus taught. But remember, everything Jesus said He learned from who? The Father!
Therefore, the Spirit points us to the Father and the Son. Jesus prepared His followers for the coming of the Spirit. He went so far to tell them, I am leaving, but it is better for you that I go so I can send the Spirit.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
When the Spirit comes, His goal is to point us to Jesus. The Spirit speaks as the Father and Son speak. He guides US to learn from the Father.
When the Spirit comes, His goal is to point us to Jesus. The Spirit speaks as the Father and Son speak. He guides US to learn from the Father.
One author wrote, “True ministry in the Holy Spirit never serves a private agenda.”
We must understand this truth. If people do something selfish and follow it with, well the Spirit led me to do this, we have to question if that is true or not.
The Spirit’s goal is to honor and glorify the Father through the Son. While we are Pentecostal, when we flow in the Spirit, we must always remember the purpose is to glorify God!
That is why Paul took time to teach on the gifts of the Spirit. There were Christians walking the flesh, claiming they were led by the Spirit.
Paul explains, if we live contrary to the truth revealed in scripture, then we are not walking the Spirit, but in the flesh, remember they are:
1. Sexual Sin- adultery, fornication, lewdness, or perversion
2. Religious Sin- idolatry, sorcery {we see this through people’s involvement in new age spiritualism, superstition, horoscopes, or idols}
3. Social Sin- these sins ruin relationships in churches, families, or communities: slander, gossip, harboring bitterness, holding grudges, taking revenge, outbursts, losing our temper, or selfishness
4. Personal Sin- these harm our bodies, selfish ambitions, working ourselves to death at the expense of our families, envy, jealously, drunkenness {the best way to avoid drunkenness? Don’t drink}, partying, or self-destructive behavior.
IF we are content living in these sins, how can we say that we walk in the Spirit. If we truly live a life full of the Spirit, we will not want to continue in sin.
But when the Holy Spirit takes over, we will not be able to help displaying the fruit of the Spirit, thereby glorifying the Father and the Son.
The Spirit prefers, shows kindness and consideration to the Father and thh Spirit.
Close:
As I studied for this message, I felt prompted to go to patience later and focus on kindness. I couldn’t get passed it, I have studied and prayed that I will adequately explain what God spoke to me.
When we think of flesh or fruit, we think of two ways to live. Should we walk in the flesh, our actions will not please God. However, when we walk in the Spirit, we glorify God!
The fruit today is kindness. It is God’s desire we show kindness, why? Because He shows kindness to us. It is easy to think, well I give to missions, I show kindness to people all around the world.
It is easy to show kindness to those we may never meet. But God wants us to show kindness wherever we go. When we go to the bank, to Dollar General, driving down the road, talking on the phone, or attending church, He wants us to how Kindness!
How do we do this. Think of the Trinity. Not once do we see competition. Not once do we observe infighting or jealousy.
Instead, we see Three Members working in unity. Each one knows their role, but each one is equal. Each member is kind to the other, and each member is kind to us!
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
, NLT, 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?
Think of that, God’s kindness leads us to repentance. Whose kindness?
The kindness of the Father who desired to see His Son succeed so that the Spirit might come and draw us to the Father.
The Kindness of the Son who wanted to glorify the Father, while at the same time desiring to send the Spirit so we could get near the Father.
The Kindness of the Spirit, who never points to self, but always leads us to Father and the Son.
When we accept Christ as our Savior, it was the Kindness of God that woos us, draws us, and leads us to Him!
Now that we are recipients of this kindness, God wants the FRUIT of Kindness to flow through us!
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Because God showed kindness to US, He wants us to show kindness to each other.
You might think, that sounds nice, but it is not realistic! Remember, these are called the Fruit of the Spirit, not the Fruit of Daniel!
I can promise you, on my own, I am not always kind, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can be loving, joyful, peaceful, patience, and kind.
Today, I feel in my Spirit, God wants to do two things:
First, He wants to show us His Kindness. We are going to come to God and I believe He is going to meet our needs and answer us!
If you need… He can do it, ask that the Father may be glorified in the Son!
Second, He wants us to leave so overcome with His kindness, that we will SHOW others how to live for Jesus more than we TELL others how to live for Jesus.
It is easy to show kindness to those we do not know or those we pity, but how about showing kindness to those who are not always kind.
I can’t do that? Jesus did to us!