Walking With Goodness

INTRODUCTION

Tonight, we will look at the next attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit which we’ve come to, and that is goodness…Look at what the Bible says:

Ephesians 5:8–10 AV

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Goodness is defined as “The state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence or perfection.”

Galatians 6:10 AV

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

There are different ways that people interpret the word “good”:

To some, goodness revolves around anything that increases their pleasure. However, we know that even non-pleasurable seasons can be good for us!

Some people say that knowledge brings goodness. They say if we can increase knowledge of good, there will be no evil. But knowing what is good has never guaranteed that we would do it!

Some say goodness is equal with NOT doing certain things, such as “I didn’t eat that burger - I was good!” or “I did good, I didn’t curse this time when I got mad.”

We have our perception, but in the Bible, Jesus displayed the goodness of God.

Acts 10:38 AV

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Goodness oftentimes isn’t what we think. Goodness is supernatural…It’s not something that you and I can produce on our own. Goodness must be the fruit of the Spirit within us, so I want to answer the question tonight, “How does goodness develop in our lives?”

First of all...

1-REALIZE OUR INABILITY TO PRODUCE GOD’S GOODNESS

We, within ourselves, cannot produce goodness…Why is this?

Because of Our Human Nature

There are some people, and it doesn’t take long to find someone that will tell you they believe man is inherently good...

Let me tell you two reasons I don’t believe that: first, I believe the Bible...

Romans 3:10 AV

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 AV

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I told you I had two reasons, the Bible is the first reason I don’t believe man is inherently good, but the second reason I don’t believe it is because I’m a parent...

You don’t have to teach your children to lie, you don’t have to teach your children to be selfish; on the contrary, we have to work very hard to teach them the opposite!

Why is this?

Romans 5:12 AV

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 3:12 AV

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

There’s another reason we cannot produce God’s goodness; because of our human nature, but also:

Because of the Flesh

Never forget this ya’ll…Even a Christian, in the flesh, can do terrible things. We’ve seen it down through the years with pastor’s falling into temptation, with faithful church members fighting in the middle of the sanctuary. Some of them need to get saved, but many times, it’s someone that’s just walking in the flesh.

Romans 7:18 AV

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

So, now that we all understand that we cannot produce God’s goodness in ourselves, what do we do?

2-RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR GOODNESS

There’s no hope for you and I to produce goodness on our own…The only way we can, is to rely on the Holy Spirit...

How do we go about this?

The first step if you’re not saved, is to get saved! I’ve mentioned it in every message of this series, the first step is salvation - You do not have the Holy Spirit living within you if you aren’t born again!

If you are saved tonight, and if you’re lost, then we need to realize a few things:

We Are Born of the Spirit

The new birth is a spiritual process

John 3:5–7 AV

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Goodness can and will only come about by the Holy Spirit through a spiritual process!

Acts 11:22–24 AV

22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Notice, Barnabas was a good man, how? Because he was full of the Holy Ghost and of faith...

The next thing we need to realize is:

We Receive a Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:3–4 AV

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Christian life begins with saving faith, faith in the person of Jesus Christ. But when you know Jesus Christ personally, you also experience God’s power, and this power produces “life and godliness.”

When you are born into the family of God by faith in Christ, you are born complete. God gives you everything you will ever need “for life and godliness.” Nothing has to be added! “And ye are complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).

2 Corinthians 5:17 AV

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The words “…in Christ...” refer to being in union with Him. Genuine conversion begins life transformation, but not by reformation.

The indwelling Spirit creates diving life in the believer:

Romans 8:8–10 AV

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

This brings us to third thing we need to realize and that is:

We Must Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 AV

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

The only way to not fulfill the lust of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit. If you’re not walking in the Spirit, then you’re operating in the flesh!

So, how does goodness develop in our lives?

First - We realize our inability to develop God’s goodness.

Second - We rely on the Holy Spirit to develop goodness in our lives.

Then,

Thirdly - We:

3-REVEAL THE GOODNESS OF GOD TO A LOST WORLD

Being good is what we are on the inside.

Doing good is what people see on the outside.

Good living is the fruit of the Spirit.

There are three ways we can reveal goodness tonight...

Goodness Is Found in the Word of God

We don’t have a clue what goodness is by our own feelings. We must have a guide:

Micah 6:8 AV

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

We can’t be a good husband or good wife, or good anything apart from the Word of God. God is our compass, He is how we gain answers to these questions, and without looking into the Word of God, we will be intentionally ignorant of these things.

I’ve got a feeling one of these days, a lot of people are going to looking at God saying, well, I didn’t know that, I didn’t know any better, and He’s going to look at us and say, “You have no excuse, I gave you my written Word, all you had to do is read it.”

Secondly,

Goodness Is Cultivated through Godly Fellowship

Hebrews 10:24 AV

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. Apparently, some of the wavering believers had been absenting themselves from the church fellowship. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works.

Thirdly,

Goodness Is Revealed through a Walk with Christ

Ephesians 2:8–10 AV

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We have nothing to brag about when it comes to fruit because it’s all to the glory of God!

Let me show you two ways that goodness is revealed through a walk with Christ:

First off:

The good work of witnessing

Think about our Church verse - Shining Light Baptist Church - You see this verse on the wall back there every time you leave!

Matthew 5:16 AV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I want to remind each and every one of us tonight that when we go out those doors back there, we are entering into the mission field!

The second way goodness is revealed through a walk with Christ is:

The good work of serving

1 Peter 4:10–11 AV

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

CONCLUSION

If we as Christians are going to influence our churches, communities, and our own families, we must first realize our inability to produce God’s goodness on our own. We must then rely on the Holy Spirit to produce goodness through us and reveal the goodness of God to a lost world!