The Fruit of the Spirit GOODNESS August 5, 2012

Introduction  Open your Bibles to Galatians 5  New Summer Series – Fruit of the Spirit  June 2/3 = Fruit of the Spirit – what is it and how is it produced?  June 9/10 = Deeds of the Flesh – comparison with the Fruit of the Spirit  June 16-August 19 = Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control  August 25/26 = Against Such Things There is No Law – what can hinder us from experiencing the fruit in our lives  Today’s Inspiration = Our Heavenly Father, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can and will produce all the goodness we appreciate in Jesus in our lives.

 Opening Illustrations  “Finger lickin’ good” = KFC  “Good to the last drop” = Maxwell House (new is “Good Just Got Great”)  “You’re in Good Hands” = Allstate  “Life’s Good” = LG o Galatians 5:22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness…

Exegesis  What is Goodness?  The World’s Definition  the state or quality of being good  moral excellence, virtue 1

 generosity  excellence of quality  best part of anything  God’s Truth  Meaning = Goodness is a quality of moral excellence – uprightness or righteousness; a quality of relationships with others – generosity  Source = Goodness is from the Lord  Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness…” = Holy Spirit  Ephesians 5:9, “(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),” = KJV – “fruit of the Spirit”  Goodness is the fruit (work and results) of the Holy Spirit  Goodness was a part of man’s original creation (Genesis 1:27, 31 – “God created man in His own image…God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good…”)  Goodness is not now a part of man because of sin’s corruption of our human nature  Romans 7:18-19, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”  Goodness is from the Lord because it is of the Lord – all that we know of what is morally excellent, righteousness, generosity  Reality = Goodness is the pursuit of every believer  Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Romans 15:14, “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”

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 Goodness is to be the pursuit of every believer – it is the reason for which we were saved (to bring glory to God by being channels of His goodness)  Application  Goodness is a quality of moral excellence – righteousness; and a quality of relationship with others – generosity  Goodness is from the Lord  Goodness is the pursuit of every believer  How do I prepare the soil of my life for Goodness?  Set your mind on the Spirit o Romans 8:5 5

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

o Romans 8:10, 13-14 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  Goodness (moral excellence, righteousness) requires that we have our mind set on the Spirit  Develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit – talk to Him (as you would a friend) and listen to Him (as you would to your boss)  Walk in the Light o Ephesians 5:9, 8 9

(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

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For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

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(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 3

 Goodness requires us to conduct our lives in the Light – the righteousness and truth of Jesus  We are commanded to be close to the people of the world and to be far from the darkness in the world  Illustration: Stage Coach driver needed  WWJHMB – Where Would Jesus Have Me Be = Not every place (or situation) is one of the Light  Learn what is pleasing to the Lord o Ephesians 5:10-12 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  Goodness requires us to learn what pleases the Lord (and what doesn’t) – and then to do it  WWJHMD – What Would Jesus Have Me Do = As a son, as a husband, as a father, as a neighbor, as a manager, as a coworker, as a pastor, as an elder, as an American, as a Floridian, etc.  Choose to do good works and be generous o 1 Timothy 6:18 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.  Goodness requires us to do good works – including generosity o Matthew 20:15 {Parable of Landowner} 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?' 4

 Goodness requires us to do good works – including generosity o James 2:15-17 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  Goodness requires us to do good works – demanding generosity  Live on less (less spent on you, less beyond needs) so that you can give more (generosity and share)  HWJHMS = How Would Jesus Have Me Spend – evaluate everything {constant discipline}  Application  Set your mind on the Spirit  Walk in the Light (righteousness and truth) – Where Would Jesus Have Me Be  Learn what is pleasing to the Lord – What Would Jesus Have Me Do  Choose to do good works and be generous – How Would Jesus Have Me Spend

Response  My Response = This week I will talk with my kids to better help our family be prepared to be generous, because I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I want to better share the blessings given to me but intended for others.  Invitation = Admired Jesus and would like to get to know Him better or Ready to believe on Him for your salvation and accept His goodness  Invitation = Confess a lack of kindness and submit to the work of the Spirit in producing goodness through your life  My Response = This week I will _______________, because I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I want _________________________.

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