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Sunday Worship 3 October 2021 : "The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness"

Text: Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4
3 October 2021

INTRODUCTION

1. What is “kindness?” (Greek: χρηστος-Chrestos)

a) Root
i) A quality
ii) It describes character
b) That which is found within
i) A trait
ii) A virtue

2. Synonyms of “kindness” (Greek: χρηστοτης- Chrestotes)

a) Goodness
b) Graciousness
c) Generosity

3. An expression of God

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour
Toward man appeared”   Titus 3:4

A QUICK REVIEW

“The Fruit of the Spirit”   Galatians 5:22

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Longsuffering

DIVINE KINDNESS

1. Kindness as a Virtue of God

a) The goodness of God
“Or do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”   Romans 2:4
b) The “goodness and severity of God”
“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”   Romans 11:22
c) The word “goodness”
It is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22; Titus 3:4

2. Kindness and grace

“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”   Ephesians 2:7
a) The exceeding riches of His grace
b) In His kindness (goodness) toward us in Christ Jesus

HUMAN KINDNESS

1. The Life of the “ministers of God”

“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,”   2 Corinthians 6:4-6
a) The suffering endured
b) The virtues exhibited

2. The life of the Believer

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;”   Colossians 3:12
a) The believer described
i) Elect of God
ii) Holy and beloved
b) The life of the Believer to be developed
i) Tender mercies
ii) Kindness
iii) Humility
iv) Meekness
v) Longsuffering

KINDNESS AS A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”   Galatians 5:22-23

1. Consciousness of bearing this Fruit of kindness

a) Divine Aspect
b) Human Aspect
c) Holy Spirit Aspect

2. Negation of this Fruit

a) Indulgence of the flesh
b) Yielding to the flesh

3. Cultivation of this Fruit

a) Put off the old man with his deeds   (Colossians 3:8-9)
b) Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge   (Colossians 3:10)
c) Practice
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”   Colossians 3:13-14
i) Forbearance
ii) Forgiveness
iii) Filled with love

CONCLUSION

1. The different aspects of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

a) They are all connected closely
b) They are to be cultivated separately

2. The work of the Holy Spirit

a) His work is essential
b) His work is effective

3. Our Part

a) We recognize His work
b) We respond appropriately