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Welcome to Elation Church. We had some difficulty
yesterday with our audio and video, and we did
not want you to miss out on this series on spiritual
growth. So we are re -recording it to make it
available to you if you've been following our
series. So I would like to welcome you to week
number five in our series on spiritual growth.
Let's jump right in. 1 Corinthians 2 .14 says
this, The natural man does not receive the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
to him, nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. That tells us that there
is such a thing as a natural person. Let's continue
reading 1 Corinthians 3 verses 1 through 3. It
says this, And I, brethren, could not speak to
you as spiritual people, but as to carnal, as
to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not
with solid food, for until now you were not able
to receive it. And even now you're still not
able, for you're still carnal. For where there
are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are
you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Or
we could replace it with natural men. So in these
verses, we see that there are basically three
types of people. The first type of person is
a natural person. Now, that's a person who is
not born again. They're not a Christian. They're
unrenewed. And all they have to live life by
is their soul or their sensual nature. Now, all
they can live by is what feels good or what seems
right in their own eyes. And then we're introduced
to a carnal person. A carnal person is a Christian,
but they're still living like the natural person.
They're still living according to their flesh.
They are an immature Christian and they remain
to live at a childhood level because they do
not feed on the word of God and grow. Then we
see the third type of person. That's a spiritual
person. born -again believer, a Christian who
is led by the Spirit of God through the Word
of God. They are regularly growing by receiving
the Word of God and by walking in the Spirit.
So the series is on spiritual growth, and we
have to understand these three types of people
before we can figure out where spiritual growth
occurs. 1 Thessalonians 5 .23 It gives us some
very important information. It says this, Now
may the God of peace make you holy, set you apart
in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul
and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus
Christ comes again. Here we see that man is a
three -part being. There are not only three types
of people, but every person is a three -part
being. We are a spirit. We are a spirit being,
and that's what separates us from every other
living thing on the earth. We are made in the
image of God, and God is spirit. So we are spirit
beings, we have a soul, and we live in a body.
Now, our spirit comes alive at salvation. We
become alive unto God. We are united with Christ.
We are made right with God. We are complete in
Christ at salvation. But our soul doesn't automatically
become transformed and renewed when we accept
Christ, right? Our thought life stays the same.
Often it takes a while. Our feelings stay the
same. Now, we are a spirit being, but we have
a soul and our soul is comprised of our mind,
our thought life, our will or our desires and
our emotions and feelings. And the difference
between a carnal Christian and a spiritual Christian
is spiritual growth. that takes place in the
soul because our spirit is already complete in
Christ and righteous and connected with God,
right? But that spiritual growth takes place
in our thought life, in our desires, and in our
emotions. So that's the difference is spiritual
growth of the soul or the lack thereof. Now,
spiritual maturity is not measured by how long
you've been a Christian. Unlike our natural bodies,
you don't grow spiritually just with time automatically
without any input on your part. So maturity is
not measured by how long you've been a Christian,
how often you attend church or worship services,
or even how much scripture you can quote. So
where does spiritual maturity take place? Well,
Jesus said in Luke chapter six, verses 43 and
44, he said this, a good tree does not bear bad
fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit for
every tree is known by its own fruit. Now, Jesus
wasn't giving us an agricultural lesson, just
telling us about fruit trees. No, he's talking
about people. And every person is known by the
fruit that is manifest in their lives. So spiritual
growth is measured by spiritual fruit being evidenced
in our lives by spiritual fruit or the fruit
of the spirit increasing, constantly increasing
in our lives. That's where spiritual growth is
measured. Now, in this series, we need to remember
that the fruit of the Spirit is not a measuring
stick for judging other people. We're looking
at spiritual fruit as a level of spiritual maturity
because we're seeing it as a mirror for honestly
evaluating ourselves. So this series is a self
-examination because you and me, both of us,
everybody, is still a work in progress. None
of us have arrived. So spiritual fruit, what
is the fruit of the Spirit? Maybe you've memorized
Galatians 5 .22 and 23, but let's take a look
at 5 .22 because that's as far as we're getting
this week. It says this, the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness.
And it continues, but that'll be in future weeks.
Now, in week number one, we talked about the
fruit of the Spirit being love. And then week
number two, we talked about the fruit of the
Spirit is joy. And then peace and then patience.
This week, we're going to be talking about kindness.
Now, that word kindness in the Koine Greek is
krestates. And here's what it's translated as
according to the Strong's Concordance. It's often
translated in our English Bible as kindness,
obviously, but it's also translated as gentleness
and goodness. I found that interesting because
gentleness and goodness are also fruit of the
Spirit, but we'll be looking at their definitions
in future weeks. So kindness, gentleness, goodness.
I found something in Helps Word Studies. that
really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with
you when I looked up that Koine Greek word and
I found this. Listen to this. It says, kindness
is a spirit -produced goodness which meets the
need and avoids human harshness. I think I'll
read that again. Kindness is a spirit -produced
goodness which meets the need and avoids human
harshness. See, we need to understand that biblical
kindness is deeply powerful because it reveals
the character of God. God himself is kind. As
a matter of fact, it was God's kindness that
transformed us and caused us to change, change
direction in our lives. Romans 2, 4 says this,
don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant,
and patient God is with you? Oh, I'm going to
stop right there. So we need to recognize and
see that God is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and
patient with us. We need to realize that, that
his mercy is new. every morning. And the verse
goes on to say this, does this mean nothing to
you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended
to turn you from your sin? Another translation
says it's the kindness of God that leads us to
repentance, that leads us to turning, that leads
us to change. It's actually the kindness of God
that produces that in our lives. See, the kindness
of God changes people. Some people think that
transformation only comes through harshness and
condemnation. But scripture says that it's God's
kindness that leads people towards genuine repentance.
Now, don't get me wrong. Kindness is not compromise
because God still speaks truth. He still corrects.
He still convicts, but he doesn't do it harshly
or under condemnation. That's not God. Condemnation
does not come from God. God's conviction and
correction and truth flow through his kindness.
to lead us for life change and transformation.
Kindness grows in us when we remember how much
mercy we have received from God, how much kindness,
how God has shown his kindness to us. That should
cause kindness to grow in us. Kindness is actually
love made visible. Listen to Ephesians 4 .32.
It says this, Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as
God through Christ has forgiven you. So like
God is forgiving and merciful, we need to put
on the same thing. We need to be Christ -like
in our kindness, in our everyday lives. Because
one of the clearest evidences of spiritual growth,
listen, is how you treat people, how I treat
people. That is an evidence of spiritual growth.
And I'm not talking about just in church or just
publicly, just when life is easy, but in everyday
moments. See, anyone can act kind when they're
in a good mood. When life is going smoothly,
when everybody else is treating us well, it's
easy to be kind. But supernatural fruit or spiritual
fruit becomes really evident and is revealed
during those times when we're under pressure.
See, kindness is love expressed practically.
To walk in the... supernatural kindness of God,
the spiritual fruit of kindness, here's what
it's going to do. It's going to affect how we
speak. It's going to affect how we respond. It's
going to affect how we handle frustration. See,
sometimes small acts reveal the greatest character.
I mean, I want you to think about it. How do
you express kindness in just an easy way, in
small acts? What does that look like? Well, here's
some suggestions. What about if you prefer other
people so you hold the door for somebody else
instead of just walking in, letting it slam behind
you, and then the person, you know there's somebody
coming behind you, but you're so selfish. See,
selfishness is opposite of kindness. But sometimes
we're so selfish, we don't even acknowledge the
people around us. We're just in our own little
bubble, our own little world. So what about expressing
kindness by just holding the door for somebody,
letting them enter the room before you do? What
about speaking respectfully? Speaking in a way
that it shows that we respect other people, even
our co -workers. You know, our bosses, our employees,
our family members. Speaking respectfully is
one way we can show kindness. What about showing
patience? I know we talked about patience last
week, but what about showing patience? Showing
patience to other people is an expression of
kindness. What if you're in a restaurant and
the waitress isn't? You don't think they're doing
the greatest job. Well, you don't know what's
going on in their life. You don't know how exhausted
they are, how many hours they've worked, what
they've gone through, the harsh customers that
they've had to deal with. Well, why not just
show them some patience? That's showing kindness.
What about responding gently instead of aggressively?
That's showing kindness to other people. When
we're always aggressive in our words and attacking
and harsh in our words, we're not being kind.
As Christ followers, we should respond gently
instead of aggressively. We need to understand
that kindness is not weakness. It actually takes
more strength to do these things. So kindness
is not weakness. It is strength under control,
under the control of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs
15 .1 says this, A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare. So when we
respond gently or kindly instead of aggressively,
what we're doing is we're diffusing the situation.
Because if someone else is speaking harshly to
us and all we do is speak harshly back, all we're
doing is putting gas on the fire to the anger
that is taking place in the other person. So
kindness is actually strength. It's a strength
governed by the Holy Spirit. Because anyone can
react harshly. Anyone can lose their temper.
Anyone can respond aggressively. But kindness
requires spiritual maturity. And kindness is
going to stand out, especially in the world that
we live in today. Right. We're living in an increasingly
aggressive culture. People are easily offended.
People are constantly angry. People are quick
to criticize. People are quick to attack. I mean,
you can see the harshness online where you're
hiding behind a computer and all these harsh
words just flow all the time. And there's impatience
everywhere, especially driving on these roads
here in Florida. You can see all of these things
in action just driving to the store or driving
to work or driving back home. Titus 3, verses
3 through 5 says this, Once we too were foolish
and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves
to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full
of evil and envy, and we hated each other. Now,
it's saying that We used to be just like everybody
around us, but in Christ, there's been a change,
right? In verse four, it says this, but when
God, our savior revealed his kindness and love,
he saved us. Not because of the righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy, he washed
away our sins, giving us a new birth and a new
life through the Holy Spirit. So we're different.
In Christ, we are different. We shouldn't behave
like the culture and the world that we live in.
We should be different. And part of being different
is being kind, walking in supernatural kindness.
Because sometimes the greatest sermon to other
people and the greatest witness to other people
is not a sermon from church. People remember
how believers make them feel. That's what's important.
Are we kind or are we harsh? People are going
to remember how we make them feel. And many people,
it's sad to say, many people have rejected the
church and even reject Christianity because they
encountered religious people. Who did not have
the spiritual fruit of kindness in their lives.
So how can we see that we are growing in this
kindness? You can see that you're growing when
your words become softer than they used to be.
When your reactions become gentler than they
used to be. When your compassion for people deepens.
When your forgiveness becomes easier. You become
a more... merciful, and forgiving person. And
your treatment of other people changes. That's
how you can see that you are growing spiritually
in the area of kindness or in the fruit of kindness.
Ultimately, the goal of spiritual growth in the
life of the believer, the ultimate goal is to
become more like Jesus. That should be our goal.
That should be where we're heading. Every day
we should desire to walk and to talk and to live
more like Christ than we did the day before.
Colossians 3 .12 tells us this. Since God chose
you to be the holy people he loves, you must.
It doesn't say you need to consider it. It says
you must clothe yourselves with tender heart
and mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience. So God is telling us as his followers,
as followers of Christ, we need to put on something
every day. Whether it's before we get out of
bed or before we go to breakfast around our family
members or before we leave our houses, we need
to be clothed in something. We need to be clothed
in kindness. And it's not optional. He says,
since you are a child of God, you must clothe
yourself in all those other things. Kindness
is right there in the middle, and that's what
we're focusing on today. And we need to remember
that kindness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
It's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. See, since
God is kind and operates in kindness for our
transformation and change and repentance, it
makes perfect sense. that he would desire to
cultivate and manifest this same characteristic
in his people. John 16 verses 13 through 15 gives
us insight on how spiritual growth occurs and
continues. It says this, and this is Jesus speaking,
and he's speaking. In this text, he's going to
be speaking about the Father and the Holy Spirit
and himself. And it says this, but when he, the
spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into
all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will
speak only what he hears and he will tell you
what is yet to come. He, the Holy Spirit, will
glorify me, Jesus, because it is from me that
he will receive what he will make known to you.
All that belongs to the Father is mine. That
is why I said the Spirit will receive from me
what he will make known to you. See, God, the
Holy Spirit, takes hold. Of the things of God.
The things that God has for you and for me. He
takes hold of it and then he declares those things
to us. He intensifies those things to us. He
makes those things known to us. He connects us.
The Holy Spirit of God. The Bible says in Corinthians,
don't you know that your body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit? He comes to take up residence
inside of us at salvation, not just to seal us
until the day of redemption. Like the Bible says,
he connects us to the things that God has for
us. And that's why the fruit that needs to be
evident in our lives is called fruit of the spirit
because he's taking those characteristics of
God. and causing them to grow and increase in
our lives, but it takes our participation. See,
spiritual growth is not about more self -dedication.
It's not about more self -determination. Well,
I'm going to be nice and I'm just going to figure
out how to be nice and work myself and use my
human ability and thoughts. I've got to be nice.
I've got to be nicer. It's not about self -determination.
It's not about self -effort. Let me tell you
how it's going to increase in your life because
spiritual fruit growing begins when we abide
in Christ. Jesus said, I'm the vine, you're the
branches, and if you abide in me and my word
abides in you, then you're going to produce much
fruit. Right? So it starts out with abiding.
And I'm not talking about visiting. I'm not talking
about just going to church once a week. I'm talking
about living with Christ. Every moment, every
day, you are abiding. You're not visiting. You're
abiding in Christ. It's also going to come from...
acknowledging the indwelling presence of the
Holy Spirit who is in you. We have to acknowledge
him. We're abiding in Christ and we're acknowledging
the Holy Spirit who is in us to lead us and guide
us. The Bible tells us to walk in the Spirit.
That means to, you know, do life with the Spirit
of God. And not only acknowledge his indwelling
presence and walk with him, but also yielding
to his leading because he's always directing
us and guiding us in our everyday lives, especially
in our relationships and interactions with other
people. Now, if we never acknowledge him, we're
not going to be spirit led. We're not going to
yield to him. So we're obviously not going to
grow. in spiritual fruit or grow spiritually
or be spiritually mature because it doesn't just
come from self -effort. And here's what I want
you to realize. The measure of our kindness to
others, especially in challenging situations,
is a good measure of our spiritual maturity.
I don't know if you did this when you were growing
up, but my parents had a doorpost in the house.
Especially during my formative years. I mean,
it kind of quit later when I got in high school
and about to go to college. But as I was growing,
there was a doorpost in the house and they would
mark me every year. Right around time when school
started. They'd write my name and write the date.
And I could look back and see how much I had
grown by seeing those markers on the doorpost.
Listen. The markers of our spiritual maturity
and spiritual growth. You can do it by marking
your love. How much are you walking in love?
By marking your joy. How much joy do you have
in Christ, in the Holy Spirit? How much joy are
you living in? Is it evident in your life? How
much peace? Is in your life. How much patience.
Are you walking in. And how much kindness. Is
kindness a descriptor of who you are. And how
you relate with other people. Well if it is then.
You're growing. Spiritually. If not. I think
it reveals a lack of abiding in Christ and acknowledging
the indwelling presence of the spirit and walking
with the spirit of God on a daily basis and yielding
to his leading. Let's pray together. God, I thank
you for your word. I thank you for your truth.
And God, I pray that your truth would be planted
in our hearts in such a way that it changes us
and transforms us. and works in us so that we
can grow spiritually and just continue to grow.
And your spiritual fruit would continue to be
evidenced in our lives and continue to increase.
Thank you that we're not on our own, but that
you are our helper. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.