WEBVTT 00:00:02.089 --> 00:00:04.549 We turn in the Word of God today to Galatians 00:00:04.549 --> 00:00:11.210 5, verse 22, where we read these words, The fruit 00:00:11.210 --> 00:00:17.070 of the Spirit is patience, kindness, goodness. 00:00:19.690 --> 00:00:23.690 Of all that we can be thankful for today, the 00:00:23.690 --> 00:00:26.429 personal and permanent indwelling of the Holy 00:00:26.429 --> 00:00:32.950 Spirit must be high on our list. That indwelling 00:00:32.950 --> 00:00:36.530 of the Holy Spirit sets us apart as believers 00:00:36.530 --> 00:00:41.270 in this age as unique in relation to believers 00:00:41.270 --> 00:00:46.810 of past ages. Not until Pentecost and after that 00:00:46.810 --> 00:00:49.350 did the Holy Spirit personally and permanently 00:00:49.350 --> 00:00:54.909 indwell those who believe by faith. It makes 00:00:54.909 --> 00:00:58.710 us unique in the ages as the Church of Jesus 00:00:58.710 --> 00:01:02.340 Christ. Furthermore, the indwelling of the Holy 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:06.079 Spirit assures the believer of God's ever -present 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:11.620 care in his needs and circumstances. The indwelling 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:14.299 of the Holy Spirit furthermore seals the believer 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:18.659 into Jesus Christ, guaranteeing his ultimate 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:24.019 glorification with his Lord. And the indwelling 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:28.079 of the Holy Spirit makes possible a life characterized 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:34.200 by the very likeness of Jesus himself. That is 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.920 the fruit of the Spirit. The life of Jesus is 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:43.040 manifested in us when the Holy Spirit dominates 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:49.719 our being. Either the flesh or the Spirit does 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:53.579 dominate. We need to underscore that in our minds. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:59.019 One can turn on an electric light in a room. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:03.560 In so doing, there is light and not darkness. 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:08.520 But if you turn off the light, darkness immediately 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:15.360 again dominates. So is the domination of the 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.060 spirit or the flesh. Either one or the other 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:26.330 does dominate us. We can't be dominated by both 00:02:26.330 --> 00:02:31.069 the Spirit and the flesh. In other words, it 00:02:31.069 --> 00:02:34.750 is not possible for us to be 60 % controlled 00:02:34.750 --> 00:02:38.030 by the Spirit and 40 % controlled by the flesh. 00:02:39.009 --> 00:02:43.490 It doesn't work that way. It's either or, all 00:02:43.490 --> 00:02:48.310 the way. Either the flesh or the Spirit dominates. 00:02:48.750 --> 00:02:53.129 When the Holy Spirit does, when He controls us, 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.219 When we walk or live in dependence upon Him, 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:03.740 then the Spirit produces His fruit. That He is 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:09.199 in control is proved by the fruit which we bear 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:14.599 in our attitudes and our behavior. The thing 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:16.319 that we've been saying now for several weeks 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:19.280 is this, that the Holy Spirit produces His fruit 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.069 in the life of the believer. who is under his 00:03:23.069 --> 00:03:27.129 control. Now, having studied about love, joy, 00:03:27.349 --> 00:03:30.870 and peace, let's go on today to talk about the 00:03:30.870 --> 00:03:36.449 next three. First, patience. Someone has described 00:03:36.449 --> 00:03:42.030 patience as that mosquito which sits on the bed 00:03:42.030 --> 00:03:46.050 of an anemic person waiting for him to get his 00:03:46.050 --> 00:03:50.550 transfusion. Indeed, that would be patience. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:55.319 But biblically speaking, patience means to be 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:01.819 long -tempered. It means to be enduring under 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:06.740 injuries afflicted by others. The word patience 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:12.219 refers to a long holding out of the mind before 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:17.180 an action is taken in response. Dr. Hendrickson 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:20.899 said, It characterizes the person who, in relation 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:25.759 to those who annoy, oppose, or molest him, exercises 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:30.639 patience. He refuses to yield to passion or to 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:37.139 outbursts of anger. Does anybody annoy you or 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:43.240 oppose you or molest you? Patience enables you 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:48.959 not to... have an outburst of anger against that 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:53.220 individual. Dr. Vine put it this way, Long -suffering 00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:57.019 is that quality of self -restraint in the face 00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:01.899 of provocation which does not hastily retaliate 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:06.579 or promptly punish. It is the opposite of anger 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:15.060 and is associated with mercy. Patience. Patience, 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:17.300 of course, finds its most perfect illustration 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:21.500 in God Himself. For God has told us that one 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:24.699 of His attributes is long -suffering or patience. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:32.259 Exodus 34 .6 God is patient. He displayed His 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:35.160 patience magnificently in the days before the 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:39.779 flood, according to Peter. 1 Peter 3 .20 When 00:05:39.779 --> 00:05:44.279 the patience of God waited. While the ark was 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:49.019 being prepared for 120 years, God was patient 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:55.459 with wicked man. It is God's patience which causes 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:58.579 him not to will that any should perish, but that 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:02.480 all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3 .9. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:06.740 That is the heart of God. Furthermore, it is 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:08.899 the patience of God which, according to Romans 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:15.069 2 .4, ultimately brings us to repentance from 00:06:15.069 --> 00:06:20.910 our sins. Is there one of us today who does not 00:06:20.910 --> 00:06:23.610 have to testify of the patience of God in his 00:06:23.610 --> 00:06:29.350 life, either before conversion or after conversion, 00:06:29.490 --> 00:06:34.209 or more likely both? God is patient with us. 00:06:34.490 --> 00:06:38.350 If he were not so, he would strike us dead. God 00:06:38.350 --> 00:06:43.839 is patient. He is long -suffering. We see it 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:48.779 again in the Lord Jesus, in his patience toward 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:53.199 the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote to Timothy and was 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:56.360 reflecting about his Damascus Road experience. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.519 Looking back upon that time as he was heading 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:03.000 toward the city of Damascus to persecute Christians, 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.920 he remembered the light which appeared in the 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:10.019 heavens, which struck him. and threw him down 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:15.160 on his knees. And the voice said, Saul, Saul, 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:21.120 why do you persecute me? Saul was a broken man, 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.459 and he said, Lord, what would you have me to 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:27.680 do? And reflecting upon that, he writes to Timothy 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:32.339 that it revealed the perfect patience of Jesus 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:38.339 Christ. Being the blasphemer, persecutor, that 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:43.879 He was. The fruit of the Spirit is patience. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:47.660 My friend, God needs to produce that fruit in 00:07:47.660 --> 00:07:52.740 your life and mine. But corresponding to that 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:58.180 fruit is an exhortation from the Bible. An exhortation 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:00.959 that can be found in several places, but which 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.199 I'm going to look at with you, I hope, in James 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:08.550 chapter 5. The fruit of the Spirit is patience. 00:08:09.410 --> 00:08:13.250 But notice this command in James 5, beginning 00:08:13.250 --> 00:08:19.009 in verse 7. Be patient, therefore, brethren. 00:08:20.189 --> 00:08:26.329 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming 00:08:26.329 --> 00:08:29.689 of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the 00:08:29.689 --> 00:08:33.970 precious produce of the soil, being patient about 00:08:33.970 --> 00:08:37.289 it. until it gets to the early and late rains, 00:08:37.490 --> 00:08:40.250 talking about the cycle of rains in Palestine. 00:08:41.389 --> 00:08:47.070 You too, he says, be patient. Strengthen your 00:08:47.070 --> 00:08:49.309 hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 00:08:50.169 --> 00:08:53.629 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, 00:08:53.809 --> 00:08:57.190 that you yourselves may not be judged. When we 00:08:57.190 --> 00:09:01.009 become complainers, we put ourselves in the place 00:09:01.009 --> 00:09:05.740 of potential judgment. Behold, the judge is standing 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:08.960 right at the door. So once again, he mentions 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.940 the coming of the Lord. He is writing to a people 00:09:12.940 --> 00:09:17.960 that knew oppression and injustice, a people 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.940 suffering and persecuted. And he says to them, 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:28.139 brethren, be long -tempered. Don't strike out 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:32.799 in retaliation. The coming of the Lord is near. 00:09:33.710 --> 00:09:38.269 The judge is standing at the door. When he says 00:09:38.269 --> 00:09:41.490 that, it's very picturesque. You know, in our 00:09:41.490 --> 00:09:45.389 courtrooms today, the official announces the 00:09:45.389 --> 00:09:47.649 name of the judge, and he enters the room, and 00:09:47.649 --> 00:09:52.070 everybody stands up. And so James is picturing 00:09:52.070 --> 00:09:54.750 the judge at the door. His hand is on the door 00:09:54.750 --> 00:09:59.549 latch, so to speak. And James says, the judge 00:09:59.549 --> 00:10:01.509 is at the door. And it's as though everybody 00:10:01.509 --> 00:10:05.610 stands up now. and is waiting for the judge to 00:10:05.610 --> 00:10:10.809 enter the room. Jesus is at hand. He is coming, 00:10:10.850 --> 00:10:14.490 and he's coming as the judge who will rectify 00:10:14.490 --> 00:10:19.110 wrongs and release the oppressed. So be patient, 00:10:19.269 --> 00:10:23.610 he says. As an example, brethren, of suffering 00:10:23.610 --> 00:10:28.389 and patience, take the prophets who spoke in 00:10:28.389 --> 00:10:31.860 the name of the Lord. Behold, we count those 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:35.340 blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:38.279 of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.080 dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:48.259 and is merciful. He says, consider Job. Consider 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:51.100 the prophets of old, how they suffered and yet 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:54.480 were patient. And so that's what you and I are 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:00.789 called upon to do. Husbands, be patient. mothers, 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:07.330 be patient. Wives, be patient. Employers, be 00:11:07.330 --> 00:11:12.070 patient with those who serve you. Employees, 00:11:12.070 --> 00:11:15.409 be patient with a boss that's difficult to get 00:11:15.409 --> 00:11:19.009 along with. Be patient in your circumstances 00:11:19.009 --> 00:11:23.509 that grind against you every day of your life. 00:11:23.570 --> 00:11:29.720 Be patient. Be long -suffering. The fruit of 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:33.080 the Spirit is patience. You say, well, I can 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:35.220 understand how the Holy Spirit can be patient, 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:39.639 but I can't. You know that's true, in a sense, 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:43.159 because in our humanness, none of us is patient. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:49.580 Not one of us. But when you and I, as believers, 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:54.480 choose by faith to obey the Word of God, and 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:59.730 we say, Lord, I will be patient. with this person. 00:12:04.470 --> 00:12:08.190 And we ask the Holy Spirit to enable us. Then 00:12:08.190 --> 00:12:10.730 He is free to produce in us the fruit of patience. 00:12:10.970 --> 00:12:14.090 Do you see how the two work together? It's not 00:12:14.090 --> 00:12:16.230 a contradiction for us to read that the fruit 00:12:16.230 --> 00:12:18.629 of the Spirit is patience and then a command 00:12:18.629 --> 00:12:22.190 that we are to be patient. Because it is when 00:12:22.190 --> 00:12:25.149 we obey the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit 00:12:25.149 --> 00:12:28.509 that the Holy Spirit then enables us to carry 00:12:28.509 --> 00:12:33.830 that out. It doesn't just happen automatically. 00:12:34.649 --> 00:12:37.809 It takes a step of faith on our part, a step 00:12:37.809 --> 00:12:41.590 of obedience. And then the Holy Spirit will do 00:12:41.590 --> 00:12:44.970 what only He can do, and that is to enable us 00:12:44.970 --> 00:12:51.230 to be patient in the biblical sense. Beloved, 00:12:51.230 --> 00:12:56.049 some of us are too quick to give up. We are too 00:12:56.049 --> 00:13:03.320 easily offended. We are too soon angry. Laman 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.720 Strauss said, Long -suffering will enable us 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.679 to pray for those who injure us and to wait patiently 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:16.679 until God has vindicated Himself. Is there judgment? 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.179 Is there justice that you need in your situation? 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:26.399 If so, then leave it to God. God has far better 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.990 ways. to carry out justice for you, then you 00:13:30.990 --> 00:13:37.429 can carry it out for yourself. Be patient. The 00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:41.009 fruit of the Spirit is patience and kindness. 00:13:42.309 --> 00:13:46.250 What is kindness? Well, it may be defined as 00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:49.210 a courteous, thoughtful, considerate disposition. 00:13:50.529 --> 00:13:54.500 Dr. John MacArthur says, It is tenderness in 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:58.179 view of the weakness of human personality and 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:02.159 the depth of human need. In other words, the 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:06.740 fruit of the Spirit, kindness, enables one to 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:11.840 perceive the hurt, to feel the heartache, to 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.480 hear the personal cry of one who is suffering, 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:23.129 one who is oppressed, one who is in need. And 00:14:23.129 --> 00:14:25.710 not only to do that, but then to respond to that 00:14:25.710 --> 00:14:29.990 accordingly. Kindness may well be just the opposite 00:14:29.990 --> 00:14:33.970 of the macho image that is so touted in some 00:14:33.970 --> 00:14:38.049 parts of our society. It is the antithesis of 00:14:38.049 --> 00:14:41.750 running over others to achieve personal desires. 00:14:44.690 --> 00:14:47.470 The kindness which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit 00:14:47.470 --> 00:14:52.360 is illustrated in Ruth. Do you remember Ruth 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:57.240 in the Old Testament? In chapter 3, verse 10 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:03.500 of Ruth, Boaz blesses her because of her kindness. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.559 And in that verse, he refers to her first kindness. 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.779 And by that, he refers to the way that she treated 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:14.700 her mother -in -law, Naomi. Do you recall the 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:19.299 story? Naomi was destitute. She lost her husband, 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:23.269 her two sons. and was now on her way back home 00:15:23.269 --> 00:15:27.509 to Palestine from Moab. And she told her two 00:15:27.509 --> 00:15:31.009 daughters -in -law to stay in Moab with their 00:15:31.009 --> 00:15:33.909 families. They had no obligation to her. She 00:15:33.909 --> 00:15:38.629 could go back alone home. The one did that, but 00:15:38.629 --> 00:15:44.509 Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you. Made 00:15:44.509 --> 00:15:46.610 those beautiful statements that are often made 00:15:46.610 --> 00:15:50.529 by husbands to wives in wedding ceremonies. But 00:15:50.529 --> 00:15:52.370 in that case, it was a daughter -in -law to a 00:15:52.370 --> 00:15:57.309 mother -in -law. Don't make me leave you. Let 00:15:57.309 --> 00:16:01.129 your own be mine, your family my family, and 00:16:01.129 --> 00:16:06.230 so on. Boaz later said, Bless you, Ruth, because 00:16:06.230 --> 00:16:10.230 of the kindness that you showed toward Naomi, 00:16:10.549 --> 00:16:13.850 your mother -in -law. But then he said, Bless 00:16:13.850 --> 00:16:17.990 you for this latter kindness also. What was he 00:16:17.990 --> 00:16:21.710 referring to there? Well, you see, just in the 00:16:21.710 --> 00:16:28.269 previous action in Ruth, she had properly, according 00:16:28.269 --> 00:16:31.490 to the custom and the law of that time, asked 00:16:31.490 --> 00:16:37.009 Boaz to marry her. Now, Boaz was a near kinsman 00:16:37.009 --> 00:16:39.529 and had an obligation, according to the law, 00:16:39.549 --> 00:16:43.370 to her. And he was willing to carry that out, 00:16:43.389 --> 00:16:45.330 we read in the book of Ruth, because he loved 00:16:45.330 --> 00:16:53.370 her. courteous and polite way, she had gone through 00:16:53.370 --> 00:16:57.509 an action asking for him to fulfill his obligation 00:16:57.509 --> 00:17:01.029 and to marry her. Now, you have to understand 00:17:01.029 --> 00:17:03.029 that Boaz was a part of a different generation. 00:17:03.870 --> 00:17:07.490 He was an old man, and Ruth was a young woman. 00:17:08.710 --> 00:17:12.430 And so he said to her, Bless you because of this 00:17:12.430 --> 00:17:17.529 kindness that you have extended to me. You see, 00:17:17.589 --> 00:17:21.950 the kindness of Ruth is... is magnified there. 00:17:22.569 --> 00:17:24.890 The kindness brought her blessing in return. 00:17:26.490 --> 00:17:29.609 I think we see kindness illustrated too in David's 00:17:29.609 --> 00:17:34.990 treatment of one of Jonathan's sons. After he 00:17:34.990 --> 00:17:37.369 had come to the throne of all of Israel, David 00:17:37.369 --> 00:17:42.650 sought for a son or relative of Jonathan, his 00:17:42.650 --> 00:17:46.049 dearest friend who was killed, so that to that 00:17:46.049 --> 00:17:48.759 person he might show kindness. because of his 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.660 great affection for Jonathan. A search was made, 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:57.359 and there was found one Mephibosheth, a son of 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:01.180 Jonathan, who had been able to live through those 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:06.059 difficult years. David, on behalf of Jonathan, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:09.220 now deceased, brought Mephibosheth into his courtroom 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:13.460 and said, You eat at my table. I will care for 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:18.299 you the rest of your life. And the Word of God 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:23.960 says that was his kindness, tenderness with a 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:27.099 view to the need of Mephibosheth, thoughtful, 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:31.740 considerate, courteous action. But of course 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:34.619 it is once again God who most perfectly illustrates 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:39.680 kindness, who according to Titus was kind to 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:44.089 us in bringing us the Savior. Again, in Romans 00:18:44.089 --> 00:18:47.329 2, 4, God in His kindness leads us to repentance 00:18:47.329 --> 00:18:50.029 from sin. My friend, if it were not for the kindness 00:18:50.029 --> 00:18:53.009 of God in doing that, none of us would turn from 00:18:53.009 --> 00:18:57.809 our sin. And Paul, writing to the Ephesians in 00:18:57.809 --> 00:19:00.410 chapter 2, verse 7, says, Throughout eternity 00:19:00.410 --> 00:19:04.990 to come, God is going to display many kindnesses 00:19:04.990 --> 00:19:08.029 toward you through His grace in Christ Jesus. 00:19:08.190 --> 00:19:11.089 I don't know what that means. But there is going 00:19:11.089 --> 00:19:13.670 to be one kindness after another that God is 00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:21.009 going to extend toward us. Jesus, again, illustrates 00:19:21.009 --> 00:19:24.890 kindness time and time again. I remind you of 00:19:24.890 --> 00:19:28.130 the penitent woman of the street who entered 00:19:28.130 --> 00:19:32.029 into that Pharisee's home to anoint him with 00:19:32.029 --> 00:19:36.170 oil. The self -righteous Pharisee was offended 00:19:36.170 --> 00:19:39.680 by... the likes of this woman coming into his 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:43.240 house and wondered how Jesus could indeed be 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:46.980 who he claimed to be, surely he knew what kind 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:51.059 of a woman she was. Jesus read all of these thoughts 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:55.180 in the mind of the man and then expressed kindness 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:59.180 to the woman and appreciation for her act of 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:02.740 devotion and love toward him, which he read as 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:07.619 being an act of repentance. and condemned rather 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:11.920 the self -righteous Pharisee. Do we not see the 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:14.359 kindness of Jesus once again in the woman taken 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:19.660 in adultery in John chapter 8? Why was it that 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:22.539 Jesus said to this adulterous woman, taken in 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:29.200 the very act, go and sin no more? Was he excusing 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.880 her sin? Was he overlooking it and saying it 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.519 wasn't really too important? No, not at all. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.579 But there were two things that Jesus saw on that 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:42.359 occasion. First, he saw the hypocrisy of the 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:48.200 people who brought her to him for judgment. And 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.079 he said, you without sin cast the first stone. 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:58.559 And they all turned around and walked away. And 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:02.039 then he saw in her heart brokenness and sorrow 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:05.640 and repentance. And he turned to her and said, 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:09.140 now you go and sin no more. He was kind to her, 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:14.619 gracious. You know, folks, we're a whole lot 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:19.700 better at talking about people who've fallen 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:25.660 into sin than we are at being kind to them. We're 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.619 much more skilled at kicking them when they're 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:31.740 down than we are in reaching out a hand and saying, 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:37.819 can I help you? Aren't we? Because the fruit 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:40.980 of the Spirit is kindness, and that's not natural 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:46.039 to us as sinful human beings. Natural to us is 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:50.960 unkindness. The fruit of the Spirit is kindness, 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.519 but we have an exhortation that accompanies it. 00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:58.660 I invite you to turn with me to Ephesians 4. 00:22:02.829 --> 00:22:04.529 Now don't turn there if you don't want to be 00:22:04.529 --> 00:22:09.329 under conviction, but if you'd like to feel a 00:22:09.329 --> 00:22:15.730 little pain, go to Ephesians 4, verse 32, where 00:22:15.730 --> 00:22:21.410 it says, And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 00:22:21.630 --> 00:22:26.170 forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also 00:22:26.170 --> 00:22:30.759 has forgiven you. And so accompanying the fruit 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.539 of the Spirit, kindness, is this command to us. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:39.579 Be kind one to another. Notice that that kindness 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:45.099 is rooted in tenderheartedness. Where are the 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:52.160 tender hearts today? By all the violence that 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.539 we see on television, we read about in the paper. 00:22:57.769 --> 00:23:00.970 By all of the garbage that floods into our homes 00:23:00.970 --> 00:23:05.309 constantly through news and other reports, our 00:23:05.309 --> 00:23:07.750 hearts become insensitive and we just callously 00:23:07.750 --> 00:23:12.410 throw off things, don't we? We need to be careful 00:23:12.410 --> 00:23:16.269 that in being a part of our age and keeping abreast 00:23:16.269 --> 00:23:18.609 of things, we do not allow our hearts to become 00:23:18.609 --> 00:23:23.730 seared toward the hurts, the cries, and the agonies 00:23:23.730 --> 00:23:31.320 of people who are in desperate need. Tenderheartedness 00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:35.339 enables us to be kind to people. And then it 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:39.460 says, forgiving each other. Kindness is especially 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:44.200 observed in forgiveness. Forgiveness that comes 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:47.960 from God, and which is like His forgiveness, 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:53.259 free forgiveness. Oh, I'll forgive, but first 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:58.980 He's got to do this. Oh, I'll forgive, but first 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:03.579 this has to be made right. Listen, my friend, 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.940 if that's the kind of forgiveness you're commanding 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:09.019 of someone else, then recognize that that forgiveness 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:13.700 is not the forgiveness of God. It's mere human 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:18.400 forgiveness. Because the forgiveness that we 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:24.000 are to evidence in our lives is just as God in 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.490 Christ also has forgiven us. Free forgiveness. 00:24:29.710 --> 00:24:36.930 It doesn't make demands. Do you have some grudge 00:24:36.930 --> 00:24:38.869 that you have put in a box and you're keeping 00:24:38.869 --> 00:24:43.769 up on a shelf? Just waiting for the day to pull 00:24:43.769 --> 00:24:46.369 it off the shelf and fling it out before somebody? 00:24:50.230 --> 00:24:53.490 Do you have a quiver of arrows on your back and 00:24:53.490 --> 00:24:56.640 each arrow is tipped? With the poison of bitterness 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:59.240 and every chance you get, you fling an arrow 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:05.339 at somebody. Oh, how harmful that can be for 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:09.240 you as well as for others. My friend, there is 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:14.680 not time enough in our short lives for us to 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:18.619 nurse those kinds of things. We need to get them 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:22.839 out of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.380 kindness. It's rooted in tenderheartedness and 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:29.980 it's evidenced in forgiveness. Forgiveness. Be 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:33.920 kind one to another. Who is it that you need 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:40.779 to forgive? Who is that person that haunts you? 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:47.180 Whose ghost is it that comes to your mind when 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:50.500 you try to grow spiritually? but there is this 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:52.720 thing that happened. You say, well, I can forgive, 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:55.259 but I can't forget. Then, my friend, you have 00:25:55.259 --> 00:26:00.420 not forgiven. But you say, I can't take things 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:05.519 out of my memory. True. But you can forget the 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:09.160 offense toward you that that incident brought. 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:14.859 You can. You can neutralize that in your mind 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:18.660 and forget it in that sense. No, the memory of 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:24.779 it may forever be there. But that part of your 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:29.019 memory that holds the grudge, that's angry and 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:34.700 bitter, that, you see, can be removed. Forgiveness 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:39.420 involves forgetting that offense, just like God 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:49.640 has forgiven us for Jesus' sake. was a French 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:56.059 -born Quaker. In the French Revolution, he was 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:58.559 arrested and was due to be executed, but somehow 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:02.099 escaped his executor and ultimately came to the 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:08.119 United States. He became a preacher and a philanthropist. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:12.539 He traveled throughout the United States, Canada, 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:20.779 Haiti, Europe. He visited mines, hospitals, prisons, 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:24.980 and asylums. And wherever he went, he sought 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:28.619 to preach Jesus Christ and to improve social 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:37.240 conditions. He died 130 years ago. Stéphane Grillet 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:42.819 is best remembered not for all of those deeds 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:46.599 of kindness, but for a statement that he made. 00:27:47.210 --> 00:27:50.710 which most of us have heard sometime. He said, 00:27:50.869 --> 00:27:56.670 I shall pass through the world but once. Any 00:27:56.670 --> 00:28:00.990 good that I can do or any kindness that I can 00:28:00.990 --> 00:28:06.390 show to any human being, let me do it now and 00:28:06.390 --> 00:28:12.990 not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:20.700 The fruit of the Spirit is kindness. Who is it 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:25.700 that needs your kindness? Is it your wife? Your 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:33.519 children? Your husband? That secretary? The neighbor 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:37.579 across the street? That one who pesters you with 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:41.640 long telephone calls that go on and on and on? 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:49.119 Be kind. one to another. The fruit of the Spirit 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:56.200 is patience, kindness, and goodness. Goodness 00:28:56.200 --> 00:29:00.019 may be defined as an active, energetic, and beneficial 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:03.740 force. It's a little hard to put a knife down 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:06.480 between kindness and goodness and get a straight 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:10.660 cut. But I think we can say that goodness is 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:13.359 that which is morally pleasing to God. It is 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:16.910 honorable. Again, Dr. Hendrickson says it is 00:29:16.910 --> 00:29:20.690 moral and spiritual excellence, generosity of 00:29:20.690 --> 00:29:27.029 heart, and action. Bishop Trench, who is well 00:29:27.029 --> 00:29:30.289 known for his study of synonyms in the Bible, 00:29:30.430 --> 00:29:36.190 suggests that goodness is not necessarily gentle 00:29:36.190 --> 00:29:43.309 in its manifestations. He calls it the firm side 00:29:43.309 --> 00:29:46.529 of kindness. So if you want a distinction between 00:29:46.529 --> 00:29:50.109 kindness and goodness, let it be that. Goodness 00:29:50.109 --> 00:29:55.029 is the firmer side of kindness. It is illustrated 00:29:55.029 --> 00:29:58.569 in Jesus Christ coming to his Father's temple 00:29:58.569 --> 00:30:03.009 and seeing it abused, entering in, overthrowing 00:30:03.009 --> 00:30:09.509 the tables, and cleansing it. That is the goodness 00:30:09.509 --> 00:30:15.130 of Jesus Christ manifested. That is active, energetic, 00:30:15.490 --> 00:30:20.890 honorable force, which is morally pleasing to 00:30:20.890 --> 00:30:25.470 God. We see him as well denouncing the scribes 00:30:25.470 --> 00:30:28.130 and the Pharisees in the 23rd chapter of Matthew. 00:30:28.849 --> 00:30:32.130 Again, the goodness of Jesus Christ manifested. 00:30:34.490 --> 00:30:38.849 The firmer side of kindness. Of the Roman Christians, 00:30:39.210 --> 00:30:42.029 the Apostle Paul wrote, You yourselves also are 00:30:42.029 --> 00:30:47.109 full of goodness, being able also to admonish 00:30:47.109 --> 00:30:54.049 one another. The firmer side of kindness. And 00:30:54.049 --> 00:30:56.130 there are exhortations in the New Testament which 00:30:56.130 --> 00:30:59.910 correlate to this fruit of the Spirit. We're 00:30:59.910 --> 00:31:03.450 told to prove what is the good and acceptable 00:31:03.450 --> 00:31:07.480 and perfect will of God. Romans 12, 2. We're 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:10.380 told to cling to that which is good, Romans 12, 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:16.400 9. To do good, Romans 13, 3. But perhaps a key 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:19.000 passage, and the one we'll turn to, is in Galatians 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:25.480 6, verses 9 and 10. The fruit of the Spirit is 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:28.279 goodness, but it says here, and let us not lose 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:32.460 heart in doing good, for in due time we shall 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:35.940 reap if we do not grow weary. So then while we 00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:39.759 have opportunity, let us do good to all men, 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:42.859 and especially to those who are the household 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:47.420 of the faith. So we are to do good to fellow 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:49.599 believers, but to a broader circle than that, 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:52.779 to all men. We are to do good, and we are not 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:56.819 to grow weary in that. It's easy to grow weary 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:59.180 when we are not getting some response out of 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:02.380 another person, or when there is not appreciation. 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:07.220 We are commanded to do good and not grow weary 00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:13.700 and faint -hearted. John Wesley, the founder 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:18.019 of Methodism, wrote these words, Do all the good 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:23.339 you can, by all the means you can, in all the 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:28.259 ways you can, in all the places you can, at all 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:31.940 the times you can, to all the people you can, 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:41.599 as long... as ever you can. The fruit of the 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:48.619 Spirit is goodness. Be good to those who are 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:51.039 the household of faith and those who are outside. 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:58.680 I do not want to confuse anyone here this morning 00:32:58.680 --> 00:33:04.109 unless you think that by being patient, kind 00:33:04.109 --> 00:33:09.150 or good. You will earn your salvation. Let me 00:33:09.150 --> 00:33:13.950 underscore a truth to your mind. These things 00:33:13.950 --> 00:33:16.849 that we've talked about today are not the cause 00:33:16.849 --> 00:33:21.890 for salvation. God does not look down upon humankind 00:33:21.890 --> 00:33:25.609 and see those who are patient and those who are 00:33:25.609 --> 00:33:28.130 good and those who are kind and those who are 00:33:28.130 --> 00:33:30.650 loving and those who are joyous and those who 00:33:30.650 --> 00:33:34.799 are peacemakers. and say, well, you fellows are 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:36.680 trying hard down there. I'm going to take you 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:43.059 up to heaven someday. You see, being this way, 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.900 living this way, does not make one a Christian. 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:51.400 It does not make one right with God. These kinds 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:55.740 of actions do not gain merit before Him. We cannot 00:33:55.740 --> 00:34:00.339 be saved by our works. We are saved through faith 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:04.299 in Jesus Christ alone. We are saved by the one 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:06.420 who came into the world and went to the cross 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:11.079 and shed his precious blood to buy us from our 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:16.159 sin, to redeem us. That is alone how we are saved. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:20.599 Do not be confused about that. But having come 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:25.019 to the cross, having trusted the Savior, we are 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:27.420 now commanded in the word of God to live this 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:32.030 kind of a life. Having been saved by grace, we 00:34:32.030 --> 00:34:36.570 are now created unto good works, Ephesians 2 00:34:36.570 --> 00:34:43.789 .10. And so do the good works and allow the Holy 00:34:43.789 --> 00:34:46.769 Spirit to produce His fruit through your life. 00:34:47.610 --> 00:34:50.389 What we're talking about is the proof and the 00:34:50.389 --> 00:34:53.869 aftermath of salvation, not the cause of it. 00:34:54.769 --> 00:34:57.789 And only the Holy Spirit can produce that in 00:34:57.789 --> 00:35:01.070 us. These weeks we have been talking about this 00:35:01.070 --> 00:35:03.670 very simple statement, that the Holy Spirit produces 00:35:03.670 --> 00:35:08.650 His fruit in the lives of believers who are under 00:35:08.650 --> 00:35:12.909 His control. And so the real final question I 00:35:12.909 --> 00:35:15.989 want to ask today is this. Are you under the 00:35:15.989 --> 00:35:20.809 control of the Holy Spirit? You say, well, partially. 00:35:21.090 --> 00:35:24.230 No, no, no. If that's what you think, you've 00:35:24.230 --> 00:35:28.039 missed the point. We cannot be partially under 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:30.179 the control of the Holy Spirit and partially 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:34.639 under control of the flesh. We are either under 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:37.320 the control of the flesh or we are under the 00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:41.579 control of the Spirit, one or the other. There's 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:43.980 no middle ground. The light is on or it's off. 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:48.579 Are you under the control of the Holy Spirit? 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:53.340 When we walk about under the control of the Holy 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:58.320 Spirit, We are going to see people as they really 00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:04.599 are and seek to meet their needs. I'm going to 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:09.380 do my best to read a poem. It is a poem written 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:14.000 by a woman who died in a geriatrics ward in a 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:18.840 hospital in England. These lines were found among 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:23.900 her possessions after she was deceased. From 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:25.719 the sound of the poem, I would guess that she 00:36:25.719 --> 00:36:29.300 was a woman who did not know the meaning of personal 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:34.980 salvation in Jesus Christ. She writes here as 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:39.059 an old woman, and she writes to her nurses. Indeed, 00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:44.179 this poem was addressed to her nurses. I'd like 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:51.280 you to put yourself in that room and listen to 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:56.940 this woman. Cry out from inside as she writes. 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:06.340 What do you see, nurse? What do you see? Are 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:09.079 you thinking when you look at me, a crabbed old 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:14.199 woman, not very wise, uncertain of habit with 00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:19.659 faraway eyes? Who dribbles her food and makes 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:23.199 no reply when you say in a loud voice, I do wish 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:27.800 you would try. Who seems not to notice the things 00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:31.039 that you do and forever is losing a stocking 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:36.860 or shoes. Who resisting or not lets you do as 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:40.099 you will with bathing and feeding the long day 00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:45.760 to fill. Is that what you're thinking? Is that 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:51.670 what you see? Then open your eyes, nurse. You're 00:37:51.670 --> 00:37:57.630 not looking at me. I'll tell you who I am as 00:37:57.630 --> 00:38:02.789 I sit here so still. As I move at your bidding, 00:38:02.969 --> 00:38:07.849 eat at your will, I'm a small child of ten with 00:38:07.849 --> 00:38:10.889 a father and mother, brothers and sisters who 00:38:10.889 --> 00:38:16.369 love one another. A young girl of sixteen with 00:38:16.369 --> 00:38:20.840 wings on her feet, Dreaming that soon a love 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:26.599 she'll meet. A bride at 20. My heart gives a 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:30.179 leap, remembering the vows that I promised to 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:36.860 keep. At 25 now, I have young of my own who need 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:41.820 me to build a secure, happy home. A woman of 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:46.920 30. My young now grow fast, bound together with 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:52.670 ties that should last. At 40, my young sons have 00:38:52.670 --> 00:38:55.710 grown up and gone, but my man's beside me to 00:38:55.710 --> 00:39:00.309 see I don't mourn. At 50, once more babies play 00:39:00.309 --> 00:39:03.030 around my knee, and again we know children, my 00:39:03.030 --> 00:39:10.929 loved one and me. Dark days are upon me. My husband 00:39:10.929 --> 00:39:15.570 is dead. I look at the future, I shudder with 00:39:15.570 --> 00:39:19.980 dread. For my young... are all rearing young 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:23.460 of their own, and I think of the years and the 00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:32.679 love that I've known. I'm an old woman now, and 00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:37.059 nature is cruel. Tis her jest to make old age 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:43.239 look like a fool. The body, it crumbles. Grace 00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:49.579 and vigor depart. There is a stone. where I once 00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:55.940 had a heart. But inside this old carcass, a young 00:39:55.940 --> 00:40:03.539 girl still dwells. And now again my embittered 00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:07.280 heart swells. I remember the joys. I remember 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:10.820 the pain. And I'm loving and living life over 00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:18.380 again. I think of the years, all too few. Gone 00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:22.659 too fast. And accept the stark fact that nothing 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:29.119 can last. So open your eyes, nurse. Open and 00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:36.539 see. Not a crabbed old woman. Look closer. See 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:47.320 me. My friend. This week you are going to run 00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:53.300 across the path of scores of people who could 00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:58.639 write a poem like that. And by their obnoxious 00:40:58.639 --> 00:41:01.699 actions and their unkind words and the way they 00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:06.840 treat you, you will be tempted to look one way 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:12.119 at them. But what they're really saying is, see 00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:18.849 me, I'm hurting. I need you. You know, we can't 00:41:18.849 --> 00:41:22.150 do that. We cannot do that unless we are controlled 00:41:22.150 --> 00:41:25.710 by the Holy Spirit. We're walking by the Spirit. 00:41:26.690 --> 00:41:31.369 And He's producing the fruit in our lives that 00:41:31.369 --> 00:41:36.610 people can reach out and partake of and have 00:41:36.610 --> 00:41:40.949 their needs met. I hope that's your desire this 00:41:40.949 --> 00:41:48.659 week. You can walk. by the Holy Spirit and thus 00:41:48.659 --> 00:41:52.659 be available to Him to meet the needs of people 00:41:52.659 --> 00:42:05.940 who are crying out. Let's pray together. Lord 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:08.420 Jesus, help us to see people as You see them. 00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:19.260 We so easily... go on our ways, living in the 00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:27.880 flesh, meeting no needs of those around us. When 00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:30.539 there are people crying out to us, as did this 00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:39.860 dear woman, look and see me. Help. Help me. And 00:42:39.860 --> 00:42:42.059 Lord, we recognize that only as we're walking 00:42:42.059 --> 00:42:44.519 by the Spirit can we be of any help and will 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:48.300 we have any fruit that will satisfy those cravings 00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:54.940 in their hearts. And so, blessed Lord, this week 00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:59.480 we pray, teach us further what it means to be 00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:03.679 dominated by your Holy Spirit and produce in 00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:09.190 our lives the life of Jesus. the fruit of the 00:43:09.190 --> 00:43:12.929 Spirit. Amen.