FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - GOODNESS
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FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - GOODNESS
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - GOODNESS
Goodness, the Greek word is agathosyne, ag-ath-o-s00-nay, meaning uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness. Oxford defines it as quality of being morally good and virtuous; excellence of moral behavior, having high moral standards. Goodness follows Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and Kindness as fruit of the Holy Spirit living in you. If we leave it with Oxford and Merriam of morally good and high moral standards then we all fit the bill; but what are you using as your ruler of high moral standards? Hitler? Bundy? Timothy McVey or Terrorists? Jesus? There are three aspects of the goodness Fruit of the Spirit we will be looking at today and we start with the standard for ruling moral and virtuous standards – God Himself.
Let us pray!
Fruit of the Spirit #6: Goodness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is goodness” (Gal. 5:22).
Our Guiding question today is, “Am I displaying godly character with purity of heart or adopting the world’s standards of morality?”
We start with God’s standard of goodness -
I. SUPERNATURAL GOODNESS
A. Personality of God—God is Good - 1 Chronicles 16:34 – Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 25:8 – Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Psalm 31:19 – Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Psalm 145:9 – The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Romans 12:9 – Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
B. Place of goodness—The earth is filled with the goodness of the Lord. Should the Lord remove His goodness, men would be helpless and hopeless.
Psalm 33:5 – He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Psalm 27:13 – believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
C. Pardoning goodness—It is God’s goodness that leads men to repentance, and salvation. God doesn’t have to forgive men of their sin. Men deserve punishment. It is only God’s goodness that keeps men from being sent to hell.
Romans 2:4 – Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
D. Peace and goodness—
Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Nahum 1:7 – The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
E. Present and goodness –
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Psalm 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 100:5 – For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
II. SENSIBLE GOODNESS
A. Practical goodness— We are to not only love our enemies, but to do good for them. This is not man’s nature. Unless man lives in the Spirit, he cannot expect to fulfill God’s rules.
Luke 6:27-31 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
B. Pity and goodness— It is easy to be good to those who are good to us and it is easy to help those who will repay us. But when our enemy is hungry we should feed him; if he is thirsty we should give him to drink.
Romans 12:20-21 – To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Hebrews 13:16 – Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Titus 3:14 – And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
Luke 6:35 – But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
C. Prayerful goodness—Never return evil for evil. Always return good for evil. Only as we are filled with the Spirit will we be able to practice this.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Ephesians 5:1 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
1 Peter 3:9-12 – Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Romans 12:17-18 – Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
III. SPIRITUAL GOODNESS
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6).
A. Reaping— God promises that we will reap what we sow. We are always paid for what we do, whether it be good or evil.
Galatians 6:6–10 – Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Proverbs 11:27 – Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
B. Reward—If we give, God will give back. This includes our money, time, life, and work. Withhold from God, and He will withhold from you.
Luke 6:38 – give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Deuteronomy 15:10 – You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
C. Results— “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need much help” (LB)
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Mark 4:24 – And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.
As we close
How do you incorporate the Goodness of God in your life and how do you live out that fruit in your daily walk?
How do you treat the goodness of the earth? How do you take care of God’s creation?
God’s goodness leads to repentance and forgiveness – how do you incorporate that forgiveness in your life? Who do you need to extend that forgiveness to?
What evidence of God’s goodness do you have in your life? How have you shown gratitude for that goodness?
God’s goodness calls us, commands us to be good to those who hate us, how do you live that out?
How does loving your neighbor relate to living a humble life?
How do you imitate the God’s goodness in your life? How can you step that up one notch and do a little more?
What goodness are you sowing in your life?
Let us pray!