#5fruit Of Spirit Kindness Series

#5 STUDY OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:

GENTLENESS -- KINDNESS

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, GENTLENESS/KINDNESS, goodness, faith,

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

WE ARE STUDYING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

By studying the fruit of the Spirit maybe we can

identify some problem areas,

some weak areas and grow to be more fruitful.

What can we do to produce a great amount of fruit?

We can study and develop a love and an appreciation and an awareness of fruit and it’s production!

We have broken the nine into three groups.

1. Inward: love, joy, peace

2. Outward: longsuffering-patience,

gentleness-kindness, goodness.

3. Godward: faith-faithfulness, meekness,

temperance-self control.

Today’s study of GENTLENESS -- KINDNESS IS OUR 5TH STUDY, THE SECOND IN THE OUTWARD GROUP.

With four more to follow.

TEXT:

Psalms 63:3 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee!

Ephesians 4:32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Life has a way of stealing kind, gentle hearts.

Many used to have gentleness growing in their

hearts, but the mean, cruel world

and misunderstandings and hurt and bitterness have

robbed the fruit of gentleness from

within.

Many mean ministers are doing the work of the Lord?

They preach the Gospel, but the tears are gone.

The love has vanished, the coldness has moved in to

the heart.

The coldness has so grown in our homes and churches

that we accept mean, cruel words and cutting remarks

as normal and acceptable?

The "I DON’T CARE ATTITUDE" --- LURKS IN THE HIDDEN

CREVICES OF THE HEART.

Where is the guilt for the lack of the fruit of

kindness and gentleness?

Sure, blame the other person for the meaness?

Grow up, you control the spiritual thermostat of

your heart!

We need to identify how far we are from where we

should be? How can I correct this? You will never

correct anything, until you see the numb and

coldness is not the fruit that should be released

around us.

Does your family know your kindness?

True or False?

We need more kind words and kind deeds to build

reputations for kindness?

Kind understanding will give birth to wisdom?

DEFINE KINDNESS -- GENTLENESS

-- affectionate --loving --sympathetic

--helpful --gentle --mild

--forbearance --to give relief --selfless

--charitable --benevolence

--giving a higher priority to the needs and welfare of others --precious

--to be long spirited --piety --merciful

--to show love toward --fond

--good deed --favor

GENTLE:

-- free from harshness, sternness, or violenc

--moderate --to be soothing

GOD IS KIND, TENDER, AND GENTLE.

Psalms 63:3 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee!

THERE IS A GREAT DANGER IN THE CHURCH, -- OF SMALL GROUPS ESTABLISHING CLIQUES AND LOOSING THEIR GENTLE/KIND SPIRIT!

Cliques can be very cruel, mean and vicious. Cliques don’t mean to be this way, but the very nature of a clique will pull the group toward this behavior.

A denominational barrier can become cliques or clannishess.

Let us stop to define CLIQUE. (SOUNDS LIKE CLICK?)

A clique is a narrow, exclusive circle or group of persons held together by common interest.

The danger word is exclusive. The Bible teaches Christians to be INCLUSIVE, to reach out to all.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.

THERE IS A DANGER OF BUILDING A CHURCH OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT BECOME MEAN SPIRITED AND ENJOY THE TASTE OF BLOOD.

Galatians 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not

consumed one of another.

We can get caught up in fables, debate, endless genealogies, arguments, strife, selfishness -- which minister strife, 1 Tim. 1:4 ---

OR WE CAN BUILD IN GODLY EDIFICATION THE FAITH OF OTHERS.

We must grow the fruit of the spirit of KINDNESS -- GENTLENESS to overcome the obstacles of

THE FLESH TO UNITY AND KINDNESS.

I told a wife the other day, speaking of her

behavior to her husband and children:

"You would not treat a stranger that way?"

Her reply, "WELL THEY DESERVE IT!"

REMEMBER THE MIRROR NATURE OF LIFE?

You reap what you sow?

Today many are so worried about what they look like,