#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,
that they are cruel and mean spirited. Perhaps we
should consider what we look like in the eyes of
eternity and the eyes of God. Perhaps we must
consider again the fruit of gentleness and
kindness?
YOU CANNOT DEFINE LOVE WITHOUT GENTLENESS AND KINDNESS?
1 Corinthians 13:4 LOVE suffers long, and LOVE IS
KIND!
I often say: If you don’t like what you are getting,
CHANCE WHAT YOU ARE GIVING!
NAGGING, GRUMBLING, COMPLAINING --- are not actions
of love.
ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTS OF KINDNESS, GENTLENESS AND LOVE IS VERY SIMPLE ... LISTENING.
James 1 :19 Be swift to HEAR and slow to speak, slow
to wrath ...
Do you hear this verse? One thing, I try to teach
others is to practice and build their
listening skills. Understanding is birthed in
listening.
What judge would try a case and never listen? YOU?
THE WEAKEST LINK THEORY OF CHRISTIANITY?
YOU ONLY LOVE GOD AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE THE WEAKEST, DUMBEST PERSON YOU KNOW.
The true test of the real fruit of the Spirit is not
who you love the most?
But who you love the least?
1 John 3 :14 We KNOW that we have passed from death
to life because we LOVE the brethren. He that loves
not his brother abides in death. 15 Whosoever hates
his brother is a murderer.
KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS KNOWS THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS.
JESUS PAID ALL DEBTS OF SIN AND THE HEART!
Ephesians 4:32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
THE LESSON OF JOSEPH.
Life had been mean and cruel to Joseph.
10 brothers were mean and cruel to this dreamer boy.
His brothers could not speak PEACEABLY TO HIM.
(Genesis 37:4)
Joseph’s home was very dysfunctional. Dysfunctional
homes breed dysfunctional homes,
unless someone learns the beauty of gentleness and
kindness in a dysfunctional home.
When Joseph’s mean brothers came to him, Joseph was
kind. He fed them.
He paid for their food and put their money back in
their bags.
In great fear Joseph’s 10 mean brothers had to face
the music.
Read Genesis 50:19 Joseph said, "Fear not, for I am
in the Place of God.
20 But as for you, you thought evil against me; BUT
GOD (HAD A PLAN) MEANT IT FOR GOOD, to bring to
pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore FEAR YOU NOT, I WILL NOURISH YOU,
AND YOUR LITTLE ONES. And Joseph comforted
them, and spake KINDLY UNTO THEM.
It is much easier to be kind, when you see the PLAN
OF GOD!
THE BEST WAY TO GET EVEN IS TO FORGIVE IN MEEKNESS.
THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF AN ENEMY IS MAKE HIM YOUR FRIEND IN MEEKNESS!
TALK ABOUT KINDNESS AND FORGIVENESS?
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.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED IT IS EASIER TO BE KIND TO A STRANGER THAN TO YOUR OWN FAMILY?
1 Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and
to brotherly kindness LOVE.
I often tell the story of two young sisters. Tammy
had a candy bar, and Lisa, her sister did not have a
candy bar and wanted Tammy’s.
Tammy offered her candy bar to everyone on the
church bus but no one wanted it.
Just Lisa? Tammy offered it again to everyone, all
refused. Lisa wanted the candy bar. Lisa asked
several times. Finally Tammy put the candy bar back
in her purse, and ignored her sister.
? Think about this?
Willing to share with every one but their OWN
family. ???
Do you have kindness for all but your own?
ACTS TELLS A BEAUTIFUL STORY OF HOW STRANGERS CAN BE KIND.
THE SHIP HAD WRECKED, IT WAS COLD AND RAINING.
Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no
little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and
received us every one, because of the present rain,
and because of the cold.
YET HOW OFTEN WOULD THE CHRISTIANS AND THE RELIGIOUS
PEOPLE BE CRUEL AND MEAN TO THIS MAN OF GOD?
KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS SHOULD BE PLANNED AND ON PURPOSE.
Remember in Ruth 2:16, Boaz saw Ruth and Naomi and HE LEFT THEM FOOD, HANDFULS ON PURPOSE ---
What are you leaving? Is it accidental? Is it ON PURPOSE?
LUKE 10 RECORDS A STORY OF KINDNESS IN THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
The priest will be kind? No, He walks away.
He is burned out?
The deacon, the levite, will be kind?
No, he stops and looks? But he does nothing.
The Samaritan practices kindness and it cost him
dearly. He is kind.
WHY ARE THE ONES THAT SHOULD BE KIND --- NOT?
KINDNESS BEGETS KINDNESS.
THE THUNDER OF YOUR WORDS HAVE SOURED THE MILK OF
HUMAN KINDNESS IN MY HEART. RB Sherdian
Gentle minds by gentle deeds and gentle words are
known.
What will change your home? The fruit of KINDNESS?
Look in the mirror, do you see a kind, gentle face?
What are you going to do about it?
Grow! Grow more fruit! Hand fulls on purpose! Start
sowing kindness more and more.
May the desires of your heart be the Will of God.
But don’t lose focus, may the Will of God be your heart’s desire.
There is a child out there that needs your kindness?
There is a little old person that is so alone and afraid, you could be kind to them?
There is a rest home where a little individual can’t talk and would love a HUG?
You could share that food you will throw away, and love and be kind to someone?
There is a Christian worker that has cried today, that a card would so encourage
them.
I often say to those I serve, I hope you don’t go to the rest home when you get old?
No one will visit you? IF? IF you reap what you sow?
ARE WE WILLING TO INVEST KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS?
KINDNESS IS AN ACTION WORD, IT IS NOT PASSIVE.
To care, cost ... Will you pay? If you don’t pay now, you will PAY MORE later!
WILL YOU LOOK INWARD AND SEE IF THIS OUTWARD FRUIT IS GROWING IN YOUR HEART?
IN YOUR HOME? IN YOUR CHURCH?
Will you plan on improving this fruit’s growth in your daily walk.
Try kindness, gentleness --- YOU WILL LIKE THE SWEET FRUIT IT GROWS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com This is part 5 in a 9 part series.
