Got Fruit #5

Below, is the 5th sermon in our summer series, "Got Fruit" looking at the traits that are to be in the life of each disciple of Jesus. Enjoy.
I would love to hear what you think:

We are continuing on today with our study of the visible character traits that are to be present in the lives of disciples of Jesus Christ.

            As I’ve said before, and will no doubt say again, these visible traits are not something that we grow on our own; we may cultivate them, but we do not produce them.

            The Bible says: “…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a, NLT2)

            According to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will produce these nine traits in your life if you profess to be a disciple of Jesus.

            All nine of fruit will be grown in your life. Not, 3, 4, 6 or even 7. All nine of these traits will be produced in your life.

            Author and Pastor John Ortberg made this comment: “…If God wants to grow some quality in you, he may send you a person who tempts you to behave in just the opposite way.

If you need to develop love, then some unlovable people will be your greatest challenge….”

“… As lifting weights strengthens a muscle and cardio exercises strengthen a heart, difficult people can strengthen our ability to love.” (Ortberg, 2010, chapter 18)

If God wants to grow love, joy, peace and patience in your life, He may put you in a situation that calls for love, joy, peace and (dare I say it) patience.

We simply won’t cultivate these traits any other way than by spending time with people and being in situations that are the complete opposite of what God wants to grow in our lives.  

In just a moment we are going to examine the 5^th character trait that will be evident in the lives of Disciples of Jesus, but before we do so, I want to make mention, one more time, of the grouping of these fruit.

The Fruit of Love, Joy and peace deal primarily with our relationship with God.

The fruit of Patience, kindness and goodness deal primarily with our relationship with others.

And the fruit of Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control deal primarily with our relationship with ourselves.

So we are in the middle of learning how to deal with other people. The first way was with patience, and the second way is with Kindness.

ILLUSTRATION- When I say the word “Kind” or “Kindness”, what—or who—comes into your mind?

            It could be a parent or a relative or even someone who has always been kind to you. Maybe it was someone who helped you out of a tight spot…

            Kindness can take on many forms and many people can express kindness.

            “Jacob showed kindness to Easu, before he took his birthright from him.

            “Jael showed kindness to Sisera in Judges 4 before she drove a tent peg into his head as he slept.

            “Delilah showed kindness to Samson before she cut off his hair robbing him of his strength.” (with help from Wayne Caldwell)

            Many people can show kindness, so what exactly was Paul referring to when he said that followers of Jesus will have Holy Spirit produced Kindness in their lives?

            A good place to start answering that question is by looking at the Greek word for Kindness.

            Kindness in the Greek is “Chrestos” (which, is one letter different than the Greek word for Christ: “Christos”) and kindness “is the grace which pervades (or spreads through) the whole nature (of a person) mellowing all which would

have been harsh and austere” (GK#5896, Key Word Study Bible)

            Wow! That sounds interesting! Now, what does it mean?

            In a wordà GRACE.

            Being filled with the Fruit of the Spirit of kindness is showing grace. Just like patience; kindness is a holding back of our “wrath” and responding instead with love and grace.”

            One Bible commentator put it like this: “Christians should show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward them” (NT. Zon Com. “kindness”)

            This is an interesting statement. The question is: do we? Do we behave toward others the way that God has behaved toward us?

            “How has God acted toward us” you might ask? With Underserved Kindness!

            The Bible says:  “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ²⁴ Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” (Rom. 3:23-24, NLT2)

            Paul picks up the same thought again in his address to the Ephesian church: “…God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It

is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Eph. 2:4-5, NLT2)

            And Titus chapter 3 says: “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.

⁴ But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ 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 new life through the Holy Spirit.^” (Titus 3:3-5, NLT2)

You see dear friends; God showed us underserved kindness when He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross. When all we did was reject and shun Him, He was dying the death we were supposed to die.

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4, NLT2)

Though all have sinned against God, and though we deserve nothing but total and complete separation from God for eternity, He is willing to show us underserved kindness that moves us toward repentance.

The Bible says: “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your

faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23, NIV)

God is showing people underserved kindness and God wants the people who have received His underserved Kindness to show that kindness to other people.

The Bible says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32, NIV)

ILLUSTRATION- The story is told of the time that Prince Edward of Wales once entertained an Indian Prince who was not acquainted with all the Western rules of etiquette.

            When the Indian Prince saw a fingerbowl at his plate, he assumed the water in it was to drink, which he promptly did.

            Before anyone had the opportunity to raise an eyebrow or grin, The Prince of Wales lifted his fingerbowl and did likewise.

            Now, we cannot assume from this fact that Prince Edward was filled with the Holy Spirit, but it does illustrate for us the person who is bearing the Fruit of the Spirit called kindness will be considerate of other people’s feelings.” (Caldwell, 1976. 50-51)

            Isn’t that what Ephesians 4:32 is talking about? “Be kind to…(Who?) ONE ANOTHER.  Be compassionate to (whom?) ONE ANOTHER. Forgive (who?) ONE

ANTOHER just as in Christ God forgave (who?) You!

            This is not a suggestion, this is not “when I feel like it”, this is a Biblical command. We are to be kind and compassionate to all people, when we feel like it, and especially when we don’t.

            We are not to lambaste people when they do something wrong—or if they do things differently that we might do them--- we are to love all people with the same loving kindness that we have received from Jesus Himself.

            Dr. Caldwell reminds us that “a weak Christian is often characterized by harsh criticism and by unkindness or intolerance of others’ opinions that vary from his own.”

            “The strong Christian is the most kind, for the Spirit of Christ, is generous, kind and friendly.” (IBID)

            Dear church, what will set the disciple of Jesus apart from the crowd is the fruit of the Spirit of kindness, a true, genuine kindness, grown in our lives only by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

            And this is not a kindness that will try to “…manipulate someone into helping us, rather it is a sincere desire to help another person out.” (IBID)

            Because you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will cultivate the fruit of the Spirit called Kindness, so think about your situation today; think about your life.

            Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Are you filled with Holy Spirit produced kindness?

            Again, this is not something that you can produce on your own; it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit working on you and in you that you will be kind to people you like, and kind to the people that you don’t like.

ILLUSTRATION- A College professor once asked the members of his class to choose the person on campus whom they disliked the most and then everyday perform an act of kindness toward that person.

            At the end of one month, people in the class were transformed as well as the people who received the kindness. (ibid)

            I wonder how many people would be transformed if we dared to show kindness to everyone we come in contact with?

            I wonder what would happen if the people of Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church would dare to step up and show kindness toward the people who are under our roof and toward the people who are under our skin?

            I wonder what kind of change we would see—in ourselves and in other people? Are we willing to take this challenge?

            Jesus reminded us that even if we gave a cup of water to someone who needs it, we are doing it to Him, so I wonder who can we show kindness to this

week?

Who needs to see your smile? Who needs a helping hand? Who needs a pick-me-up? Who can you show kindness to?

Someone once said: “Kindness is to do and say the kindest thing in the kindest way.” (Jack Seberry, binders)

Who can you show kindness to this week?

            The first few verses of Acts chapter 28 interest me. Paul and “his companions”, so to speak, had been shipwrecked and beginning with verse 1, we read:

            “Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.

2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold…..” (Acts 28:1-2, NIV)

            The words that really intrigue me are the words in the middle of verse 2. Paul had never been to Malta before, he had no idea who these people were, but he made sure to tell us that they showed him “…unusual kindness…” (Acts 2:2, NIV)

            The people welcomed Paul and the others—they made them feel welcome just because they were there….

Who are you showing unusual kindness to? Who am I showing unusual

kindness to?

            Those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ should be showing Holy Spirit produced kindness to all people.

            If you haven’t been showing kindness to all people, the Good News is you can start right now!

            You can open your heart up and receive the underserved kindness from Almighty God; and you can start showing that same kindness to those people around you.  

All it takes is opening your life up to the Holy Spirit of God and asking Him to fill you with the fruit of the Spirit called kindness.

David said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV)

If you are serious about living a Spirit-filled life, you will ask God to search your life, and you will ask Him to remove any area of unkindness from your life and ask Him to fill you with the Fruit of the Spirit called kindness; because disciples of Jesus will be known by that kindness.

The Bible says: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and

slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:31-32, NLT2)

Got Fruit #4

The Following is the fourth installment of our Summer Series at the Ridge- Patience. Enjoy

            We are continuing on this morning with our summer series entitled “Got Fruit?”

We are, and have been, looking at the visible character traits that should be present in the lives of disciples of Jesus Christ.

            Before we look at the Fruit of the day, I want to mention an interesting little side bar on the fruit of the Spirit.

            There are nine fruit mentioned in our text: “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a, NIV)

            If you take these nine and divide them into 3 groups of 3, you would have in the first batch: Love, Joy and peace.

            In the second batch of fruit you would have: “Patience, kindness and goodness”, and in the last batch you would have: “faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.

            Each grouping of fruit deals with a different part of our Christian life or experience. The first batch of fruit, (L.J.P) “has to do especially with one’s personal inner relationship with God.”

            The second batch of Fruit- (P.K.G) “has to do especially with our relationships with other people”

            And the last batch of fruit-(F. Gentleness. S.C.)--are personal fruit—these have to do especially with the relationship we have with ourselves. (with help from Wayne Caldwell’s book fruit and gifts of the spirit)

            This is yet another example of God being concerned with the entire person, not just the spiritual part of our lives.

            I want to remind you that all nine Fruit of the Spirit, no matter how you group them, are impossible for us to grow, or produce on our own strength.

            The Bible says: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…” (Gal. 5:22a, NLT2)

            Each of these character traits are grown in the lives of disciples of Jesus, by Someone other than us. We may cultivate these traits, but we do not grow them. That is the work of God’s Holy Spirit.

            So today, we want to look at the fourth fruit that will be produced in the life of the follower of Jesusà The Fruit of the Spirit called Patience.

            A Bible commentary will tell us that patience is: “The quality of putting up with others, even when one is severally tired.” (NIV NT Zon Com. 741)

            Someone once said: “Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can. Found seldom in a woman, Never in a man. ” (http://bible.org/node/13153)

Whomever it was that said that, or why they said it, I’ll never know, but patience is something that, according to the Bible is to be evident in the life of the disciple of Jesus.

ILLUSTRATION- If there was one Fruit of the Spirit that I wish I could avoid preaching about; it is this one, patience.

            I’m not a very patient person; at least I don’t think I am... Take the other day for example.

            We were coming back from town, and most, if not all of us, were tired, and my patience with Erica was getting a little thin, and when she asked her mother if she could do something, I yelled out in a loud voice: YES!”

            Most of the time our patience is tested when we are tired. That’s why I like this explanation of patience. It’s “The quality of putting up with others, even when one is severally tired.” (NIV NT Zon Com. 741)

            But, is that all patience is good for?

Don’t get me wrong, putting up with others is good, especially when we’re tired, but shouldn’t we be patient because God is patient, and we are supposed to imitate Him?

            The Bible says: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8, NIV)

According to the New Living Translation God is: “…slow to get angry...”

(Ps.103:8, NLT2)

In other words: God is patient.

            How many times have we said to ourselves: “If I was God; I’d wipe that person off the face of the universe?” (be honest?)

            Most times we say this because we want that person to get what we think they deserve.

            But have you ever given any consideration as to why God doesn’t annihilate them—or us?

Has it ever occurred to you that God is a just God, that God is an extremely patient God?

            Peter—the one disciple who experienced the patience of the Lord probably more than any other disciple, wrote:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)

The one reason why God delays His coming again is because He is a patient

God; One who wants all men to come into a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

But that’s God, and last time I checked I am not God, and you are not God, so I want to know how does patience show up in the life of a believer?

Is it something that we do? Is it is something that we say? Is it something that we express?

The answer is yes! It is something that we do, it is something that we don’t say and it is something that we express.

The Greek word for “patience” (makrothymia) means: “Self-restraint before proceeding into action.”

It also is “the quality of a person who has the power to avenge himself, yet refrains from doing so.” (Key Word Bible, Patience 3429)

I like these two definitions; because they tell me what patience really is: It is waiting before acting.

It’s not jumping the gun and acting, it’s waiting—even though you can act. It displays a calm assurance.

Isn’t this like our Heavenly Father? Doesn’t He wait for us, even though He could act? Over and again, God displays His patience with us, even though we scorn and shame His Holy Name.

“God… does not abandon hope of the earth He created, even tough, more often than not the people He placed here turn their backs on Him” (Caldwell, 1976, 49)

God could have walked away from us numerous times, but because He’s

“slow to get angry” (Psalm 103:8, NLT2) He displayed His patience with us, and when the time was right, He took matters into His own hands:

“…when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

⁵ God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” (Gal. 4:4-5, NLT2)

Because God is patient with us, He made us His very own children, and because God is patient with us, we are to be patient with one another.

This is what Jesus told Peter, wasn’t it?

One day, Peter came to Jesus and asked Him: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21 NIV)

With his chest puffed out, Peter asked Jesus how many times he was to display patience to someone who had done him wrong.

Jesus, ever so gently, says to Peter: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22, NIV)

Jesus was telling Peter, and us, that we are to be patient with all people from now until we are dead!

You see, patience comes from God and patience is given by God to all people who are serious about following after Him.

And “our patience in the Spirit does not imply and uneasy, clock-watching, floor pacing, deep sighing, endurance test.

“It is a patience based on a respect for the other person, a genuine love for that person and a willingness to sacrifice time or life’s energies on that person.” (Caldwell, 1976, 47)

            Patience is waiting, giving and showing others the same love and grace that God has given and shown to us. Our patience is to be limitless.

            And again friends, we cannot produce patience on our own. We cannot grow patience on our own; patience comes to us only by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

            We will not get patience by reading the next “chicken soup book”. Patience only comes as we remain connected to the Vine.

Jesus said: “…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4b, NIV)           

ILLUSTRATION- Two men were digging in California for gold. They had worked a

good deal and got nothing.

            At last, one of the men threw down his tools and said “I will leave here before we starve” and he left.

            The next day, his comrade’s patience was rewarded by finding a gold nugget that supported him until he made his fortune” (Reid, page 111)

            Often times, Holy Spirit produced patience comes to us as we wait just a little longer.

            The Bible says: “…those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31, NKJV)

            James says: “…be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.

⁸ You, too, must be patient….” (James 5:7-8a, NLT2)

            “Every farmer knows that the time of harvest cannot be hurried, he must submit to the laws of Maturation.” (Wayne Caldwell)

So too, in the spiritual realm, we must wait on the Lord, we must rely on His Holy Spirit when we feel our internal pressure going up and up and up.

The Bible says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each

other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32, NIV)

Unless we the love of God, unless we have the joy of God, unless we have the peace of God, being patient with all people and making allowances for their faults will be downright impossible.

Unless we have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us, invading our space, we are unable to live at peace with all men and to be patient with them.

So how about it church? Are you filled with the fruit of the Spirit called patience? Do you deal with people the same way that God deals with you, or do you lash out in anger?

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we will be patient with all people. This doesn’t involve being doormats, but it does involve holding our tongue, and responding with love.

The Bible says that: “…suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3b-4, NIV)

If the Holy Spirit of God wants to grow Holy Spirit produced patience in your life, He may use a situation that will make you a little uncomfortable.

He may put you in a situation that calls for patience, for what better way to learn patience than by actually being in a position to learn patience…

It will be painful, but it will be to our benefit, for suffering produces

perseverance….

The Bible reminds us that patience will be grown in the lives of disciples of

Jesus Christ. What we must do is remain connected to the Vine and ask for the Holy Spirit of God to fill us with the Fruit of the Spirit called Patience.

Show clip: http://sermonspice.com/product/33386/patience

Friends, the Bible reminds us that God wants to grow Patience in the lives of His children, and chances are pretty good that He will use a situation in your life this week to grow patience in your life…..

It’s my prayer that we all would respond with patience, even when we are tired.   

I’m not a patient man, but You can make me be;

I’m not a patient man, but You want me to be;

I’m not a patient man, so will You help me to be;

I’m not a patient man, so I need You to fill me;