The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

The Fruit of the SpiritGal 5:22:But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…

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•All start with Love•Kindness starts in the heart and is translated in thoughts, words and actions.

Kindness of Speech• "The tongue of the righteous is choice

silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little" (Proverbs 10:20).

• "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse" (Proverbs 10:32)

Kindness• Kindness usually costs no money. • It may take the sacrifice of time

and energy. • It may require the discipline to

be thoughtful of others' needs and to make the effort to act.

• How much is required:– to cultivate smiling? – to pay a visit? – to say a word of encouragement or comfort? – to show friendliness by warmly and sincerely

shaking hands?

Epitome of Kindness• The Lord Jesus Christ is the epitome of

kindness– did many good things to the unfortunate– cared for the poor and suffering – did nor ridicule the weak,

or belittled the simple minded or those burdened and heart laden.

Kindness of the Shepherd• "I am the good shepherd;

and I know My sheep, and am known by My own" (Jn 10:14).– "Your rod and Your staff,

they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

• A rod and a staff: caring, guidance, safety. • A lifesaving act to his herd incorporating the

young, the middle aged, and the elderly. • Herd may be comprised of a pure or mixed bred,

ram or lamb, sickly or healthy, straying or obedient, submissive ones.

• Nonetheless, the rod and staff symbolized kindness, caring and comfort to all of them.

Kindness of the Servant• "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to

Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs'" (John 21:15).

• Do works of kindness...– feed the hungry– minister to the sick, handicapped,

terminally ill– remember the neglected and forgotten– care for the homeless– love the despised– transmit the Lord's love and kindness

Kindness of the Master• Hemorrhaging woman

– Who by the Jewish law was condemned as unclean

– For twelve years was labeled as an outcast – The Lord's kindness inspired her to overcome

all obstacles and reach out and touch the hem of His cloak.

Kindness of the Master• The blind man

– He could not see the commotion– Could he discern the voice of the

Lord, among all the other voices?– He recognized and relate to a kind voice:– "So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be

brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, that I may receive my sight.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God" (Luke 18:40-43).

Kindness of the Master• Preventing the stoning of a woman

– But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:6-8)

• Saving the despicable sinner– Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look,

Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; (Lk 19:8-9)

God’s Kindness• Despite the Israelites' manifold sins after

their rescue from Egypt, He continued to provide food, water and protection all the way into the Promised Land.

• Once in the land, they continued their provocations for about another seven hundred years.

• All the while He provided for them so abundantly that Israel became a very wealthy, albeit ungrateful, nation.

God’s Kindness• For their heart was not steadfast with Him,

nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again. (Psalm 78:37-39)

David Shows God's Kindness• Following the death of Saul and his sons:

• Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" … "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet." … Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!" So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually." Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?" (2Sam 9:1-13)

David Shows God's Kindness• David's heart:

– “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22)

– Responsibility to perform acts of kindness– He did not forget his and Jonathan's

oath or their love for each other – There is no indication that

anyone prompted David's inquiry. – The request came from his own

heart, motivated by his faithfulness to his friend and his caring nature.

David Shows God's Kindness• Unconditional love and kindness:

– David’s undeserved persecutions at Saul's hand

– He could have held a grudge in order to feel justified in retaliating, or spat curses against any of Saul's heirs.

– It was expected to kill off any potential claimants to the throne.

David Shows God's Kindness• He speaks of showing the "kindness of God"

to Saul's house, elevating his motive to an even higher plane as a precursor of Jesus:– But love your enemies, do good, and lend…, and

you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. (Lk 6:35-36)

• David used God as a pattern for kindness

• He recognized that he had received undeserved mercy and kindness from the hand of God

The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

• Kindness starts in the heart and translated in thoughts, words and actions.

• Costs no money, but may take the sacrifice of time and energy

• The Lord Jesus Christ is the epitome of kindness

– The Good Shepherd– The healer– The Forgiver

• A servant must be kind like his Master: 'Feed My lambs'