Kindness: A Fruit of the Spirit

God [music and singing] is over all. Count your many blessings [music] angels will [singing] end. Help and comfort [music] give you to your journey. Count your blessings. Take them one by one. Count [music] your blessings. [singing] See what God have done. [music] as well with my [music] Thou hast [music and singing] taugh me to say it is well. It is well with my soul. [singing and music] It is well. It is well with my [music and singing] soul. With my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul. [singing] [music] Though Satan should [singing] buff it, no trials should come. [music] Let this blessed assurance [singing] control that [music] Christ has regarded [singing] my helpless [music] day and I shed [singing] his own blood for [music] my soul. It is well [music] with my soul. with my soul. It is well. It is [music and singing] well with my soul. I [music] sin [singing] all the bliss of this glorious [music] thought. My [singing] sin not in part, but the whole [music] is nailed [singing] to the cross. and I [music] fear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the [music and singing] Lord, oh my soul. It is well. It [music] is well [singing] with my soul. With my soul. It is [music and singing] well. It is well with my soul. [music] In Lord [singing] haste the day [music] when the face shall be [singing] sight. The clouds be rolled [music] back as a [singing] scroll. The [music] trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend. [music and singing] Even so it is well with my soul. [music and singing] It is well. It is well [singing] with my soul. with my soul. It is [music and singing] well. It is well with my soul. [music] Praise God. Praise the Lord, my dear friends, that we're all able to be here in the house of the Lord this morning. Uh that we're able to praise his name, to glorify his name, and to also hear his word for today. And I want to be doing our Bible reading for this morning, which is going to be in Psalms 48, page 8:13. Psalms 48 page or uh 8:13. And the anybody who doesn't have Bibles, there's Bibles in the pews for you guys to also open up and follow along. And this Psalm 48 uh it's going over a song of praise that talks about God's uh strength and protection over Jerusalem. And it mentions that God is the true source um of strength and safety for his people. So we can go over and read this psalm. And it says here, "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God in his holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation. The joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the north. The city of the great king God is in her palaces. He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled. They passed by together. They saw it and so they marveled. They were troubled. They hastened away. Fear took hold of them there and pain as of a woman in birth panges. As when you break the ships of Tarses with an east wind, as we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. We have thought, oh God, on your loving kindness in the midst of your temple according to your name, oh God, so is your praise to the to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice. Let the daughters of Judah be glad because of your judgments. Walk about Zion and go all around her. Count her towers. Mark well her bull works. Consider her palaces that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to the death. Praise the Lord. And now we're going to have uh Pastor Tim come up and say a couple announcements for us this morning and then um he will be saying a word also right after that. God bless. What beautiful words. What beautiful words. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth. I guess I have a question for us. Is God your joy? Is God your joy? Because over here the psalmist says the joy of the whole earth. And if we don't have joy in our hearts, just know one thing. Call onto the Lord. Call onto the Lord and that that joy he will grow in you as long as you keep on calling on him. We know that joy is the fruit of the spirit and we went through that a few weeks back. So that is a way that we grow. It doesn't come overnight, but it's a a way of life. It's a way of life, a way of seeking Christ, a way of making him your Lord and your Savior every day. But today we're going to be speaking about the topic of the fruit of the spirit. And this one is kindness. Kindness. I know that um like sometimes it's it's so straightforward. Well, yeah, you have to be kind, but um sometimes we need to hear the simplicity to understand that we need to stop complicating life and live it simple and live it simple. So before we get into our topic uh for those who are new here during our uh topics we do allow people to share stories to ask questions you will just have to raise your hand and we will give you a mic because there are people who watch us online and every time we don't give a mic I always get it like hey what did that guy say or what did that person say you didn't give them the mic. So I get in trouble. I get in trouble. Um so just raise your hand and the mic will be given. Share your stories, ask your questions. But today we will be going through a beautiful fruit of the Holy Spirit and that's kindness. Let's take these two minutes to meet and greet each other and get back into our seats and then we will proceed. Amen. Amen. [music] Are you glory? [music] [music] [music] [music] Amen. [music] [music] Can we get the [music] slideshow? Oh. Um, can we get the slideshow going, please? [music] Can you see if anybody's back there? Okay. Oh, wait. Got to got to get my sword. You know, you got to be armed all at all times. Where did it go? Oh, wait. I think I left it there. Yep. Got to fight your battles, you know, otherwise [sighs] otherwise you're finished. The devil don't sleep, right? The devil, he's he's awake 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And uh if we think he like he doesn't have his workers out there, oh, trust me, they're working overtime. They're working overtime. So, as as we know in the scriptures, when Jesus was tempted, how did he fight Satan? Does anybody know? Well, with the word. It's interesting because even Jesus himself fought with the word of God. like it wasn't like, well, you know, maybe it's not good. No, he quoted the word of God because when the devil um gets the word, he has no answer to that. Uh he he has nothing that can defeat love. We've already been through joy. We've already been through peace. We've already been through longsuffering and now it's kindness. The next one is goodness. But but when I was like studying this word, what I saw is that kindness and goodness are very similar. So so even if we do mention goodness, it's part of kindness. I don't think a badness could be kindness but goodness can. So [clears throat] the definition of kindness in the Bible is also a word in Greek. It's called crat ace. As you can see, I'm not Greek, [laughter] but um christotes, christotes is an ancient Greek word that translates to kindness, goodness, and gentleness. So when we, this is a biblical uh translation. This is not my translation or a definition. But but what we see is that the same word is used for goodness and it describes a deep moral excellence and a sweet tender. It's not just a feeling. Uh many people think that oh kindness is you have to always be nice. you have to um just never rebuke a person or never um kind of get angry. We know that Jesus got angry but he got angry for the right reasons. So, so if we get angry, we have to ask ourselves, is that for the right reasons? Because you can be kind and angry. I know it sounds kind of funny, but that is the characteristic that Jesus carried with him. It's not just a feeling. It's an active useful kindness that meets the real needs of others. So over here kind of describes if you're kind, there should be a purpose for that. There should be a purpose for that. And uh there was I just want to share two examples in my life. But uh like one Sunday morning I was going through a car wash uh with my family before church and I I was running late. I'm like I need to wash this car. So we're going through the car wash and then the the employee he's like hey how you doing? And I'm like, "Hi, I just need to wash my car." And then he's like, "How's your day?" I'm like, "Good." Um, like he's like, "Nice car." I'm like, "Cool." [laughter] And then I pay and then I go and my wife is looking at me and she's like, "That was rude. That was rude." And I didn't even realize it because I was in such a hurry that I didn't show, you know, um, respect. I didn't show respect. So, so I'll say how kindness pays off. Uh, we were in Utah trip a few weeks ago and we went on this hike that people were not really prepared. So, this hike was long. It was hot. And I had to carry one of my kids on their shoulder and their steps and stairs and then another one in the baby thing. And I was just so done. I came back and I'm just tired. And we have to go shopping for food because it was our day to cook. [laughter] Uh, so we went with a few families and and so I go to the store and we're checking out and I just I don't know why I just start talking to that guy and I'm like sharing, you know, that we went on a hike and this and that and it was long and I'm tired, you know, and then, you know, I'm just kind of like pouring out my feelings for some reason. I don't know why. And my wife is looking at me like, "Hey, man up." Well, she didn't tell me that, but uh it's interesting. Then that person is like, "Hey, thank you for talking with me." And I'm like, "Yeah, yeah, no problem." He's like, "I had a a pleasant time with you." And so and so he takes out this coupon and he scans it and I get 20% off. So kindness saves you money too, I guess. [laughter] But but it was interesting because my wife is like, "Wow, you know, you really never know what people are going through and just a little kind conversation can change their day." And um so so over here we see that kindness is the fruit of the spirit and like we know that our fruits of the spirit they grow deeper when we grow deeper in Christ. They're shallow when we are shallow in Christ. There could be uh a believer that is 40 years a believer, but if they are not growing their faith deeper in Christ, they're going to have shallow joy, shallow longsuffering, shallow love, everything's going to be shallow because the more we grow as a fruit in Christ, the more of that juices God gives into our life. Yes. Yes. So I would like to add as well in our culture the word kindness it's actually lost its meaning. We just think it's a kind person. But if you look at the Old Testament you will see that this word only was pertained to God himself. Like Jonah would say I knew that you're kind when he did not destroy Nineveh. Then uh when a young rich ruler came to Christ and he called him uh by same word kind or good and he said no one is kind or good like the god himself and he meant uh the father in heaven. So for us to understand that's why it's called the fruit of a spirit that should grow in us that if we've been born by nature to be kind that's not the same thing this is something we'll have to grow within us because the god's kindness is also pert pertain for the good of other people. we're doing something good. Not because, oh, we're just good and everyone goes, oh, he's so kind. He's so good. Yeah, that's how he behaves. It could be by nature. Maybe I was born to be more of a tough, harsh person. But when I start growing in that fruit of the spirit kindness, all the sudden that same person do things for the good of other people. This could pertain for salvation. This could pertain to help other people so that God's name would be glorified. That's what the true kindness is. and kindness also if we would just think about um when they're gold uh we called uh what what's that pro in English the when we start see the gold it's 24 karat 22 karat it's refining but there is another word so so the purest gold it's 24 karat it's use the word excellent excellent so That's the same thing. Goodness, kindness, it's excellency. It's the God himself is excellent. That's why he's good. And none of us is excellent. None of us is good. But that's why we should actually have and grow in us that fruit of the spirit, excellence, goodness, kindness that pertain to the other people, what we do in accordance to the other people. So that's why um when we're going to talk about it, we should think of not am I a kind person because maybe I was born this way but we should think how can I now grow in this fruit of the spirit kindness in me. How can I let this kindness that is in God shine in me? And so that's the main question. So let's not uh judge oursel thinking am I kind or not. But let's right now take this opportunity to learn how I can let the fruit of his spirit grow in me so I can be more and more like God himself. Does anybody have any questions or want to share before we move on? And in Titus 3, I wanted to read this because it actually shows the kind the kindness and the love of God our savior toward men appeared not by works of like not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus. Jesus Christ our savior that having been justified by his grace we should become hes according to the hope of eternal life. And over here we like we see who was God kind to who did he show his love to? It was to verse 2 and three or verse uh three. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lust and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. And yet God showed his kindness to them, to us. I want to add since Pastor Tim read a good verse. See, it's talking about that when we were without Christ, it says that we hate other people. Well, we did not hate everyone. Uh we maybe loved our close ones. We a lot of people without Christ, they love uh the husband loves his wife sometimes more than even even actually Christians people do. But still scripture sees that they were in hate [snorts] and all other sins. Why? Because well they only love those who they want to love. They only kind to those who they want to be kind to. But that's not what the Christianity the Christianity teaches us to be kind to those who are not kind to us because that's how God himself was. It's only when God actually saved us and all the sudden he start giving us this fruit and that we should reach in more and more that we can be kind to those who are not kind to us. We can love those who hate us. That only happens within the Christianity within the Christ himself. And I would say that kindness is is kind of like love. The the goal of a true Christian is to bring an unbeliever to Christ. Um to love God, yes. To to uh take care of the widows and orphans. Uh to make disciples, yes. But but also the goal of a true believer is to bring a lost soul to Christ. And one of the ways we do that is by being kind. By being kind and they see that kindness, they want more of you, more of what you have. And then through your kindness, we are able to bring somebody to Christ kind of how we saw here. And there is another scripture kind of uh confirming that as well when we read Luke 6:35. But love your enemies, do good, that's mean kind, and land hoping for nothing in return. So when we love those or be kind to those who uh we want, we actually want something in return. Yeah, it's my family but here nothing in return for us but in return for the glory of God. Yes. And that's the difference between kind by nature or kind person in this world without Christ or kindness that comes from the Holy Spirit as a fruit in us. And um the the other question is okay well uh kind like I understand that I have to be kind. I have to show kindness but how like how do I show it? What do I need to do to show it? Um what kind of steps do I need to take to show it? The first step to show kindness is to grow in the fruit of the spirit because because you can try to be kind, but unless the kindness of God is in you growing, you will never show God's kindness, you will never be able to show God's full righteous kindness to others. So that's the first step. See, let's let's ask I mean if anyone in their life actually felt where you showed God's kindness to other people, can you give an example or maybe there was instance when you were able to go uh to show God kindness or the Holy Spirit kindness uh to other people. So that way we can differentiate between human kindness and God's kindness in us. Is anyone able to share an example? Okay. There was an old woman that couldn't she couldn't afford to mow her lawn. So and mowed it for I cut all the grass and pulled all the weeds for her so that her house looked good for her. Yes. And and you know why that's God's kindness can be? It's because you will you will get nothing in return. Sometimes she may not even say thank you, but you know, she will remember and if she will hear that you're a Christian, she goes, "Oh, that's why he's doing those things." Does anybody else have any stories similar? I know people do. They're just a little shy. You know, there's a lot of smiling faces with a lot of stories. But [clears throat] if you guys ever want to share, just raise your hand during our talk and we'll give you the mic. You can be a part of us. Oh, I think Erica wants to share something. Yeah. Okay. Uh, let's get the mic. Yep. One mic is coming. Look at that. I feel like I'm at an auction. 1112 two22. The other day I went down to the grocery store to buy groceries for us for the week. And there was a lady in front of us who was having a difficult time getting her food stamp card or credit card or whatever. She was having trouble. People behind me was getting very unpatient because it was taking her so long. And I see that some of the grocery that she was buying was removed. And I felt like God was telling me, you have extra money, I think you should help this lady and not say anything. Just just take over um and slide my card in and pay for it. And a lady looked at me and and she no one's ever done that for me. And I said, "Well, God told me to help you." And you do the same when you can do it for somebody else. Pass it forward with kindness. Amen. That's a good example. Okay, we have one in the back. Thank you. I've been in Boise homeless for like the last four years and I'm a photographer and I uh I photographed roses and so I bought some roses at Trader Joe's and I was walking down the street and this beautiful couple came walking by me and I looked at them and I walked by them and God said, "Turn around and go back and engaged with them. And I did and u I ended up giving the bouquet to um the woman and she turned it turned to me and said um how did you know? And I said, "Well, God told me to do this to give these to to both of you." and she said, "Well, it's amazing how God works because he just asked me to marry him and here you come along and give us a bouquet of roses." And I just wanted to share that story. That's amazing. God puts the right people at the right time, right? Have you ever guys had a like a story where uh like in a drive-thru you pay for the person behind you? I remember on like 89.5 they actually encouraged that they they're saying show show love this morning and pay for somebody uh behind you. And there are stories that kind of similar uh how like Erica was saying that somebody ordered found out they have no money in the bank account, they're in line, they can't go back, they can't go forward, and somebody pays for them. I mean, that's that's how God works. [laughter] And from both of those examples that we heard beautiful examples I want to mention why this is the fruit because if it comes natural to my carnal person it's not a fruit maybe by nature I'm like this but what's both of those examples you mentioned that God spoke in your heart. This is something maybe I would not do it if it's not God. But the fruit it's like well maybe I don't have time to do it. Maybe I got to run. Maybe I got to do this or that. And then we able to hear this word and follow through. That's the fruit. That's where we bearing that fruit. But of course when we start growing in it, it becomes like part of us not part of my carnal person or my character but it's part of who I am actually in Christ himself and then I able to understand what the Christ want me to do and that becomes more and more fruit in my life the fruit of kindness or goodness. And I like how uh Pastor Henry said it becomes a part of us. Um by the way, thank you for sharing your stories. If if there's more, we love stories. It makes things more exciting, makes things more fun. And people then can actually see, you know, it's it's a real thing. It's not just talk, but it's action. But what P pastor Henry was saying and I wanted to read in Colossians 3:12. It says, "Since God chose you to be holy people he loves, you must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must clothe yourself. I don't think any of us leave our house for the day unclothed. Um, and over here we see that Paul, he's writing to the church of Colossus. Hey, do not leave the house without this. When you're out in the field where wherever it is, you're grocery shopping, you're at work, you're with your friends, just the same way you are clothed with clothes, clothe yourself with kindness, tender-hearted mercy, humility, gentleness, and patience. And look at this. And uh Proverbs 11:17 says, "A man who is kind benefits himself." There's a benefit to being kind, but a cruel man hurts himself. Does Does anybody want to be friends with a cruel man or a cruel woman? No. And cruel is actually the opposite of kind. So, so if you see a person who's coming to church or who uh professes that they're a Christian, um they say, "Hey, I love Christ, but he's cruel. She is just full of hate." Those people are not yet grown in truly grown in Christ because kindness it's That's that's the opposite of all those negative characters, hate, cruel, that's all the characters of our enemy, the devil. Therefore, God Paul says before you leave your house, when you wake up, when you're making your coffee, set your mind, set your heart to start off being kind, you know. Yeah. So, that's the key point. Set your heart and your mind. Yeah. Because again, we got to consciously come to it. We wake up in the morning, we're like, you know, today I want to do something in the name of God. And what's interesting is that [clears throat] why is it in the name of God? A lot of us might think that God is extremely strict and he is actually God the father and uh but some people think that he just punish people for uh wrongdoings and all that stuff but it's the god himself he's the kind that's in him his kindness toward all of us so we would be good and we would inherit carried the salvation. Yes, sir. You want to say something? Michael, hold on a sec. There's a mic coming right here. Hello. My name is Michael and I've been a poet for the Lord for for 10 years. U and it started when he put love in my heart that I didn't have for the first 64 years. Um today I want to share something that actually is the kindness of God. Um it's a poem. Today is a good day to wish I was a bird and my worries wouldn't be because of God's word. I would always see the love of life and the life to love. Just give me another worm inside me. He'll squirm from heaven above. I'll choose day with love to swerve now and sway. I love God so much. He gave me his way, lifting my wings. And to Jesus I pray, his beautiful heart and mind. I love to live his way. forward in every flight. His holy spirit gives me the benefit of insight. But I am not a bird, but read is every word. Jesus has given me insight to do in life what is right. And now of every day, I have no worries of what to eat today. Amen. Amen. Amen. I've been homeless for four years. I smile at every day because because I know that God's with me and provides. The Holy Spirit projects me uh in my own happiness. After being sad for 60some years, I'm glad to be happy every day regardless of the situation. That's my story for today. Amen. Thank you for sharing, Mike. We just have a few minutes left. Um if anybody wanted to share anything, just raise your hand. But over here we see that kindness it um it leads it can lead a person to Christ whom you have never even known. Kindness it it has many benefits that uh we just don't really have time to to go through. But it's interesting because actually I just kind of searched what kind of benefits does kindness have just being kind. Um but we know it has spiritual benefits. It gives purpose. It gives meaning. It um uh shows the light of God to a person that is an unbeliever. kindness also. Uh we saw that um it God from his kindness he provides our daily needs like the bird the worm um he provides our daily needs because of his kindness and his love but also just like like physical benefits and these were like studies done uh like you're in a better mood uh your life is less stressful your heart is healthier. I'm like, wow, you have a healthier heart. Your friendships are stronger. And how uh Brother Michael just mentioned, you're more happy. You're more happy. And those are the benefits. We talked about the spiritual ones, but just the benefits that we will experience of showing that kindness of God to those around us. With that, let's pray. Lord God, we thank you Lord for this word, God, that we could talk about the fruit of the spirit of kindness, Lord God. Lord I pray help us God to to grow in it God to to be seasoned in it to have roots in this fruit Lord God to have roots in this tree God that you can provide the kindness in our life God where other people can see can see you God in our life Lord bless each person here God and if if there's somebody here this morning God that that doesn't carry the kindness in their hearts and in their minds Lord, I pray God that you touch them this morning and that they can give themselves to you, Lord, that you can use them for your honor and for your glory in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. And for our last song, we'll be singing Wonderful Merciful Savior. [music] [music] Wonderful, merciful [singing] savior, precious [music] redeemer and friend. Who would have thought that [music and singing] a lamb would rescue the souls of men? Oh, you [singing and music] rescue the souls of men. [music] Counselor, [singing] comforter, keeper. Spirit we long to embrace. You offer [music] hope when [singing] our hearts and hopelessly [music] lost [singing] away. Oh, we hopelessly lost [singing] away. [music] You are the one that we praise. You are [music] the one we [singing] adore. You give the healing and grace our [music] hearts [singing] always hunger for. Oh [music] our hearts always hunger for. Almighty [singing] [music] invented father faithfully loving [music and singing] your own. Here in our weakness, [music and singing] you find us falling before your throne. Oh, [music and singing] we're falling before your throne. You [music] are the one [singing] that we praise. You are the one we [singing] adore. You [music] give the healing and grace our hearts [music and singing] always hunger for. Oh, our hearts always hunger for. [music] You are [singing] the one that we praise. You [music] are the one we adore. For [music] you give [singing] the healing and grace our hearts always [music and singing] hunger for. Oh our hearts always hunger [singing] for. Praise God. Well friends, our service has come to the end and today we are finished with the topic of the Holy Spirit which is kindness. Next week we will continue with goodness. So prepare your hearts, prepare yourself and prepare any stories you have to share. Um just a little announcements. Um, we are painting the gym building outside uh next week. So, we will need some help uh masking the the doors and stuff like that. I will text on our church chat. I have to talk to the painter to see like when is a good time to come out. We don't need a lot of people, just a few guys to mask things up. There's not a lot of things to mask up. Um, another thing, so our Bible reading, I was talking to Lisa and um, we because she comes to Bible reading and we were deciding, well, let's move it up to 900 a.m. 8:30 is kind of early. I'm still falling asleep while driving on the road. And um we will move it to Disciples Coffee. If if nobody knows what that is, that's off of Chingen by the Fairgrounds. Disciples Coffee. It's a Christian coffee shop, so there's no like hip-hop music going on when you're reading about the love of God. Um you know, well, yeah, that's that's that. I'm not going to comment anymore. Um, so we do have Bible studies here at at 6 o'clock on Thursdays with a little prayer about our community. We pray for our community. So I would like for everybody to come there as well. And Sunday's 9:00 a.m. service. Invite your friends and family. Next week's topic will also be fun. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. It was for sure a true blessing and we saw the work of God through you and through your lives. Thank you. Does anybody have any needs or any thankfulnesses that we can give to the Lord? If not, then let's finish our service. Lord God, we thank you once again, God, that you brought us this morning, Lord God. You put us here together, Lord, to learn about the fruit of the spirit, Lord. And how great, Lord, how great you are, God. That with your kindness and you, God, in your love, you saved us, Lord God. You saved us who were sinners, who were lost, God, who were no good, Lord. And you showed your kindness and love to us, God. And you saved us from hell, Lord God. I pray, Lord, if there's somebody here this morning that is still not saved, that that hasn't accepted you as their Lord and Savior. May you stir their hearts. May you touch them, Lord God. And may you save them. May your name be praised and glorified in Jesus name. Amen. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For your kingdom, your power, and glory forever are yours. Amen. be blessed.