The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness. Sermon by Pastor Andrew Marttinen, June 22, 2o24.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. (Psalm 23 NKJV)
What is the house of the Lord? The temple would have been the house of the Lord, the place they worshipped.
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me": angels that will follow you all your days.
To have the fruit of the Spirit is to have Christ dwell in our hearts.
We go to the Holy Spirit to find Jesus. Jesus will take us to heaven.
"Goodness" is from the Greek word "agathos". The name Agatha comes from the same word. The name Agatha means person with good n character or constitution. A person who is useful.
The name Agatha has fallen into hard times. The name had declined steadily since 1945. In 1921 136 girls were named Agatha. That is 1/ 13000.
Agathos, and goodness has had some bad press. Goodness has had some bad press, It has become known as:
- wimp-ish
- weak
- less than aggressive
- lacking excitement
- "Marry a 'good boy" or a 'nice man'
There seems to be a societal difference between nice and good. The word Agathos refers to physical things like a good tree, good ground. Agathos can also refer to moral things such as "God is good" or morally honourable.
Christians tend to be zealous with their relationships. Christians base their beliefs on a God of creation.
The goodness of God is the harvest of the Spirit.
Good is love in action, continual doing good. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. PSalm 100:5
"Do all the good you can,By all the means you can,In all the ways you can,In all the places you can,At all the times you can,To all the people you can,As long as ever you can.” John Wesley
John Wesley did not stop there. He made these 7 points, but all 7 points had 14 subpoints each. Wesley's revival sermons energized Britain, despite being preached outside of church buildings.
What is the goodness we should pass on?
Salt & Light
Pass the salt to preserve, to bring out the goodness in something.
Pass the light to dispel darkness and error instead of fighting it.
Goodness is to do good and be good.
Acts 10:38 "... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
Jesus healed with touch. He did good without asking about the cot or dangers.
In today's world we can get involved in reaching out through social media where people flock to to learn, to find things out. A modern term "cyber-tribe" implies our brains are wired to our devices. While this has negatives, it also has strengths.
Story of ingathering in 1984 in England. Teams were formed and to ingather - go door to door to raise money for ADRA. Each team had a lead and was in charge of forming their team. The team confirmed where the money was going to, in this case directly to African countries with direct ADRA involvement from the British Union. The teams recruited their team members. One team recruited a tall man "K" who was a big champion for health reform and the literal interpretation of EG White readings. Another team members was a non-Christian, a muslim, "A". Team members were informed of the purpose for the money raised. "A" went out everyday and said "I am raising money for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and did not even share the mission work. He went tot he most number of doors. He collected the most money. "K" did not go to one door and did not raise any money.
Goodness may come with a struggle. Committed Christians must continually seek to transform to the likeness of Christ. We are created in His image. We give a glimpse of His image through benevolence, being good and doing good.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Fruit of the Spirit is goodness.
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature, that by beholding, we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. EG. White, The Great Controversy Pg 555.
Every day we should change into His likeness. Daily. Good and evil struggle continually. We desire to do what is good.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. Romans 7:18Is this a dilemma?
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:22 2-25
Groaning in disappointment. We can translate groaning into prayers. Remember, those doing good do not know they are doing good. When did we....? Where did we.....?
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 87:21-23
A woman asked her for a pastor to visit her. She felt a failure as she had nothing to contribute to her church. The pastor saw some letters on her desk and asked about her letters. The woman explained that these are cards and letters that she writes to people when she knows they are struggling, to cheer them up. The Pastor reassured her that this was her way of contributing to her church. The Pastor caught her doing good. She was unaware she was doing good.
The Bible is like a library, a collection of stories from the Middle East. It is a guide for many people today, a creed.
Philipp Melanchthon, a friend of Martin Luther, published the Loci communes, a systematic format of the Wittenberg theology developed by Luther. It is Melanchton's work that helped many to understand Luther's beliefs.
A Creed
Let me be a little kinder, Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those around me, Let me praise a little more;
Let me be, when I am weary. Just a little bit more cheery,
Let me serve a little better Those that I am striving for.
Let me be a little braver When temptation bids me waver,
Let me strive a little harder To be all that I should be;
Let me be a little meeker With the brother that is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbor And a little less of me.
Let me be a little sweeter, Make my life a bit completer
By doing what I should do Every minute of the day;
Let me toil, without complaining, Not a humble task disdaining,
Let me face the summons calmly When death beckons me away.
Edgar Albert Guest
What does it mean to live the good life? Different people have different callings, different values. God can be at the centre.
The fruit of the Spirit is Goodness.