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Goodness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. We are looking at the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians Chapter 5, and we have spent time meditating upon these first five - and we come to this word GOODNESS.

When Jesus Christ comes to a man - meets a man - changes a man - there can be such an amazing transformation. And then when that man surrenders totally to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - giving all to Christ and for Christ - when there is such a positive response - remarkable fruit can be produced in that life - as it is presented to God and surrendered to God. If it was difficult to get down to the true meaning of Kindness, it is perhaps even harder to arrive at the real meaning of GOODNESS. It is always helpful to remember and recall the goodness of God - in sending Jesus and in all that that entailed and involved - culminating in the cross - and then in raising Jesus Christ from the dead. When the Bible speaks about GOODNESS it refers to the goodness of God. When goodness is of the Holy Spirit - and from the Holy Spirit - and not simply from human effort - it is supernatural - like the Love of God - and the Joy of God - and Peace of God. We have watered down the word goodness in contemporary speech. We have applied it to people and to things, but in the Word of God it is applied only to God and to what God does. The word means - EXCELLENCE - moral excellence. Luke 18 verse 18 following - Jesus makes it so very clear - No one is good except God alone. What does it mean? There is a reason for Jesus saying this here. If that man did not recognise Jesus Christ as being GOD, then he had no right to call him 'good'. And he didn't recognise Jesus as God - because He would not do what Jesus said. He just walked away from Jesus, and we never hear of him again. Sometimes a man can come that close to Jesus, and that may be his only opportunity to surrender to Jesus Christ. I do not see people being given many opportunities to come and hand their life over to Jesus. We even speak about the 'good Samaritan'. Jesus never did. Jesus simply speaks about a Samaritan. Jesus never described people as being good. So - what is the fruit of goodness which the Holy Spirit desires to grow within us? Sometimes we have to describe things by what they are not. In 1Corinthians 13Paul describes LOVE in seven negative ways and then in seven positive ways. The words 'good' and 'goodness' are used so freely that we have to be clear on what they do not mean. I've heard people speak about those who are good living - and we have to ask - what do people mean by that? It is never used in the Bible. What is your definition? Describe it. We are told - that in some circles - a man is described as 'good living' if he doesn't get into trouble - if he keeps out of the hands of the police. Do you realise that would exclude Jesus? That would also exclude Peter - and John and James and Paul and Silas. You might want to be excluded from that Fellowship. I don't! So - what does it mean? Because that description is completely meaningless and without any value in the eyes of God. Goodness is a quality which God Himself grows in the life of the disciple. It is a quality which God Himself plants in the inner parts of a person, and it is grown in the life that is surrendered to Jesus Christ, and where the Holy Spirit reigns and rules. It is nothing to boast about, because it is totally the work of the God of Love and Grace and Mercy and Peace. It is like kindness, in as much as it is an attitude. It is non-verbal. You don't hear people speak about it. You feel it flowing in certain situations. You sense it flowing in times of prayer. You cannot describe it. It is like when someone comes up to you and says - "You are different - you have changed." Peter experienced that. Paul experienced that. These men were changed. The lines in - Courage brother do not stumble - "Some will hate thee - some will love thee - some will flatter - some will slight!" Why do these things happen? Goodness has been described as - "The impression a Christian makes as he moves on his way - blissfully unaware that he is reminding people of Jesus Christ." Perhaps we can go no nearer the definition of this supernatural goodness that - "reminding people of Jesus Christ". Something grows in you that reminds people of Jesus Christ, and they may even be convicted of their sin. Is that what we are doing - reminding people of God - just as Israel reminds people of God. Romans 15 verse 14. Ephesians 5 verse 9. 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 11. Fruit grows as we abide in the vine - as we abide in Christ. You cannot manufacture it or cultivate it through education, or by any other means. It has nothing to do with 'my good deed for the day'. That is so man centered. Jesus says, "Follow Me" It is so simple - not complicated or complex. That is how this aspect of the fruit grows. There was nothing Jesus Christ Himself could do to rise from the dead. He had to rely totally upon the promise of the Father and the Power of the Holy Spirit. The goodness and promise and power of God brought our crucified Saviour and Lord and King - out of that tomb. You die to self - you die to ambitions and desires - your desire to wanting to be popular. You die to flattery and criticism - you die to the very temporary applause of men. You die to 'my way' - 'our ways' - my opinion on this and that - our views. It is a total surrendering and trusting - just as Jesus did on the Cross. And as that seed - or these seeds fall into the ground and die - so the Father starts to work and produce fruit. One amazing truth is this - that God calls the likes of us to be vessels of His Goodness. God takes a man - born somewhere of no importance - maybe even in a stable - and when HE calls - and when that life responds in total surrender - that life becomes a container into which HE can pour His Goodness. I think of Billy Graham. God said - I want you - who? me? - a farm boy? YES - YOU! GO AND PREACH MY WORD. But I don't understand it. I didn't call you to understand it. I have called you to preach it! And he went out to that tree trunk and laid his Bible on it and said, "Father I do not understand it, but I will go and preach it and proclaim its truth in obedience to your command. The goodness of God can grow and flow through any man who is filled with Holy Spirit - and he may know very little about it - and he may understand it even less. As we surrender to the goodness of God, the Holy Spirit will grow goodness in us. Die to self - so that the life of God may spring up. God so desires to pour His Goodness into us - to grow that quality of His Goodness in us - so that those around us may know and feel and sense something of the goodness of God in a hard harsh frightening world. He takes these earthen vessels - clay - fragile - unattractive - flimsy - and into these, Jesus wants to grow His Goodness - so that others can pluck the fruit and have life. Love - Joy - Peace - Patience - Kindness - Goodness - share whatever you have. Let it flow to needy people who may not be aware of their need and needs. "Loving Father, our gracious God, use me as a channel through which your gifts and fruit may flow. Grow these blessings in my life and let hungry people come and pick and eat the fruit and be filled and satisfied, in Christ Jesus." Amen.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism

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