What Kindness Looks like...

In this text, Paul urges the Galatians to walk by the Spirit, bear each other's burdens, and do good to everyone. 

I. What does the Spirit of Kindness look like? 
Being a Spiritually-led Believer

Kindness is a by-product of being a Spiritually-led believer—having a right (or intimate) relationship with God and one's neighbors.

a. Walk by the Spirit

Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Tim Keller defines Kindnes:

Chrestotes – kindness

Definition – Practical kindness with vulnerability out of deep inner security.

Opposite – Envy. Unable to rejoice other’s joy

Counterfeit – Manipulative good deeds. “Right hand knowing what left hand is doing.”

Self-congratulation and self-righteousness..

The purpose of the Spirit

The ultimate purpose of the Spirit’s operation in the Christian is to change us into the likeness and character of Jesus Christ. (cf. Rom.8:29 – “He predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” and Eph.4:13 – “Till we reach maturity, the fullness of the stature of Christ.”) So the ultimate goal is not some kind of general comfort, strength or power, but concrete, practical change in our character — how we think, feel, and act habitually and naturally.

b. Walk in Healthy Relationships with others= Love God=we can help to love others

Gal 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 

c.   Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit 

 Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

 Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

 Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

 Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit  is bank on the mercy of God and entrust ourselves to his Spirit for help:

John Piper writes …the mentality behind the fruit of the Spirit is the mentality of faith depending upon grace. People who bear the fruit of the Spirit know they are worthy only of condemnation. They know that the only pay they can earn is the wrath of God. Therefore, they have turned away from self-reliance and look only to mercy in Christ who "loved us and gave himself for us" (2:20). They do not expect anyone to be their debtor because of their worth. Any satisfaction will be a free gift of grace. They bank on the mercy of God and entrust themselves to his Spirit for help. And out of that mentality of faith depending on grace grows not "works" but "fruit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness . . .

Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit(community with the Spirit) let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Live in community with our neighbors)

 

Let’s recap--What does it mean to Walk in submission to the Power of The Holy Spirit ? 
First, it means that the Holy Spirit lives in you (communion)and you desire the things of God vs 17. Second, it means to be open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit and not the Law. vs. 18. Third, it means to pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. In verse 18-20, let's look at the patterns of the flesh again...

II. What are some Bible illustrations of kindness?

Kindness In The Word

Chris Evans who wrote the book Fruit At Work, God encourages us towards kindness throughout his word, when giving the law God call us to out for others in the community

 Lev 19:9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.

 Lev 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.

If you want to see what a little kindness can do, read the book of Ruth. By letting the poor pick the remaining rain from his field, Boaz ended up with Ruth as his wife (which created the family line that bore King David and, ultimately, Jesus). Another very applicable verse is in Leviticus that deals with kindness, seen in chapter 19:33-34.

 Lev 19:33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.

 Lev 19:34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

 

III. What does the gospel say about kindness and what does it look like?

The life of Jesus Christ--that's the greatest, most complete picture of kindness we'll ever know. God saw a whole lot of hurt, brokenness and despair. He saw people with no hope of breaking free from pain and suffering. And so He sent his Son to the rescue. There wasn't any logical reason for him to do that. No one deserved His kindness—we really brought the suffering on ourselves (see Romans 3:23).

Romans 2:4 “God’s kindness leads us to repentance”. (NIV)

God’s kindness and love changes our hearts so that we are not bound to the spiritual death associated with our ultimate loving of other things. His kindness changes us from desiring the things of the world, and gradually directs our affections to find a better, greater contentment and joy in Him. In essence, His kindness trumps sin in terms of what our hearts value and love! That’s incredible!

In other words, the more attractive we find God, the less our hearts desire ungodliness. Finding Him as our pleasure changes our hearts (repentance), turning our affections from sin and onto Him. And the more we pursue after Him in love, the greater victory we have over sin. Our hearts change. Repentance