The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, November 4, 2026, is the conclusion of our message series on the Fruit of the Spirit.  This week we look at the last two fruit:  gentleness and self-control.  These are especially important to develop because they have such and incredible impact on our relationships and our witness. Join us at 6:00 p.m. for an uplifting message and some mid-week encouragement for the soul. 

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page.  We go "live" at 6:00 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live, there are 3 ways to watch the message later - on Facebook, on YouTube, or here on our website. (the "Past & Future Messages" page).  Watch anytime!  

This week, October 28, 2026, was week 4 of our message series on the Fruits of the Spirit with an in depth dive into each of the 9 fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23 - "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

This fruit grows inside us from the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in our hearts. The Holy Spirit transforms us, producing "fruit" so that we reflect the nature of God - to the degree we are willing to surrender to the Spirit's transformational process.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

So throughout this study, keep reminding yourself that it's the Spirit who brings out God’s attributes in us through our surrender.  It doesn't happen because we try harder or will ourselves to do better.

The 3 fruit we covered this week were Kindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness.

Kindness comes from a Hebrew word used in the Old testament - Chesed - which is translated as "loving kindness” or “steadfast love.”  Chesed is understood to mean action over feeling; it’s not a passive emotion but an active, practical deed to help someone in need.  Acts of loving kindness are given without expecting anything in return, simply because we have love in our hearts.  Consider Jesus' words from Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

This shows us that God’s kindness stems from love.  God does good, kind things simply because God is love.  His kind actions are not based on the receiver, but the love of the Giver.

In particular, note that Jesus said “do good” and “lend” without expectations.  The kindness we show doesn't have ulterior motives and isn't based on the quality of the person who is receiving the kindness.  It simply is a kind act that flows from us because we see a need and have the ability to meet that need.  We act because of the quality of our hearts as filled with God's love.

This is Jesus urging us to live to a higher standard . . . to be more like our Heavenly Father, to reflect His nature and attributes or characteristics.  And building on what Jesus said, the Apostle Paul wrote: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” – Romans 12:20.

The idea here is we are to respond in kindness.   By treating our enemies with love & kindness, we demonstrate the love of Christ and live out the Gospel in practical ways.

To “heap burning coals” expresses the belief that unexpected acts of kindness can bring about change in an enemy.  Kindness can cause conviction and repentance in the enemy.  This idea stems from how God changes us:

Romans 2:4 – “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

So if we’re acting with a heart changed by God, living in step with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we will to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:42 – “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

This is not always easy to do.  Society tells us not to give to panhandlers.  We've been taught to keep away from beggers.  But Jesus taught us to live differently, and the kind of kindness which inspires us to help those in need happens in us through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  If our hearts surrender to God’s transformational process, we can live with that kind of kindness.  

2 – Goodness.  While kindness is the practical expression of the heart (it’s tied to actions), goodness is the internal quality of the heart.  It is moral integrity rooted in God’s character.

Goodness is an internal motive to do what’s right because of a desire to be righteous.  It comes from a Greek word which means: uprightness of heart.  And to understand this idea, look at the story of the "rich young ruler" from Luke 18:18.  A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered.  “No one is good—except God alone.”  Jesus’ question is to have him consider his own words. If goodness belongs to God, then calling Jesus good requires viewing Him as more than an honored rabbi.  He’s the Son of God.

Jesus says no one is good.  What does he mean?  That all humans have sin.  It's echoed in other places in the Bible, too:

 Ecclesiastes 7:20 – “Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

 Psalm 14:3 – “All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

These verses tell us that we have to rely on God’s righteousness and the Holy Spirit to change us.  We can’t be “good” by willpower.  We can't be good just by putting forth more effort.

Truth is, we are made righteous by the blood of Jesus, and then the Holy Spirit begins producing the Spirit's fruit in us. Righteousness gives us the internal desire to live for God and please Him.  Consider what Jesus said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Matt. 5:6.

God’s goodness is shown in these verses:

Psalm 119:68 – “You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.”

Psalm 145:9 – “The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.”

Psalm 25:8 – “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.”

Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.”

In talking about goodness, we should be mindful of what goodness is not.  It's not just following rules.  It's not empty good deeds that don't come from a place of love.

Goodness is the condition of the heart; it’s a responsive heart.  It's offering comfort to others; being compassionate.  It's helping others in need.  It's showing the way through guidance and encouragement.  Goodness is being a blessing, not for praise or recognition, but in love.  It's doing the right thing when no one is looking, and is because goodness is tied to God’s righteousness.

Goodness flows from a heart that is motivated by living to please God – righteousness.   James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

That means God is good . . . all the time!

 So let's keep this verse close to our hearts - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9.

 Faithfulness.   Psalm 33:4 says God he “is faithful in all he does.” 

God is faithful, so He will never abandon us, or give up on us.  God will always be there.  

1 Cor. 1:8-9 – “He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

That tells us we can have assurance that God will see us through our journeys until we arrive at the place being prepared for us: Heaven!

God’s faithfulness rests in His unchanging character.  God is always the same.  Look at all the ways God shows His Faithfulness: 

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”

That means He will always be merciful.  He will withhold the punishment we deserve.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 – “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

He will gives us strength, but also protect us.

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

He will always forgive us.

Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

He will always keep His promises. His word is always true.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

God sanctifies us, making us righteous so that we can be blameless before Him, welcomed into our eternal home.

God’s faithfulness gives us confidence and hope … our victory, endurance, strength rests on His character rather than our ability.

God is faithful.  God is always there.  So we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 1:6
Aren't you glad He is faithful?  Aren't you happy we can count on Him?  Because of the Holy Spirit, we too can live faithful.      The Spirit will create  in us the same faithfulness in us.  We can be faithful in our relationships, faithful to our commitments, and faithful in our worship.