Church 2/3/2024
Offertory scripture:
Offering is a continuation of worshiping God. It’s a form of worship.
1 Samuel 2:30
Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
God is obligated to His Word. When you do what He says, when you do His will, He is obligated to do His end as His Word says (see both the above passage and the below passage):
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Sermon message:
Thesis: God rewards kindness.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God diligently rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Last week we focused on God rewarding humility.
Tonight the focus is kindness. Kindness is God’s way, just like humility
Kindness by definition is the quality of being friendly, generous, considerate, and compassionate. It’s also one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
There’s the fruit of the Spirit. And then there’s the works of the flesh. There’s a battle inside us. Or we going to sow to the flesh or to the Spirit?
Below are examples of the works of the flesh:
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:30-31
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
You could have the Holy Spirit in you and still grieve Him, by not allowing Him to rule in your life.
Kindness is not optional when it comes to doing the things of God. It’s a command by God to do this.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Reminder: God’s commandments are designed to help us and not to hurt us.
Kindness and unkindness are both seeds.
Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
You will reap what you sow.
If you sow to the flesh you’ll reap destruction.
But if you sow to the Holy Spirit you’ll reap everlasting life.
Eventually the seed grows.
Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
- Focus verse to apply to oneself:
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Grace is a free gift. Yes someone may have messed up, but we give them grace and forgiveness.
When you are kind to others:
Point #1: You position yourself to be blessed by God.
Consider Rahab. (Hebrews 11:31)
Consider Cornelius a Gentile to help the Jews (Apostle Peter, etc) (Acts 10)
Point #2: You may be used to bring a miracle into their lives.
Consider the little boy at the feeding of the 5,000. (John 6:1-14)
Point #3: You may help someone choose to be kind.
Consider Zaccheus. (Luke 19:1-10)
Point #4: You will get God’s attention.
Consider the woman with the alabaster jar and anoints Jesus with its oil. (Mark 14:3-9)
Point #5: You increase your ability to hear God.
The kindest thing God ever did was give us His Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus laid down His life for us. And it’s important to know where we will be going when we die.
