The Attractive Quality Of Kindness – Dr. Charles Stanley

[Music] kindness is a very very christ-like characteristic and you don't hear much about kindness but the Apostle Paul says it's the fruit of the Spirit that is when the Holy Spirit is free in you and me to live out what God intends for him to live out in those kindness is going to be one of them [Music] four decades ago we started in touch ministries to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ throughout the years we've seen God's greatness his love and his blessings in such awesome ways that we just want everyone to know him so let's open God's Word and seek Him the yellow mak'st on InTouch the attractive quality of kindness that you consider yourself a kind person think about at a moment you a kind person you're friendly you're generous you're patient you're easygoing your warm-hearted thoughtful and you're just fun to be with you may be thinking no I'm not but I like to meet somebody like that okay but I want you to think about this I kind the person is the person who stands out in the crowd they may not be the one who talks the most but there's something about a kind person it's sort of a built-in attraction it's just there and when a person's kind it not only shows in their face but naturally most of all in their actions and when I think about that now think about the characteristics of it it's very evident that it's of the Holy Spirit because Paul says in this fifth chapter of Galatians but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience we've talked about all of those and then kindness goodness and gentleness are two other traits but I'm gonna leave those with kindness because if you a gentle you're gonna be kind if you're good you're gonna be kind and so for other than take a whole message and each one of those I want to talk about kindness and goodness and gentleness and so when you think about kindness what comes to your mind would you consider yourself a kind person and maybe you wouldn't maybe you wouldn't but also he says and this is one of my favorite verses about kindness in the fourth chapter of Ephesians the 32nd verse says listen be kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving each other just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you be kind one to another and then Paul says in Colossians the third chapter put on a heart of kindness that is it's our responsibility as a child of God to be kind and we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is the source of our kindness so the natural outflow in your life in mind should be to those around us that have kindness and all these characteristics think we mentioned friendly generous patience easygoing thoughtful warm-hearted and ask yourself the question would that be true of me when your children see you is kind your husband or wife say you is kind they may say well a lot of characteristics but kindness isn't one of them kindness is a very very christ-like characteristic and you don't hear much about kindness but the Apostle Paul says it's the fruit of the Spirit that is when the Holy Spirit is free in you and me to live out what God intends for him to live out in those kindness is gonna be one of them we're going to be thoughtful of others and mines gonna be upon them and when I think about that I think about the first lesson I ever learned about kindness wasn't a very good one but my mom was going to town on afternoon when I was just probably seven eight or something like that and she would let me go with her and I didn't like it and I said something to her she was on the way out she'd been walked down the steps and I was on the porch and I said something to her that was not very kind and I was ashamed of myself and I said didn't know I shouldn't have said it I wanted to go she wouldn't let me and so here's what she did she turned around she said Charles the Bible says be kind to one another I've never forgotten it because he went straight to my heart I've never forgotten the sound of her voice Charles the Bible says be kind to one another kindness is a natural normal trait of a believer especially one who is living in the Spirit of God and so you ask yourself the question would that be true of you and if you're thinking about it kindness is a built-in attraction to a child of God because Christ is our life living within us and living through us kindness therefore a person who's kind not only those certain things but they automatically there's something inside of them that's always sensitive to somebody who needs kindness or in some way you can express kindness it may be something you say it well verbally and maybe something you do as far as some action is concerned but kindness is a natural trait of a child of God be kind one thought another tender-hearted he says forgiving one another even as God in Christ has forgiven us and Jesus was certainly kind in his day he said why do you think he's so kind I'll tell you one reason bartimaeus a poor blonde a young they brought him to Jesus here's what he said to him he didn't say to him what happened here why are you sitting on how I said why are you begging you know why don't you know he said what a mess what would you like for me to do to you and he said Lord that I may receive my sight and he gave him his sight but kindness is a trait that should be true of every single one of us and if you'll think about it there is no reason not to be kind the fruit of the Spirit which says because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you you have the capacity to be kind to people no matter what if you think for a moment time listener in Titus chapter 3 because our salvation is an act of God's kindness so listen to what he says beginning in verse 4 but when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared he saved us not on the basis of our deeds which we've done in righteousness but according to his mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit whom he poured out upon us richly through the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior that is one of the exper the Holy Spirit in our life is to be kind so if somebody says that you feel the spirit you say yes then they have a right to expect you to be kind now that doesn't mean being kind in every single situation and being like a like a teddy bear no kindness is also strong because kindness responds kindly even in difficult situations and so ask yourself the question would you be considered kind and then for example in Romans chapter 2 look at there's a chapter two and look if you will this 4th verse he says speaking of kindness chapter 2 verse 4 he says do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness that is he says the riches of God's kindness which means he's very kind to us and think about this God is kind of wicked to the wicked people he could strike him dead the moment if he wanted to God is always kind he's kind he's strong he's deliberate he's holy and righteous but he is also kind and the truth is none of us probably would be saved if God were not kind he's kind he's thoughtful all these characteristics do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance that is we repent of our sins because of God's goodness and kindness and love and forgiveness and all the rest that goes with it all the fruits of the spirit so would you consider yourself a kind person if you live with somebody who's unkind you live with a burden you live with someone who mistreat you since ugly things to you does all the things that unkindness would do that's very very difficult and what's more difficult is that you remain kind in the circumstance where a kindest and that's not seen anywhere else it's very difficult and I'll tell you something else God rewards our kindness he rewards our kind and the more difficult situation you live in and you're kind God will reward you for your kindness I will watch that happen over and over and over again so somebody says well what about when people mistreat you and and say terrible things about you have to defend yourself not necessarily and I'll tell you something else an act of kindness sometimes is that most is the strongest defense you can have when somebody just tells you off and lets you have it and you just stand there what I've discovered is this they do not know what to do with kindness and I remember one time that happened to me somebody just telling me off and accusing me of something that was absolutely ridiculous and I knew how ridiculous it was so I just did then said mm-hmm mm-hmm and then when they finished I said is there anything else down they went I mean you can't you can't fight kindness how do you fight kindness you can't fight it it's a conquering element of a character to be kind when someone is very unkind to you kindness is not an excuse for letting people get by with whatever it may be it's a strong vibrant godly trait to be kind so we don't have any excuse for not being kind and so let's think about the some expressions of kindness that goddess has expressed on us well the first one is he prone to some ro sin not a single one of us can brag about anything we've ever done to gain redemption so he pardons our sins the second way he expresses kindness is he he provides for our needs you just think about how often you've been needing in your life whatever it might be whether it's emotion if physically materially and what happens God and his gentleness - goodness what does he do he provides for you need that's who he is he provides herself a she provides a needs then he protects us oftentimes in times of danger how many times we've been in situations in circumstances and God reaches down to protect us or our children whoever it may be in times when we desperately need him and often think about this we don't even realize how often he's being kind to us we don't know who's plotting against us in your job for example to take your position or whatever it might be or in your home or whatever it might be and yet God is being kind of oftentimes that sends you a signal to watch out whatever it might be and then think about this every answered prayers an act of kindness on the part of God none of us would say Lord I want you to answer my prayer because I've done this and so I want you to answer my prayer because I deserve this another one's can make an boast of that he answers our prayers as an act of pure kindness to us what have we ever done and done enough to merit God's kindness toward us nothing no matter what we do and if you'll think about he reach that when you're not living in sin and he forgave us of our sins he brought our name in the Lamb's Book of Life we have the gift of eternal life which no one can take from us you talk about a gift of kindness that is awesome kindness a gift listen remember he saved you in me knowing we weren't always going to obey Him he saved us knowing that sometimes we get out of his will he saved us knowing that sometimes we wouldn't act very godly he saved us sometimes we be selfish sometimes we be prideful sometimes we'd be arrogant sometimes we just wouldn't be fit to live with and what did he do he saved us and watch this he not only saved us but he reached out to put his divine supernatural awesome loving hand upon us to keep us until the last moment of our life when he takes his home to himself that is unbelievable kindness that's who he is then likewise look at the promises he's kept every promise of God has made to his children he will keep every single one of them once you have the give to eternal life that's a promise you'll always keep no matter what you do but you'll pay the penalty of disobedience even though you're a child of God that is when you God makes him promise he's gonna keep it that you may be in a situation where you think well if God kept his promises he even allowed me to be in this it may be that you've stepped into something out of his will and what's God doing he's keeping his promise I can't keep his promise and cause me to hurt like this because he made a promise he promised that he chastises us out of love when we disobey Him what is he doing he's keeping this promise you can't ever come to a place in life where God does not keep his promise and so people go through very very difficult hardships in life oftentimes because they didn't keep his word didn't obey him and so what is he doing here's what he's doing you reap what you sow more than you so later than yourself you say well what about a promise what is a promise if you are sewing wonderful seed you love that right if you disobey him you don't love it but it's just God keeping his promise it's God being kind if he did not do that you and I would never know where we are with him he's kind no matter what the soul that sinneth it shall die is an awesome awesome warning of God but it's a warning it's not a warning because he hates it's a warning because he loves he's kind to us he wants us to tell us ahead of time what's going to happen if we don't repent of our sin you can't ever accuse god of being unkind about anything that legitimately there once in awhile someone will say well if God was kind he would never let this happen in life we've all got those kind of things but the truth is he's keeping his word so I'll ask you discretion would you want a god if you could would you want to have a God who it does what he says most of the time sometimes but every once in a while he doesn't you want that kind of God no we want a God who is absolutely true all the time because he is true now it may not fall under your category of kindness we all probably have our category at what kindness is and then we have a category what God's kindness is that's always true but he's always kind and when we bring difficulty upon ourselves it's because we have disobeyed the great giver of kindness who wants the best for us then of course he's personally involved in our life think about this not only did he save you but he sent you the Holy Spirit to be personally involved in every single area of your life you told me the gift of kindness listen he's there with the UNR obedient or not he wants to express khandhas he loves expressing kindness now what do you think what happened if you disobeyed God and all of us have you disobeyed God and said he said well nobody's perfect well forget that you know what it would do it would unseat your faith in God because you were never know exactly where you are if he let you get by with something but kindness involves truthfulness it involves discipline it involves instruction it involves slugs that involves gentleness kindness it involves lots of things and so all of this is part of it and then of course his promise of presence with us listen this I'll never leave you nor forsake you is that kindness or is it not now it's one thing for somebody else to say that but for God to say to you I will never leave you nor forsake you period he didn't say except if and but when except to know I'll never leave you nor forsake you God's kindness is absolutely indescribable but it's also a feel about and it's also enjoyable and it's also true in our life the kindness of God so I would simply say that our lifestyle should be an expression of kindness of God now I want to give you several scriptures you can jot them down proverbs 19 22 says what is desirable in the man is kindness that's proverbs what is that what is desirable in the man that is kindness now what does the world say muscular strong handsome rich loveable and all the bunch of stuff that the world has the Bible says what's desirable in the man is kindness listen proverbs 3 3 don't let kindness and truth leave you bind them about your neck write them on the tablet of your heart keep it close in your thinking in actions listen to that don't let kindness and truth leave you bind them about your neck not your ankle not your knee why does he bind them about your neck get them as close as he possibly can in other words make this first bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart that is it's not enough to know about kindness write it on your heart it's got to be a part of you keep it close thinking and in action Zechariah chapter 7 verse 9 listen practice kindness and compassion to one another preface it now I'm glad he said practice it because sometimes time this has to be practice and sometimes you may have a very difficult time with the person you're married to your children or whatever and you've not been very kind you're sitting here thinking well who told him about me nobody everybody goes through those periods at some point in their life I'm not being kind probably but what's our responsibility the watch their son the Bible doesn't make any mistakes he didn't just say become practice kindness wouldn't you say at your house maybe the times you've had to practice it practice kindness because it doesn't always come easy and then he says in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 3 tasting the kindness of the Lord which simply means experiencing it do you experience the kindness of God do you now since his recent readers had tasted or experienced the goodness and grace of God he wants to make it very very clear that you and not realize it to be a part of our life and if anybody should design any quality in life I would place kindness right close to the top now if you're not kind let me tell you how you ought to feel very convicted very much ashamed of yourself you ought to feel like going home and confessing to your family that you've not been the kind dad or son or daughter or mother that you ought to be and that you're asking God to forgive you and you're asking them to forgive you and with their help you want to start being the kind husband father wife daughter sister maybe you want to be the kind of person God made you to be now you say oh that's not necessary no it's necessary but it takes a man to do it it takes a real woman today to say you know I've not been kind to you especially if they've mistreated you to say I just I just want you to know I want I haven't been this kind of style to be and I want I want to be if you help me to be I want to be kind kindness to change your family if change your working location it can change your friendships it can change the people you mix well kindness is a gift from God provided by the Holy Spirit and we are the channels through which Almighty God speaks kindness to those we live with those are our friends strangers wherever it might be kindness that one thing you cannot say I don't know how to be kind yes you do just do the thing that's proper from God's viewpoint you would change your family what's this it only takes one person and if it to change the whole family you change the atmosphere where you work they will know what happened you change the atmosphere you change the atmosphere around your dinner table at night you change all the commotion early in the morning when everybody's getting ready to go to ten different places and you're trying to fix breakfast kindness changes everything if you've never trusted Christ as your Savior that's not gonna work because you see he gives the gift of kindness to those who are his children those who've trusted him so I want to encourage you to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin your lack of kindness all the things you've said and done hurting people around you whether it's in your home or York or what you play asking God to so change your life that when they see you they will know that something has transpired in your life you're not the same person because God is now expressing kindness for you father we love you and praise you and thank you for God listen we could never fully comprehend and when we look at the cross we see the most power unforgettable eternal example of a kindness when we didn't deserve it you loved us anyway and I pray the Holy Spirit has spoken to every single person here today my heart every heart to examine are we really kind in our actions do we show it for the examine their hearts do we express kindness in difficult situations hardships trials suffering rejection hurt pain shows that we have the Holy Spirit within us who will enable us even in the midst of being blistered by someone else we can act kindly in forgiveness toward them you have been so kind to us show us how to be kind to everybody we meet we love you Father we love you for your kindness told us that you saved us and we bless your holy name this morning amen if you've been blessed by today's program please visit us at intouch.org e [Music] in touch leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthening the local church this program is sponsored by in touch ministries and is made possible by the grace of God and your faithful prayers and gifts

Channel: In Touch Ministries

Views: 265,689

Rating: 4.8730674 out of 5

Keywords: Charles F. Stanley, Charles Stanley, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries, Preaching, Bible teaching, Dr. Stanley, Intouch ministries, intouch

Id: tdRiV-ENXyA

Length: 27min 2sec (1622 seconds)

Published: Fri Nov 02 2018