Wow!! What a day today. This morning my neighbor and I went to the simulcast at one of the local churches to hear Beth Moore speak. We had no idea what she was speaking on. Were we in for a surprise! Memory verse for the session is Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Oh man, Proverbs 31 and boy that tells us from the beginning that we're going to be convicted. We're talking about the perfect woman!! We all fall short there...lol. There are two reasons why we are studying the law of kindness.
1. Why we need kindness on our tongues
a. Exhibit A: It’s becoming a meaner world 2 Tim 3 - people will be more proud, abusive...
b. Exihibit B: "She openeth her mouth"
i. When Jesus came back from the dead he appeared to women cause he wanted to get the word out.
ii. We are all publishers (tweets/emails/fb). We need God as an editor
1. Eat it before we tweet it, good look it before we Facebook it, flog it before we blog it
2. 8 Tastes of Biblical Kindness
a. Kindness is NOT weakness
i. Luke 6:35-36 “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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
1. If you haven't found anyone in the past 2 weeks that is difficult to be kind to then you are either not kind enough or not getting out.
2. Nice comes from latin word nescius meaning ignorant - from nescire meant not to know
a. Old way of thinking: if you can be that nice you must be an idiot
3. Nice is fine but kindness is divine
b. Kindness is NOT an action it is a disposition
i. Kind - comes from the Greek word chrestos (profitable, fit, good for any use...good natured)
ii. You can fake Nice you can’t fake Kindness
c. Kindness wears down when we do
i. Daniel 7:25
ii. What is that one relationship that wears you down? It is the relationship that is a continual challenge. Good place to start.
iii. Matt 11:28-30 - WBC translation “My yoke is KIND”
1. God knows when you are worn down!!
iv. Things that can wear us down -
1. 2 Tim 2:24 - Resentment
2. Gen 37:4 - Hate
v. When I am worn down we need to built up.
1. Often the biblical examples of being built up in the spirit are in the context of the body of Christ. It is the contact of Christian brothers/sisters.
a. Not just church, also a handful of close believers
2. Eph 4:12 - so that the body of Christ may be built up
3. Eph 4:16 - the whole bold and builds itself up in love
4. Eph 4:29 - do not let any unwholesome talk come out... but that which builds up
vi. Beth shared a great example of using daily accountability texts with a friend to report on her “problem relationship” and be accountable.
d. Kindness looks pain in the face
i. When we see pain/suffering if we have kindness we will LOOK
ii. We are surrounded by people in pain. Open our eyes, look them in the face, don’t look away.
e. Kindness is a Savior!
i. Don’t get so caught up in a virtual reality that we forget that there are real people with real problems that need us in a real way.
ii. Titus 3:3-8 - “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy...But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...because of his mercy.”
1. God is the ultimate philanthropist.
a. Our culture is trying to take God out of social philanthropy. He is the author of loving mankind.
2. Titus 3:4 - “when the kindness and love of our God appeared”
a. Appear come from Greek word epiphaino... epiphany. Literally His love and kindness was wrapped in the appearance of the person of Jesus Christ.
b. Titus 2:13 - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
c. The apostles/believers did not lay down their lives for someone they “thought” was Jesus Christ, they knew.
3. He saved us - not denominations, not family, not works. His mercy given freely.
iii. You are never called to be the Savior
1. We are called to help, aid, and love but there is already a Savior provided. Do not be burdened... we are just pointers to the light.
2. Kindness cannot mean that I become any one's everything. It’s hard being God when you’re not one.
f. Kindness has good memory
i. Psalm 106:7 When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles;they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
1. When we have gotten away from the law of kindness it is because we have forgot that God has been good (kind) to us.
2. Great analogy about a dog getting excited for going for a walk by grabbing on leash. Our cord to God is love & kindness and we should be excited to be clipped on and led by God.
a. Even when we let go he doesn’t!
g. Kindness craves an outlet
i. When we have an acute awareness of God’s kindness to us we are bursting to share it.
1. 2 Sam 9:1 - David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
a. He needed to show it
2. There is always someone around you in need of YOUR kindness.
h. Kindness leaves a legacy
i. Acts 28:1-2
1. Unusual kindness- 83% of ppl on Malta give to charities
ii. All it takes is 1 generation to fall on their knees and surrender to God to affect entire future generations
1. Is it worth it to do whatever you have to do to leave a legacy of kindness on your family.
iii. Nothing has the authority to take control over you when you are under the yoke of Christ.
These were the notes taken and I wanted to share to see if anyone else could benefit from such a great study.
