GOODNESS MAY 22, 2016 SCOTT FINE

Major premises of this series 1) THE KEY TO YOUR EFFECTIVENESS IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSON

Major premises of this series 1) THE KEY TO YOUR EFFECTIVENESS IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSON 2) THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSON IS DETERMINED BY HOW MUCH YOU GROW TO BE LIKE JESUS

II Peter 1:3-4 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

II Peter 1:8-9 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

The Primary Key to Effective Living is to keep Growing in Christ.

II Peter 1:5-7 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith -- goodness; and to goodness, -- knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, -- self-control; and to self-control, -- perseverance; and to perseverance, -- godliness; 7 and to godliness, -- mutual affection; and to mutual affection, -- love.. make every effort Refers to diligence, earnestness, applying oneself, going after it.

WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN US TO HELP US BE EFFECTIVE The knowledge of Him (personal and experiential) A calling into relationship (a right relationship with God) His great and precious promises (found in God s Word) A Divine nature (the Holy Spirit in us) A Pass (a way) out of corruption and evil

Galatians 6:7-10 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Faith is God s gift to you, what you do with your faith is your gift to God.

Supply---Goodness /Moral Excellence Courage to do the right thing Energy to do your best Purity of heart that sees life from God s perspective

Supply---Goodness /Moral Excellence Courage to do the right thing

Inside-Outside Connection Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Jeremiah 31:33 "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Goodness Is doing the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons!

Psalm 119:30-32 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Proverbs 1 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Luke 6 (NLT) 37 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Luke 6:41-42 (NLT) 41 And why worry about a speck in your friend s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend s eye.

C.S. Lewis-The Abolition of Man In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst

Joseph-a man with a chest Genesis 39:8-10 8 But he refused. With me in charge, he told her, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

Next Step I am asking God to build into my faith in Jesus the moral strength by the power of God s Spirit. to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons.

GOODNESS MAY 22, 2016 SCOTT FINE