What kind of God is He?

Galatians 5:22  (NKJV)

...the fruit of the Spirit is love...

The more full of the Holy Spirit that we are... 

We are quick to repent. 

Quick to forgive. 

Quick to yield. 

1 Thessalonians 5:19  (NLT)

19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

We must be more aware of the Holy Spirit, and be quick to yield. 

To yield, means to act on the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit.

We must not ignore, or push Him away.  We must respond quickly. 

We can progressively know the Holy Spirit.

Watch what happens when we obey.

  

Watch what happens when we disobey.  

1 John 4:1  (NKJV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, 

Ask "is this prompting God or not?"

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29, Zechariah 12:10). 

Which means that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Kindness. 

Galatians 5:22  (NLT)

... the Holy Spirit produces... kindness.

It means to bend over or stoop down in kindness to help someone.

   

It means to benefit freely in kindness.

There is no charge or strings. 

Romans 5:1-2 (CEV)

5 By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. 

2 Christ has also introduced us to God’s undeserved  kindness  on which we take our stand. 

So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God.

Romans 5:15-18 (CEV)

15 But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam’s sin. 

That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God’s gift of kindness to many people.

16 There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. 

But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times.

17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. 

God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.

18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life.

Exodus 34:6  (CEV)

6 Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, “I am the Lord God. 

(This is God telling us who He is).

I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted.

Anyone who isn't kind and merciful isn't following the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 86:15  (CEV)

¹⁵ But you, the Lord God,
    are kind and merciful.

You don’t easily get angry,
    and your love
    can always be trusted.

Psalm 103:8-13  (CEV)

⁸ The Lord is merciful!

He is kind and patient,
    and his love never fails.

⁹ The Lord won’t always be angry
    and point out our sins;

¹⁰     he doesn’t punish us
    as our sins deserve.

¹¹ How great is God’s love for all
    who worship him?

    Greater than the distance
    between heaven and earth!

¹² How far has the Lord taken
    our sins from us?

    Farther than the distance
    from east to west!

¹³ Just as parents are kind
    to their children,

the Lord is kind
    to all who worship him,

Those who are following the Holy Spirit are like this... 

Psalm 112:4  (CEV)

⁴ They will be so kind
    and merciful and good,

that they will be a light
in the dark
    for others
    who do the right thing.

 

Psalm 116:5  (CEV)

5 You are kind, Lord,
    so good and merciful.

Psalm 145:8-9  (CEV)

8 You are merciful, Lord!

    You are kind and patient
    and always loving.

9 You are good to everyone,
    and you take care
    of all your creation.

If there is anything that the devil will lie to you about, it's this...

  

God is good!

Exodus 22:25-27  (CEV)

25 Don’t charge interest when you lend money to any of my people who are in need. 

26 Before sunset you must return any coat taken as security for a loan, 

27 because that is the only cover the poor have when they sleep at night. 

I am a merciful God, and when they call out to me, I will come to help them.

This was recorded in the Law by Moses.

God is merciful. 

2 Corinthians 8:9  (CEV)

9 You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor, so that you could become rich.

We've got to discern what He did as our example from what He did as our substitute. 

Jesus took our sins not so we could be in sin.  

He carried our sicknesses not so we could be sick.  

Galatians 3:13  (CEV)

13 But Christ rescued us from the Law’s curse, when he became a curse in our place. 

This is because the Scriptures say that anyone who is nailed to a tree is under a curse (like Jesus was for us).

Jesus was rich in heaven, but He was willing to stoop down, so that we could be rich with Him in heaven.  

2 Corinthians 8:9  (CEV)

9 You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor, so that you could become rich.

It's not having a dollar amount that makes us rich.  It's having excess even here on earth, so we can help others. 

Luke 9:52-56  (NKJV)

52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 

54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them,just as Elijah did?”

55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 

56 For the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” 

And they went to another village.

James and John had a Scripture to support their position to destroy the city.  

They were corrected with a stern tone by Jesus. 

You can quote Scripture, and do it with a wrong spirit...Harsh, Judgmental, Proud. 

    

James and John were being lead by their pride and not bu the Holy Spirit.  

Matthew 20:21-24 (CEV)

21 Jesus asked her (James and John's mother) what she wanted, and she said, 

“When you come into your kingdom, please let one of my sons sit at your right side and the other at your left.”

22 Jesus answered, “Not one of you knows what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from?”

James and John said, “Yes, we are!”

23 Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from my cup! But it isn’t for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for my Father to say.”

24 When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called the disciples together and said:

You know that foreign rulers like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over everyone they rule. 

26 But don’t act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.

 27 And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. 

28 The Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.

The spirit of the world is wanting to be in control by force if necessary.   

The Holy Spirit is not going to make you do anything.  

He does not pressure or push until you do it.  

Satan is a controller.  He is a murderer and a killer.  

If you are upset and hurt, you are now in the flesh when you try to force. 

Jesus is not the good cowboy.  He doesn't drive the herd.

He is the good shepherd who leads His flock with His voice.  

We must not make anyone do anything!  

He will not even force Himself upon you to save you! 

If God was going to force anyone to do anything, He would make people be saved, but He does not. 

  

Don't yield to pressure.  That's not the Holy Spirit!

Psalm 16:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

⁸ I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Psalm 32:8-10 (NKJV)

⁸ I (God) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye.

⁹ Do not be like the horse or like the mule,

Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,

Else they will not come near you.

¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;

But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

Acts 9:5  (NKJV)

5 And he (Paul) said, 

“Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, 

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Paul was like that mule or horse that resisted.  

The Holy Spirit will not force, but He will nudge.  

Paul was resisting what God wanted Him to do, but Paul was trying to destroy His Church. 

My resisting days are done!  

I will not resist, stifle, or quench the Holy Spirit.  

He doesn't have to yell it.  He's inside me.  He's right there.  

The Holy Spirit will not scream at you.

The Spirit of Grace does not of push.

He has a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12).  

He is the Spirit of Peace.  

He does not press you and demand of you.  

He is kind.  

Psalm 23  (CEV)

 

You, Lord, are my shepherd.

    I will never be in need.

2     You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.

You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3     and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
    and you lead me
    along the right paths.

4 I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.

You are with me,
    and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.

You honor me as your guest,
    and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.

6 Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
    and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30  (CEV)

²⁸ If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me (Jesus) and I will give you rest. 

²⁹ Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. 

I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 

³⁰ This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Keith Moore, Faith Life Church 

https://flcmedia.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/productvideo/1015-InTheSpirit-08-TheSpiritOfGrace-HD.mp4