Summer Fruit, Week 6: Goodness

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT) Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT) Goodness  = Upright in heart and life If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 (NIV)  Good THOUGHTS Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) God's fruit of GOODNESS in your life will first be produced in your THOUGHT life. If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! Proverbs 11:27 (NIV) How you SEE your life... starts with how you THINK about your life. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 (NLT) Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV) Good WORDS Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Matthew 12:33-35 (NIV) …For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Matthew 12:33-35 (NIV) A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Matthew 12:33-35 (NIV) The condition of your heart will always be revealed in the fruit of your tongue. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) The Freedom of Speech does NOT apply to Christians.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Good WORKS  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) …the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NLT) God's WORKS will reveal themselves as you HUMBLY walk in GOD'S WAYS.  And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT) A Good STORY Your story thus far is not final and your story to come is not written. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God's absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us… Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP) …let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us… Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)  …[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith… Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  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. Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)