Messages

BEING AND DOING GOOD

Scripture: Acts 10:38

The word good is used in many different ways. The words - good and goodness are used 619 times in the Bible.

Eph 1: 8 -10 We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

Titus 1:5-18, v8  Elder - one who loves what is good.

Titus 1:10-16, v16  mere talkers and unfit for doing anything good

Titus 2: 1-5, v3 - Elder women being a model, who teach what is good

Who? V5 - So that no one will malign the word of God

Titus 2:6-8, v7 - Set them an example be doing what is good

Titus 2:11-14, v14 - People who are eager to do what is good

Titus 3: 1-8, v1 - Be ready to do whatever is good

Titus 3:8,14 - Be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

A. WHAT IS GOOD LIFE

• Looking Good – Means different things to different peope

• Feeling Good – Those who pursue pleasure

• Having goods? Materialism and Commercialism, Luke 12:15

Good life is a life filled with goodness, being good and doing good. Goodness is doing the right thing in the right way for the right reasons.

Goodness captures Gods’ eyes – And God saw it was good.

When we are doing good and being good, we will feel good about ourselves because we are doing what God created us to do. Lasting self-esteem is the ultimate result.

B. WE ARE NOT NATURALLY GOOD

• Only God is naturally good. Mark 10:18, Isa 53:6, Rom 3:23

  Jesus is the only perfect standard of measurement.

• Reasons why we are not naturally good

  - Facts and history (Adam/Eve)

  - Ask the parents – our natural inclination is towards evil.

  - The knowledge of my own heart Jer 13:23, Rom 7

• Phil 2:13 The DESIRE and the POWER to do what is right is a gift from God. Inside-out transformation is a gift from God.

KEYS TO BEING AND DOING GOOD

1. Master your Bibles 2 Tim 3:16,17

   Our values are derived from the world or the Word??

2. Guard your mind Prov 23:7 NJKV

   As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Sin always starts in the mind.

   Eye – lamp Matt 6:22, Think about Phil 4:8

3. Develop convictions Rom 12:9

   Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. If you dont stand for something, you will fall for anything. Dan 1:8, Job31:1                         An opinion is something that you hold;                                                                                                                                         A conviction is something that holds you;                                                                                                                                   An opinion is something you will argue about;                                                                                                                               A conviction is something you will suffer for and if necessary, die for.                                                                                       Goodness is standing for what is right and standing against what is wrong.‘Moved breakers’                                                             1 Pet 2:19 More of Jesus, more the hostility you will face in this world                                                                                             2 Tim 13:3 Not lovers of the good. Terrible times in the last days.

4. Muster the courage to be different 3 John 11

   Be different from the culture around you. No going along to get along. Sometimes goodness means willing to standing alone.

   Dan 3: When you are a person of integrity you are going to go through lots of fire.

   Eg: Thermostat – Controls or sets the standard.

   Thermometer – Registers or reflects the climate

   I Pet 3:11 passionately hate evil and do good.

   Rom 15:14 In the middle of the bad pool, Roman believers are full of goodness.

5. Meet with like minded believers Heb 10:24, 25

   Our fellowship with other believers is designed to encourage us to live good lives in an evil world. No conformation nor isolation but insulation from the world. John 17:15 Live in the world without being of the world.

   Gal 6: 9 – Rewarded