HOLY SPIRIT (Part 15)
The kindness and goodness of God:
– Question:
What are some words you would use to describe God?
– Holy – Awesome – Faithful – Loving
– Forgiving – Omnipotent – Omnipresent – Omniscient
– Truthful – Merciful – Good – Kind
– Kindness:
The Greek word is “chrestotes” (means “tender concern for others”).
– God’s kindness shown:
– (Genesis 16:1-15)
– (verse 1)
Sarah had a problem: she was childless and apparently barren.
– (verses 2-4)
Sarah tried to solve her problem, the wrong way.
– (verses 4-5)
Now Sarah had more problems:
– Hagar despised her.
Question:
Why did she despise Sarah?
– Sarah was mad at her husband.
Question:
Why was she mad at Abraham?
– Because he did what she asked him to do.
– (verse 6)
Sarah caused Hagar to leave by mistreating her.
Question:
How do you think Abraham felt about Hagar’s leaving?
– (verses 7-14)
The angel told Hagar to return, and made some promises.
– (verse 15)
Hagar bore Abraham’s son and named him Ishmael.
– (Genesis 17:5, 15-20)
– (verse 5)
Abram’s name was changed to Abraham.
– (verse 15)
Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah.
– (verse 16)
God promises Sarah a son.
– (verse 19)
Sarah is to name her new son, Issac.
– (verse 20)
Ishmael will be blessed.
– (Genesis 21:1-20)
– (verses 1-7)
In spite of her sin, God fixed Sarah’s problem
(she bore her own son, Issac).
– (verses 8-10)
Sarah was upset
with the son Hagar bore and wanted him to leave.
– (verse 11)
Abraham was upset
because Ishmael was his son (conceived with Hagar).
Question:
Do you think he was also distressed over Hagar’s leaving?
– (verses 12-13)
God instructed Abraham to let them go,
and He made promises to Abraham.
– (verse 14)
Abraham sent them on their way.
Question:
What do you think he said to them?
– (verses 15-16)
Hagar was heartbroken over the pending death of her son.
– (verses 17-20)
We see God’s kindness.
– (Deuteronomy 7:6-9)
God’s affection expressed.
– (Isaiah 49:14-16)
God assures that He will not forget us.
Question:
Have you ever had times when you felt God had forgotten you?
Question:
If so, how did you react?
– (Zephaniah 3:14-17)
We see the tender heart and nurturing Spirit of God.
– (verse 17) Look at His calming Spirit.
– (Hosea 11:1-4)
We see God’s kindness in caring for us (even when we are rebellious).
– (1 John 3:1)
God’s loving kindness.
– Christ’s tenderness toward children:
– (Matthew 18:1-9)
– (verse 2)
Jesus points to the child in their presence.
Note:
(Mark 9:36) He took the children in His arms.
– (verse 6)
Look at the seriousness of causing a child to sin.
– (Matthew 19:13-15)
Question:
Why do you think the disciples rebuked those bringing the children?
Not only did Jesus allow them to come, but He touched them.
Question:
Wonder why?
– Christ’s tenderness toward Israel:
– (Matthew 23:37-39)
Christ wanted to protect Israel from future pain, persecution, and separation.
He had a warm place for them at His side,
but they refused His tender heart and nurturing Spirit.
Note:
He has a tenderness for us as well
(we need to accept and not refuse His tenderness).
– Christ’s tenderness toward the individual:
– (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
After His death, burial, and resurrection, Christ appeared to many.
– (John 20:1-18)
Question:
Why did Jesus appear to Mary Magdalene first?
– Tenderhearted, but why?
– Look at how upset Mary was at His disappearance.
Question:
Why?
– (Mark 16:9)
Jesus had driven seven demons out of Mary.
– (Mark 15:40-41)
Mary had cared for His needs.
– (Mark 15:46-47)
Mary followed Him to His death.
Note:
She owed her life (and probably her sanity) to Jesus.
He had delivered her from demon control.
After her deliverance, she devoted her entire existence to Jesus.
She did not deny herself from the pain of watching Him die.
She left only after the stone was rolled into place.
She missed Jesus.
Note:
Now we see His tenderheartedness in appearing to Mary.
– (John 20:24-31)
Question:
Why is His appearing to Thomas considered tenderhearted?
– (John 11:14-16)
Thomas was ready to die with Jesus.
Note:
Obviously he misunderstood what Jesus meant.
Note:
Thomas never doubted that Jesus would die,
but he doubted the most important event – that He
would rise from the dead and live again.
– (1 Corinthians 15:7) Jesus appears to James.
– (1 Corinthians 15:5-7)
James was not one of the twelve.
– (Matthew 13:55)
More than likely James was His brother.
Note:
The Bible usually lists names of children in their birth order.
In this case,
James would have been the son of Mary immediately after Jesus.
Question:
Why is this significant?
– Jesus and James probably formed a special bond
before the other brothers were born.
– (John 7:1-5)
The brothers of Jesus did not believe Him
(they probably did not believe He would be resurrected).
– It seems Jesus appeared to James because He was tenderhearted
and He loved James (due to their brotherly bond and love,
Jesus knew the pain James felt in the loss of his older brother).
BREAD FOR BELIEVERS 
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