Fruit of the Spirit - Love
Gal 5:22-26
We start our small groups today and most will be using a
theme based on the fruit of the spirit, so I thought I would do a summer series
over the fruit of the spirit and you can use that as some additional discussion
material for your groups.
If you haven’t signed
up for a group, that’s okay, we would love for you to show up anyway. Our main goal is to create Christian
relationships and hopefully grow close enough to share our heart issues that we
wouldn’t normally feel comfortable opening up about. Check your bulletins for group leaders and
locations that work best for you.
There is a story told of a young boy who had a very sick
sister in the hospital. Because of her
sickness, she was going to need a blood transfusion and his blood was a perfect
match. The Doctor asked the young boy if
he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. The boy was quiet for a moment, tears welled
up in his eyes and then bravely said yes.
They get him set up and begin the transfusion to his sister. Towards the end he asked the doctor. “how long will it be before I die?” That’s when it hit the doctor that his
hesitation wasn’t about being hurt, he thought he had to die to help his sister
and was willing to do that.
John 15:12-13 (The Message) This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put
your life on the line for your friends.
The Greek word for love in John is the same Greek word found
in Gal. 5. It is a love demonstrated by
action. It is a love that is willing to
die to save someone else.
PRAYER
I. Fruit
of the Spirit
A.
Acts versus fruit
1.
If you look at these 2 lists there is something
quite interesting that I had missed every other time I have read this passage.
2.
It talks about works or acts of the flesh
a) The
idea is that these are individual acts.
b) They
are varied and not necessarily related to each other.
3.
Fruit of the Spirit is singular.
a) The
definition of Fruit in this passage is: the result of, or the product of the Spirit
b) If
you live by the Spirit, ALL of these things are a part of you.
c) They
are intertwined with each other.
d) They
are the essence of the Spirit living in you.
B.
Contrasts
1.
Paul points out how different these 2 natures
are.
2.
There is a stark contrast between sinful nature,
and our Spirit filled nature.
3.
He says if we are living by the Spirit we won’t
seek to gratify the desires of the flesh.
4.
That alone is an important teaching for
Christians
5.
So many of us fight the desire to dabble in the
desires of the flesh.
6.
It’s a powerful war being waged in us, but we
decide who wins the battles and the war.
7.
For the Spirit to truly guide us, we need to
seek his nature, not the fleshly nature.
II. The
Definition of Love
A.
The Greeks had at least four words for love
1.
Eros a love of sexual nature.
2.
Philio was a love of close friendships
3.
Storge was the love that families have for each
other.
4.
Agape was a love that sought out the best for
others.
a) agape
was the word used in Gal 5
b) It
is the only love that can be accomplished without being based on a emotional
reaction.
B.
The perfect illustration of Agape is found in
God
1.
God loves us not because we are so lovable, but
because he wants to save sinners.
2.
His love binds us to him because he seeks what
is best for US.
3.
As we read in Jn 13 Jesus demonstrated that love
in his great sacrifice.
4.
So if you really want to know what love is, just
look at Jesus Christ.
III. Love in
the Life of the Christian
A.
It is to be the universal motive for all that we
do.
1.
1 Cor 16:14 – Do EVERYTHING in love
2.
God has given us liberty as Christians and love
keeps us from becoming selfish in that liberty.
3.
It’s just like our Nation
4.
We have freedoms that most nations do not, but
our constitution was set in place to keep us from abusing those freedoms.
5.
Agape love looks to the needs of others first.
6.
It’s hard to be selfish when you are thinking of
others.
B.
The Demonstration of love
1.
towards God
a) Keep
his commandments
b) love
our brethren
c) That
is how God wants us to show our love for him.
2.
Towards our brothers
a) Over
and over the Bible tells us to love one another
b) An
aspect of salvation according to Jesus in Matt 24 is showing love to our fellow
man.
c) Scripture
says if we have something against our brother, leave our sacrifice at the altar
and go make things right with him.
d) If
we really love God as we claim we will treat our brothers and sisters in Christ
as best as we can.
e) God
considers true acts of worship as being in a right relationship with our
brother or sister over “doing church”
f) We’re
not used to that kind of thinking. We’ve
been trained that you go to worship service and that’s what God wants more than
anything.
g) He
wants your worship ONLY if your heart is in the right place.
h) That
can’t happen when you have hatred towards someone in your heart.
3.
Towards the non-Christian
a) Gal
6:10 says we are to do good to all people.
b) We
are to do good even to those who hate us!
c) Why?
(1) Because
that is the love that God showed to us.
(2) God loved
us while we were still sinners.
(3) He loved
us when we hated him.
d) We
need to be an extension of his love to man based on our experience of his love
towards us.
IV.Conclusion
A.
If a person demonstrates the fruit of the
spirit, it makes sense to start with love.
1.
Without love the other parts of the spirit seem
unnatural.
2.
It is a reflection of the love God had for each
of us.
3.
1 Thess 3:12 May the Lord make your love
increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does
for you. (NIV)