The Fruit of the SpiritThe Fruit of the SpiritPart II: Love, Joy, PeacePart II: Love, Joy, Peace

Galatians 5:22-24Galatians 5:22-24

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The Fruit of the Spirit is the effect or The Fruit of the Spirit is the effect or result of our being filled with the result of our being filled with the Spirit. Spirit. – When a tree is filled with proper When a tree is filled with proper

nutrients the result is good fruit.nutrients the result is good fruit.– Ps. 1:1-3Ps. 1:1-3

In like manner, we will bear this fruit In like manner, we will bear this fruit when we are filled with the Spiritwhen we are filled with the Spirit

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To be filled with the Spirit is not To be filled with the Spirit is not emotionalism, nor is it a mystical feeling. emotionalism, nor is it a mystical feeling.

Rather, as the word of God is given to us Rather, as the word of God is given to us by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-12), so we are by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-12), so we are filled with the Spirit when we fill filled with the Spirit when we fill ourselves up with that word. ourselves up with that word.

We do so by filling up our minds the We do so by filling up our minds the knowledge of God and applying that knowledge of God and applying that knowledge to the way we live our lives.knowledge to the way we live our lives.

1 Thessalonians 2:131 Thessalonians 2:13

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because whenyou the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also in you who believe.”

received

effectivelywork

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When we receive it by faith it is able to When we receive it by faith it is able to effectively work in us (1 Thess. 2:13)effectively work in us (1 Thess. 2:13)

It is able to transform us as we fill our It is able to transform us as we fill our minds (hearts) with it (Rom. 12:2)minds (hearts) with it (Rom. 12:2)

What is the end result? What is the end result? The Fruit of the Spirit.The Fruit of the Spirit. There is one characteristic that stands There is one characteristic that stands

above the rest…above the rest…

LoveLove

Love is such an integral part of God’s Love is such an integral part of God’s character that we are told, “God is love” (1 character that we are told, “God is love” (1 John 4:16). John 4:16).

Everything He does is out of love.Everything He does is out of love. The commandments and ordinances that The commandments and ordinances that

make up His law are all designed to effect make up His law are all designed to effect that same love in the hearts of His people that same love in the hearts of His people (Matt. 22:37-40). (Matt. 22:37-40).

The greatest evidence that a person is a The greatest evidence that a person is a disciples of Christ is the love he has for his disciples of Christ is the love he has for his brethren (John 13:35). brethren (John 13:35).

LoveLove

It is no wonder, then, that the first It is no wonder, then, that the first characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE.is LOVE.

When we truly fill ourselves with the When we truly fill ourselves with the Spirit of God, the greatest result it will Spirit of God, the greatest result it will have in our lives is love for God and have in our lives is love for God and love for our brethren (see again Matt. love for our brethren (see again Matt. 22:37-40). 22:37-40).

But what is love?But what is love?

LoveLove

Love is: agape—”can be known only Love is: agape—”can be known only from the actions it prompts…seeks from the actions it prompts…seeks the welfare of all, and works no ill the welfare of all, and works no ill toward any…seeks opportunity to do toward any…seeks opportunity to do good to all” (Vine’s). good to all” (Vine’s).

The love of God is seen most of all in The love of God is seen most of all in the sacrifice of His Son for our sins (1 the sacrifice of His Son for our sins (1 John 4:9, 10). John 4:9, 10).

Through God’s example we have the Through God’s example we have the perfect definition of love. perfect definition of love.

LoveLove

That definition is laid out for us in That definition is laid out for us in 1 Cor. 13:4-8a1 Cor. 13:4-8a– Love is (does): Long suffering, kind, Love is (does): Long suffering, kind,

rejoices in the truth, bears all things, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, NEVER FAILS.endures all things, NEVER FAILS.

– Love does not (is not): Envy, parade Love does not (is not): Envy, parade itself, puff up, behave rudely, seek its itself, puff up, behave rudely, seek its own, provoked, think evil, rejoice in own, provoked, think evil, rejoice in iniquity. iniquity.

LoveLove

This is the kind of love every Christian This is the kind of love every Christian must have toward God and toward his must have toward God and toward his fellow man (Matt. 22:37-40).fellow man (Matt. 22:37-40).

If we have love toward God then we If we have love toward God then we will… will… – rejoice in His truth (all truth, not just what rejoice in His truth (all truth, not just what

pleases us), obedient to that truth (John pleases us), obedient to that truth (John 14:15). 14:15).

– Put Him and His will before our own desires Put Him and His will before our own desires (does not seek its own). Matt. 16:24-27.(does not seek its own). Matt. 16:24-27.

LoveLove

If we have love toward men then we If we have love toward men then we will… will… – Put the salvation of their souls above all Put the salvation of their souls above all

else.else.– Rejoice when others come to the truth.Rejoice when others come to the truth.– Put the welfare of others before self. Put the welfare of others before self. – Show humility rather than arrogance. Show humility rather than arrogance. – Make sacrifices for the wellbeing Make sacrifices for the wellbeing

(spiritual and physical) of others. (spiritual and physical) of others.

LoveLove Therefore:Therefore:

– Agape love is not an impulse or feeling. Agape love is not an impulse or feeling. It is not a love that we can just “fall out of.”It is not a love that we can just “fall out of.” It is not based on how others treat us. It is not based on how others treat us.

– It is not controlled by the natural impulses of our It is not controlled by the natural impulses of our many moods and is not bias as to whom it is given.many moods and is not bias as to whom it is given.

– Love is a choice, it is the decision we make to put Love is a choice, it is the decision we make to put others before self.others before self.

– Gal. 5:13, 14: One brother voluntarily serves Gal. 5:13, 14: One brother voluntarily serves another. another.

– This love causes us to do what we need to do, This love causes us to do what we need to do, even when we do not want to or do not feel like it. even when we do not want to or do not feel like it.

LoveLove

God had this love toward us.God had this love toward us. Therefore, when we are filled with His Therefore, when we are filled with His

Spirit it is only natural that we have Spirit it is only natural that we have this love for one another. this love for one another.

““By this we know love, because He By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the ought to lay down our lives for the brethren “brethren “(1 John 3:16). (1 John 3:16).

JoyJoy

When our love is in the right place, then When our love is in the right place, then the natural result is joy.the natural result is joy.– People rejoice in that which they love.People rejoice in that which they love.

i.e. God and His angels love righteousness, therefore i.e. God and His angels love righteousness, therefore they rejoice when sinners repent (Luke 15:10).they rejoice when sinners repent (Luke 15:10).

– When a Christian has the love of God, he will When a Christian has the love of God, he will take joy in the things of God: truth, take joy in the things of God: truth, righteousness, heavenly reward. righteousness, heavenly reward.

– Heb. 12:2: Jesus loves us, therefore His joy is Heb. 12:2: Jesus loves us, therefore His joy is our salvation. He endured the cross for the joy our salvation. He endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. that was set before Him.

JoyJoy

This is important! This is important! – Many Christians serve, but do it Many Christians serve, but do it

grudgingly. These are not filled with the grudgingly. These are not filled with the spirit.spirit.

– Many Christians heed the instruction of Many Christians heed the instruction of God with resentment. These are not God with resentment. These are not filled with the Spirit.filled with the Spirit.

God is not pleased when we give or God is not pleased when we give or serve in this manner (2 Cor. 9:5, 7). serve in this manner (2 Cor. 9:5, 7).

Why?Why?

JoyJoy

If we do not take joy in His ways then If we do not take joy in His ways then we do not have His love in us. we do not have His love in us. – We ought to rejoice in God’s instruction, We ought to rejoice in God’s instruction,

no matter how much we have to change.no matter how much we have to change.– Jesus served us, therefore we ought to Jesus served us, therefore we ought to

rejoice in serving others. rejoice in serving others. – Our joy in the truth will help us endure Our joy in the truth will help us endure

the hardship of contending for that truth. the hardship of contending for that truth. – We will find joy in humility and good We will find joy in humility and good

works rather than boasting (James 3:13-works rather than boasting (James 3:13-18).18).

JoyJoy

Paul had the love of God to such an extent Paul had the love of God to such an extent that he did not hesitate to make sacrifices that he did not hesitate to make sacrifices of himself for the benefit of others. of himself for the benefit of others. – ““And I will very gladly spend and be spent for And I will very gladly spend and be spent for

your souls; though the more abundantly I love your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (2 Cor. 12:15).you, the less I am loved” (2 Cor. 12:15).

– When we are called on to serve, do we find joy When we are called on to serve, do we find joy in the sittuation or are we too concerned with in the sittuation or are we too concerned with how much it is costing us? how much it is costing us?

– The Spirit teaches us that our lives are for The Spirit teaches us that our lives are for service. service.

JoyJoy

This principle can be applied to every This principle can be applied to every situation we face.situation we face.– Suffering? Take joy in eternal life (1 Cor. 15)Suffering? Take joy in eternal life (1 Cor. 15)– Persecution? Take joy in God’s reward (Acts Persecution? Take joy in God’s reward (Acts

5:41)5:41)– Temptation? Take joy in things that are good Temptation? Take joy in things that are good

(Phil. 4:8).(Phil. 4:8).– Sad, down? Rejoice in the salvation and glory Sad, down? Rejoice in the salvation and glory

of God. Turn thoughts away from self by taking of God. Turn thoughts away from self by taking joy in serving others (Mt. 25:21). joy in serving others (Mt. 25:21).

– In doubt? Take joy in the council of the Lord In doubt? Take joy in the council of the Lord (Ps. 119:162). (Ps. 119:162).

JoyJoy

Every opportunity to serve, to do Every opportunity to serve, to do good, to be spent that others may good, to be spent that others may abound will bring us great joy. abound will bring us great joy.

Why? Why? Because that is what God does for us.Because that is what God does for us. Therefore, when we are filled with the Therefore, when we are filled with the

Spirit it will bear the fruit of joy in us. Spirit it will bear the fruit of joy in us.

PeacePeace

This peace describes the harmonious This peace describes the harmonious relationship between people. relationship between people. – It is a peace that we learn from God as It is a peace that we learn from God as

we communicate with Him (Phil. 4:6-7)we communicate with Him (Phil. 4:6-7)– It is a peace that we must work hard to It is a peace that we must work hard to

attain and maintain (Eph. 4:1-3). attain and maintain (Eph. 4:1-3). – When we strive to make this peace an When we strive to make this peace an

important aspect of our lives then we will important aspect of our lives then we will be blessed as peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). be blessed as peacemakers (Matt. 5:9).

PeacePeace

We must understand the true nature We must understand the true nature of this peace if we are going to bear of this peace if we are going to bear it as fruit in our lives. it as fruit in our lives.

It is not:It is not:– Apathy (indifference, lack of concern)Apathy (indifference, lack of concern)– LazinessLaziness– Content with error, compromise.Content with error, compromise.– Based on falsehood. Based on falsehood.

PeacePeace

The peace of God is:The peace of God is:– Based on God’s one true standard: Eph. 4:1-3Based on God’s one true standard: Eph. 4:1-3– The result of love (for God, brethren, and truth)The result of love (for God, brethren, and truth)– Begins inwardly, manifests itself outwardly Begins inwardly, manifests itself outwardly

(Col. 3:15, Rom. 12:18)(Col. 3:15, Rom. 12:18)– Requires great effort (Col. 1:20; 1 Cor. 1:10)Requires great effort (Col. 1:20; 1 Cor. 1:10)– Forbearing (Rom. 15:1-3). Forbearing (Rom. 15:1-3).

If we are striving to be filled with the Spirit If we are striving to be filled with the Spirit of God then we will pursue this kind of of God then we will pursue this kind of peace. peace.

PeacePeace

At the same time we will avoid that At the same time we will avoid that which hinders peace. which hinders peace. – 2 Tim. 2:22-23: foolish and ignorant 2 Tim. 2:22-23: foolish and ignorant

disputes.disputes.– James 3:16-18: envy, self-seeking. James 3:16-18: envy, self-seeking. – False doctrine: 2 Pet. 2:1-2, 18-19.False doctrine: 2 Pet. 2:1-2, 18-19.

ConclusionConclusion All of these characteristics must be All of these characteristics must be

combined to make up the fruit of the Spirit.combined to make up the fruit of the Spirit.– Do you have love? Then be obedient to the Do you have love? Then be obedient to the

commands of God (John 14:15). commands of God (John 14:15). – Do you desire joy? Then turn to God so that you Do you desire joy? Then turn to God so that you

can have joy in Him. can have joy in Him. – Do you want peace? The begin with making Do you want peace? The begin with making

peace between you and God. peace between you and God. How do we do all of these things? How do we do all of these things? We begin by repenting of our sins and We begin by repenting of our sins and

obeying the gospel. obeying the gospel. Will you come?Will you come?