Series: Peeled – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit!
Illustration: Peel an orange! Talk about the fruit inside have 9 oranges in a bowl write on them fruits of the Spirit! Note that we over the next few weeks will be peeling back the fruits of the Holy Spirit so we better understand them and how they are to be functioning in our lives. Also have a bag of 9 gifts labeled the gifts of the Holy Spirit and note how these are given to us for certain situations where as the fruit is to be a part of our Christian character.
Thesis: What is on the inside of you determines your fruit! How much you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, empower you, comfort you, teach you determines your fruit.
Question: If you were “Peeled” like a fruit today and someone bit into you would you be sweet or sour? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to grow His fruit within your life?
Why do you need to do this? So you can be a witness for the Kingdom of Heaven!
Scripture Text: Galatians 6:16-26
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness and self–control. Against such things there is no law.
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Introduction:
Peeled the 30 Day Challenge is designed to unleash the fruits of the Holy Spirit from within you: The following idea is borrowed from Crosspoint Church but I have readapted it for CHC.
Day 1
Fruit: Love
Truth: 1 Cor. 13:1-14:1 - Let love be your highest goal today!
Action: Send someone a handwritten note telling them how much you love them. Find someone who needs a little love and love on them!
Day 2
Fruit: Love
Truth: Romans 12:10 – “Love each other with genuine affection, take delight in honoring each other.”
Action: Contact a friend. Have no agenda other than asking how they are doing and if there is anything you can do for them.
Day 3
Fruit: Love
Truth: John 13:34 – “Love one another, just as I have loved you!
Action: Love listens! Share a meal or coffee TODAY with someone. Ask what dreams they have and then listen. Then encourage them! Or show someone you don’t know a random act of kindness rooted in the love of Jesus for them!
Day 4
Fruit: Love
Truth: Matthew 22:37-40 – You must love the Lord your God with all your heart so you can love others!
Action: Love Does! Spend 15 minutes worshipping God in song and prayer!
Day 5
Fruit: Joy
Truth: Psalm 4:7 You have given me greater joy!
Action: Give something away today in honor of God – let it be done with joy! (Be Creative) We derive joy from God not things but joy comes from a giving and grateful heart!
Day 6
Fruit: Joy
Truth: Phil. 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Action: Before you go to bed tonight, sing a worship song–out loud! Tell God how grateful you are for some the things he has blessed you with. Write The Lord a Thank You card!
Day 7
Fruit: Joy
Truth: Phil. 2:18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Action: Share joy today! Post a happy photo or memory on a social media site. Or share a photo or memory with someone in person.
The 9 Gifts Compared to the 9 Fruits from http://www.theholyspirit.com/HolySpiritGiftsFruits.asp
So many today seek the Gifts without first acquiring the Fruit in their life. We must have the Fruit of the Spirit at work, if we want God to entrust us with the Gifts of the Spirit. The fruit is part of our character and the gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit for certain situations in life – to promote the Kingdom of Heaven not ourselves. To point people to Jesus not ourselves.
Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12 Fruits of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healings
5. Working of Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of Spirits
8. Different Kinds of Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues 1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control
1. The Word of Wisdom supernaturally discloses the mind, purpose, and the way of God as applied to a specific situation. If we have the Wisdom of God, then we must have Love, for God is Love. If you search for the first gift of the Spirit, you must possess the first fruit of the Spirit.
2. The Word of Knowledge is a supernatural revelation of information about a specific thing and has to do with an immediate need. Jesus gave instruction to His disciples so His Joy would remain in them and be full. A Word of Knowledge will always be received with Joy from His disciples, so we must first strive to have the fruit of Joy in our lives.
3. Faith is a special outpouring of supernatural Faith for release of a miracle. Even a small amount of Faith in our Father will bring Peace into our lives. If we have the Peace that passes all understanding then we will be ready for the Gift of Faith when the need arises. So seek first to have the fruit of the Spirit: Peace.
4. Healings are those Healings that God performs supernaturally. If we are Longsuffering, then we have learned to be content in any situation as Paul was. He learned that in his weakness, Jesus strength was made perfect. So if we can learn to be Longsuffering in all, then we will be able to accept the supernatural Healing God has for us. Faith produces miracles, but miracles do not necessarily produce faith, unless we know how to rejoice in any situation. That we do not look for the Healing, but for the relationship with God that will bring about theHealing.
5. Working of Miracles is a manifestation of Divine power to perform something that could not be done naturally. Jesus performed manyMiracles because He had compassion on the crowds and acted withKindness. Without the Fruit of Kindness, we would not be able to use the Gift how God would want us to.
6. Prophecy is a supernatural disclosure, a sudden Spirit inspired insight that brings exhortation to the body of Christ. Goodness means to have decency, generosity, righteousness. To exhort and edify the body of Christ we must first possess the virtues and values which are synonymous with Goodness.
7. Discerning of Spirits is to detect the true spirit behind the acts and manifestations taking place around us. It is used to further build Faithfulness on our Lord and Savior. The fruit of Faithfulness is the foundation for being true only to our Lord, and the acts of the Holy Spirit. We may then seek the gift of Discerning of Spirits to further our perception of the workings of the true Spirit of God.
8. Different kinds of Tongues is praying or singing in a supernatural or heavenly language which has a specific message associated with it. James tells us about the things from above, that they are pure, peaceful, and Gentle. How can we seek the Gift which will deliver a message to God’s people if we first do not seek fruit of His likeness.
9. Interpretation of tongues is translating the message of tongues so that the heavenly message may be given. Would you trust someone translating for you that put their own thoughts and words into your message. You would want someone of great Self Control to be true and accurate. How much more would our Father want someone of Self Control to translate His holy message to His people.
We have over the last month been talking about The Aftershocks of the Resurrection and one of the main ones was Jesus sending us the Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witness in this dark world. He is the one that gives us the gifts of the Spirit and He is the one that helps us manifest the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and our immersion of Him produces or it should produce in us the fruits of the Spirit. These fruits are manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives! God uses them to impact those around us for the Kingdom of Heaven and to help us use the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a proper way.
Sermon 1: Love and Joy
Thesis: The fruits of the Spirit Love and Joy are a character trait of a person who is connected and immersed in the Holy Spirit. When we allow these fruits to flow out of our lives then we draw people to Jesus and see people’s lives changed. These two fruits have the power to change a person’s life and the power to change the world!
Introduction:
The following introduction thoughts are taken directly from http://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-of-the-Holy-Spirit.html
“One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit coming into a Christian's life is to change that life. It is the Holy Spirit's job to conform us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is in direct contrast with the acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” This passage describes all people, to varying degrees, when they do not know Christ and therefore are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Our sinful flesh produces certain types of fruit that reflect our nature, and the Holy Spirit produces types of fruit that reflect His nature.
The Christian life is a battle of the sinful flesh against the new nature given by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). As fallen human beings, we are still trapped in a body that desires sinful things (Romans 7:14-25). As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit producing His fruit in us and we have the Holy Spirit's power available to conquer the acts of the sinful nature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13). A Christian will never be completely victorious in always demonstrating the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the main purposes of the Christian life, though, to progressively allow the Holy Spirit to produce more and more of His fruit in our lives—and to allow the Holy Spirit to conquer the opposing sinful desires. The fruit of the Spirit is what God desires our lives to exhibit and, with the Holy Spirit's help, it is possible!”
In reading this introduction of the fruits of the Holy Spirit I pray this message resonates within your soul to cultivate and develop this inward fruits of the Holy Spirit. If you do then you will change the world 1 life at a time!
T.S. – The fruits of the Holy Spirit should be flowing out of a Spirit filled believer – it’s one of the reasons Jesus sent us His Holy Spirit! Let’s look at the first fruit of the Holy Spirit! The foundation of all the other fruits and for the gifts of the Holy Spirit too!
1. Love.
I. Quote: Agape (Greek) “This word for love doesn’t refer to warm feelings but to a deliberate attitude of good will and devotion to others. Love gives freely without looking at whether the other person deserves it, and it gives without expecting anything back.”
1. How are you doing cultivating this fruit of the Holy Spirit?
I> The fruits are developed by the Holy Spirit as we connect with Him! They are developed and honed in our souls from within! This in turn eventually comes out of us as the dominate over the works of the flesh!
1. You can tell if a person is controlled by their flesh or by the Spirit!
2. Question: Are you motivated to do for others as Christ has done for you, or are you giving in order to receive something in return?
I> Remember - Love always sacrifices for others and never does anything for itself! Love will always sacrifice it’s privileges and rights for the sake of others!
II> Quote (From http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/growing-in-your-faith/10-ideas-reflecting-the-fruit-of-the-spirit).
3. Quote: "If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement (means belittling, humiliation of oneself); fortitude (Courage in pain or adversity) without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity (faithfulness to a person, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support) without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love (1 Corinthians 13).” Fr. Richard P. McBrien,
I> Love is to be core fruit of the Christian! Because God is love!
II. Chuck Smith notes from his Study Guide for the Holy Spirit says the following from www.blueletterbible.org. about the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Holy Spirit makes God’s love available to each of us – it is called Agape love in the Greek.
I> The mark of a Christian is the agape love flowing through them (John 13:35).
1. “Agape” love is the deep, spiritual, giving, godly love that is far above the “eros” (physical Love) or the “phileo” (brotherly, companionable love). It is supernatural love.
II> Agape love is described in 1 Cor. 13.
1. Paul in verse 1 and 2 gives love the supremacy over spiritual gifts.
2. Love is also more important than sacrificing our possessions or even our bodies (v. 3)
3. Love will always be kind even when abused (v. 4)
4. Love will never insist on having it’s own way (v. 5)
5. Love is never provoked (v. 5)
6. Agape love is something that is to flow from within our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit – it’s not something you conjure up!
III> The fruit of the Spirit is Agape love!
1. Chuck Smith states, “As we abide in Jesus, we bear fruit through the core action of love. When we bear fruit it’s because of the fruit of love being there first. If we do not abide in Jesus we will not be able to bear fruit! (John 15:1-8)
2. He believes there is one fruit of the Spirit and that is love and the other fruits which Paul describes are adjectives to describe love:
1. Joy is love’s consciousness. When we love, we are filled with joy that even normally miserable tasks are pleasurable!
2. Peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. Love that wishes no ill is the basis for true peace.
3. Longsuffering is the characteristic of love that makes us kind after being continually mistreated, without keeping track of offenses.
4. Love is gentle, not harsh or abrasive.
5. Love is the only positive motive for goodness. Some people are “good” because they fear the consequences of doing something wrong, but that is not true goodness.
6. The faith mentioned in this verse is not the gift of the Spirit listed in 1Cor. 12:9 but is a loving trust in people.
7. Meekness does not vaunt itself and does not seek praise and honor.
8. Temperance is moderation.
III. God is the one who created “Love” because He is love. He also coined the term “1st Love” which means that He loved us first before we ever loved Him in return.
1. Scripture: I John 4:19 (NIV) states, “We love because he first loved us!”
I> Love is going to be our topic today. But that 4 letter word love needs to be redefined today to make sure we understand what love really is. So to get a Biblical understanding of this word let’s make sure we define what love is not.
II> Pretty much everything you see in romantic movies or read about in romantic novels or watch in romantic sitcoms is not genuine love instead it’s actually a cheap fake or fraud to real love. I could also say it’s a cheap substitute for the real thing – for the real deal.
III> Every person is on a search for real love and that can only be found in God alone. Many are in frantic search for it but cannot find it because they are looking for love in all the wrong places. The media lies and proclaims this is love, that is love, and even diamonds are love! LOVE has been redefined by the world – this why so many cannot find real love – the world throws everything into the love category and it is uses this word very carelessly. For example:
1. L – Lusting after another is called “love” and having sex before marriage is called “making love” – sorry it’s not love – sin has no love in it.
2. O – Out of the closet is love – The Gay community says they are the ones who know how to really love. They say that have the real deal – sorry once again not genuine authentic love! It’s once again a cheap substitute for the real deal.
3. V – Valentine’s Day is all about love! I beg to differ with you that this day which is supposedly focused on love is not rooted and grounded in real genuine authentic love. Instead it focuses on love between two people but not necessarily is that genuine authentic Biblical love. Why? If God has no part of a relationship then love is absent. If He is not at the center of a relationship then there is no real love involved instead it’s just another cheap substitute.
1. If you really want to dive deep into real love it’s not found going out to a fancy restaurant. It’s also not found by going out as a couple to a movie. Real Biblical love has nothing to do with candies, flowers, cards or even romantic nights away in a hotel. Real love has nothing to do with the Opera or Ballot!
4. E – Eroticism is flashed before our eyes daily. We see the media using sexy images to sell products trying to tell us that this will satisfy and bring real love to our lives. But this too is not real love either because for many it’s just another cheap substitute for the real thing called love.
1. We hear the word LOVE describing one’s favorite food to one’s favorite car. The truth is love - the real word love – is rooted in God alone – “No God – No Love” No matter how much the world tries to redefine the word love it’s actually not correct!
2. It’s rooted in John 3:16 “16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love is focused intent of giving itself for another with no expectation in return!
1. Quote: Sweeting, “Love is the Greatest” page 9 “Our world is starving for love. Deep down inside every human being. God has planted a thirst for Himself that is never satisfied until we are united with Him” (Real LOVE).
IV> The reason why the world wants to redefine love is because it wants to redefine who God is and it wants to re-write His Word.
2. Paul wrote the following verse: Romans 12:1 (NIV) “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
1. Paul is talking here about real Biblical love.”
T.S. – Love is the foundation for the rest of the fruits of the Holy Spirit so therefore Love starts with God because He is love – if we don’t have God we don’t have love or the rest of the fruits. When love controls our soul then a byproduct surfaces from within – it is called joy!
2. Joy. Greek “Chara”
I. Quote: “Unlike happiness, joy is gladness that is completely independent of the good or bad things that happen in the course of the day. In fact, joy denotes a supernatural gladness given by God’s Spirit that actually seems to show up best during hard times. This is a product of fixing your focus on God’s purposes for the events in your life rather than on the circumstances.”
1. Question: Am I experiencing a joy of life on a regular basis, or is my happiness dependent on things going smoothly in my day?
I> (From http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/growing-in-your-faith/10-ideas-reflecting-the-fruit-of-the-spirit).
2. Swindoll adds, “This long faced, heavy hearted attitude has now invaded the ranks of Christianity.” We have to many “Grumpy Old Christians” in the church. Who stole their joy? How come they don’t laugh? How come they don’t split a gut and bellow out with expressions of joy? I wonder if they need a vacation to go find their joyful, fun filled attitude again.
I> Turning ninety-five, comedian Bob Hope told TV guide the secret to his longevity: “Laughter is it. Laughter is therapy-an instant vacation.”
1. I agree with Bob Hope Laughter is therapy. So let’s become therapists of dispensing laughter to one another.
2. Happiness is a choice in life and Jesus desires us to be dispensers of joy that is why he sent us the Holy Spirit.
II. When we have the “Be Happy Attitude of Joy” life is fun and not Ho hum. The Lord desires us to live with a good sense of fun and laughter. The word tells us this about joy:
1. Proverbs 15:13: A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day (The Message).
I> Happiness or joy is the key to succeeding in this life. It’s what makes life worth living.
1. It’s the smile from the little one you help each day.
2. It’s the thank you from others for helping them out.
3. It’s the attitude of looking at the gas tank as being half full and not half empty.
4. It’s the heart that plays in the snow in April.
5. It’s the one who rejoices in the traffic jam and looks at as a time to spend in prayer with the Lord.
6. It’s the laughing with family and friends at our exploits.
1. All of this makes it easier and delightful to go through the day.
2. Proverbs 15:15: All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast (NIV). Or A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song (The Message).
I> Have you ever met a person who is always bubbly and cheerful they are an absolute pleasure to be around?
1. How about you do you fill your day with singing or do you fill it with complaining. Do you look for a song or for a bong?
3. Proverbs 15:30: A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Or A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle (The Message).
I> It’s a medical fact that laughter and humor is healthy for a body.
1. People who laugh and enjoy life live longer.
1. Comedian Bob Newhart stated, ‘People with a sense of humor tend to be less egocentric. They are more humble in moments of success and less defeated in times of travail.”
4. Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (NIV). Or “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (The Message).
I> Laughter – joy really is the best medicine by Sue Casiglia – highlights from her study:
1. The effect of laughter on the body is immediate. Laughing actually lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and increases muscle flexion.
2. It also increases your resistance level to infections.
3. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.
4. In the US, laughter is used as a pain management technique for terminally ill cancer patients. Patients who regularly employ laughter therapy are found to be more tolerant of pain than those who don’t. (www.selfgrowth.com)
1. Laughter may be best medicine for heart disease CNN report- Highlights from study:
5. People who report that they laugh more are less likely to have heart disease.
1. Miller said many studies had shown that feelings of anger and hostility cause the cells lining blood vessels to release chemicals that make them restrict and cause heart disease.
II> Dr. Peter Angerer in Munich, Germany found that angry, lonely people developed heart disease.
1. We need to laugh more by Enda Junkins – highlights from the report:
1. Laughter relieves stress.
2. It reduces aggression and conflict. People laughing are unable to hold each other at sword point. Somehow there is no longer a point, only acceptable differences.
3. It relieves anxiety. One cannot laugh and be afraid simultaneously. It’s physically impossible. Laughter also shrinks the source and size of our fears.
2. Maybe we need to do a 30 minute physical workout a day along with a 30 minute laughter work out a day so we keep the doctor away.
III. Martin Luther King stated, “Humor is a divine quality, and God has the greatest sense of humor of all. He must have; otherwise He wouldn’t have made so many politicians.”
1. Catherine Marshall stated, “Whence comes the idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can’t be God’s will? The God who made giraffes, a baby’s fingernails, a puppy’s tail, a crooked squash, the bobwhite’s call, and a young girl’s giggle has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that.”
2. God created laughter and it always amazes me how medicine and therapists confirm what God had said 1,000 of years ago as fact. Laughter – Happiness are healthy for us and we Christians should be filled with “Happiness or joy”.
I> When we have the “Be Happy Attitude of joy” life is to be full of enthusiasm and not saturated with pessimism.
1. Nehemiah 8:10: “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
2. Your trust in Christ is what brings forth the joy filled life. The life of happiness. The life of enthusiasm.
1. A life filled with pessimism, criticalness is not the spirit filled life God desires for us.
3. We need to live with the mindset that God is here with us and part of God’s plan for us is to “Be Happy to have joy” and this happiness comes from trusting Him for today.
3. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit displayed by Mama Maggie
I. Video Illustration from Leadership Summit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNfLJZyQwPg
II. Highlight her story from the book Mama Maggie by Marty Makary, Ellen Vaughn
1. Her quotes:
I> ‘We don’t choose where or when to be born. We don’t choose where or when to die. But we can choose either to help others or turn away. We can choose to do nothing or be a hero. If you want to be a hero, do what God wants you to do. He will let you know what that is, as long as you are open to finding out” (Page 11).
II> Her history – her decision to change the world!
1. Maggie’s brother Hebo stated, “She was a spoiled rich kid. She did not know how to work with the poor. But God was equipping her for a mission.”
2. After visiting the city dump of Cairo she decided to make a difference with the help of the Lord.
1. She gets up every morning at 3am to pray for her world and her people!
2. She regularly gets away at a monastery to pray, fast and meditate on the task God has given her.
3. She is a Coptic Christian!
1. Thought from Aleksandr “the meaning of earthly existence lies not, as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering but in development of the soul.” (Page 91).
2. He belief is summarized by this statement to a US Congressman going through a though time, “Do we think you could have all these blessings without trial and attacks?
3. In her country your religion is on you license – passport – you are discriminated against by the government because you are not Muslim. You are persecuted for being a Christian!
4. Coptic Christian have tattoos on their hands and are proud of them!
III> Quote: “it is said that ‘children are the future.’ If we build a healthy child, then we are laying the foundation stone of building a healthy community.’ Mamma Maggie
1. So she built children’s schools
1. First kindergarten – tell story of the architect!
2. Then secondary – pre-school – high school-vocational schools – children’s centers -churches in dumps – summer camps.
1. St Stephen’s schools are their names and they are named Biblically!
2. She named these schools after the first martyr to care for others Stephen!
2. People around her say she is filled with love and joy!
1. She is funny – happy -smiling and loving in the worst place of the world!
3. People say she is the closest to Jesus they have ever seen – she would disagree with that!
2. Highlight her fruit in Libya – see power point slide from martyr’s in Libya!
I> There are over 20 Christians here which were beheaded for their faith and missions work - 6 of them graduated from St Stephens rescued from the dumps and willing to give their lives for Jesus!
1. They died with heads high and singing praise songs and praying to Jesus!
2. They made their families proud - mama Maggie visited each martyrs home and prayed with families which all said “they were proud that their family members died for Jesus!”
3. These 6 are some of over 10,000 plus of her fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven!
Conclusion:
We need to know that God expects us to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit manifested in our lives:
Love – Agape love (greek)
Agape denotes a really undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill, that always seeks the highest of the other, no matter what s/he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Agape is more a love by choice than philos, which is love by chance; and it refers to the will rather than the emotion. Agape describes the unconditional love God has for the world. Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, love is kind.(love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Evelyn Underhill considered love to the "budding point" from which all the other fruits come, referencing 1 John 4:16, "God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him."
Question: How far are you willing to let love take you?
Joy – Chara (greek)
The joy referred to here is deeper than mere happiness, is rooted in God and comes from him. Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly happiness, which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time. The fruit of joy is the awareness that God is one's strength and protector.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!"
Joy proceeds from the theological virtue of charity. George Campbell Morgan wrote that "Joy is love's consciousness."
In Augustine's Discourse on the Psalms he says, "We are an Easter people and our song is 'Alleluia'"
Noted preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his sermon, The Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Joy cited Psalm 144:15, "Happy the people whose God is the Lord."
This does not mean that a person may not experience sadness on occasion through the death of a loved one, financial trouble, the actions of others, or depression; but underlying the sadness is the sure knowledge that one is still loved by God.
The above conclusion points are taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_of_the_Holy_Spirit
We need to live out of the heart of love and we need be filled with joy as we connect with the Holy Spirit and with our mission. When we model these two fruits of the Spirit we are witnesses to those lost in the world.
If we naturally do these two fruit’s it becomes obvious that we will draw people to Jesus and change the world!
