The following series of sermons was preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church Dresden during the Fall of 2006. They are based on the writings of the Apostle Paul found in Galatians 5:22-23. I simply call this series “The Fruit of the Spirit.” Please note that tis is the Spirit’s fruit, not our fruit.
Before there can be fruit there must be a root. One must be anchored in the Almighty. Are you washed in the blood? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Jesus is “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Trust Him alone! If you will come and call, He will receive and pardon.
What I am saying is it all begins with forgiveness. Once you are forgiven then you need to remain filled (Eph. 5:18). Abide, reside and let Him guide. Filled means to be saturated, covered over, replete, crammed, furnished and influenced. The Holy Spirit is a person who can be grieved or quenched. Always remember that when there is forgiveness and filling a filling a fight breaks out (Gal. 5:16-17). We must be prepared for a war and combat. The old nature, unredeemed humanness or fallen nature, is still active. See Rom. 7:21-25. Our job is t follow (Gal. 5:18). These words are in the present tense and imperative mode which means it is a continuing action and a direct command. This is not a passive intent but an active, aggressive mode. We are not told to sit on the sidelines and watch the Holy Spirit do battle fur us. We are to be actively engaged. Once these are in place then one can see fruit. Resist and you will see results (vs. 19-21). Follow and you will see the fruit (vs. 22-26).
You can’t be fruitful if you are not following. You can’t follow if you are not filled. You can’t be filled if you are not forgiven. Be sealed and filled and watch what is revealed! May God bless and use these thoughts to your own preaching and teaching ministry.
Learning to Love
Galatians 5:22
Introduction: We have a theme song at FBC Dresden. The opening verse goes like this: “Let’s start learning to love, learning to love, praising God’s goodness sent down from above, wondrous things happen when we stop and pray, so let’s start learning to love today.”
By way of introduction, note the word “fruit”. It means harvest. The word is singular. It is the divine life working in us. All of the “fruit” was perfectly manifested in Jesus. God has planted His love in our hearts. He has every right to expect an abundant harvest. In I Cor. 13 Paul said, “and now abides faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.”
I. Love Must Be Defined
There are several Greek words used for love. One is Eros, which means erotic. Another is Phileo, which means brotherly or friendly love. The word that is used here is Agape. That is supreme or sacrificial love. God is love! It is very natural to love. See Gal. 5:14. Without God there can be no Agape love. See John 15:5. Examine that verse closely in connection with this subject. God loves the world in general, but He loves His own in particular. This love that comes from God is to be channeled through us to those around about us. A lot of people misconstrue love.
A. Some think it is just a feeling or emotion: It is like a knot in the stomach, stars in the eyes or goosebumps on the skin. As a result, people are always searching for that magical feeling.
B. Some think it is something that is uncontrollable: It’s just something that happens to us; thus, we can fall into it and out of it. But love is more than just a feeling and it certainly is not uncontrollable.
C. Love is a choice: Study Co. 3:14. Why would Paul tell us to put on something we can’t control or only feel? That wouldn’t make sense. Here is a command not an option. See Eph. 5:2; Rom. 5:5.
II. Love Must Be Discovered
The only place to discover Agape love is with God! What can be said about God’s love? It is:
A. Unmerited. See Rom. 5:8. He loves me because He chooses or wills to love me. God can not love me more than He loves me right now.
B. Universal. He loves every ethnic group. He loves my enemies. He loves the weak, sinners, you and me. A brilliant theologian was once asked what the greatest truth was he had ever learned. He replied, “The greatest truth I’ve ever learned I learned it on my mother’s knee. It was simply this – Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
C. Unquenchable. See Rom. 8:35-39
D. Unending. See Psalm 136. It is eternal.
E. Unchanging. See Psalm 36:5
F. Unconditional. A young man was proposing to his girlfriend. He knelt before her and said, “I know I don’t have the looks of Johnny Green, I know I don’t drive a car like Johnny Green. I know I don’t dress like Johnny Green, but I love you with all my heart. Would you marry me?” the young lady replied, “Yes I will marry you, but would you mind introducing me to this Johnny Green?”
III. Love Must Be Demonstrated
Study I John 3:14-18. Jesus is our supreme example. How should live be demonstrated? Note Paul’s words in I Cor. 13.
A. Patient. See I Cor 13:4; Eph. 4:2. It’s the love that turns the other cheek and goes the second mile. Has not God been so patient with us?
B. Kind. See I Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:32. It is a practical kind of love.
C. Secure. See I Cor. 13:4
D. Well Mannered. See I Cor. 13: 5-6
E. Active. See I Cor. 13:7. You don’t feel your way into acting you act your way into feeling. How? Allow your actions to determine your feelings.
Conclusion: Once love is defined and discovered it then needs to be demonstrated. Jesus put it this way, “By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” How’s your love life? Submit to the Holy Spirit and ask him to produce and harvest love through your life. In the end people don’t really care how much you know, they just want to know how much you care.
