Fruit of the Spirit: Love

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22

"A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34

Application Questions

Do you find it easy or somewhat difficult to love people? – Easy _______. Difficult ________.

What kind of people do you struggle with?

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Can you identify why you might have trouble with these people?

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Specifically, which people do you find it difficult to love?

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Why do you think it is difficult for you to show love toward them?

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Love - Agape in Greek: In the NT this word “expresses a love that wills to initiate a relationship and show kindness and self-sacrifice regardless of whether the object of the love is worthy or even likable. Thus it is a love that does not depend on emotional response. Rather, it is an expression of the nature and character of the one who loves.”

Read I John 4:7-12

Love illustrated:

A. Marriage - To demonstrate God's relationship that He wants with His people. Isaiah 54:5

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Jeremiah 2:2

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Hosea 2:19, 20

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B. Second Coming - Analogy of the second-coming of Christ and the wedding supper or feast.

Revelation 19:7-9

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C. A picture of the church

II Corinthians 11:2

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Ephesians 5:31,32

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Genuine love is relational, pure, and eternal.

• love relationship with God (pure love on His part) • love relationship with the church - family of God • love relationship with spouse - reflection of our intimacy with God, and a love relationship with our family

Our responsibility to love is a command from the Scriptures. Read Colossians 3:12-14 and I John 4:19-21. Agape love is the ability, power and determination to love the people we do not like.

"There is one sure antidote to evil, and that is love. To be reviled without reviling, to be persecuted without hating, to be wronged without retaliating, is to plant the seeds of a better world than we have known." John Killinger. Paul said, "If I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing." If we understand it, we are on the way to dying for the faith as they did: because if there is one thing evil cannot abide, it is Love.

Satan's attack then will be in the area of relationships: with the Lord; with our spouse; within the church family. To disturb these relationships distorts the spiritual truth God wants communicated to the world,

Conclusion

1. Think back to the person(s) you mentioned at the beginning, the one you have trouble loving. Drawing on the life of Jesus Christ's Spirit within you, what are some practical ways you can show the fruit of the Spirit-love to that person(s)?

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2. Write down the specific action you will take this coming week.

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