FOUNDATIONS, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LESSON #1

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1 FOUNDATIONS, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LESSON #1 Intro. Tonight we re going to begin a series on The Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. We re going to look in depth at each of these but in introduction, we need to know how this fruit grows in us 1. These aren t attributes God forces on us 2. These are attributes that are a part of God Himself a. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control 3. If we are going to bear this fruit in our lives it s not going to happen by commitment or willpower alone a. There is really only one way to have and continue cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in us b. It comes by being connected with Him John 15:4-5 (NKJV) 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 4. This is a truth we need to get a. We will never have lasting love, joy, peace, etc., apart from Him 5. This should come as a great relief to us a. It s not all up to us to bear this fruit b. We do have a pivotal part to play The part we have in producing this fruit is to abide in the vine. What it means to abide in Him is to stay connected with Him; a total dependence, reliance, and trust in Him and His work in us Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 1

2 Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NKJV) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord is the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit comes from Him As we stay connected to Him, we will bear His fruit I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS Ephesians 3:17-20 (NKJV) 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, A. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT If we are going to become more like God we have to know what He is like 1. God s love is The Greek word used for God s love is agape Vines Word Study about agape- love "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son. Obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellence in its objects, (This means us! Not because we were love worthy ). It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 2

3 Agape love is self sacrificing, unconditional love Romans 5:8 says God gave us a living demonstration of His love Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. a. God s love is sacrificial because it gives to those who don t really deserve it b. This is the kind of love God wants us to give We are to love those who don t deserve it. We are to love regardless of whether the person returns that love. We are to love period. This can cause us problems because we want to qualify and measure out our love. ex. I won t be nice to them because they don t deserve it. I m going to be reserved with my wife or husband because I haven t liked the way they ve been acting. We are meant to grow the fruit of the Spirit which is loving like God loves sacrificially II. HOW LOVE A. LOVE COMES BY Luke 7:47 (NKJV) Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. 1. Love comes out of a revelation of Revelation 2:1-4 (NKJV) 1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 3

4 2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. a. This church had discernment and worked hard but they left their first love b. First love comes out of our first revelation of God s love for us Ephesians 3: may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. God s love has to be received beyond the intellect; by revelation it s a heart thing B. LOVE COMES BY God will teach us 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NKJV) 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 1. God teaches us love through a. God has a way of putting people in our lives to stretch us b. Sometimes we wonder; God what s with these people? c. God is stretching the fabric of our temperaments and personalities to love more We are taught by experience 2. We are taught to love by Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 4

5 John 6:64 (NKJV) But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ex. Jesus & Judas; Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him. Jesus didn t treat Judas any differently than the others. Matthew 5: You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; Wilson s paraphrase; Love doesn t badmouth others. It doesn t gossip, backbite, tell rumors, try to get others to dislike those we dislike, etc. a. Like anything else, this is a great concept, it s the practice of it that gives us trouble b. God will see to it that we get enough practice We are taught of God by experience and example III. LOVE A. LOVE IS ONLY LOVE FOR GOD SO LOVED- HE GAVE!!! 1 John 3:16 (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1. Love isn t just something we 2. Love isn t just something we 3. Love is something we a. In 1Corinthians 13 there are 15 different actions Paul uses to describe love Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 5

6 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. b. He s saying- love gives- patience, kindness, forgiveness, trust, hope, and so on Love is only love when it gives itself away again, 1 John 3:16 (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ex. A good, frequent prayer to pray: Jesus, live Your life through me and cause Your love to love through me. B. BECAUSE LOVE GIVES, IT Proverbs 3:27 (NKJV) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Romans 13:7-8 (KJV) 7 "Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" 1. Love gives a. love is kind ex. In a marriage; it s the small acts of kindness that makes marriage enjoyable. Simple words spoken. It s the kind looks; the smiles. The simple touch; reaching out and holding hands. The small acts of kindness. It s the small things love does that makes it great 2. Love gives Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 6

7 a. We re selfish b. We want others to do for us first I John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us. Love does things first and does them over and over again Proverbs 3:27 (NKJV) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. c. God s challenge to us- love does first The single greatest character trait that will mark us as believers is our love John 13:34-35 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. This is one of the hardest but most rewarding things we ll ever do PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Jesus, thank You for loving me first. Because You loved me, I can love You and others. Help me to love others the way You have loved me; sacrificially and unconditionally. Teach me to give my life and love away and not hold back, in Jesus name, Amen. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #1 I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS (LOVE) A. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT (GOD S LOVE IS LIKE) 1. God s love is (sacrificial) II. HOW LOVE (COMES) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 7

8 A. LOVE COMES BY (REVELATION) 1. Love comes out of a revelation of (forgiveness) B. LOVE COMES BY (GOD S INSTRUCTION) 1. God teaches us love through (our experiences) 2. We are taught to love by (example) III. LOVE (GIVES) A. LOVE IS ONLY LOVE (WHEN IT GIVES) 1. Love isn t just something we (feel) 2. Love isn t just something we (say) 3. Love is something we (do) B. BECAUSE LOVE GIVES, IT (DOESN T HOLD BACK) 1. Love gives (small things) 2. Love gives (first) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 8