The Fruit of the Spirit is Love. Sermon by Pastor Andrew Marttinen. Feb 17, 2024
Trees have abundant leaves. They grow. They thrive. They wither. They fall. When leaves fall, new leaves take their place.
It is a blessing to see a family grow. The fruit of the Spirit. We get this fruit when we connect to Jesus Christ and He blesses us.
Galations 5:22. The fruit of the Spirt is....
2 Peter adds few more fruits including godliness.
A farmer puts artificial apples on a tree. From a distance the tree is beautiful and people are drawn to it. Once closer however it becomes cleat the apples are not genuine. Genuineness in fruits of the Spirit is clear. It is rooted in Christ.
Maple season starts in March when the sap starts to run.
What attitudes do we have when we walk with Christ?
the first fruit is love.
John 15 Walk the road with men and in My ways... I choose you. You are my new garden. When you bear the fruit you show My name. Walk the road with love. (First Nations Version)
On a TV show Chuck Norris said "It is easy to subdue someone. You go for the head. Wherever the head goes, the rest of the body goes". Love is the head fruit. Wherever love goes the fruit of the Spirit follows.
Three types of Love:
Agape: unconditional love, love one to another
Philia: affectionate regard, friendship
Eros: romantic love. It is not found in the New Testament or in the Bible at all. Affection is in the Bible.
Agape and philia love are used interchangeably in the Bible. Love is love.
The Bible definition of love is God is Love
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Italicized words in the NJK version denote a word that is not in the original text.
Blesses are the poor in Spirit could also be read as Blessed the poor in Spirit.
God is love could be read as God love.
God is the definition of love.
Love is a manifestation of who God is.
God so loved the world He ...
God loved us into His kingdom
In Matthew the Kingdom of heaven means God's family. There are entrance requirements.
Church leaders over the years made may rules to get entrance into heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn etc speak to those who suffer.
Humility is the entrance to God's kingdom because of His great love.
God wants us to pass this on to others.
How doe we love like God?
The sermon on the Mount shares to turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile.
If the sap of His fruit of the Spirit is in us, how do we live?
How does the Spirit help us?
How do we love the unlovely?
Rich young ruler: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus: "What is written in the law?"
"How do you read the law?"
"Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. Love your neighbour as yourself. "
How do you handle the go and do likewise comment?
What would have happened if the good Samaritan had happened upon the man when the thieves were beating him? Would he have intervened?
What kind of lifestyle change do you need to make so you can intervene?
What are the people you know that are on the side of the road or in desperate need?
A rabbi once said How do you when day is ending? When you look on the face of any man do you see your brother or sister? If you cannot do that, then it is still night.
Leaders have measurable directives and goals.
Church success. What is it?
- Monies reaised?
- Pews filled?
- Attendance?
- Members?
How is love measured? Do we love all kinds of people?
A dragnet picks up everything in its path regardless of what it is.
Strange fish may come in your door who need love, who were caught up by the Holy Spirit. Are we prepared to love the stranger?
A VBS primary teacher was half way through her class when a new student came in with only one arm. The teacher was nervous the children would not treat the child the same, or even may be unkind. She asked the children to gather and use their fingers to make a church. A little girl stepped up to the little girl and asked if they could do it together. The teacher learned a lesson from the children. We make a church together, as a team. We need to team up with God and other people for church, family, homes to be what we ought to be.
We need to be able to reach out with kindness and love in action. Love is measured by how you love the unlovely. We need to walk the road of life with each other.