Sermon March 16, 2025

 

CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

March 16, 2025

 

The Fruit of Love

Galatians 5:22      

 

As mentioned last week we are going to look at Love which is the very first fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22. Love is one of the most talked about attributes mentioned in scripture.

 

There are a number of different ways Love is described in scripture as well as in life in general. The Love we are seeing mentioned in Galatians 5 is what is called agape Love. The definition for agape Love is selfless, sacrificial love, which is Love that comes from the Holy Spirit, as opposed to the other types of Love that may be based on feeling or preference.

 

Let’s take a look at what this Love means to us, as individual Christians, as well as the church. There are countless examples of Love given to us in scripture. Jesus gave us real world examples of how Love should be flowing through believers, Gods people. Let’s take a look at a couple of those examples at this time.

 

Last week I shared with you about the good tree and the bad tree from the Sermon on the Mount. Let’s look at how Jesus showed Love should be working in the attitudes and the hearts of Gods people. We will find that also in Jesus’ message on the Sermon on the Mount.

 

There are 2 very blunt examples of Love and how this agape Love should be operating in the life of a believer. The first is found in Matthew 5: 38-42, there we read “You have heard that it was said Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone wants you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

 

We have all read these verses many times before but the Lord is showing us if we have true love in our hearts all these things we will willingly do. Let’s begin with the first, eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth that is clearly a reference to the Old Testament law that allowed Gods people to demand immediate justice when they had been wronged. Jesus however is acknowledging that an evil person may have done you wrong but we should be willing to turn the other cheek. What do think about that, how easy is that to do? But that is what agape Love looks like.

 

Let’s continue on in Matthew the 5^th chapter the 43^rd verse thru the 48^th verse. There we read “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons and daughters of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. You know Jesus was about to point out a flaw in the peoples thinking or about to clarify what God really means about things when he started things off by saying, you have heard that it was said.

 

Jesus gave a lot of specific examples of what love should look like in the lives of Gods people. When Paul was telling the church about the fruit of spirit that was to be a part of there lives do you think they realized the things mentioned by Jesus back in Matthew really applied to the fruit love? Some of the people Paul was writing to may have actually been there when Jesus delivered that message.

 

When the Holy Spirits fruit of Love is flowing thru us as God intends we will not “resist evil people, we will Love and pray for our enemies.” Jesus points out if we only love those who love us how are we any different from “tax collectors and pagans.

 

So how are we doing when it comes to putting this fruit of the spirit in to practice on a daily basis. I don’t know if any of you have people you run across from time to time that you just don’t get along with. Or whether there may be people in the news or in entertainment that you just don’t like. How do we get where the Lord is telling us we need to be? For you and me all by ourselves it is impossible that is why Jesus promised and God the Father gave us the Holy Spirit. What we can’t do in our own strength we can do with the Holy Spirits help.

 

God has promised through the Holy Spirit that true agape love can be ours. This first fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 is for you and me.

As we wrap up our time together, I would like to leave you with these promises from what is entitled, by most, the Love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. The 6^th, 7^th, and first part of the 8^th verse tells us this, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. What a promise God has made to the church when we have the fruit, Love flowing thru us.  

 

At times we may fall short of what God has made available for us but we should do what is said in that 7^th verse in 1 Corinthians 13, persevere. God will always honor our efforts when we are seeking to walk with him. While I pointed out a couple of the more challenging examples of Love, there are many other positive examples of Love in scripture as well. The important thing for, us, Gods people is to have all aspects of Gods flowing thru us as much as possible. The fruit of Love is ours to enjoy and to experience in all of its wonderful ways.

Pastor Larry