| OCR Text |
Show JP If,'{ t, ve £';f4r I fdv /.'S-f J70 rq:» 7 ,'I1/€'> IbtcJk I Id'b,.f.:T,;( THE FIRST CLUSTER OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT "But the fruit of the peace The is love, Galatians 5: 22a " ... Apostle spirit Paul concerned about the was joy, deeply long term welfare of the Church he established in Galatia. For it was confronted like us here at Calvary with the realities and the conflicts of everyday life as the church of God in the world. John wrote that the believer had to find ways of overcoming three enemies: the flesh. (I John 2: the world is devil's world, the devil, and the duty our 15) The evil system of external enemy. The is to prowl around as our infernal enemy. The flesh in its natural state is our internal enemy. God's· 1 purpose and desire is that we overcome. Once we overcome these enemies, Paul said, it will be evident as fruit of the comes at we bear the Note while the enemy with multiply vices and spirit. us ways, the victorious believer bears one testimony, one singular fruit with distinguishable yet inseparable pieces. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." Today, I want to talk not about the whole fruit but the first of three clusters of this one fruit. This first cluster is a testimony of our relationship to God. the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, " ... peace " ... The first distinctive of the Fruit of the 2 Spirit is LOVE. This love is not the ordinary physical or brotherly connections between humans or just because of what for us. It is the someone is or has done unconditional, unwavering, unchanging, immeasurable gift of God. Love is the seeking of the highest good. This love is toward God. This love no long searches for attributes beyond God. For 'God is Love." It is content and benevolent toward the Kingdom of God. It appreciates all the favor of God. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy heart, and with thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22) the God will all all The second distinctive of the Fruit of Spirit is JOY. Joy is inward peace. Unlike happiness which depends on the 3 happenings, joy is that settledness regardless of circumstances. It is the unspeakable joy of the Lord. "This joy that I have, the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away." The third distinctive of the Fruit of the Spirit is PEACE. Peace means to bind together. To be tranquil and serene in heart, to fully trust in the hands of God. There is a calm and harmonious spirit. One is free from disturbance and agitation. There is heavenly reconciliation rooted in the reset and sure foundation of the Word of God. The soul is at rest. first, three part cluster of Spiritual fruit reveals our ever deepening This relationship with He loves us more God. We love Him and and more, 4 rej oice in and rest in His peace. The world will know that we are Children of His glory, unconditionally, have unspeakable joy, and walk quietly God because we love • In peace. 5 |
