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Message Notes
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
It’s important to note that these aren’t a list of commands to fulfill. These are not things for us to do. The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus that the Holy Spirit produces in you.
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. - Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. - Galatians 5:4 (NLT)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
“Love is the key.
Joy is love singing.
Peace is love resting.
Patience is love enduring.
Kindness is love’s character.
Faithfulness is love’s habit.
Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is love holding the reins.”
- Donald Barnhouse, theologian
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. - Galatians 5:6 (ESV)
What is important is faith expressing itself in love.** - Galatians 5:6b (NLT)**
For you were called to freedom, brothers [and sisters]. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and all your mind….and love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39
True freedom in the Spirit produces the perfect love of Jesus.
- The love Jesus has for the Father
- The love Jesus has for us
- The love Jesus has for others
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” -John 13:35 (NLT)
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and God’s love is made complete in us. 1 - John 4:12 (ESV)
How does God produce His perfect love in us?
1. By deepening our understanding of God’s love for us.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, through it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. - Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT)
“The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we never can and never shall deserve.” -Oswald Chambers
2. By putting us in close proximity to people that are difficult to love.
God isn’t calling us to treat people with the measure of love we have for them. He’s calling us to treat people with the measure of love HE has for them.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:12-13 (ESV)