Fruit of the Spirit
-Fruit Never out of Season
“Love” & “Joy”
“The fruit [Singular, not plural] of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22
As a Christian you have them ALL. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22
Protect the fruit
“Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.”
-Proverbs 4:23
Things to help you protect the fruit
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you.”
-Philippians 4:8
“You must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
-Colossians 3:8
“Love” is at the heart of the Bible...
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because
God is love.”
-1 John 4:8
Feelings of Love
Thoughts of Love
Actions of Love
“Decisions” of Love
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
-1 Corinthians 13
Not Love “If” or “When”
But Love “Period”
Unconditional Love
“This is how the love [Agape] of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: [Agape] it is not that we loved [Agape] God but that he loved [Agape] us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins.”
-1 John 4:9,10
“Fruit of the Spirit”
-Fruit Never out of Season
“Joy”
“Joy” is not the same as “Happiness”.
Happiness is usually a good feeling that we experience when things are going our way.
Happiness comes and goes, but joy remains regardless of the circumstances around you.
“Happy” = Feeling pleasure or contentment.
People Pursue happiness.
People Choose joy.
“Happiness” is like a dog chasing its tail. The pursuit of happiness is always wanting your tail in front of you where you can see it.
“Joy” is wanting your tail behind you, following you wherever you go even when you can’t see it in front of you.
General Sources of Joy vs Christian Sources
Living in a Fallen world,
Life is not a Joyfest.
Joy
An attitude that believers adopt because of our hope in God’s love and promise.
Our joy is not based on our struggles, but rather by our future destiny.
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
–Hebrews 12:2
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
-Nehemiah 8:10
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
–James 1:2-4
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
-Psalm 94:18,19
“I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds… we had no rest… but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us…” so that my joy was greater than ever.”
-2 Cor. 7:5-7