1) Love is the first and most important fruit of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible. 2) True love, or agape love, is selfless, sacrificial love exemplified by Jesus laying down his life for others. 3) When Christians cultivate their relationship with God through obedience to his word, the Holy Spirit grows the fruit of love within them and empowers them to love beyond themselves like God loves.

1. Love: a fruit of the Holy Spirit –12th
November 2016
"Noone has ever seen God;but ifwe love one another,Godlives inus and hislove is madecomplete
in us."(1John4:12).
Apostle Paul inhislettertothe Philippians remindsthemof aspiritual truth.We can read thisin
Philippians2:13:"…for it is Godwho works in youto will and to act in order to fulfill hisgoodpurpose."
UnfortunatelymanyChristianstodayalsoforgetthisimportantaspectinourlives. Paul isstatingthatit
isGod who willsustofulfill hisgoodpurpose. Obedience,maturity,andsuccessful ministryare only
possible whenwe allowGodtoworkthrough us. Whenyouare born againyoureceive the Giftof Holy
Spirit;youbecome a newcreation,anew person,because aspiritual seedisplacedinsideyou.
Whencultivatedandgrownthisseedblossomsintoatree thatbearsspiritual fruit.The amountof fruit
youbear isdependentonhowmuchyoutendto the seedandgrow it...meaning,how close youare to
God and howmuch one isdoingas requiredfromusdefinedforusthrough Hisword. We can learnas to
howthe fruitof the spiritmanifestsitself inthe followingwayswhenwe readfrom Galatians5:22-23
“But the fruit ofthe Spiritis love,joy, peace, forbearance,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,
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gentlenessand self-control.Againstsuchthingsthere is nolaw.” The "fruit"—whichis the end
resultsof work—isof the Spirit.Itisnot of our owneffort.
Firston the listof the Spirit'sworkina believer'slifeis"love."Thisisnotthe lustof erosor eventhe
brotherlyaffectionof phileo.Thisisagape,the hard,sacrificial choice thatsentJesustothe cross.We
getan understandingwhenwe read John15:13, “Greater love hasno one than this:to lay downone’s
lifefor one’s friends”. The mostcomplete description of agape isfoundin 1 Corinthians13:1-13. We can
learnfromthe verybeginningof thatteachingwhenwe read 1 Corinthians13:1-3 “If I speak in the
tonguesof men or of angels,but do not havelove, I am onlya resoundinggongor a clangingcymbal.
2
If I have the gift ofprophecy andcan fathomall mysteriesand all knowledge,and ifI have a faith
that can move mountains,butdo nothave love, I am nothing. 3
IfI give all I possessto the poor and
give over my body to hardshipthatI may boast,but do not have love,I gainnothing”.
These three versesspeakof religionandministry. Ittellsusthatdynamicpreaching,limitlessknowledge,
unshakeable faith,andevenextremecharity are nothingwithoutaconsciouschoice toseekthe welfare
of anotherbeyondone'sself.Jesusmade thispointtothe Phariseesin Luke 11:42, “Woeto you
Pharisees,because you giveGod a tenth ofyour mint, rue and all other kindsof garden herbs, but you
neglect justiceand the love of God.Youshouldhave practiced the latter withoutleavingthe former
undone.” . Againwe can learnthateven when Christianministryisperformedforthe purpose of
garneringattention,thatattentionisall the rewardthatwill be giventothem;Godwill notrewardacts
done forselfishmotives. JesustaughtthisinMatthew 6:5, “Andwhen you pray, donot be likethe
hypocrites,for they love to pray standinginthe synagoguesandonthe street corners to be seen by
others. Truly I tell you,they have received their reward in full”.
We can alsolearnof the importantcharacteristicsof Love asa fruitof the spiritby reading 1
Corinthians13:4-7, “Love is patient,love iskind. It does not envy, it doesnot boast, it isnot proud.5
It
does not dishonorothers,it is not self-seeking,itis noteasily angered,it keeps norecord ofwrongs.
6
Love does not delightin evil but rejoices with the truth. 7
It alwaysprotects, alwaystrusts, always
hopes,alwaysperseveres”. These characteristics delve more deeplyinto agapelove.Whenwe readthis
it tellsusthatthe sacrificial choice tolove isabove honorandpride. Agapelove choosestobe kindand

2. patientinthe face of insult.Itishumble despiteothers'arrogance.Itdoesn'tworryabouthonoror
revenge.Because agapelove isempoweredbythe HolySpirit,itcanignore worldlyvaluesand focuson
the hope that otherswill come toGod, as well.
As Christiansall of usknowthat "Godislove" (1 John 4:8). It is essential toHisnature,andwhenwe
love—whenwe seektobenefitotherswithnoregardforthe cost to ourselves—we show thatwe know
God and exemplifythis knowledge with other.Whenwe readthe lastsectionof 1 Corinthians13, it
speaksof the permanence of agapelove. We know thatsome giftsare temporary,butthere will always
be love.Ineternity,whenwe have glorifiedbodieswithsinlessminds,the HolySpiritwill be able to
manifestHischaracterinus evenmore. We can learnfrom 1 Corinthians13:8-13, “Love never fails.But
where there are prophecies,they will cease; where there are tongues,they will be stilled;where there
is knowledge,it will passaway. 9
For we know inpart andwe prophesyin part, 10
but when
completenesscomes, what isin part disappears. 11
WhenI was a child,I talked like a child,I thought
like a child,I reasoned likea child.When I became a man,I put the ways ofchildhoodbehindme. 12
For
now we see onlya reflectionas in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. NowI knowin part; then I
shall know fully,even asI amfullyknown.13
Andnowthese three remain: faith,hope andlove. But the
greatest of these is love”.
We can learnthat nothingcanartificiallymanufacture the love of Godinus. It has to come fromHim.
Love is a fruitof the Spirit.Itgrows whenwe are in Hispresence.Aswe allow Himtochange us,we can
love Godand love othersaswe should. Therefore we can learn1 John4:12, "Noone has ever seen
God;but if we love one another,God livesin usand hislove is made completein us."