Laughlin Community Church
Sunday, February 5, 2023
- Bible TriviaLoading...
- Shine Jesus Shine
- Graves Into Gardens
- Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here
Galatians 5.22-23NIV2011
- Introduction
Matthew 7:20 CSB 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.The flesh, the world, and the body of believers will be known by their fruit. Your fruit is very important. And is something to be celebrated.Today we will begin by looking at the first fruit found in Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:22 CSB 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,Fruit of LoveThe fruit of the Spirit is LoveDictionary.com defines love as:a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friendsexual passion or desirea person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.sexual intercourse; copulation.affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.These definitions are all over the place.FeelingsSexCompassionConcernLustLoops where you use the word in the definitionHebrews not really any betterTwo main words for Love in Hebrew is אהב (Ahav) and חסד (Chesed)AhavMeans love:Love for anotherSexual or brotherlyFamilialUsed for Gods love toward manTo righteousnessChesedThis word is translated in all kinds of different ways:LoveGoodnessKindnessFaithfulnessMercyLoving kindnessGodly loveLoyal Love (personal Favorite)And on it goesHomework: Use a bible program to help you see this word Hesed. What is your favorite translation?By the time we get to the Greek they do a little better but not much. They have four different words for love.ErosErotica comes from this wordGreek God of Love and sex you might know him by his roman name Cupid which means desireSexual loveStorgeFamily lovePhiliaBrotherly loveAgapeUnconditional LoveIf you had to guess what word is used in Galatians 5:22?AgapeThis is the highest form of love that there is. For many of us unconditional love is a nice thought but not a reality. Love despite their flaws and weaknesses.It’s a word that caused trouble for the early church. With all this talk of Agape, rumors of Secret orgies began to circulate and gave them bad PR. It’s one of the many reasons for persecution of the early church.What is Love?So what is love?We talk about it. We read about it. We feel it. We experience it. We know it exist. But can you define it?We can point to the source of love. God is love.We can point to Jesus on the cross and say this is what love does.We can point out signs of God’s love all around us.We can list characteristic of love.Look at Paul’s List in 1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13:4–8 NIV 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 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 pass away.Boy has that been used in all kinds of wrong ways. If you love me you wouldn’t keep any record of how many times I have hurt you. Forget that Love doesn’t delight in evil. It always protects, not self preservation.It is central to our faith. We love because God first loved us.John 3:16 NIV 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Shema Deuteronomy 6:4-5Deuteronomy 6:4–5 NIV 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.Leviticus 19:18 NIV 18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.It is central to our work.We Love others. We give to the poor because of love. We take care of others because of Love.The early Christians would have a love feast, in which they celebrated The Lords Supper and where they came together for communion together. Where all could eat, Like an early form of a potluck.Love we can’t define it, always. But it is something that because of God’s love for us we get to experience. He loved us so much that he sent his son. And gave us the Gift of the Holy Spirit. So that we can have a fruit of Love.It poor’s down on us and over flows. And they shall know you by your love.Love is not whatever you what to do. Let me watch you go down a path to hurt yourself. Love is not over looking abuse. Love is not letting yourself be hurt time and time again.Next Steps - Do People Know Me By My Love, The Love of God?If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. If you have not I am here to tell you that God Loves You, The author and creator of this which we call love, Loves you. And he wants you to become part of his family. Wants to legally adopt you. Can’t buy your way in. Can’t work your way in. Only through his love.For those of us that Are Christ. We have god’s love. It should be evident in our life. Is it a fruit that is in your life.1 Corinthians 13 How do I measure up?Are People seeing my Fruit?Pray and as we move forward don’t need to stop worship because communion is worship. Join in fellowship because we love and are part of the family. Matthew 7:20NIV2011
Galatians 5:22NIV2011
John 3:16NIV2011
Deuteronomy 6:4–5NIV2011
Leviticus 19:18NIV2011
- The Power of Your Love
Laughlin Community Church
702-989-1228
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