Gal 5:22-23

We’re called to grow in the fruits of the Spirit and as we do, we grow to be more like Jesus.

Like physical fruit, the fruits of the Spirit need time to grow, they won’t ripen in our lives over night and we need to be like a gardener and battle against the weeds and ensure our lives our watered with the bible and the Holy Spirit.

Nine characteristics describe the fruits of the Spirit, the first is love:

What is love?

• Love is the first of the fruits and the rest of the fruit are a reflection of the love that we have.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• If we want to know what love is we can look at the bible, who God is, His character and what He does for us.
• Romans 8:38-39
• We can be secure in the knowledge that God loves us and from that we can love others.

Why are we called to love others and what affect does it have?

• Jesus tells us that the main commandment is to love, Mark 12:30-31.
• Jesus says to love others as we love ourselves, he recognises that we need to honour who God has made us and who we’re becoming in Him and that affects how we treat others.
• Matthew 5:43-48.
• Some reasons why we’re called to love others – It’s following Jesus’ commands, it’s a natural outcome of a spirit filled life, it allows us to share what has been given to us, can be fulfilled wherever we are and whoever we’re with, makes others feel good, brings light where there’s darkness, points others to Jesus, plus many more reasons.

How do we love others like Jesus would have us?

• True biblical love is a choice not a feeling.
• Philippians 2:1-3
• Few things we can do to spend more time with Jesus:

• Need to be intentional about spending time with Jesus.
• We need to be nourished and refreshed by the Holy Spirit.
• Need to be intentional about removing distractions that take us away from Jesus.

• Loving others:

• Love without an agenda
• Outside the box
• Very simple
• I am present and engaged
• No clock watching
• Great extravagant love

• Let’s spend more time with Jesus and let’s get loving