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by Sandy Shaw
We have reached these thrilling verses in Galatians 5 where we learn that God the Holy Spirit wants to grow fruit in our lives. He wants to take these lives of ours - rescued from sin by Jesus Christ the Son - and His desire is to produce fruit on these branches of the vine. Now if that does not excite a man, I do not know what will.
We looked briefly at this first word 'love'. Remember the setting. We do not want to take this word out of context. We have been reading of what to get rid of, and what to cultivate. Ugly things can raise their ugly destructive heads, and can explode having lain dormant for months or years. There can be something which you wish were not part of your makeup - and you never know when that aspect of your character will reveal itself.
The tremendous news included in the Gospel is that we can be set free and delivered from these, and then we can cultivate the fruit. The fruit can really only grow when we have repented of our sins - and when we have been 'born again'.
These words are written to brothers, and Paul would never use that word lightly.
Turn again to John 13 verses 34,35. These are beautiful words - but it is a Command - and it is new - and it comes from Jesus. He comes with Commands - which are so powerful and unusual and practical - and He makes them possible. We could never do this on our own. He not only commands, but He gives us the ability to keep and fulfill the command. These are among His last and final words to His chosen men. It is NOT a suggestion, and NOT optional. This is how the world will judge the church.
We read Romans 12 and verse 9, but look at Chapter 13 verse 8. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another! I wonder how many wish they had heard that word from The Word of God.
'Love' is a big word - it is like the word disciple or elder. These are big words with immense meaning and significance, and should be used cautiously and carefully.
One of the challenging tasks of a pastor is to help produce people who truly love one another.
In the original Greek, there are FOUR words for LOVE, and they all mean different things. That is why we have to be cautious and careful. Use the word love in a School Assembly or Classroom today you get sniggers and nudges.
There is EROS - from which we get ‘erotic’ - with sexual connotations. In London, people erected a monument to Eros - the so-called god of sexual love at Piccadilly Circus. Now what has happened? Some have suggested that the spirit of Eros has taken over that acre of land, and more lives have been ruined in that acre than in any other acre of London.
If you put up a monument to something, do not be surprised if the spirit of the monument comes along and occupies that area. It is said that his mission committee built a whole suburb just a 100 yards away. It is called Soho, where millions of lives have been ruined. A monument was raised to a false god, and an influence has come and done a corrupting work, by invitation. Some things happen at which we should not be too surprised.
The second word is STORGY, which is used for family love - for family affection.
And - there is PHILIO - which is used for friendships - filial - the love from a son or a daughter to be more accurate.
And then we come to the FOURTH word - AGAPE - that is the word Jesus used.
It is a strong enduring love - found in God Himself - and which has its source in God - but can flow from one believer to another.
It is PURE - HOLY - UNDEFILED. It is like the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. It is not out for self.
How do we cultivate this AGAPE? How can we help the love of God to grow?
1 Peter 1 verses 22,23 - Peter is writing to believers - to disciples who have been 'born again' - and he teaches these disciples of Jesus how they can purify themselves and how they can cultivate that love of God. He speaks about the quality of that love, and how deep it ought to be or can become.
A SEED - a SPERM - is sown in the heart of the believer and LOVE begins to grow.
1 John 4 verses 7,8 - where John also makes it very clear that it is those who have been born of God who can love with this quality of love, and because God loved us, He did something about it.
There is a kind of love - a quality of love - that can only come through being born of God. It is a consequence of being born again.
How can we receive - acquire - more of this love?
Romans 5 verse 5 - By receiving more and more of the Holy Spirit, because it is HE who produces the love. There is no other way you can have this quality of love. The heart of the born again believer becomes a vessel for the love of God. That passage begins with pain - and suffering - but things begins to develop and grow and LOVE BLOSSOMS.
We see how consistent the Bible is - there are no contradictions here - it is pure truth.
One thing I noticed as I was preparing for this. Truth is NOT part of the fruit.
You cannot grow truth. Truth is a person. Truth is Jesus Christ - and as you follow Him, Jesus plants truth in you, and you become full of truth or truthful.
In 1 John 3 : 16 - we are given another insight into the real meaning of LOVE. Jesus Christ laid down His Life for us. He was under the command of the Father. Son - I command You in Heaven to go and rescue and save these people - it is a new command I have for you - LOVE BY DYING. Lay down your life, that You may lift up the broken lives of those who have fallen! And we know Jesus replied, "Yes Father".
That is why we are called to lay down our lives for others and serve in the love of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit. No-one else can do it!
While we are in I John, remember that God is described as light before He is described as love. That is highly significant - and that is where forgiveness is to be found - walking in the light – Chapter 1 verses 5 to 9.)
Let me close by looking finally at John' Gospel – Chapter 15 verses 12,13 - here is Jesus repeating Himself. That is why we need not be too concerned about repeating ourselves. Jesus does it - to underline - to emphasise.
Do you think Jesus knew that disciples were really going to have trouble obeying this command? O He knew! Do you notice the accuracy of the words? MY COMMAND IS THIS. When I gave it to you earlier it was a new command. Now - it is no longer new.
Jesus laid down His Life for His friends - a friend of the King of Kings. You can be too, if you do what I command.
I remember that day in Inverness when the new Raigmore Hospital was opened by the Queen - thinking - what a great post it must be - to be the driver of the Queen - to take her safely here and there and on time. And it was as if my thinking was checked. You are a driver for me - and I am her King - and I am not only giving you the opportunity to be My Driver - but we can be friends as well. We are friends - but HE is BOSS - HE is KING - HE is LORD. And we are on first name terms. Now, I could never be that with the Queen - but with JESUS, YES! We are friends, but only because HE CHOSE ME and we need to remember that - verses 16,17.
I chose you to go and bear fruit - and the first part of that fruit is LOVE - AGAPE!
“Father, please help me to se that if I am not growing in love, then I am not growing in You. Help me to receive and remain and rest in Your Love. May I be compelled by the Love of Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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