CULTIVATE: THE POWER OF LOVE AND THE REWARD OF JOY

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Throughout the month of November, we are going to study just a few verses from the book of Galatians. This passage delivers to us the Fruit of the Spirit which God wants present in the life of every believer. We’re going to discover how this is possible for all of us.

Galatians 5:16–26 (NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1. The Spirit filled life

Gal. 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Vs 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

• “fruit” (karpos) is a singular term
• Warren Weirsbe said, “The characteristics that God wants in our lives are seen in the ninefold fruit of the Spirit. Paul begins with love because all of the other fruit is really an outgrowth of love.”[1]

2. The beginning of the Spirit filled life – LOVE

Vs 22a But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

• Vernon McGee – “Notice it is singular: is, not are. You can argue about the grammar used here, but it happens to be singular in the Greek. This indicates that love is the fruit, and from it stems all other fruits. Love is primary.”[2]
• The clear understanding is that love is the key element to walking in the Spirit
• Jesus referred often to the importance of love – Matthew 22
• Paul gives us the picture of what Spirit-filled love looks like in 1 Cor. 13

1 Cor. 13:4–8  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

• “The result of the transforming, sanctifying ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is just this: that we are enabled to love one another with the same kind of love that God loves us.”[3] – Timothy George

3. The reward for the Spirit filled life – JOY 

Vs 22b …joy…

• “joy” – chara = a state of gladness, great happiness. The inner attitude of rejoicing in one’s salvation regardless of external circumstances.
• Walking in the Spirit produces the “fruit” of love, which produces the “fruit” of joy

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials

Neh. 8:10b …Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

John 15:5–11 (NKJV) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

4. The power of the Spirit filled life – LOVE AND JOY

     a. For us

     b. To others

Tony Evans said, “To love is to seek another person’s good—especially when that person can do nothing for you in return. Joy is the settled celebration of the soul within us, even when circumstances don’t make us happy.”[4]

Action:

1. Look for the barriers to walking in the Spirit

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…

2. See others for who they are: God’s beloved creation

3. See the best, even in the worst

James 1:2–4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 719–720.

[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Galatians), electronic ed., vol. 46 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 103.

[3] Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 401.

[4] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1212–1213.