Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
Series - “Fruit of the Spirit”
January 16, 2000

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22, 23

“For the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, against such there is no law.”

First you will note that “fruit” is singular. There are not nine Fruits of the Spirit. There is one fruit with nine flavors. These nine flavors are the constituent elements of one fruit. Let’s look at each one.

LOVE

There is a sense in which everything else in this verse flows out of love.

• Love is greater than faith and hope (I Corinthians 13:13)

• Love is the great commandment (I John 3:23)

• Love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10)

• Love serves an evangelical purpose (John 13:34, 35)

I Corinthians 13 is the most complete commentary we have on love. Love is seen in 15 movements or expressions in verses 4-7 - all self explanatory.

Love -

     suffers long
     is kind
     does not envy
     is not puffed up
     does not parade itself
     does not behave rudely
     does not seek its own
     is not provoked
     does not keep a record of a wrong suffered
     does not rejoice in iniquity
     rejoices in the truth
     bears all things
     believes all things (puts the best possible construction upon everything)
     hopes all things
     endures all things.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that he prayed for them when he “heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints (Colossians 1:4).”

So love is our badge. Let’s wear it!

Love to all –

Charles Covington

Lord willing, I plan to begin a series on the fruit of the Spirit after we have finished our “Life of Jesus” series. I am sure that I will repeat these words of wisdom from Charles during those messages. Blessings to you all. Learn something from God’s Word every day and walk with Him in the newness of life that you have received from Him.

Pastor Dale