"Farewell" Address

The Fruit of the Spirit - PEACE

The 3rd of the fruit of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love (agape), joy (chara), peace…

* Peace Translations

* One of the names of God is Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace.

            * Jehovah is a term for God, it means YHWH which is spoken Yahweh.

* This is the name, the only name, God gave Himself. It is written without the vowels, or commonly written as LORD because this name is o sacred.

            * Jehovah Shalom can be seen in each part of the trinity.

                        * God the Father

                                    * Hebrews 13:20-21

- May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

                        * God the Son

                                    * Isaiah 9:6

- For to us a child is born,
             to us a son is given,
                  and the government will be on his shoulders.
                   And he will be called
                   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
                   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

*Micah 5:1-5

- Marshal your troops, O city of troops,
                  for a siege is laid against us.
                   They will strike Israel's ruler
                   on the cheek with a rod.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
                   though you are small among the clans of Judah,
                   out of you will come for me
                   one who will be ruler over Israel,
                   whose origins are from of old,
                   from ancient times."

Therefore Israel will be abandoned
                   until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
                   and the rest of his brothers return
                   to join the Israelites.

                                                He will stand and shepherd his flock
                                                in the strength of the LORD,
                                                in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
                                                And they will live securely, for then his greatness
                                                will reach to the ends of the earth.

                                                And he will be their peace.

            - Ephesians 2:14

~For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

                        * God the Spirit

                                    *Ephesians 4:3

-Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

*A man cannot create peace in his own soul.

*Just as joy and love are closely linked, peace and joy are closely linked.

            * Romans 14:17

-For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

*Romans 15:13

-May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Story of peace

This story is taken straight out of Beth Moore's Bible Study on the Fruit of the Spirit. It was so touching and so true that I just couldn't leave it out.

"I will never forget watching an evening talk show featuring the story of the parents and killer of a young college student. The killer was his best friend. The weapon was high alcohol content inside a speeding automobile. We've heard so many stories about drunk drivers and their victims. What made this particular feature prime-time viewing? The parents had forgiven the young driver… and if that was not enough, they had taken him in as their own.

This young man sat at the table in the chair which was once occupied by their only son. He slept in the son's bed. He worked with the victim's father, teaching seminars on safety. He shared their fortune and supported their causes. He spoke about the one he had slain in ways only someone who knew him intimately could have.

Why did these parents do such a thing? Because it gave them peace. The interviewer was amazed; I was amazed. I kept trying to put myself in the parents' position- but I could not. Then, as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I heard the Spirit of God whisper to my heart and say: 'No wonder you cannot relate. You have put yourself in the wrong position. You, my child, are the driver.'

God was the parent-who not only forgave-but also invited me to sit at His table in the space my Savior left for me. As a result, I have peace."

What amazing peace! Only through Christ can we obtain such peace in our lives!

* In Philippians 4:7 and John 14:27 we find out 5 things about peace.

            * Philippians 4:7

- And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

            * John 14:27

-Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

            * We see that…

                        - A peace exists that transcends all understanding.

                                    ~ Philippians 4:7

                        -The world cannot give this kind of peace.

                                    ~ John 14:27

                        - This kind of peace guards the heart and the mind.

                                    ~ Philippians 4:7

                        - This peace belongs to Christ and is only His to give.

                                    ~ John 14:27

                        - Christ has offered us His peace.

                                    ~ John 14:27

* Portraits of Peace in the Life of Christ

            * Luke 2:41-52

-Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

* John 6:1-15
- Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

* Matthew 14: 22-33
- Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

                        "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

                        "Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

* John 11
- Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

                        Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
      "Come and see, Lord," they replied.

                        Jesus wept.

                        Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.
      "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
      Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place^[c] and our nation."

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

* John 18:1-11
- When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"

                        "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

                        Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?"
                        And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

* You must first have peace with God before you can experience peace from God. This peace of God sustains an abundant life.

* What do we see is a common theme about the fruit of the Spirit?
            - They are not ours, they are Jesus'.
            - He is the possessor of the fruit and only He can give it away.

* Non-Christians cannot experience TRUE love, joy, peace…

The Fruit of the Spirit - JOY

The 2nd of the fruit of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love (agape), joy…

* This week is a bit shorter because we're going to read the "Letter of Joy" from Paul and just let God's word speak to us.

* The Greek word for joy is chara.

            -It is the most common translated word in the English New Testament.

            -Meaning: joy, rejoicing, gladness-enjoyment, bliss.

            -In many ways, chara means "to celebrate."

* Chara and Charis are closely related because joy is an absolute assumption in grace.

            - Romans 5:3-5

* "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

- We can see how rejoicing in suffering leads to and is connected to the love of God the Father.

*5 major catalyst for joy:

            1. The origin of joy is our salvation!

- We must remember that Christ died for us and our joy comes from knowing that we'll spend eternity with Him.

- Joy results when we realize that our names are written in heaven.

            2. Chara is discovery.

- The discover of Jesus in every circumstance or situation that we encounter.

- Discovery of Jesus in circumstances, even suffering.

            * James 1:3-4

- "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

            3. Joy is the result of restoration.

                        - Discipline precedes restoration.

                                    * Jeremiah 31:18

- "I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning:
'You disciplined me like an unruly calf,
and I have been disciplined.
Restore me, and I will return,
because you are the LORD my God."

            4. Joy is the result of "remaining" in Christ.

                        - Chara, like agape, belongs to Christ.

                        - Christ is the possessor and Giver of true joy.

5. Joy is the result of relating God's way to God's people ~AKA~ WE are catalyst of joy for one another.

- Joy not only comes from the body of Christ, but also adds joy to the body of Christ.

            - Joy-keepers are soul winners.

*There are 5 ways we can lose our joy though.

We may lose our joy…

            1. when our outpour exceeds our intake.

- We need to remember that we need to be fed as well. Sometimes, we get wrapped up in teaching: Sunday School, Bible Study, Discipleship, or in serving, but we forget that we need to take in the Word and be fed by Him as well. We need to grow as we encourage others to grow.

            2. when our talk exceeds our walk.

- This is similar to number 1. We need to live what we preach. We need to not just tell others about Christ, or help others to grow in Him, but we need to grow ourselves and live the life that we say we have in Christ.

            3. when we become "wonders junkies."

- We can get dependent on the miraculous signs that Christ does in our lives. If we are just reliant on the wonders and not our relationship with Christ, our faith becomes stagnant if Christ doesn't choose to communicate to us through miraculous signs. We need to be reliant on Him and not the wonders that he does.

            4. when we are exhausted.

- When we are exhausted, we get grumpy and selfish. We need to sleep and get rest, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual rest.

            * Psalm 127:2

                        - "In vain you rise early
                                and stay up late,
                              toiling for food to eat—
                              for he grants sleep to those he loves."

            5. when we feel all alone.

- On campus, this is a feeling that is almost frequent. When we are in philosophy or religion classes at a secular university, we may be the only believer in the room. This can be discouraging because we feel like we're all alone. We need to remember that we are not ever alone. God is always with us.

*Ultimately, we must remember that God is our source of Joy and is our JOY!

Philippians- the "Letter of Joy"

The Philippian church was planted by Paul. Paul at this point is under house arrest. Even though he is in prison (house arrest) and chained to a Roman guard, he still writes a letter full of joy to his church.

Paul shows us joy - especially using the 5 catalysts.

The word joy is used 16 times in his letter.

Read through Philippians - let God's word speak for itself.

Chapter 1

    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
    To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

    Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Chapter 2

Imitating Christ's Humility

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

    Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
    Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
    but made himself nothing,
    taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
    And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to death—
    even death on a cross!
    Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
    that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
    and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Stars

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Chapter 3

No Confidence in the Flesh

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Chapter 4

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you   should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Exhortations

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

    To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. ²²All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

* Where we see the 5 catalysts for joy in Paul's letter:
            1. Salvation - Chapter 1 vs. 18
            2. Joy in discovery - Chapter 2 vs. 18
            3. Joy of restoration - Chapter 4 vs. 1 & 4
            4. Abiding joy - Chapter 1 vs. 25
            5. Fellowship joy - Chapter 2 vs. 2

* Pray about obtaining the Joy of Christ in your life and how you can share Joy with those around you.

Challenge for the week:
* Enjoy the body of Christ. Find a specific way to do it and be creative - then praise God for the privilege of fellowship.

*Be restored by Christ - find a place to be alone (completely alone, no distractions) and have an intense time with God. Open your heart and let him wash everything but himself away. Be joyful in Him!

Remember to continue with the challenges for the week from the Introduction and Love.

Fruit of the Spirit website

The Fruit of the Spirit - LOVE

* love

   –noun

–verb (used with object)

–verb (used without object)

—Verb phrase

—Idioms

* No matter which definition of love there is, love means risking rejection. By choosing to have relationships, no matter what type of relationship, we subject ourselves to the chance of being rejected by the other person.

* There are 3 types of love that we see from the Greek language.

            1. Eros: A sexual/lustful love

            2. Philos: Brotherly love - Friendship

            3. Agape: Caring love - only achieved by Christ

* In the Fruit of the Spirit, which type of love should we have?

* Let's begin our search for which type of love used in the Fruit of the Spirit with Eros.

-Eros is a love that should only be between a husband and wife. Eros actually means "longing and desire."

- This type of love is a selfish love and seeks to benefit themselves rather than others.

-God did not intend for love to be selfish, but because of the fall, this type of love turned to being a self-seeking type of love.

-To see this love in a good light, we can turn to Song of Solomon Chapters 1 and 4.

* Song of Solomon 1: Solomon's Song of Songs.
Beloved
     Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
     for your love is more delightful than wine.

   Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
   your name is like perfume poured out.
   No wonder the maidens love you!

Take me away with you—let us hurry!
   Let the king bring me into his chambers.
      
Friends
   We rejoice and delight in you;
   we will praise your love more than wine.
  
Beloved
   How right they are to adore you!

   Dark am I, yet lovely,
               O daughters of Jerusalem,
               dark like the tents of Kedar,
               like the tent curtains of Solomon.

Do not stare at me because I am dark,
               because I am darkened by the sun.
               My mother's sons were angry with me
               and made me take care of the vineyards;
               my own vineyard I have neglected.

Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock
   and where you rest your sheep at midday.
   Why should I be like a veiled woman
   beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends
   If you do not know, most beautiful of women,
   follow the tracks of the sheep
   and graze your young goats
   by the tents of the shepherds.

Lover
   I liken you, my darling, to a mare
   harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh.

   Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,
               your neck with strings of jewels.

We will make you earrings of gold,
   studded with silver.

Beloved
   While the king was at his table,
   my perfume spread its fragrance.

My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.

My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
   from the vineyards of En Gedi.

Lover
   How beautiful you are, my darling!
   Oh, how beautiful!
   Your eyes are doves.

Beloved
   How handsome you are, my lover!
   Oh, how charming!
   And our bed is verdant.

Lover
               The beams of our house are cedars;
               our rafters are firs.

* Song of Solomon 4:

Lover
    How beautiful you are, my darling!
    Oh, how beautiful!
    Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
    Your hair is like a flock of goats
    descending from Mount Gilead.
    

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn,
    coming up from the washing.
    Each has its twin;
    not one of them is alone.

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon;
    your mouth is lovely.
    Your temples behind your veil
    are like the halves of a pomegranate.

Your neck is like the tower of David,
    built with elegance;
    on it hang a thousand shields,
    all of them shields of warriors.

Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    like twin fawns of a gazelle
    that browse among the lilies.

Until the day breaks
    and the shadows flee,
    I will go to the mountain of myrrh
    and to the hill of incense.

All beautiful you are, my darling;
    there is no flaw in you.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
    come with me from Lebanon.
    Descend from the crest of Amana,
    from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon,
    from the lions' dens
    and the mountain haunts of the leopards.

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
    you have stolen my heart
    with one glance of your eyes,
    with one jewel of your necklace.

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
    How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
    and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!

Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
    milk and honey are under your tongue.
    The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
    you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
    with choice fruits,
    with henna and nard,

nard and saffron,
    calamus and cinnamon,
    with every kind of incense tree,
    with myrrh and aloes
    and all the finest spices.

You are a garden fountain,
    a well of flowing water
    streaming down from Lebanon.

Beloved
                Awake, north wind,
                and come, south wind!
                Blow on my garden,
                that its fragrance may spread abroad.
                Let my lover come into his garden
                and taste its choice fruits.

* Healthy marriages do not exist absent of physical affection
-1 Corinthians 7:3-6: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.

* Philo love is characterized by a shared experience.

* Friends build each other up. If one is joyful, the other will be joyful with them. If one is sad and burdened, the other will sympathize and be sad and burdened with them. However, friends have the ability to betray one another. 

* Although friends have the ability to betray one another, the fear of betrayal should never keep us from cultivating friends. However, betrayal is real and philos love does not withstand all things.

* Again, God did not intend for love to be flawed.

-To see this love in a good light, we can turn to 1 Peter 3:8.

*1 Peter 3:8: "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

- Peter, here is encouraging us to view and love one another as if we were blood related. Love for one another is a good thing and is encouraged throughout scripture. However, this love is also imperfect and not the love found in the Fruit of the Spirit because one who is loved can be betrayed.

* The last type of love is Agape. Agape is the most genuine of the Greek terms for love. This is the word we find in our text (Galatians 5:22-23).

* Agape is propelled by the highest interest. It is not fueled by the desire of its recipient, but it is fueled by need. In this, God did what humanity needed most -- he sent a Savior.

* 1 Corinthians 13 shows us Agape in that every time the word love is used, it is the term agape. It shows us a model of what love should look like:

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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

        3. He prays for us.
                - John 17:9: I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me,
                for they are yours.

        4. He protects us.
                - John 17:12: "While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name
                you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture                 would be fulfilled."

    5. He sanctifies Himself.       
            -John 17:19: "For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

        6. He gives us His glory.
                - John 17:22: "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we                     are one."

    7. He places us in Him.
            - John 17:23: "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the                     world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

    8. He makes the Father known to us.
            - John 17:24: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to                 see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the             world."

    9. He desires for us to be with Him and to see His glory.
            - John 17:26: "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in                    order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

*Agape, although God is the only one cable of it, is the foremost command given to His children.

- Matthew 22:37-40: "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

- We must remember that God shares His love, His Agape, with us freely. But, the only way we can have it is by surrendering to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.

Challenge for the week:
* Let the people who you love know that you love them. Tell them.

* Pray for God's love to be shown in your life. Share something from His Word (maybe something that jumped out at you during your quiet time) with someone, this could be a fellow believer or a non-Christian.

* Long-term goal: Memorize 1 Corinthians 13.