Agape Love the Love of God

Love in the Spirit

Colossians 1:3-8

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

INTRO: This is the only reference to the Holy Ghost in this book. The theme is the fullness and glory of Jesus Christ. Jesus cannot be glorified without first recognizing the Holy Ghost

John 16:13-15

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

1 Corinthians 12:3

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Though there is only a brief mention of the Holy Ghost in Colossians, it shines like a star in the heavens.

Epaphras, a minister, reported to Paul on the condition of Colossae, declaring to Paul the believers “love in the Spirit” (v. 8). The characteristics of the Colossian Church were perfect “love in the Spirit,” in their fellowship,

unbroken union, no gossiping tongues, no misunderstandings, no quarrels, no criticisms, no murmuring, and no bad feelings.

All had joined together in perfect love and fellowship—They had a divine unity in the spirit,

“love in the Spirit.” Theirs was a heavenly, and holy, Christ like love! Agape Love

Verse 4 calls it, “The love which ye have to all the saints.”

The Love of country, love of your mother, wife, husband, children—these are all natural, earthly loves.

But To Love in the Holy Ghost is different.

It is not fleshly; it is spiritual.

The kingdom of God is a different kingdom!

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In John 13:34 Jesus says, “A new commandment (Law) I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another .”

I. NATURAL LOVE IS AN INSTINCT

and It’s a PASSION.

BUT to LOVE IN THE SPIRIT IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - A RESULT OF THE SUPERNATURAL LIFE IMPARTED TO US BY THE HOLY GHOST.

A. Human love usually goes a little farther than animal love. But it is born of the earth, and like the earth it will pass away.

B. But to “Love in the Spirit” descends from above.

It is part of the nature of God.

C. The Spirit takes the love and fellowship of the heavenly father and puts it into our hearts.

II. NATURAL LOVE IS SELFISH, IT can STOPS WHEN ITS SATISFIED or Dissatisfied

BUT GOD’S LOVE IS UNSELFISH AND REACHES OUT TO THE GOOD OF ITS FOCUS

A. The strongest earthly love can turn into bitter hate if it is crossed or disappointed. It can strike down with a deathblow of vengeance at the very one for whom it would have given its life a few days before.

When jealousy is awakened, it can be awful, and horrible!

B. Paul told one group, in Galatians 4:14–16

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

C. God’s love forgets itself and seeks to bless others, even! it’s enemies!

It loves to bless and never draws back from any sacrifice to make others happy.

Matthew 5:43–44

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

D. This is why Christian’s are called “new creature’s”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

It is impossible to love those who hate you without God’s love.

1. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” Luke 23:34 But that was Jesus he was more than a man.

Ok what about Stephen

2. Stephen said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” Acts 7:60

III. NATURAL LOVE IS BASED UPON THE ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES OF ITS FOCUS

GOD”S LOVE SPRINGS FROM WITHIN TO BLESS ALL, EVEN THE UNLOVABLE.

A. Human love is attracted to the lovely, to the good, to the beautiful.

But Thank God that God’s love can take the unlovable and love it into loveliness, because that's what God does!

B. 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Romans 5:8

“God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us”

C. There is a slight resemblance between motherly love and God’s love.

Who ever saw a mother who did not think her baby was the most “beautiful baby” that ever lived?

Others might not see beauty, but that mama does. Even when a baby is fussy, sick, or a constant pain, she still loves the child night and day, sacrificing for him and serving the baby’s needs.

D. But to Love in the Spirit goes far beyond all other loves.

Love is the first fruit listed among “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”

IV. NATURAL LOVE IS SENSITIVE, AND LIVES IN THE SUNSHINE; (when all things are going right)

BUT GOD’S LOVE IS LONG-SUFFERING, IT”S KIND AND TRUE,

EVEN IN THE DARKEST HOUR OF SUFFERING AND WRONG. IT IS ETERNAL.

A. Natural love can depend on mood swings and or your fickle feelings.

It can love today and hate tomorrow.

B. But God’s love begins by “suffering long” and ends by “enduring all things,”and while in the middle of all that, Gods Love “is not easily provoked”

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 declares;

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

C. GOD’s love reaches out to all ,even to those who cannot or will not return it.

It prays for those who despitefully use it and persecute it.

It suffers in silence. And It would die for those who would take its life.

D. “Love in the Spirit”— Only the Holy Ghost can produce this in our heart.

V. NATURAL LOVE IS EXCLUSIVE, PARTIAL, AND PARTISAN.

God’s LOVE IS COMPLETE AND UNIVERSAL,FOR ALL, LIKE THE HEART OF GOD.

A. Human love has its favorites; God’s love loves everybody.

Human love, many times, dislikes those who are not in its inner circle, of the family cliques, and so forth.

B. God’s love is just and fair. It takes in the rich and poor;

the high and low status or education; people of any color and race.

It treats everybody right.

It is not selective. It will do as much for one as the other.

VI. HUMAN LOVE Lacks SELF-CONTROL.

Gods LOVE IS MODERATE AND SELF-RESTRAINED.

A. A mother in one moment can hug her child with passion and affection and in the next moment bawl him out and give him a good thrashing.

A father can love his son intemperately, indulgently, allowing the son to satisfy his own wishes … to his own hurt.

B. But Gods love restrains, and even dares sometimes to displease.

1. Joseph is an example. He loved his brothers, but he restrained his affection and held them as guilty men until they repented. When they repented, he forgave them. (See Genesis 42).

2. God’s love is thoughtful, sober, seeing far beyond natural devotion or affection.

Yet brave enough to wound that it mite correct and save his child.

C. Love is like a good Pastor or Shepard!

VII. HUMAN LOVE IS EARTHLY. But

TO LOVE IN THE SPIRIT IS THE LOVE OF GOD IN US.

A. It is the love of the Holy Ghost filling and flowing out of our heart.

It is said that 1 Corinthians 1:3 is just a photograph of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. The Holy Ghost came down from heaven to teach us Gods love and “shed [it] abroad in our hearts”

Romans 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Love is life! And The Holy Ghost is the teacher in the School of Love.

He gives lessons every day!

C. A Pastor talking to another Pastor about being wronged and hurt was gently rebuked. The other Pastor said,

“It is a lesson from God, to teach you to hold your tongue when people talk about you.”

CONCLUSION: Saints of old said, “It is so sweet to love your enemies.”

What they were saying is that to love God and love others in the Spirit is to love everybody regardless of the consequences.