"Love, Joy, and Peace: The First Fruits of the Spirit"

Moment of Tithing and Offerings: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

Introduction

Have you ever bitten into a perfectly ripe piece of fruit?

That first burst of sweetness, the juice that sometimes runs down your chin?

There's nothing quite like it. You can't fake that kind of ripeness—it's the result of time, the right conditions, and a healthy tree.

In our spiritual lives, God desires to produce something equally authentic and sweet—what the Bible calls "the fruit of the Spirit."

Our main text today comes from Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Notice Paul doesn't call these the "fruits" of the Spirit—plural—but the "fruit" of the Spirit—singular.

This isn't a spiritual buffet where we get to pick and choose which characteristics we want to develop.

Rather, this fruit comes as a complete package when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives.

Today, we begin a four-week journey exploring these beautiful qualities, starting with the first three: love, joy, and peace.

These aren't just nice feelings or pleasant personality traits—they're evidence of God's transforming work in us.

As Romans 5:5 tells us, "And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

Original Greek Insights

The word "fruit" (karpos) in Greek is singular, emphasizing that these nine qualities come as a package deal.

They're not separate fruits but different facets of the same fruit.

Additionally, the concept of "fruit" implies organic growth.

Just as you can't force a tree to produce fruit overnight, you can't manufacture the fruit of the Spirit through sheer willpower.

It grows gradually as we abide in Christ (John 15:5).

Let me share a story that illustrates how these first three fruits work together.

A few years ago, I visited a hospital where a church member was recovering from major surgery.

As I approached her room, I could hear laughter. Inside, I found her surrounded by family, sharing stories and smiling despite her obvious pain.

When I asked how she could be so cheerful in such circumstances, she simply said, "Pastor, God's got this. Why waste energy worrying?"

She then proceeded to ask about my family and how the church was doing.

Despite her situation, she was focused on others—showing love. She maintained her joy even in suffering. And she exhibited a peace that transcended her painful circumstances.

That's what the fruit of the Spirit looks like in real life—not perfect people, but people being perfected by the Spirit's work within them.

Another illustration:

Think of love, joy, and peace like the primary colors. Just as red, blue, and yellow can be combined to create every other color, these first three fruits of the Spirit form the foundation for all the others.

Without love, can we truly have patience?

Without joy, can we exhibit genuine kindness?

Without peace, can we demonstrate self-control?

These three set the stage for all that follows.

Point 1: Love - The Foundation of All Spiritual Fruit

I asked chatgpt

Love – Strawberry 🍓

Why: Strawberries are heart-shaped and often associated with love and affection.

Their sweetness and bright red color symbolize warmth, sacrifice, and deep care—just like God’s love that’s pure, generous, and central to all other fruit.

1 John 4:16 (NLT): "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them."

The first and most fundamental fruit of the Spirit is love. This isn't surprising, as God Himself is love.

1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, His very nature—which is love—begins to manifest in our lives.

In the original Greek, the word used here is "agape."

Unlike other Greek words for love that describe romantic feelings (eros) or brotherly affection (philia), agape is a deliberate, sacrificial love that seeks the highest good of others regardless of how we feel about them.

It's the love that Jesus demonstrated when He died for us while we were still sinners.

Matthew Henry in his commentary notes: "This love is not merely a warm feeling toward others but a determined good will that expresses itself in action for their benefit."

This is critical to understand—the love produced by the Spirit isn't just an emotion; it's a commitment that leads to action.

Consider the example of Barnabas in the early church.

His name means "Son of Encouragement," and throughout Acts, we see him living out agape love.

When the apostles were suspicious of Paul's conversion, Barnabas vouched for him.

When the church needed financial support, Barnabas sold his field and gave the money to the apostles.

His love wasn't just words—it was demonstrated through tangible acts of kindness and sacrifice.

Billy Graham once said, "God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'"

The question for us today is:

How are we proving our love?

Are we merely saying the words, or are we demonstrating love through our actions?

Point 2: Joy - The Strength That Sustains Us

Joy – Pineapple Why: Pineapples look like they’re wearing a crown, and they bring a tropical, festive, celebratory feel.

Joy isn’t just happiness—it’s deeper, radiant, and bold, much like a pineapple’s vibrant flavor and striking appearance.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT): "Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"

The second fruit of the Spirit is joy.

This isn't the same as happiness, which depends on favorable circumstances.

Spiritual joy runs deeper—it's a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope that comes from knowing God is in control, regardless of our circumstances.

The Greek word used here is "chara," which is closely related to the word for grace (charis). This connection is significant—true joy flows from experiencing God's grace in our lives.

Warren W. Wiersbe explains: "Christian joy is not the absence of problems but the presence of Christ in the midst of problems."

This reminds us that joy isn't found in perfect circumstances but in a perfect Savior.

Paul and Silas exemplify this kind of joy in Acts 16.

After being beaten and thrown into prison, they were singing hymns at midnight!

Their circumstances were terrible, but their joy was unshakable because it was rooted in Christ, not in comfort.

C.S. Lewis described this phenomenon beautifully when he wrote, "Joy is the serious business of Heaven."

He understood that joy isn't frivolous or superficial—it's a profound spiritual reality that gives us strength for the journey.

In our world of instant gratification and constant entertainment, we often mistake pleasure for joy.

But pleasures fade quickly, while joy endures.

The joy of the Lord is our strength because it's not dependent on what happens to us but on who lives within us.

Point 3: Peace - The Tranquility Amid Turmoil

Peace – Blueberry - Why: Blueberries are small, calming in color, and subtle in flavor.

They represent the quiet, deep peace that doesn't need to shout to be real. Their cool tone reminds us of still waters and inner calm.

John 14:27 (NLT): "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."

The third fruit of the Spirit is peace.

The Greek word "eirene" goes beyond the mere absence of conflict to describe a state of completeness and wholeness.

Charles Spurgeon said, "The God of peace gives perfect peace to those whose minds are stayed on Him." This peace isn't just about external circumstances being calm; it's an internal state of tranquility that remains even in the midst of storms.

Consider Jesus sleeping in the boat during the fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee.

While the disciples panicked, Jesus rested in perfect peace.

After calming the storm, He asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).

His peace wasn't disturbed because He knew who was in control—His Father.

The prophet Daniel provides another powerful example.

When thrown into the lions' den, Daniel displayed remarkable peace.

King Darius couldn't sleep that night, but I imagine Daniel slept quite well, even surrounded by hungry lions!

His peace came from his unwavering trust in God.

Craig Groeschel reminds us, "Peace isn't the absence of problems; it's the presence of God in the midst of problems."

This peace is available to all believers through the Holy Spirit, but we must choose to receive it by surrendering our anxieties to God.

In the original context of Galatians, Paul was writing to believers facing persecution and internal church conflicts.

His reminder about the fruit of peace was timely—and it remains timely for us today in our divided, anxious world.

Context of Galatians

To fully appreciate Paul's teaching on the fruit of the Spirit, we need to understand the context of his letter to the Galatians.

Paul wrote this letter around AD 49-50 to churches he had established in Galatia (modern-day Turkey).

These churches were being influenced by false teachers who insisted that Gentile Christians needed to follow Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to be truly saved.

Paul's letter is a passionate defense of the gospel of grace.

He argues that believers are justified by faith alone, not by works of the law.

The fruit of the Spirit emerges not from rigorous rule-following but from a living relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

William Barclay notes: "The whole point of Galatians is that Christianity is not about rules and regulations; it is about a relationship with Christ that transforms us from within."

This transformation produces the fruit of the Spirit naturally, not through forced compliance with external standards.

Conclusion

As we close today, remember that the fruit of the Spirit isn't produced through human effort but through surrender to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

reminds us that Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, and apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Love, joy, and peace—these first three aspects of the Spirit's fruit transform us from the inside out.

They're not just 9 qualities to have; they're evidence that God's Spirit is alive and active within us.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

When we allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us, we find that love is indeed lighter than hate, joy more powerful than despair, and peace more satisfying than anxiety.

Appeal and Application

I want to challenge each of us this week to become more intentional about cultivating these first three fruits of the Spirit:

Love in Action: Identify one person who is difficult to love, and perform one specific act of kindness for them this week. Remember, love isn't a feeling—it's a choice and an action.

Joy Journal: Start a daily practice of writing down three things that bring you joy—not just happiness, but deep spiritual joy. Look for God's grace in unexpected places.

Peace Practice: Set aside 10 minutes each day for silent prayer, surrendering your anxieties to God and receiving His peace. When worry creeps in, practice replacing anxious thoughts with scripture promises.

Let's pray together:

Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who produces in us what we could never produce ourselves. We confess our tendency to try to manufacture love, joy, and peace through our own efforts, and we surrender now to Your work within us. Plant us deeply in the soil of Your grace, water us with Your Word, and let the light of Your presence cause spiritual fruit to grow abundantly in our lives. Help us to be living demonstrations of Your love, joy, and peace in a world desperately hungry for authentic Christianity. In Jesus' name, Amen.