Transformative Love: The Holy Spirit's Power in Unity

The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, particularly through the fruit of love. The speaker asserts that while the age of signs and wonders ended with the Apostles, the Holy Spirit's work in the church continues, with love being a powerful force for change in the world, relationships, and within individuals. Love is seen as a guiding light and a cure for conflict, offering unity in a divided world.

The importance of love in bringing us closer to godliness is highlighted, referencing 1 John 4:8 to affirm that God is love. The transformation into the image of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit's fruit of love is a testimony to God's work and assures eternal life. Love is presented as the greatest Christian virtue, surpassing faith and hope, and the speaker encourages non-Christians to embrace Jesus Christ for the transformative love of God.

The sermon also addresses love as a solution to social conflict, citing 1 Corinthians 13:4 and the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate how envy and arrogance can lead to conflict. Love is described as civil, not insisting on its own way, and forgiving, which is crucial for peace and civil discourse.

Furthermore, love's impact on daily relationships is discussed, with an emphasis on its resilience and ability to endure all things. The breakdown of the American family is attributed to a lack of applied love and the view of marriage as a temporary arrangement.

The speaker shares a personal story about attending a Lads to Leaders convention in South Korea, learning about Korean culture, and experiencing a missile alert from North Korea. This anecdote serves as a reminder that life goes on despite unexpected events.

The absence of mercy in society is critiqued, with the speaker noting how it leads to racism and feuds, using the Hatfields and McCoys as an example. Love is characterized by goodwill in action, believing and hoping all things, and rejoicing in the truth, which brings healing to society and nations.

The negative impact of no-fault divorce on marriage is discussed, with the speaker emphasizing that love should make marriage enduring. The importance of personal change, humility, and conforming to God's will is stressed, along with the need for patience and endurance from God's love.

Lastly, the speaker expresses gratitude for the support of their work in Korea and excitement for the upcoming week at Fort Hill Christian Camp. They reflect on their history with the camp, the involvement of young people who have grown up attending, and invite others to participate in the camp's family-oriented activities.

Key Takeaways:

- The Holy Spirit's ongoing work in the church is manifested through the fruit of love, which is more wondrous than physical miracles and serves as a powerful agent for change and unity in a fractured world.

- Embracing the love of God, which transforms believers into the image of Christ, is the pinnacle of Christian virtues and provides assurance of eternal life, surpassing even faith and hope in its significance.

- Love's role in resolving social conflicts is crucial; it promotes civility, forgiveness, and peace by rejecting envy, arrogance, and the insistence on one's own way, instead of fostering understanding and reconciliation.

- The resilience of love in relationships is essential for enduring bonds, and the breakdown of the family unit can be attributed to a lack of such steadfast love, which should ideally make marriage a lasting commitment.

- The absence of mercy in society leads to division and strife, but love, characterized by goodwill, truth, and hope, has the power to heal societal wounds and foster a peaceful coexistence among nations.

### Bible Reading

1. Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruit of the Spirit)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

2. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (The Way of Love)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."

3. 1 John 4:8-9 (God is Love)
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

### Observation Questions

1. What are the components of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, and how is love positioned among them?
2. According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, what are the characteristics and behaviors associated with love?
3. In 1 John 4:8-9, how is the nature of God described in relation to love, and what action demonstrates this attribute?

### Interpretation Questions

1. How might the fruit of the Spirit, particularly love, influence one's response to societal conflicts and personal relationships?
2. In what ways does the description of love in 1 Corinthians challenge common attitudes and behaviors in today's society?
3. Considering the passage from 1 John, what implications does the statement "God is love" have for understanding the relationship between divine love and human actions?

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a recent disagreement or conflict. What is one specific way you can apply the qualities of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a to that situation?
2. Identify a relationship in your life that is currently strained. What is one action you can take this week to demonstrate the aspect of love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"?
3. Think of a time when you witnessed or experienced a lack of mercy. What is one practical step you can take to show mercy in a similar situation in the future?
4. Consider your family or a close relationship. What is one specific commitment you can make to strengthen that bond through the application of the fruit of the Spirit?
5. Recall a moment when you found it difficult to see God's love in your life. What is a short prayer you can say to remind yourself of God's love as described in 1 John 4:8-9, especially during challenging times?

Day 1: Love as Divine Transformation
The Holy Spirit's work within the church is evident through the manifestation of love, which transforms believers and unites them in a world often marked by division. This love is not a mere emotion but a reflection of God's nature, shaping lives and communities to mirror the image of Christ. It is through this divine love that one finds the true essence of godliness and the promise of eternal life. [07:40]

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reflection: How can you cultivate the fruit of love in your daily interactions to reflect the transformative power of the Holy Spirit?

Day 2: Love as the Ultimate Virtue
Love surpasses all other virtues, standing as the greatest testament to faith and the beacon of hope for eternity. It is through love that believers are called to live, embodying the fullness of God's commandments and the teachings of Christ. This love is not passive; it actively seeks to transform lives and guide individuals toward the path of righteousness and eternal life. [07:40]

1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize love over other virtues in your life to align more closely with God's will?

Day 3: Love as the Antidote to Conflict
In a world rife with conflict, love serves as the antidote, teaching us to be civil, forgiving, and to seek peace above personal gain. It is through love that envy and pride are conquered, allowing for reconciliation and understanding to flourish. As believers, the call to love is a call to action, to be peacemakers and healers in a world that desperately needs the touch of Christ's love. [07:40]

Romans 12:18 - "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Reflection: Can you identify a situation where you can actively promote peace and understanding through love, even if it means setting aside your own desires?

Day 4: Love as the Foundation of Relationships
The steadfastness of love is the cornerstone of enduring relationships, particularly within the family. It is this resilient love that enables bonds to withstand the trials of life. The breakdown of such relationships often stems from a lack of commitment to love's enduring nature. As believers, the call to love is a call to steadfastness, to view relationships as sacred covenants that reflect God's unwavering love for humanity. [07:40]

Colossians 3:14 - "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate steadfast love in your family and close relationships to strengthen these bonds in the face of challenges?

Day 5: Love as a Healing Balm for Society
The absence of mercy and the presence of division in society call for the healing balm of love. This love is active, seeking truth, and fostering goodwill among individuals and nations. It is through love that the wounds of racism, feuds, and societal strife can be mended, leading to a more peaceful and united world. Believers are called to be ambassadors of this love, exemplifying Christ's command to love our neighbors as ourselves. [07:40]

1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can show love in action within your community to contribute to healing and unity?

"Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, keeps no record of wrongs; it's resilient in overcoming. It does bear all things." [17:56]

"When you look at conflict at its very root, you find that envy and arrogance are never far from the surface. Love is the answer to that." [11:23]

"Rudeness is just simply applied arrogance. When you're rude to someone, at its core, it is saying I count more than you do. Love will guide us into civility." [12:15]

"Love does not insist on its own way and love keeps no record of wrongs. How can there ever be peace among men if we are insisting on our own way without listening to others?" [13:04]

"Love and truth are inseparable. It is never loving to accept a lie, to embrace error, or to permit others to live in deceit. Love rejoices with the truth and brings healing in our society." [17:06]

"Love ultimately is a key for personal change and whether we're talking about the change we want to bring into our families or the change that we want to see in our broader relationships or the change that we want to find in the world." [22:50]

"The more that we permit the spirit to bear his fruit of love in our lives, the more we are going to be made over into the image of Jesus Christ, who is the one whom the spirit bears witness of." [25:11]

"This assurance of eternal life is what Christians have; so now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." [26:34]

"The work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians is more wondrous even than the raising of the dead; the new life that you have in Jesus Christ is more wondrous than a physical life given to you." [07:45]

"Love is a power for change in the world, love is a power for change in our relationships among one another, and love as a power for change within ourselves." [09:13]

Well, so many good things have happened and that are going to happen.

First of all, it's great to be home after our time in South Korea. We had a very productive trip there with the first-ever Lads to Leaders convention in the Korean country. South Korea has about 6,000 members of the Churches of Christ scattered throughout the country, but in Seoul, we were able to offer a program for the boys and girls of that nation. We were able to have 60 in attendance for that convention, some of them traveling by train or driving in over two hours in order to be there.

This year, the focus was on speaking and song leading. Next year, there will be a broader list of opportunities, but in all of this, I want to thank this congregation for what you contributed to it.

Also, while we were there, we were able to learn more about Korean culture. Song Young, who was our host while we were there, is a fascinating man, very well connected with the government. He is a very accomplished member of the administration and was able to provide training for us. He, in particular, helped explain how to do evangelistic work among Buddhists, and that was a very interesting study.

But in the course of our time there, we did have one memorable thing that I know none of us will forget throughout the rest of our lives, and that was the morning that the alert went out. The sirens were blaring, and the president of South Korea was speaking. I have to tell you, I didn't know a thing he was saying, but North Korea had launched a missile, and the order was to evacuate the city. Women and children were to go first, and we were instructed to pack our bags and head to the American Embassy where we would be evacuated.

Now, this didn't last long because the North Koreans ended up misfiring the missile, which went into the Sea of Japan. The official word was that they were launching a satellite. The South Korean Navy was promptly there and excavated the missile from the ocean floor, and the unofficial word is that it was no satellite.

We're thankful that all that passed, and the president's next message was, "Life goes on as normal." That certainly is a lesson for us; life has to go on as normal.

But thank you again for your support of our work in Korea. You'll be hearing more about it as we have time to make a fuller report.

We're also looking forward to something that is, to me, even more exciting, and that is our week at Fort Hill Christian Camp. It's hard to imagine, but it was 25 years ago that Peggy and I were asked to go for the first time to manage a week at Fort Hill Camp. David and Jordan went with us; they were four and a half years old, and I can remember staying in the cabin with them and enjoying that time.

It's hard to imagine that David and Jordan, Kelly, and so many of our young people, Samantha, who have grown up going to Fort Hill, are returning as staff. Oh, Nicole, I can't forget you! Nicole looked over at Jordan and said he forgot me.

So many Fort Hill is a family time, and for those who are planning on being with us, thank you for carving out that time in your week. If any of you know of any children who would like to come to a wonderful week of youth camp, there's still room, and we'll be glad to provide that week for them.

Also, we have our pre-camp program. Our pre-camp program begins on Saturday and goes through noon on Sunday. It's an opportunity for people who maybe are not going to be able to spend the entire week but would like to know something about what Fort Hill is all about. It's an opportunity for you to come. We designed it primarily for those with small children whose children are too young to stay for the week, but it's open to anyone in the congregation who would like to come.

So if you've ever wondered what Fort Hill is all about, make your plans to be with us. We have a sign-up sheet in the foyer.

Now, this is off the books of Fort Hill; it's totally our effort, and that means we must provide the food. If you are planning on coming, you will be assigned something to bring, and I need to emphasize that includes if you're just coming for lunch on Saturday. That's not a Fort Hill meal; that's a pre-camp meal. If you are coming, we need you to sign up, and you'll be asked to bring something to contribute for this.

But the weekend is a wonderful time, and absolutely, I am looking forward to having such a fun time at Fort Hill Camp.

On Sunday mornings, we've begun a study on the fruits of the Spirit. As the fruit of the Spirit is being discussed through this quarter, something that I want to emphasize to you is that the Holy Spirit continues to work among God's people today.

Now, in the first century, the Holy Spirit performed signs and wonders. These confirmed the word by the apostles and those on whom the apostles laid their hands. Miracles were done—miracles of healing, miracles of prophecy, miracles even of raising the dead—and these did indeed confirm the word.

With the passing of the apostles, the age of signs and wonders came to an end, but the age of the Holy Spirit working in the church was just beginning. I want you to know that the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians is more wondrous even than the raising of the dead. The new life that you have in Jesus Christ is more wondrous than a physical life given to you.

As the Spirit bears His fruit in your life, you come into contact with the very power of God. Through the summer, we'll be looking at different aspects of the Spirit's fruit and what He is doing today. We'll be looking at love in particular. I want us to see that love changes lives.

We'll be going through verses drawn from First Corinthians 13. I appreciate Mike reading the entirety of that chapter. I want to encourage you to go back through this; it's a very short read, but to go back and see how the chapter of First Corinthians 13 shows the way of love and love as a power for change.

Love is a power for change in the world; love is a power for change in our relationships among one another; and love is a power for change within ourselves, each of these in turn.

But first of all, looking at change in the world, love is a guiding light for the world, and our world certainly needs it because our world is torn apart. Now, we are tempted to look primarily at the problems we have, and we certainly have a lot of problems in the world, but this has been true ever since sin entered the world.

Immediately after Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, we read about Cain and Abel—brothers, and Cain rising up and killing his brother. There has been division in the world, but love shows a way to unity. Love is a cure for conflict, and this is true no matter where the conflict may come.

We see that in our world—social conflict, the threat of military conflict—but even more dramatically, those things that are tearing at the very social fabric of our lives are there. But love shows us a way.

We find in First Corinthians 13, verse 4, "Love does not envy or boast." When you look at conflict at its very root, you find that envy and arrogance are never far from the surface. I reference Cain and Abel. Why is it that murder entered the world? It's because Cain was envious of his brother, and that's what led him to rise up against him.

In the same way, when we see a misplaced arrogance among nations and even among segments of our own nation, this can lead to conflict. But love is the answer to that.

Love also guides the way we interact with each other. Love is not arrogant or rude. Rudeness is just simply applied arrogance. When you're rude to someone, at its core, it is saying, "I count more than you do. I'm going to put you in your place."

We need to see that civility is needed in our lives, in the nation, and in the way we discuss things, even with those with whom we disagree. Love will guide us into that civility.

Further, love does not insist on its own way. In verse 5, we become entrenched and implacable, and we decide that our way is the only way. It's our way or the highway. With that mindset, how can there ever be peace among men? How can we find a way of civil discourse if we are insisting on our own way without listening to others?

Now, I want to emphasize it's never inappropriate to insist on God's way, but there's a world of difference between insisting that we all submit to God and insisting that someone submit to me. Love does not insist on its own way, and love keeps no record of wrongs.

If there is one thing that has entered into the social conflict that we have seen, it's the absence of mercy—the feeling that if someone ever commits a wrong, it can never be forgiven. Now, this spills out into the way we deal with different groups in our society. This is the root of racism—of saying that if someone is part of a particular race, he or she is guilty of all the wrongs that that race may have committed.

If I have been treated unjustly, I keep a record of that wrong. More so, if my people were treated unjustly by your people, then I need to keep a record of that wrong. This was the root of the feuding that occurred in Appalachia, notoriously with the Hatfields and McCoys, but with others.

It's something that now has been recognized in our nation as a whole—that we have different factions, and if you are part of a different faction, I'm going to be keeping a record of your wrongs. But love keeps no record of wrongs.

Love, in contrast, is goodwill in action. Again from First Corinthians 13, verse 7: "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things." Whenever we are confronted with an injustice, the question is, can we bear it? Can we look beyond our hurt and look to the greater good of the common love we need to have for one another?

Can we believe in a better tomorrow, not only for ourselves but for all of mankind? And can we hope for these things? Can we rejoice in the truth? Ultimately, love and truth are inseparable. Sometimes what we call love is not part of the truth; it's just indulgence, it's just acceptance.

It is never loving to accept a lie; it is never loving to embrace error, and it is never loving to permit other people to live in deceit. Love rejoices with the truth.

We see that love is that which will bring healing in our society and among nations. It will grow a peaceful world because love will spread mercy. In contrast to keeping a record of wrong, in contrast to insisting on our own way, we strive to find a way to forgive and to lift people up, bringing them closer to the truth.

Now, that's what we need in the world as a whole, but it's also what we need in our relationships because love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, keeps no record of wrongs, and is resilient in overcoming. It does bear all things.

Think of how all this impacts your relationships, not only in some broad societal way, but what's more important—your relationship with the people with whom you deal day by day. If you have embraced the way of love and you're sharing that love, it's going to make a profound difference.

As we saw before, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. Think of how that relates to the people with whom you deal every day—whether it's a customer that you serve in your place of business, or a co-worker, a fellow student in the classroom, wherever you may interact with people.

Whenever you are forbearing, wherever you are hopeful, wherever you embrace the truth, you find that love brings people together, and it endures all things. We need that in our relationships because we live in a fallen world, and we all are difficult. Every one of us is hard to get along with at some time, and some of us are hard to get along with most of the time.

If we keep a record of wrongs, I'm going to tell you, your list of my wrongs is going to be very long. But if instead you endure and realize that we all are God's works in progress, we have a foundation for building wholesome relationships.

This is what we see in our families. The breakdown of the American family is the single greatest sociological, political, and moral problem of this generation. It began in the mid-20th century, and it has not ended.

Where fathers and husbands are not taking responsibility, where mothers are not embracing their role as wives and as the primary instillers of truth into children, where children do not honor their parents, and in all these things, we see that it comes down to a lack of applied love.

Because love never ends. The idea that came into American culture in the 1960s—that marriage is a temporary arrangement designed for my self-gratification—has wreaked havoc. It was 1968 that Governor Ronald Reagan signed the first no-fault divorce bill in the nation in California, and it has spread across the country.

The idea that men and women can simply say, "I don't want to be married anymore," that I don't have to have a reason—that's what no-fault means. It's just, "I'm going to walk away from marriage."

But you see, if marriage is built on love, there's an assurance: love never ends. Love is not irritable or resentful. I mentioned that we're all difficult to get along with, especially when you think about in our homes—those with whom we share day by day the most intimate moments of life.

It's easy to get irritated; it's easy to build resentment. But love does not do that. We find that love ultimately is a key for personal change. Whether we're talking about the change we want to bring into our families, or the change that we want to see in our broader relationships, or the change that we want to find in the world, that change ultimately begins inside each one of us.

The love of God is what we need. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. We need to purify ourselves before God. We need to abandon an attraction to what is evil and cultivate a rejoicing in truth—not only as an abstract principle but, more importantly, truth in our lives, holding up the standard of the word of God and following that way.

Love does not, as we saw before, insist on its own way. To humble ourselves and not press ahead to force people to conform to our will, but rather that we all conform to the will of God.

In action, in our daily lives, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things—especially the idea of endurance. We need fortitude to endure, and that fortitude can only come from the love that comes from God.

Because love is patient. Patience is recognizing that from God's standpoint, He is bringing about all that is good, but He does it in God's time. We must humble ourselves and wait for the Lord to act.

In doing that, it brings us closer to godliness because God is love, as we read in First John 4, verse 8. The more that we permit the Spirit to bear His fruit of love in our lives, the more we are going to be made over into the image of Jesus Christ, who is the one whom the Spirit bears witness of.

We, in our own lives, will be a testimony of what God is doing and of the assurance of eternal life because love never ends. First John 4, verse 9: "In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him."

This assurance of eternal life is what Christians have. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

As Christians, we have faith in what God has done for us. We have hope—the assurance of eternal life—because we have the love of God in Christ poured out into our lives through His Spirit, and it is that blessing we want everyone to have this morning.

If you are not yet a Christian, we want to encourage you. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, make a statement of that faith, and you can be baptized into Christ, immersed in water, receiving forgiveness of your sins, and the love of God will transform you, and you will enter into eternal life.

If that is your desire, please come as together we stand.