Sunday, May 31, 2015

Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians Part 26 – Love

Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians
Part 26 – Love
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org



INTRODUCTION
Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, was addressing the things he had heard about them, including incest, adultery, over-spiritualized behaviors, wandering away from the Word of God, and an overall pride about them.

Paul has corrected the Corinthian Churches view about the division; Christ is head of the church, no one else. He also let them know that the power comes from God, and they should be humble, not conceited and over-spiritual.

He warned them not to go beyond what is written.

He addressed their pseudo-faith and spiritual activity of abstaining from intimate relations with their spouses, explaining this was the root of their immoral behavior.

He also warned them against lawsuits with other believers, saying the only reason they could not come to terms together inside the church was because of their pride and arrogance.

He instructed them to be content in their situations, so as to quench the immoral behavior that was coming from discontent, and selfish ambition. Paul warned about becoming a stumbling block to other believers if we have certain knowledge that they do not possess.

Paul explained again about Christian Liberties, and about God's Will, and last week explained Communion.

This week we will see Paul talking about Spiritual Gifts. Why, because the Church in Corinth was behaving badly, selfishly, sinfully, and Paul was trying to correct their path.

Committing a sin is one thing, however, living in that sin is another, Paul explained this to us a few chapters back when he talked about Israel and how those who died in their sin never saw the Promised Land.

This week we will look at Paul explaining how the Spiritual Gifts are great, but there is one thing greater, love.


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
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. 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, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


Basically, Paul explains to the church in Corinth that the gifts are great, and they are for the strengthening and edification of the church; for uplifting and encouraging, however, you could have all the gifts, and do all things, but if it is not done in love, it was for nothing.













                   I.            THE "MORE EXCELLENT WAY"
a.      After explaining the Spiritual Gifts, Paul says this is a more excellent way


b.     The church in Corinth was abusing the gifts
                                                                         i.      They may have been trying to show off with them to entice new members
1.      i.e. performing healings, miracles, speaking in tongues

2.      Whether these things were real or not was not the question, but HOW they were being used.

3.      If they were being used to manipulate, entice, capture people into the faith, then they were for the wrong reason.


                                                                      ii.      Jesus warns about this in Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’"

                                                                   iii.      The Corinth church had the same problem.
1.      The Holy Spirit was working there, but they were abusing or taking advantage of His power.

2.      We do not know exactly HOW they were, the scripture doesn't say, but we do know they were, or else Paul would not be correcting them on the proper use and purpose of the Spiritual Gifts.


c.      Why is Love the more excellent way?
                                                                         i.      1 John 4:7-9 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 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."





1.      God is Love
2.      Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God
3.      Whoever does not love, does not know God
4.      God showed His love by sending His Son
5.      Love is an Action!

                                                                      ii.      What is the Greatest Command?
1.      Matthew 28:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

                                                                   iii.      Anyone who says they are a "born again" "believer" or "follower of Christ", a "Christian", yet does not have actions of love towards God, or others, does NOT know God.



               II.            WHAT LOVE IS AND IS NOT
a.      Paul says
                                                                         i.      I could speak in the tongues of men (known languages) or of angels (spiritual) but if I don't have love, I am nothing more than a clanging cymbal.

                                                                      ii.      I could have the gift of prophecy and fathom ALL mysteries and knowledge, and have faith to move mountains, but if I do not have love, I AM nothing.

                                                                   iii.      I could give everything I possess to the poor and give my body over to hardships that I may boast for the Lord, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

                                                                     iv.      Who is the one with nothing here? The giver...not the receiver. It never says God's Spirit fails, or miracles did not happen...This is why sometimes we see real healings and miracles, then a week later that TV evangelist is in the news for illegal things. God's Spirit didn't fail, the person did!

                                                                        v.      But I am doing all these great things for the Lord!
1.      Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’"

                                                                     vi.      Love is an action that is done for the CORRECT reason.

                                                                  vii.      The church in Corinth was using the gifts to profit
1.      Either financially, prestigiously or to gain the admiration or authoritative power that man so often seeks.

                                                               viii.      But all things must be done in Love for the RIGHT reason, or it does not count!

b.     Love IS
                                                                         i.      patient - allowing time for repentance, forgiving others, understanding
                                                                      ii.      kind
                                                                   iii.      rejoicing in truth
                                                                     iv.      always protects
                                                                        v.      always trusts
                                                                     vi.      always hopes
                                                                  vii.      always perseveres
                                                               viii.      never failing

c.      Love is NOT
                                                                         i.      envious
                                                                      ii.      boastful
                                                                   iii.      proud
                                                                     iv.      dishonoring others
                                                                        v.      self-seeking
                                                                     vi.      easily angered
                                                                  vii.      a record keeper of all wrongs
                                                               viii.      delighted by evil

            III.            ON WHAT FOUNDATION DO YOU ACT?
a.      The Spiritual Gifts are NOT going to last forever!
                                                                         i.      vs 8-10 "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, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."
1.      When "completeness comes", we will be before the Lord and these "gifts" will no longer be needed. We will be complete again, as it was in the beginning before sin.

                                                                      ii.      vs 11-12 "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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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."

1.      While on earth, we behave as children, not fully understanding all that our Father in heaven asks. We must rely and trust in Him, like children.

2.      Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

3.      We will be fully mature spiritually when we receive our new bodies, sinless and stand before the Lord on Judgment.


                                                                   iii.      What remains forever?
1.      Faith, Hope and Love.
2.      But the greatest of these is Love!


b.     On which foundation are you building?
                                                                         i.      THE ROCK
1.      All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Love God with all your Heart, Soul and Mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself.

2.      God is Love


3.      Love is shown through ACTION (I Corinthians 13)
a.      How do we show God love (the action)
                                                                                                                                                 i.      Heart - From the overflow of the heart your mouth will speak...fill your heart with His Word! (action)

                                                                                                                                              ii.      Soul - Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands" We can do this by submitting our Soul (who we ARE), or our "will" to Him.


                                                                                                                                           iii.      Mind - Changing the way we think! Allowing God's Holy Spirit to do a work in us, making us NEW creatures, NEW creations, allowing the old to "pass away".  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

4.      This is "The Rock"

                                                                      ii.      THE SAND
1.      Anything that you do (whether casting out demons in the name of Jesus, performing miracles, healings, speaking in tongues, prophesying, having all the knowledge and wisdom, ANYTHING YOU DO...even in the NAME OF CHRIST), that is done for the wrong reason, is building on sand, not the rock.

2.      What are the wrong reasons?
a.      Anything that I Corinthians 13 says love IS NOT!

                                                                         i.      envious
                                                                      ii.      boastful
                                                                   iii.      proud
                                                                     iv.      dishonoring others
                                                                        v.      self-seeking
                                                                     vi.      easily angered
                                                                  vii.      a record keeper of all wrongs
                                                               viii.      delighted by evil


c.      But I'm doing "good things" in Jesus' name, that's still good, right?
                                                                         i.      NO! Scripture says if it is not done for the right reason (Love), it is for NOTHING!

                                                                      ii.      Why, because you are not building on the right foundation!
1.      I Corinthians 3:10-15 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."

                                                                   iii.      You MUST build (Do things) on the right foundation!

                                                                     iv.      The ROCK (Jesus Christ) Love!

CONCLUSION
Love is the rock, anything else is sand.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

If we do things for the right reasons, in Love, and build upon the Rock, when life hits those people who have the "correct" foundation, they will come through the storm.

If we do things for the wrong reasons, when the storms come, those people will suffer great loss because their belief, hope, faith were built upon sand.

Why do so many run from Christianity, or Church?

Because they were told or taught something that was not done in or for love, it was built upon the sand, and something happens, the storm comes, and they suffer great loss, and blame the very one whom they should be running to, rather than away from!


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