Can I get some Love?
1 Corinthians 13
Intro: What did Paul mean when he spoke of Love?
1: Love
a) tender affection for someone or something
b) what about God’s love for us
c) 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God;
d) 1 John 3:16 perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:
e) love God, love each other
Point: Everyone knows or has an idea of what love is and each individual is different in how they express love. The Word of God teaches us that to know love we must know God. 1 John 4:15-16, if we have not Christ in our hearts, we don’t know love.
2: Sometimes it hard to love people
a) AMEN, AMEN
b) Some people seem unlovable
c) Others are so sweet and kind you could eat them up with a spoon
d) God loves us all!!!
e) Even when we are not very lovable
Point: There are times when we struggle as humans to accomplish God’s will for our lives. We don’t love others like we should because our relationship with God isn’t what it should be. We can’t love anyone even ourselves if we don’t love God with our whole being, all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul. When you find it hard to love someone work on loving God more, spend more time with Christ in prayer, in his word. See what happens!!!
Body: How do I love when it feels like no one loves me?
1: Doubt
a) doubt- to feel uncertain, not to trust someone or something
b) this is one of the most potent fiery darts in the devil’s arsenal
c) if someone can be convinced to be unconvinced about how much God loves them
d) 1 Peter 5:8 the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour
e) satan wants you to doubt God
Point: It is easy to feel alone and unloved at times in our lives. The devil can fill our heads and hearts with doubt, we doubt God we doubt his will and purpose for our lives. We doubt others around us. The scripture says we can have confidence.
1John 4:16-17
And we have known and believe the love that God hath to us. God is Love , and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
2: Fear
a) are we afraid sometimes of being vulnerable
b) Is fear of God?
c) No, 2 Tim 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
d) Fear brings about shame, we’re afraid of what people might say or think.
Point: 365 times God’s word tells us to Fear not, that’s a different Fear not for everyday of the year. 1 John 4:18 there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. When we have the right relationship with God there is no fear or insecurity.
3: Action speaks louder than word
a) 1 John 3:18 let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth
b) Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
c) 1 Peter 4:8 above all put on fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Point: There is plenty of scripture to support love in action, God wants us to make a daily effort to love him a little more and others a little more each day we live. To be proactive with our love, to help build up his kingdom, and extend a helping hand to others in need. Action really does speak louder than words.
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 13
1: Paul gives us the qualities of love
a) it’s a detailed description of love
b) a lesson of what true divine love actually is.
c) Without divine love all of our actions are nothing. V 1-3
d) Divine love being God’s love
Point: When we engulf ourselves in God’s love problems and troubles that at one time may have beset us or ruined our entire day, don’t seem so big. Because we understand that no matter what God loves us and cares for us. And we know that service comes through faith in Jesus and all the things we do big and small are done through love, because without love, our works are meaningless and worthless.
2: Love never fails v8
a) everything else in your life will fade away one day
b) all of our earthly possessions
c) our knowledge
d) even our abilities
e) but love endures all things, even time
Point: We can search the entire globe, and travel great distances in search of fulfillment, joy, peace, love. And in truth we don’t even have to take but a short walk to an altar, bend our knees and pour hearts out to find that one true peace and fulfillment. Love like we never knew existed.
Closing statement:
V11 Love requires maturity, growing in grace hurts sometimes. Every time God wants to teach me something, he gives me a teacher, most of the time I don’t like the lesson. When it came time to learn the lesson of love, my teacher was very unlovable. It’s easy to love those that love you, what do you do when someone doesn’t love you? They mistreat you, talk about you, and look at you with eyes filled with hate and discontent. What do you do?
Love them anyways!!!! Do you????????
I don’t most of the time; it’s hard, that’s when the lesson of maturity in love begins.
Paul said the greatest gift is love, it was love that bore all of our sins and transgressions.
Love carried the cross to Calvary
Love was the power that resurrected a broken beaten body
Love picked us up out of the gutter,
Love transformed us from death to life
That love is Jesus Christ and his gift is free and available to any who seek it!!!!!!!
