THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD: LOVE NEVER FAILS**
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13
Big Idea: Being a people who love with Jesus’ love is the God’s highest ideal.
Listen as I read 1 Corinthians 13 to you this morning. Paul is saying there is nothing more important in the whole world for God’s people to pursue than Godly love. Paul is saying that anything else deflects and distracts us from being what God really wants us to be – loving people. Notice he installs no brakes on love. He makes no caveats like we want to.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect 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 childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor 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.
INTRO
“LIKE RED DIRT LOVE IS DISTINCT AND RECOGNIZABLE”
There is not much you can do about it. Once you have been around it everybody else knows. I’m talking about the red dirt of western Oklahoma. It’s caused by the iron in the soil that, after being oxidized, turns to rust.
It seems that nothing can erase or clean the stain from that red dirt on your shoes once you have walked there. If you have new shoes – everyone knows – because they are not red … yet. If you are from the city (OKC or Tulsa, for example) and you make your way into the western ranchlands everyone can tell “you’re not from these parts” simply by looking at the color of your shoes.
The inverse is also true; if you go to the city and are wearing shoes that you have previously worn out “out there” everyone knows where you are from.
It’s not a judgmental thing. The cities in Oklahoma are intimately connected to the ranches and open lands; no one thinks they are better or inferior; it is simply a recognizable and distinct line of demarcation. There is simply no getting around it.
Godly love (Agapé) is like that too. It is such a contrast from the world’s love that it becomes immediately recognizable and “different.” The world looks at the sacrificial, serving, grace-filled love of God and says “You’re not from around these parts.” It cannot be duplicated, at least not for long, it can be “faked” for a little while (vv. 1-3) but even the masquerade is evidence that it isn’t Godly love.
When it has been poured into your hearts it cannot be hidden; that’s the nature of God’s love. It’s just there and influences the lives of those it touches.
6 Love 7 always perseveres.8 Love never fails.
What have we discovered about God and God’s love through this series?
• We have discovered that God’s love steps in when everything else is stepping out.
• We have discovered that God’s love seeks solution when everything else says the situation it’s hopeless.
• We have discovered that God’s love remains steady when everything else has shaken loose.
• And we have discovered that God’s love is perfect and eternal while everything serves a purpose and then fades away.
You see, we cannot end a series on divine love – the character of God – without looking at its permanency. Because love is the nature of God, and God is perfect and eternal, love is too.
Think about all the things we focus on and spend our energy trying to do. It seems to me that it behooves us to pursue that which is eternal – we should be seeking God’s character. We should be allowing the Spirit of God to pour His love into us. After all, everything else we are fidgeting with will evaporate one day. But the greatest of these is love.
Might I make some simple recommendations to you as we finish the series?
1. DON’T BE AFRAID TO LOVE LIKE JESUS. (ROMANS 5:5)
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
I think some of us are still afraid to let God’s love really get a grip on us because we are afraid it’ll make us soft on sin. It won’t. It’s a gift from God Himself; it’s His character. How can it make us soft on sin? God’s love compels us to keep His commandments. But God’s love also compels us to love one another, love those who have wronged us, love our enemies, and even love that sinner whose life and lifestyle offends us. Don’t be afraid to love. Only when you are filled with Godly love are you able to minister in His name; anything else is just activity (v. 1-3).
Let me bear my soul here for a moment and confess that I am preaching to myself here as much as any of you. I understand the tension between being loving and being holy. It’s a conundrum for us Christians sometimes because we “see through a glass darkly.” God’s love is perfect (13:10) but it is not perfect in me yet (1 John 4:18). We think there is a tension between loving others and condoning sin. Love does not condone sin (Jesus never did) but love (and only love) will cover sin.
I think that tension is strongest in those, like me, who tend to be governed by “right and wrong” type parameters. But I am discovering that this tension is a construct within me – there really need be no tension and all it does is hinder me. This is about God making me complete. I never find Jesus struggling over loving cheats (like tax collectors), violent people (like zealots), sexually immoral people (like the woman caught in adultery), materialistic people (like the rich young ruler), people of other races (the Canaanite woman), people of other religions (the Samaritan woman), or people from other nations (the centurion) or even people who are demon possessed (the demoniac). I never see God’s love hindering Jesus from, being holy, ministering to others, or ever granting permission for a sinful lifestyle. That’s because Jesus seldom focused on the sin – he focused on the broken person. The sinful lifestyle was a symptom – Jesus sought to cure the spiritual disease.
But let’s be clear because this can all be a diversion. The real issue we are addressing is not “them” – it’s us. The real issue is allowing God’s Spirit to teach us to love with God’s love. As that is perfected within us the tension dissolves.
I must say I find more people drawn to the Gospel and longing to be free of their sin when I respond to them in love than I do when I keep them at arm’s length because they are sinful.
1. Don’t be afraid to love like Jesus.
2. REMEMBER, LOVE CAN ONLY BE KNOWN BY ACTIONS. (1 JOHN 2:6)
Here’s a thought; instead of us trying to “take Jesus to a lost world” why not consider “Being like Jesus in a lost world.” When the Spirit of God fills us we will become like Jesus in our character and our actions. 1 John 2:6 (NASB) says, “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Love’s actions will always be other’s centered. Godly love is not only raised as the pinnacle of understanding God – it is also the pinnacle proof of God’s character being formed in us! Godly love is what the Spirit’s presence looks like within us. Instead of focusing on right and wrong and who is in and who is out – why not let Jesus’ model direct us. Love can only be known by actions, so ask yourself, “What does God’s love require of me in this circumstance?”
If you want to be a “soul winner” … let love reign. If you want to the power of God on your life you must let his Spirit fill you with his character because love is the power of God.
1. Don’t be afraid to love like Jesus.
2. Remember, love can only be known by actions.
3. CHASE AFTER GODLY LOVE. (PROVERBS 3:3)
Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Remember when I began this series I told you that “God is head over heels in love with you”? Well, he is. And you can be head over heels in love with God and humanity too. But you cannot be head over heels in love with God or people until you know God is head over heels in love with you. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). I do not think love will ever saturate us to that point until we choose to seek it. We must see ourselves as midstream and seek God’s love to flow into and through us.
When I was a young minister I heard a pastor criticize another pastor. He said, “All he preaches about is love.” Some people seem to think you can overdo God’s love. You can’t. 1 Corinthians 13 says it’s the end all. Love is the goal. If we think we can focus on Godly love too much then we accuse God. Besides, to say we have too much Agapé love or speak of Agapé love too much is the same as saying we have too much God or speak of God too much.
In a related manner, many of us pray for revival in Christ’s church. If we are not careful we will think that renouncing sin is revival. But it is not. Repentance leads to revival but revival comes when God’s love floods the heart, purifying and replacing all other loves. Revival is evidenced by Agapé love – it’s shows itself by loving God with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves. Chasing God’s love leads to revival because it means we are being filled with God’s Spirit. Again, it is the power of God.
1. Don’t be afraid to love like Jesus.
2. Remember, love can only be known by actions.
3. Chase after God’s love.
4. BE PREPARED TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD … EVEN JUDGED (1 JOHN 4:18-19)
Jesus was misunderstood and judged; for this very thing. He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:9-13). Jesus was killed because jealous and suspicious “holy” people did not like the way he cavorted with sinners. Jesus’s love didn’t have a brake system installed – you simply cannot love people too much. But it cost him dearly.
Loving others always comes with a risk – sadly it is often a risk of offending the very people who should be cheering you on (“Holy people”).
It comes at a risk … but it’s worth it!
Nothing will enrich our lives and the lives of those around us like God’s love. I fear that is why many of us like religion – it lets us act like we love and even do “loving” things but not actually love! I think that is what Paul had in mind when he wrote verses 1-3. The truth is – being a people who love with Jesus’ love is the God’s highest ideal for His people.
• Some think Godly love will require too much.
• Others think Godly love will be too difficult to acquire.
• Others do not see the benefit of being filled with Godly love – they think it’s over rated and over-emphasized.
• Others think being filled with Godly love weakens us – and isn’t even good.
LOVE ANYWAY!!!!
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:18-19)
Always err on the side of agapé love. To do otherwise is sin. James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
1. Don’t be afraid to love like Jesus.
2. Remember, love can only be known by actions.
3. Chase after God’s love.
4. Be prepared to be misunderstood … even judged.
WRAP-UP
“You promised me”
In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. Surprisingly, such tragedies often bring out the best in people. Let me show you the loving heart of a father.
In the midst of chaos and destruction, he rushed to his son’s school. But instead of a school, he found a shapeless heap of rubble. Imagine what went through his mind. In the case of this father, the sight of rubble and ruin made him spring into action. He ran to the back corner of the building where his son’s class used to be and began to dig. Why? What real hope did he have? What were the chances that his son could have survived such destruction? All he knew was that he had made a promise to always be there for his boy. It was this promise that animated his hands and motivated his heart.
As he began to dig, well-meaning parents tried to pull him out of the rubble saying: "It’s too late!" "They’re dead!" "You can’t help!" "Go home!" "There’s nothing you can do!" Then the fire chief tried to pull him off the rubble by saying, "Fires and explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. Go home!" Finally, the police came and said, "It’s over. You’re endangering others. Go home. We’ll handle it!"
But this father continued to dig for eight . . . 12 . . . 24 . . . 36 hours. Then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his sons’ voice. Immediately, he screamed, "ARMAND!" Back came the words, "Dad!? I told them! I told the other kids that if you were still alive, you’d save me! You promised me, you’d always be here for me! You did it, dad!" (Taken from Max Lucado’s book, “He Still Moves Stones)
6 Love 7 always perseveres.8 Love never fails.
The story of Armand’s dad is a wonderful image for God’s love. You find so many of the traits of love from 1 Corinthians 13 in that story. And you get the picture of a living and loving Heavenly Father that:
• Steps in when everything else is stepping out.
• Seeks solution when everything else says the situation it’s hopeless.
• Remains steady when everything else has shaken loose.
6 Love 7 always perseveres.8 Love never fails.
Let’s read our “Congregational Covenant of Love” together.
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** Much of the material for this sermon is derived from two specific books. 1) Darin Hufford’s “The Misunderstood God” and Henry Drummond’s “The Greatest Thing in the World.”
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
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Congregational Covenant of Love
Heavenly Father, you have taught us that you are love and your Spirit has poured your love into our hearts.
Because you are patient and kind
We will be patient and bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2)
Because you do not envy
We will seek to make peace and build up one another (Rom. 14:19)
Because you are not boastful or proud
We will give preference and honor to one another (Philippians 2:3)
Because you are not rude and self-seeking
We will accept and encourage one another (Rom. 15:13-17)
Because you are not easily angered and keep no record of wrongs
We will forgive others just as we have been forgiven by you (Col. 3:13)
Because you do not delight in evil but do rejoice in truth
We will be loving yet truthful with one another (Ephesians:4:25)
Because you always protect, trust and hope
We will look after the interests of one another (Rom. 12:10) and carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
Because you always persevere and and never fail
We will be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10)
We thank you for showing us how to love and
We will reflect that love in our care for each other. Amen.(1 Cor. 12:25)
