The benefits to walking in Love
1 Cor 12:31 NLT 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
1 Cor 12:31 31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all—love]. AMPLIFIED
The bible encourages us to make LOVE our goal. Something not only should we be striving for, but becoming! If this is a something God wants for us, there must be a reason for that. Anytime God does something, it is never for the benefit of one person. Now was we talk about this, we’ve been talking about how we treat other people and selflessly promote someone else, but the love walk isn’t just for the benefit of others. It has great benefit to US!
Love is God’s way to prosper us Spirit, Soul, & Body. It is the way to prosper in every area of life.
I. Walking in love is Profitable
a. Walking in love is the most GODLY thing you can do, right?
b. 1 Timothy 4:8 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
c. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote this to Timothy. This is a God idea that is a snap shot of God’s will.
d. Bodily exercise profits a little…why? Because it only promises to pay off in THIS life. But Godliness or walking in Love is profitable in all things? But when? When we get to heaven? NO…it’s profitable NOW in this life too.
e. Profitable - beneficial; useful, yielding returns that create circumstances that increase the chance of success or effectiveness.
f. Walking in love ACTUALLY BRINGS ABOUT A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT THAT INCREASE THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS OR EFFECTIVENESS ON THE EARTH NOW!
g. But it also will increase your reward in heaven! WALKING IN LOVE PAYS OFF!
II. It allows the power of God to flow freely in and through you
a. Mark 11:25-26 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
b. 1 Peter 3:8-118 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
c. 1 Peter 3:8-11 AMP Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). 9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection] 10 For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]
a. If you are walking in love and displaying the characteristics, your prayers will get answered and allows God’s power to flow freely through you and in you!
b. Have you ever stopped to think that your tongue has a lot to do with the quality of your life?
a. We believe in confessing the right things for our lives
b. But it also has a lot to do with your days on the earth being good days or bad days.
c. The key to that is “KEEPING YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL”
c. You can’t be walking in Love and trashing someone. You can’t harbor unforgiveness and be walking in love. If you will forgive and believe the best your days will be GOOD DAYS and God can and will answer your prayers!
a. 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
d. But WHEN YOU HAVE THE POWER OF GOD FLOWING THROUGH YOU FREELY YOU SEE YOUR NEEDS MET, YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED, YOUR HEALTH MAINTAINED, YOUR YOUTH RENEWED, YOUR MARRIAGE IS BLISS, YOUR FRIENDSHIPS ARE SOLID, YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR BIBLE, YOUR PRAYER LIFE REJUVINATED AND LIFE IS CONSTANTLY ON THE INCREASE!
