The Conquering Power Of Love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13NIV
God’s love melts the hardest heart, The toughest of men and women’s heart melt like wax in the presence of the Lord. P.H
The city of Corinth was a major commercial center of Southern Greece at the time of Paul’s writing. It was also a city known for its wild immorality, paganism, and excesses.
While Paul was teaching in Ephesus, he received troubling word from fellow believers in Corinth of quarrels in the Corinthian church, which Paul sought to address with his first letter.
In the latter half of his letter, Paul devoted a significant portion of his writing to the topic of love or the lack thereof in the church.
A major theme of 1 Corinthians, therefore, is the transforming power of Christ’s love for the individual and the church as a whole.
In the now-famous “Love Chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul wrote about love that is put into practice. More than just a feeling or emotion.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3NIV 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. 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Paul writes less about what love is and more about what love does.
Transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, this kind of love should be a natural overflow of the believer’s heart and evident in everything they do. Unfortunately, for the Corinthian church, this was not always the case.
Again, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul speaks of present day spiritual gifts, such as, Tongues of men or of angels, The gift of prophecy and knowledge, Faith that can move mountains, excelling in the gift of giving, and denying the body of any pleasure.
All these gifts are commendable, In fact, thousands if not millions of people could be helped with these spiritual gifts.
I call verse 1 through verse 3, of 1 Corinthians 13, The—“if I verses.”
If I speak in tongues (men or angels), if I have “all” faith so as to move a mountain, if I die a martyr’s death…
Think about the type of Christians they are who would be able to do such things. I would tell you—fill this church with such people!
However, Paul throws on the breaks of these super Christians with one phrase— “but have not love.”
The Apostle Paul teaches in verse 1, through 3, even when these spiritual gifts are in full-force theses gifts only function at best in a minimum manner.
Skip down to 1 Corinthians 13:9-10TPT Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, 10 but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away.
Are you ready for a simple but profound fact? “There isn’t any gift greater than the gift of God’s love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, 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.
The words used in 1 Corinthians 13 to describe love are the kind of active verbs.
Paul was challenging the Corinthian church to adopt: patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, trust, hope, and perseverance.
Love—Paul argued, was the greatest outward testimony of their inward transformation.
Let’s look at verses 4-7, and take one verb at a time.
Love is patient. Patience is one of the fruit of the spirit.
When Paul writes that “Love is Patient,” he urges Christians to adopt a love that is purposeful and persistent driven.
Obtaining spiritual patience means to possess a lens of love with ones views on any particular subject.
When members of the church are patient and committed to loving each other, there is unity, purpose, and strength.
The early church was patient, and their patience produced a great anointing.
Acts 2:1-4TLB Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the believers met together that day, 2 suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Again, Love is patient—Be patient.
Love is kind. Kindness, can be felt best when kindness is spoken or acted upon.
Kindness is similar to patience but refers to how we treat others.
A person operating in kindness isn’t short with their words, kindness isn’t cut and dry. Kindness endures. Kindness is also expressed upon our treatment of someone needing discipline.
Again, Love is kind—Be kind.
Love does not envy. Envy covets, envy feeds on lust. Lust for material things, lust for what’s not yours!
Love finds contentment in whatever state it finds itself; therefore to envy or be jealous of another is to declare discontentment with who you are or what you have.
That basically is saying, “God you have made a terrible mistake; your providence has not been kind to me.”
Therefore, I will be jealous of others.
In the case of the Corinthians, they were jealous of those in the congregation who had gifts they lacked.
Envy can easily apply to anything—good looks, status in life, musical talent, someone’s spouse and just about anything that you think you have been short changed by God.
Again, Refuse to envy.
Verse 4, of 1 Corinthians 13 say’s, Love does not boost.
Boosting feeds on fleshly performance, or the lack of it.
2 Timothy 3:1-5NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Jeremiah 9:23ESV Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
Again, Love does not boost.
Love is not proud. The KJ calls it puffed up. Proud of your commitment level, proud of your spirituality.
Pride is a precursor to loveless living; it struggles with love because it requires a focus off self and on others.
Pride is deceptive, as it always negotiates for its own benefit.
Hear these contrast—Love listens; pride talks. Love forgives; pride resents. Love gives; pride takes. Love apologizes; pride blames. Love understands; pride assumes. Love accepts; pride rejects. Love trusts; pride doubts. Love asks; pride tells. Love leads; pride drives. Love frees up; pride binds up. Love builds up; pride tears down. Love encourages; pride discourages. Love confronts; pride is passive-aggressive. Love is peaceful; pride is fearful. Love clarifies with truth; pride confuses with lies.
Philippians 2:3-5NKJV Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
What kind of mind does Jesus have? A mind filled with eternal impartations of genuine love.
Again, Love is not proud.
Love does not dishonor others.
Oftentimes we do not even realize we are doing this; we joke or make sarcastic remarks, but by doing this we leave others with a bad taste in their mouths of you and the person belittled.
Dishonoring others shows a lack of respect for self as well as for others.
Love is not self-seeking. It doesn’t look for opportunities to exalt oneself.
Testimony—Upon Daniel attending Lee University, Doctor Brad Moffett, ask Daniel to sing the lead on—“Good, Good Father.” Naturally, Daniel felt afraid singing in front of all his peers, and all the teachers and professors.
Several students came up to Daniel and told him he shouldn’t have the lead and that he was going to fell.
God blessed Daniel through that ordeal.
Jesus said in John 13:34-35NKJV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Again, Love is not self seeking.
Love is not easily angered. Do others walk on egg shells when in your presence?
Hear this word, When I get angry, there’s always a price tag.
We all have trigger points.
The Bible is very clear about this in Proverbs 29:22NLT “…a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.”
A few of these sins include…
Arguments—Proverbs 15:18NLT A hot-tempered person starts fights…”
Mistakes—Proverbs 14:29NIV…one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”
Foolishness—Proverbs 14:17NLT “Short-tempered people do foolish things…”
Love keeps no record of wrong.
It’s impossible to love somebody and think well of them, but at the same time hold the bad things they may have done in the past against them like a register of unpaid debts.
When you become a believer, Jesus doesn’t hold a list of sins against you.
Listen to this good news—Colossians 2:14TLB and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.
Love does not delight is evil.
“Did you hear the latest on so and so?’ ‘Did you hear about them cheating on their spouse, or did you know they were arrested for drunk driving a few years ago?”
Love rejoices with the truth.
A best-selling career adviser actually encourages young professionals to stretch the truth on their resumes. She says, “…a well-written resume to one person is a pack of lies to another. Make sure yours falls somewhere in between, which is no small feat.”
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Love trust; love always trust.
Trusting someone means that you think they are reliable, you have confidence in them and you feel safe with them physically and emotionally.
Trust is something that two people in a relationship can build together.
Remember this, You can’t demand or prove trust; trusting someone is a choice that you make.
Trust hopes for the best and is prepared for the worst. It is hopeful because its hope is in the Lord.
As the old hymn proclaims, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
When we love God we also hope in Him, because we are sure of His promises that transcend hope and provide assurance.
Love perseveres.
What is perseverance? Perseverance is the ability to endure, to persist, to hang on, and to carry on through many different types of circumstances.
James 1:2-4NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Perseverance shouts, “I won’t give up!”
1 Corinthians 13:11-13TLB It’s like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. 12 In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face-to-face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now.
13 There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
There isn’t a greater gift than the gift of love.
Today, the greatest decision you’ll ever make is, to Love regardless.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10TLB All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. Someday prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge—these gifts will disappear. 9 Now we know so little, even with our special gifts, and the preaching of those most gifted is still so poor. 10 But when we have been made perfect and complete, then the need for these inadequate special gifts will come to an end, and they will disappear.
Remember, 1 Corinthians 13:13, love surpasses them all.
Benediction.
