The Conquering Power Of Love.

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.