The Love Of God-4

The LOVE Of GOD-IV—1Corinthians 13:1-13

Need:

To know & apply God’s self-giving(‘agape’) love, so as to prevent anything less from taking it’s place in our lives.

Paul highlighted the necessity of self-giving, sacrificial love to the proper outworking of Christian living.

Self-giving, sacrificial love is essential to true Christianity.

And thru these verses we are answering the question, ?•?How is ‘agape’ love essential to the Christian faith?

1Pet. 4:8—“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”[Prov. 10:12]

1Tim. 1:5—“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, & from sincere faith,”

The pinnacle of God’s agaph love cannot be attained by any of humanity, apart from their approaching it in & thru God in Christ, as empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Previously we found that:

As A Christian, the Love of God must Humble My...

1. SPEECH(:1)

2. ABILITY(:2)

3. SACRIFICE(:3)

Today we’ll find that:

4—As A Christian, the Love of God must Humble My...

SUFFERING That RESULTS In KINDNESS(:4a-b)

Explanation:(:4a-b)

:4—“Love suffers long & is kind;...”

BACKGROUND:

The words translated as “Love” 3 times in this verse, actually say, literally, ‘THIS agape(love)’(‘h agaph’). ‘THIS’ agaph “love” refers the ‘agape love’ that is foundational for fulfilling the proper outworking of Paul’s “more excellent way”(12:31) by which any spiritual giftedness is to be employed...

*God’s agaph “love” has already clearly been shown to be ESSENTIAL for effective Christian service in verses :1-3.

•That “more excellent way” afforded by God’s agaph “love”, defines the manner, the spirit, or the attitude, in which our God gifted speaking with any multitude of tongues(13:1) is to be couched.

•Likewise, that “more excellent way” defines the manner, the spirit, or the attitude, in which our God gifted ‘abilities’(13:2) are to be couched.

•And so, that “more excellent way” also defines the manner, the spirit, or the attitude, in which our God gifted sacrifices(13:3) are to be couched.

‘This’ same “love” in verse :4 & carried thru :7...

•That it is, by highlighting ‘this love’(:1-3) in particular, ASSUMES that there is at least one other, if not many other, competing forms of “love” in human experience.

*To employ any one of the spiritual gifts, outside of the boundaries of agape love, is to entirely misuse the gift that God has given you.

EXAMPLEs:

•GIFTED CARS: A parent gifts their teenager a car. But the teenager uses the car, that was a gift to them, as a ‘getaway car’ for bank robbers & drug dealers. The car(gift) is not at fault. The way/manner/heart attitude in which the car is wielded/used/exercised IS at fault!

•GIFTED GUNS: same scenario...Dad gives his daughter a gun. If wielded/used/exercised for protection it is used properly. If wielded/used/exercised for offense it is completely misused.

*The verses we’re looking at today(:4-7), supply ‘the nuts & bolts’ of what agaph “love” does & does not do. That is in verses :4-7, we see HOW agape love operates in the real world.

“Love suffers long”...

In the free exercise of agaph “love”, I must couch everything I do within the ‘patient perseverance’ of God’s love. That is true whether faced with personal difficulty, insult, offense, or injury inflicted by others.

•This does NOT mean that we should do nothing about insult, offense, or injury.

•It DOES mean that we must approach ‘insult, offense, or injury’ with GOD’s direction of approach. And every approach with God at the helm, brings into play the discretion of His self-giving sacrificial love.

Any Christian displaying or discharging themselves or their actions in the manner of the patience & kindness that is present in Christ, is operating in agaph “love.”

1Thes. 5:14—“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient[makroyumew] with all.”

‘Agape love’ is the SOURCE or CAUSE of the Christian’s “longsuffering”...in a good sense.

We are told elsewhere in Scripture that God Himself “suffers long.”

2Pet. 3:9—“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering[makroyumew] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

“Suffers Long/Longsuffering/Patient”—makroyumew—Present Active Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To be of a long spirit, not to lose heart—1a) To persevere patiently & bravely in enduring misfortunes & troubles, 1b) To be patient in bearing the offenses & injuries of others—1b1) To be mild & slow in avenging, 1b2) To be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish. Strong—To be long-spirited, i.e. objectively--Forbearing or subjectively--Patient. Used 10X.?From—makrov—Long(in place[distant] or time[neuter plural])—&—yumov—Passion(as if breathing hard).

“& is kind”

*In the free exercise of ‘self-less agaph “love”, I must present myself useful to others in their need. So God’s self-giving love will prevail thru our “kindness”!

•Thru your allowing the Holy Spirit to bring God’s guidance & obedience to your life, you will become an integral part of bringing that same ‘spiritual success’ to others.