True Love

INTRODUCTION

There is a lot of hate in the world today.

Matthew 24:12 NKJV

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

There are several types of love.

Storge - love for family

Eros - romantic love

Philia - love for friends

But there is only one True Love - Agape Love.

Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure.

Agape love only comes from God.

Agape love is true love.

SCRIPTURE

1 John 4:7–21 NKJV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

MESSAGE

True Love > Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NKJV

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Nine Characteristics of True Love

Love is Patient

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)

4 Love suffers long...

Do you love your kids? Yes! Are you patient with your kids? I could do better.

True Love expands your capacity to put up with difficult people and difficult situations.

We need to develop the capacity to put up with injuries, disappointments, frustrations, let-downs, conflicts, and offenses.

Love is Kind

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)

4 ...and is kind...

True love is considerate of others.

Helping others in need.

Giving a word of encouragement.

Love is Generous

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)

4 ...love does not envy...

Love is not jealous of others.

Can you rejoice with others when they are blessed?

It doesn’t matter how talented or hard-working you are because there will always be someone else who does better, who makes more money, who looks better, who is more successful.

Love is Humble

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)

4 ...love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

The word translated “puffed up” literally means “a wind bag.”

In other words, it is describing someone who is full of hot air who loves to talk about themselves.

Love is Courteous

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

5 does not behave rudely...

Love is not rude to others.

Common courtesy is saying things like please, thank you, I’m sorry, good job!

Courtesy is like oil in the machinery of human relationships.

Courtesy listens to others, is interested in what they have to say, and values what they think.

Love is Restrained

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

5 ...does not seek its own, is not provoked...

True love doesn’t have a short fuse.

True love is not easily provoked to anger, is not irritable, not touchy, and not easily upset or offended.

Are there certain people that you feel like you have to walk on egg shells around them?

Love is Forgiving

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

5 ...thinks no evil;

True love keeps no records of wrongs.

True love will choose to remember the good about a person, rather than to dwell on the wrongs they may have done.

Love is Joyful

1 Corinthians 13:6 NKJV

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

True love finds no pleasure in other people’s failures.

True love always things the best. It never presumes the worst.

Have you ever found yourself jumping to conclusions only to discover that you had completely misjudged the situation?

Love is Consistent

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Notice the word “all” is repeated in this verse.

True Love never gives up.

Some relationships can be a test of your endurance.

True Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8–13 NKJV

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

CLOSING

We all need to pray for more love.