Untitled Sermon (3)

Page 1 12/18/22 What About Love? I John 4:7; I Cor. 13 OPENING (Relationships, Families, Races, Politics, Nations) Many of us here in this sanctuary are recipients of the blessings of the salvation provided through the death of Christ. One would wonder how anyone could provide such a tremendous blessing to the entire human race. What could possibly cause anyone to do such a wonderful thing for so many? The answer to this question can be found in Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The term commendeth means: A. God favorably introduced His love. B. God exhibited His love. He provided such great benefits to all, plainly and simply, because He loves us. This great act freely performed by Him is a clear picture of the great power of love. It is a great deal more powerful than most believers realize. 11. It is so critically important that the Lord, through His Spirit, has enabled us to receive and operate by that same love. 12. The work of this God-given love will radically change not only the church, but also the entire world. 13. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, God's love. THE EPISTLE OF FIRST JOHN It was written to defend the faith and to strengthen the church against false teachers and the heretical doctrine of Gnosticism. Gnosticism was a system of false teachings that existed during the early centuries of Christianity. Gnostics believed that knowledge was the way to salvation. They believed the aim of salvation is for the spirit to be awakened by knowledge so the inner person could be released from the earthly dungeon and return to the realm of light where the soul becomes united with God.

Page 2 JOHN SPOKE OF GOD'S LOVE HE SAID GOD IS LOVE Love is unselfish concern about another's welfare. It is the act of one person seeking the highest good for another person. God IS unselfish concern about the welfare of all others. He IS the act of seeking the highest good for others. As He has no beginning or ending, neither does His love have a beginning or ending. He did not derive or receive His love from anyone. There is no love in the true sense but that love which originated in Him. No one else can achieve love at the level and quality of His love. No one knows the full extent of His love but Him, and no one else can be Him or contain His love but Him. To contain His love, one would have to be as great or greater than Him, and no one is. His love is uniquely different because His love is Him. He is the High Esteem given to His human children. God Is Love Therefore A. B. C. D. E. If we have an inability to let love work through us, then we have an inability to let God work through us. Those used by God receive, apply, and live the Word and, in turn, grow in the development of the traits necessary for love to work through them. If love cannot work through us because we lack the develop- ment, then what other areas of our lives are affected the same way by that lack of development. If God cannot work through us to love, it is possible He may not be able to work through us in other areas. The conditions for the manifestation of love, such as receiving, applying, and living the Word, are the same conditions for the manifestation of God in other areas of our lives. F. If we cannot allow God to flow through us to love, then we will experience an inability to allow Him to flow through us in other aspects of our lives. G. It will even affect our prosperity.

Page 3 LOVE IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE God is Love (I John 4:8). Love covers all sins (Prov. 10:12a). We are to love God (Matt. 22:37). We are to love our neighbors (Matt. 12:31). We are to love one another (Jn. 13:34). Love worketh no ill to his neighbor (Rom 13:10). Husbands and wives are to love one another (Eph. 5). Parents are to love their children and children are to love their parents (Col. 3:19-20). We are to let brotherly love continue (Heb. 13:1). We are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). 11. The command to love and its necessity is clear throughout the Holy Scriptures. 12. First Corinthians 13 is known as the Love Chapter of the Bible. LETS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT LOVE LOVE IS A NECESSITY #1 First and foremost, love is vitally important because Love is God. In this thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians, Paul gives us a very clear view of love. He Indicates That The Gifts Are Useless Without Love A. He Speaks Of The Gift Of Tongues. If he speaks with all the languages of the earth and of angels, with heavenly or earthly languages, and have not love, he is as sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. B. He Speaks Of The Gift Of Prophecy. If he had the gift of prophecy, and understood all mysteries, he would be nothing without love. C. He Speaks Of The Gift Of Knowledge. If he had all knowledge but lacked love, he would be nothing. D. He Speaks Of The Gift Of Faith. If he had all faith so that he could remove mountains, but lacked love, he would be nothing.

Page 4 E. He Speaks Of The Gift Of Giving. If he gave all his goods to feed the poor and gave his body to be burned, but lacked love, he would be nothing. The sense of Paul's writing is that we can give our best and do our best spiritually and naturally, but if we do not possess love, we are nothing, and it profits us nothing. Love Is A Necessity. LOVE PRODUCES CHRIST-LIKE CONDUCT #2 This makes reference to the fact that love is faultless and without flaws. PAUL PAINTS A PORTRAIT OF LOVE Love Suffers Long A. It endures pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly. B. When we love God, we will suffer much in our service to Him, if necessary. C. When we love others, we will suffer much to help them, if it is necessary. Love Is Kind A. It is considerate, helpful, and of a benevolent nature (desiring to help others). B. It is good natured. Love Is Not Envious A. It is not jealous of others. B. It is not discontented or covetous in regard to the advantages of others. C. It celebrates the blessings of others, and rejoices in the progress of others. Love Vaunteth Not Itself, Is Not Puffed Up A. It is not boastful, proud, or rude. B. It never seeks its own way, but is unselfish. Love Does Not Behave Itself Unseemly A. It maintains a conduct that is in line with God's standards. B. It conducts itself properly in appearance, speech, conduct, and behavior. C. It does not engage in inappropriate activities. D. It is not irritable.

Page 5 Love Does Not Seek Her Own A. It is not selfish but selfless. B. It considers the situations and needs of others. Love Is Not Easily Provoked A. It is not quickly angered or vexed. B. It is not quick tempered. Love Thinks No Evil A. It does not keep a record of the wrongs of others. B. It does not dwell on thinking or talking about the wrongs of others. C. It is not quick to think negatively in relation to the situations of others. 10. Love Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity, But In The Truth A. It is never glad about injustice or unrighteousness, but it rejoices in the truth. Love Continually Bears All Things - It never gives up. Love Continually Believes All Things - It never loses faith. Love Continually Hopes All Things - It never loses hope. Love Continually Endures All Things - It endures through every circumstance. Love produces a high quality spiritual and natural life. Love Is A Necessity. Love Produces Christ-Like Character. LOVE IS INDESTRUCTIBLE #3 Unlike the other gifts, love is permanent. It never fails. Prophecies will cease. Tongues shall cease. Knowledge shall vanish away. Prophecy, speaking in unknown tongues, and word of knowledge will become useless. Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture. However, when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will be removed.

Page 6 Paul Offers Two Illustrations To Show That Unlike Other Gifts, Love is Complete. A. If the gifts are used without love, those individuals are doing so with the attitudes and actions of an immature child (13:9-11a). B. If the gifts are used with love, those individuals are doing so with the actions and attitudes of a mature adult (13:11b). In the present, through the gifts, we see only a mirror-like reflection of God (13:12a). In the future, through love, we will see God face-to face (13:12b). As faith, hope, and love now abides, the greatest of these is love (13:13). 10. Love Is A Necessity. Love Produces Christ-Like Character. Love Is Indestructible. THE LACK OR PRESENCE OF LOVE HAS AN IMPACT #4 WHEN LOVE IS LACKING God is not honored and He is disrespected. There is much disobedience. Worship and praise are not effective. The anointing does not function in our spiritual gifts. Believers do not support one another and bear the burdens of one another. There are many offenses and broken fellowships. There is widespread division and contention. There is continual and ongoing gossip. Spiritual growth and development are greatly hindered. Marriages are easily broken, without much effort to save them. 11. Parents and children do not have quality relationships. There is unfaithfulness in worship service attendance and participation. Tithes decrease and many fall away from tithing. There is unwillingness to assume roles in the work of ministry. Old worldly habits and ways begin to return to our patterns of behavior.

Page 7 There is widespread disrespect for Pastors and Church Leaders. There is a lack of interest in God's work, and minimal support of it. Unforgiveness is more widespread than forgiveness. There is a high level of inconsistency in the performance of the various functions of ministry. Sinful lifestyles are developed, maintained, and continued. There is financial lack and other forms of lack. The abundant life is not widely experienced. In general, when love is lacking, Satan has a large number of openings through which to attack, and he does and he will. WHEN LOVE IS PRESENT AND CONQUERING God is highly honored and respected. There is increasing obedience to God. Worship and praise are of a high quality, and effective. The anointing of God can have free flow through us for more effective use of our spiritual gifts. There is ongoing healing and deliverances. Believers support one another and bear the burdens of one another. Tithing increases and grows in consistency. There are fewer offenses and broken fellowships. Marriages gain strength and divorce is lessened. Relationships between parents and children are improved. 11. There is an increase in attendance in Worship Services, Prayer, and Mid-Week Services. Sinful lifestyles are resisted and changed. There is love and respect for Pastors and Church Leaders. There is a great increase in new converts. More believers become involved in the work of ministry. Division is lessened and, in many cases, eliminated. Forgiveness prevails and unforgiveness is resisted and, in some cases, eliminated. There is strong resistance to the return of old habits and lifestyles. Total prosperity in the lives of believers increase.

Page 8 More will experience and enjoy the abundant life. Love is one of the major reasons we succeed and become more than conquerors. LOVE VERSUS A LACK OF LOVE Love gives, but a lack of it takes. Love lifts, but a lack of it puts down. Love helps, but a lack of it hurts. Love encourages, but a lack of it discourages. Love pushes us forward, but a lack of it pulls us back. Love brings victory, but a lack of it brings defeat. Love unites us, but a lack of it divides us. Love brings obedience, but a lack of it brings disobedience. Love builds faith, but a lack of it builds fear. Love honors God, but a lack of it dishonors Him. 11. Love gives strength, but a lack of it promotes weakness. Love gives spiritual revelation, but a lack of it promotes blindness. Love promotes peace, but a lack of it promotes confusion. Love promotes joy, but a lack of it promotes sorrow. Love promotes kindness, but a lack of it promotes meanness. Love promotes faithfulness, but a lack of it promotes unfaithful- ness. Love brings temperance, but a lack of it brings intemperance. Love brings humility, but a lack of it brings pride. Love produces quality relationships, but a lack of it produces poor relationships. Love increases expectation, but a lack of it decreases expectation. Love produces marital success, but a lack of it produces marital failure. Love waits patiently, a lack of it quits. Love brings total prosperity, but a lack of it brings more lack. Love sows seed for a bright future, but a lack of it sows seed for a gloomy future. Love brings out the best, but a lack of it brings out the worst. Love promotes happiness, but a lack of it promotes unhappiness. Love pleases God, but a lack of it displeases Him.