*IP* Charity

Intro

1 Peter 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

The topic of the evening is “Charity”...

This is not a person, nor a philanthropic venture, but something you have...

Charity defined: Holy Spirit given selfless love

In the New Testament, we are given the command to have charity 28 times...

It does not occur one time before the Holy Spirit is given...

Introduction:

a. Charity is something you have, not give

b. Charity is something you put on

Colossians 3:14 KJV 1900

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

c. We are commanded to do all things with charity

1 Corinthians 16:14 KJV 1900

14 Let all your things be done with charity.

d. Charity is what abounded in the people at Thessalonica

2 Thessalonians 1:3 KJV 1900

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Their faith groweth and charity aboundeth

e. Charity is something to exemplify

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV 1900

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

f. Charity covers a multitude of sins

1 Peter 4:8 KJV 1900

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

g. Charity is required to be fruitful in Christ

2 Peter 1:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I. The Importance of Charity

How important is charity?

It’ll change your home

It’ll change this church

It’ll change every relationship you have

D. L. Moody was noted in the city of Chicago for his efforts to reach children. He organized special classes for those in whom others were not interested. Many of his pupils traveled past a number of other churches to arrive at Moody's. Moody told the story of a little boy who traveled a number of blocks across the city in the cold of winter for Sunday school. Someone stopped him and asked, “Where are you going?” “To Mr. Moody's Sunday school,” the boy answered. Then he was asked if he would not prefer going to a church that was closer, but he continued to insist on heading for Moody's. When he was asked the reason he replied, “Because they love a fellow over there!”

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

a.) More important than how I speak

1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV 1900

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Even if I can wax eloquent with a silver-tongued speech, but have no charity, it’s nothing...

In fact, it’s clanging and banging in the ears of the hearer...

My words could be 100% true and spoken with great eloquence, but if not spoken with charity, it is as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals in the ears of the hearer...

Charity: Holy Spirit given selfless love

b.) More important than how much I know

1 Corinthians 13:2 KJV 1900

2a And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;...

I could have so many spiritual gifts and understand and know so much information...

But without charity, it is nothing...

c.) More important than how much power I have with God

1 Corinthians 13:2 KJV 1900

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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Nothing...

Not, “A little bit”

or, “It could be so much more”

“Nothing”

d.) More important than how giving I am

1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV 1900

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I give of my things and myself also...

But it profiteth me NOTHING without charity...

Conclusion on how important charity is:

You may be able to speak eloquently with such great and deep levels of knowledge...

You may be able to have faith and know how to get things from God in prayer...

You may write a check to the church for $1,000,000 tonight...

But all of that is clashing of a cymbal or sounding brass...

“I am nothing” Vs. 2

“It profiteth me nothing” Vs. 3

I need to be able to effectively communicate:

In my marriage

To my children

To my church

To the lost

But no matter how well I speak, how much I know, how much power with God I have or how giving I am… It is NOTHING without charity...

Charity: Holy Spirit given selfless love

II. The Instruction to Charity

The world knows how to love...

Only a born-again Christian with the power of the Holy Spirit is able to have charity...

How to have charity?

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

a. Charity is long suffering

Charity can endure evil, injury and provocation without being filled with resentment, indignation or revenge

Someone can speak poorly to or about you, yet charity does not immediately jump to worst case scenario about that person because it suffereth long...

b. Charity is kind

*Virtuous woman*

Proverbs 31:26 KJV 1900

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness.

c. Charity does not envy

Charity does not grieve at the good of others or their gifts...

d. Charity is humble

“not puffed up”

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Philippians 2:3 KJV 1900

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

e. Charity doesn’t behave itself unseemly

Unseemly: not fit or becoming; indecent

Does nothing out of place or time...

Mind it’s own business

f. Charity places others first

“Seeketh not her own”

Charity, something you have, does not seek its own praise, honour, profit or pleasure...

Charity never seeks it’s own to the hurt of others or with the neglect of others...

g. Charity has thick skin

“not easily provoked”

Corrects a sharpness of temper

h. Charity has thoughts under control

“Thinketh no evil”

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV 1900

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

i. Charity hates sin but loves truth

1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV 1900

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

j. Charity bears and endures

1 Corinthians 13:8 KJV 1900

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

k. Charity does not quit