Love Well, Live Well 3

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Love Well, Live Well 3

Love Defined

Love is a verb - and to love is a choice

It’s not something you fall into. It’s not something out of your control.

Love is intentional, it is deliberate.

To love is to reflect the nature and character of the Father - our Creator.

He has created us in His image and therefore we have the ability to love as is given from Him.

However, we are still marred with being born into sin, and this world’s imitation of love has distorted our view of what it is to love.

Love must be defined, viewed, and lived through God’s definition of love.

If we are God’s Church, we should love according to God’s definition of love

He is Love - as a verb!

He is love and 1 John 4:8-9

1 John 4:8–9 NKJV

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.

God’s love is a verb, it is manifested in Christ Jesus - God’s love became tangibly demonstrated through His Word - that is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the manifested voice of God in love letter form.

God’s love persists today, as a verb, through His Son Jesus Christ, that is His Word to us today -

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is HIS LOVE is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit

God’s love is so alive and powerful - it has the ability to surgically divide between the soul’s proclivity to sin and establish a boundary that rescues your spirit for all of eternity.

His love is so intentional and precise and powerful that when God’s love is active, He automatically begins to heal and regenerate us into His original intent of Created You.

His love is so alive and intentional and precise and powerful that even doubt and fear are separated from our souls-

When we enter into His presence, we literally enter into purity and life - because that’s what His Love does!

His Word and His Love are synonymous to the nature and character of God - again, this is why Ephesians 5:26 says

Ephesians 5:26 “26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

Because it’s His Love in spoken form manifested through His Word and therefore when we read and hear and consume His Word, our minds are renewed, our spirits uplifted, fear is cast out, sins are forgiven, and repentance brings LIFE overflowing!

God’s loves you and me!

God’s love sets us free!

God’s love operates through me!

God’s Operation of Love in His Church

Here’s the thing about God’s love operating through His church.

It is not dependent on how religious someone is.

I’ve met a few ministers in my lifetime, and other leaders in the faith, where though they were gifted preachers, though they were gift prayer warriors, though they were gifted Bible teachers or singers or musicians, they weren’t necessarily great Christians.

What do I mean by this? I mean, for one to be called a Christian they must categorically be a follower of Christ, and therefore pursuing Christ-like-ness.

To be a disciple of Christ, is to be pursuing an identity that is Christ-like. This is why the Apostle Paul is teaching and correcting the church in 1 Corinthians 13 when he says 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

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.

Paul references speaking in tongues first - as we read through Corinthians we see this was one of the most troublesome aspects of the church in Corinth.

Speaking in tongues was often referred to an angelic speech - even amongst the Jewish heritage.

The Bible reminds us that even in what you profess in religious eloquence - if its not done while operating in loving behavior amongst the brothers and sisters - its just straight noise. There’s no holy value in it.

And if you are so in tune with God that you could speak prophetically, with great understanding of the deep things in Scripture, with such great faith that you could make Piancavallo level with Venice…if you can’t operate in love, it’s all worthless.

And if you live so sacrificially that you do good to those in need and also beat or torture your body for your faith - if you’re not operating in love, none of it is doing you any good.

WHAT LOVE IS

However the Bible continues on to say that love endures

Love endures hardships, love endures droughts, love endures disconnection, love endures conflict,

and through it all is kind -

The kind of love Ephesians 4:32 “32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

To love in this way is to radiate goodwill and without complaint;

This reflects the unending compassion of God toward the sinner, as Romans 2:4 says God’s goodness leads us to repentance.

When Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth here, he’s confronting an egotistical version of the faith and he pushes back

they were parading themselves, boasting about their works or relationships

they were filled with pride and in a way that either dominated people or demeaned people

they were after their own individual benefits, cliquish and they would become defensive

that would ultimately turn to rejection of people or even how to get even with people

they would celebrate sin and celebrate rebellion and run along with the mentality that promotes things like

sins like sex outside of marriage

sins like adultery or homosexuality

sins like perversion and relegating the image of God in their bodies to be sold online

sins like lying to people to preserve a certain image or secret freedoms

Paul said to love is not like any of these things - but to love is

to rejoice in truth

bears all things - a relational term meaning to endure something unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else

to stand with others when times of goodness come, and to walk with those who are dealing with conflict, and to sit with those who are mourning loss

to have faith in God and His provision and grace no matter what circumstance

to hope all things - meaning to expect God’s going to move in situations despite what we see with our eyes

to endure - to press through conflict to a real flesh and blood person that’s hurting on the other side; to press through political divides, to press through offense, to press through depression and anxieties - to get to people with a real heart and hurts

This is the kind of Church we are - when we say we’re not just a friendly church but a church that makes friends

What we’re saying is that we have the Love of God operating through us that presses through division and separation and difference and indifference to real people who need and want to be in community and in relationship.

Because a Church that’s able to operate in love - #1 covers a multitude of sins, #2 defeats satan and his lying, deceiving minions whose primary war against the Church is division

If you have any thoughts or whispers in your mind that compels you to have conflict or offense against another brother or sister here, you need to question WHY and how that aligns with 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is the strategy and method of God - and all His children follow in this pattern.

LOVE IS ETERNAL

This is what we read here in verse 8 that says “Love never fails”

1 Corinthians 13:8–10 “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.”

Love Never Fails - a better translation of that from the original Greek is “love never collapses”

What that scripture is stating is that love is eternal - our actions in love will literally echo for eternity

What is done in love is eternal and will outlive any religious hype here on this earth -

How religious or holy you appear now - won’t be eternally recognized in Heaven

How spiritually gifted you are here and now - won’t be eternally recognized in Heaven

How studious and how much Bible knowledge you have - won’t be eternally recognized in Heaven

These things are definitely important for our faith walk on this earth

But what Paul is saying here is that our actions in Loving GOD and loving each other far surpasses anything else we do in faith on this earth

It’s in relationship to God and each other that God is most concerned with your and my faith walk

Because the rest of it we won’t need when we’re eternally in the presence of Almighty God

That’s what verse 10 is talking about

1 Corinthians 13:10 “10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

Those who align with Calvinist doctrine try to say this scripture deals with the Holy Spirit and prophecy being out-dated here and now,

they teach erroneously that the Holy Spirit is no longer active in this world, imparting gifts to His church and performing miracles;

but what Paul is talking about here is the end of the present world and when we step into the eternal with God

when we get to heaven, prophecy won’t be needed anymore

when we get to heaven, spiritual gifts such as tongues won’t be needed anymore

when we get to heaven, your Bible knowledge and wisdom won’t be necessary anymore

But LOVE will ALWAYS be and for eternity - for God is love

And the Bible continues on to say that it is a point of maturity that we learn to live and operate in love.

The backbiting, the carrying offense between people, the temporary arguments, the conflict

those who harbour and hold on to such things are not living in spiritual maturity.

The reality is many people call themselves a Christian, but are not pursuing and behaving Christ-like.

How you love people is indicative of your faith in Jesus.

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You’ve got people like Don Lemon out there in the world who profess to be a Christian, but their pursuit is not in love, their rhetoric is not in love - their behavior in marching in rebellion breaking into a Church interrupting a Jesus-worshipping service and provoking the pastor into an unrequested interview while not checking the balance of those who are trespassing…That’s not love - and there’s no justifying that behavior.

When it comes to the role of a Christian believer in this world and your interaction with a Holy God - that in itself is holy, it is sacred.

And therefore the interactions of Christians in Churches is also supposed to be sacred.

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What love compels us - commitment to the Lord, commitment to each other

Our times together, should be uplifting. Our times together should be exhorting. Our times together should be encouraging. Our times together should be in service to one another - given to hospitality.

We should be able to live transparently with each other - knowing that I’m not going to leverage weaknesses against you, nor would you leverage my weaknesses against me.

We love each other through these things until we’re both perfected in Christ Jesus.

This means our going together is important.

This means your attendance to the togathering is important - that Hebrews 10:25 “25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It means not making the Church the last of your priorities and being the first thing you cut out of your life when life becomes troublesome.

It means understanding that you have a point in purpose in someone else’s life - just as much as they have a point and purpose in your life.

It means understanding that your peace with God is partially dependent on your peace with others.

See Paul goes immediately into 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 NKJV

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

This is the relationship between the love of God and imparted giftings amongst God’s church -

God imparting spiritual gifts in you is not for YOU - it’s for His Church.

Love, not the gifts of the Spirit, is the fundamental touchstone of authentic Christianity.

But the gifts of the Spirit - especially the greater gifts, such as the gifts of prophecy - is for the body of Christ; it is in the Word spoken that love is embodied in the form of the gift of the Spirit.

People around you right now are gifted by God for your edification - for the Church’s edification.

What is edification? Edification is instruction and improvement of a person - spiritually, morally, and intellectually

It is for your benefit that you are surrounded by people who love you, who have received from God to bless you - and you the same to others around you.

Essentially, Loving Well leads to Living Well - we are enriched by each other through lovingly serving each other.

And all who see it will glorify Christ.

REPLACE OUR CONFESSION WITH PROFESSION OF FAITH

Psalm 19:14 NKJV

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.