In Love

Introduction

Junior Church Dismissed

$5 for Iza and Brayden

What a great Victory night we had last week. If you weren’t able to make it out, it was a great time of worship with a purposeful and appreciated devotion from Pastor Davidson on Unity, followed by the presentation of our 2020 vision with the goals we are seeking to accomplish as a church family.

If you have any questions about the night or about what the church is doing please don’t hesitate to speak to myself or the deacons about it.

I’m excited as we take the year to launch out into the community while taking care of some needed updates around our facilities.

It’s going to be an exciting year and I pray a blessed year for each person here as we look to glorify the name of Christ by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Todays message is about us doing just that, launching out…in love.

Ever had someone do something for you and you realized the motive wasn’t sincere?

Ever had your spouse bring you a plate of food and just toss it in front of you?

What about when you ask your child to apologize and it comes out (whiney upset voice) “I’m sorry” and they huff and puff as they walk away?

She’s over at the stove with the eggs

The motivation didn’t match the action right?

That’s what I want us to look at today…whats our motivation? Why are we doing what we do as a spouse, as a parent, as a Christian? Why are we as a church going to Cafe Real on January 25th from 8-12 to buy a cup of coffee or latte for each customer?

The answer to all of those questions is love. Because of Love.

If it’s not because of love…then it’s a wrong motivation.

Because no matter how much we make, no matter how much we do, no matter how many people we seek to serve, if it’s not because of love....it’s not done in the right motive.

In Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about love. The KJV uses the word “Charity” which means love.

This is known as the “love chapter” and reveals to us what love should look like in our lives.

As we read and I preach today I’d like to ask you to contemplate this question “How can I better show my love to others?”

Follow along as I read the first few verses

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.

PRAY

Notice with me the essence of Love

I. The Essence of Love

Jesus said in

John 13:34–35 KJV 1900

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Jesus said that it is love that will let the world know we are His. It’s not the type of clothes, the type of songs, the money, the cars, the hobbies, the actions, it’s love.

It’s not the deeds but the motivation for the deeds that is what others should know us by.

Paul Chappell Said it this way “Any church, any person, who is not acting in love is missing the mark of Jesus.”

The Apostle Paul addresses this throughout this chapter beginning with our words.

We see in verse 1 that words, without love, are empty

A. Words without Love are Empty

Paul says I can speak with tongues of men and of angels but if I do so without love then I’m just a noisy cymbal. I’m an annoying thing that no one wants to hear or be around.

The word tongues there means languages and the context in which it is being used here points to him speaking of how articulate he can be.

He can speak with heads of state and tent makers. He can converse with anyone yet if he does so without love, it is just noise.

It doesn’t matter how eloquent you can be, it doesn’t matter how sweet you sound when you say it…for instance…if you hear a southener say “Awww…God Bless your heart.” That does not come from a place of love. It does not mean what you think it means.

Our words are empty if they do not come from a place of love. As we go on to understand more of the essence of love see that Wisdom without love is empty.

B. Wisdom without love is Empty

Jesus didn’t call His disciples to be known by their knowledge. By their doctrine, or by their beliefs. He called us to be known by our love.

I’m sure some of you have dealt with a know it all before right?

Someone who knows everything and likes to tell you how much they know about everything?

They may actually know something about what your talking about but when it comes across condescending or with a haughty prideful spirit…how do you receive it?

You dont!

We as people don’t care how much you know, until we know how much you care.

Paul said in verse 2

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.

he could prophecy, He understood the mysteries of the gospel that was being preached, he had all knowledge of the things of God. He was a Rabbi, a pharisee, and he had great faith that could move mountains. BUT.....BUT!

If he had all of this without love…He had nothing.

Hear this…He had faith, He had knowledge, He could preach and prophesy, but if he had all of this WITHOUT LOVE…He not only had nothing He says “I am nothing”

Words and Wisdom are empty without love and so are our works.

C. Works without love is empty

Ladies and gentlemen…why you do what you do is important. Is it in love? Is it in biblical love from God? Or have you found yourself just going through the motions? have you been putting the check in the box?

This year, as we seek to launch out, we must be motivated by love. Motivated by the love of Christ. Motivated by love for others.

That’s what our #forbristol initiative is about. I’m so thankful for those of you that have bought in to what we are looking to accomplish through that. Showing the love of Christ in a way that it can be recieved by the community.

Paul wrote in verse 3

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.

If we go out to Cafe Real on Saturday giving to others and performing an act of kindness as the hands and feet of Jesus but we do it without the love of Christ then the act is empty.

It’s my prayer that not only outside these walls but within them we are a church that is known and marked by our love.

Our Greeters, Nursery Workers, Junior Church teachers, Children’s Bible Study teachers, Adult Bible Teachers, ushers, Worship Team, Soloists, Pastors....should be known by our love.

1 John 3:18 KJV 1900

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

In deed and truth. You see love is so much more than an emotion…it is an action verb.

See with me the enacting of love

II. The Enacting of Love

Verse 4

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

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

Love suffers long. the Greek word translated suffereth long is Macrotheumas which means to boil slowly. To have a temper that endures.

Biblical Christ centered love is not quick to anger, it does’t write someone off, it is willing to be taken advantage of.

Paul said

A. Love is Kind

The kindness shown through biblical Christ centered love is not the kind of love that is shown just to those that are kind to us.

Matthew 5:43–44 KJV 1900

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 5:43 KJV 1900

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

We live in a world that is not becoming kinder to each other or to Christianity.

As a people that believe in Jesus we should be pictured next to the word kindness in the dicitionary.

When people come to Liberty Baptist we want them to know they are loved. Sincerely loved.

People around us will only know they are loved by action of kindness that we take towards them.

B. Love is Humble

If there is one singular battle that I believe each of us can face in certain forms is pride...

It shows up in different ways for each of us. Might show up in the form of anger for you, or maybe in a lack of gratitude, or maybe…maybe it shows up in sarcasm…Anyone here guilty of that one?

When it comes to pride we have to remember how much God hates it.

Proverbs 6:16–17 KJV 1900

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

The first thing on this list of things God hates....Pride.

Then there is

James 4:6 KJV 1900

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God will resist you if you are proud in spirit.

Love is not proud love is humble.

And we are given some Characteristics of humble love in this chapter

1. Love Envieth not

Envy is the desiring of a position or things someone else has. Love looks to another person and how God has blessed their life and rejoices for them.

2. Love Vaunteth not

This is self promotion. Ever met someone who within 30 seconds you know all they have done and are capable of? This is a bragadocious spirit. There is one thing to rejoice over the things God is doing in your life and another to be telling people all of your accomplishments to make yourself look good.

I once heard a story about a young boy in kindergarten. He was never in a good mood and always seemed to be upset.

Then one day he comes home from school just cheesing. So his mom asked him, “Tommy, did you have a good day at school?” He replied “Yes! I’m the smartest kid in class”

“O” the mother replies “did your teacher tell you that?”

Tommy looked at her and without missing a beat said “No. I told her that”

3. Love is not puffed up

This is an inward attitude whereas the last two are outward expressions.

A puffed up person is one who elevates themselves to a position in their mind expecting things from others because “they are who they are”

it’s the husband who comes home for work expecting all these things from his wife but feels that shes just lucky he is there.

It’s the wife who expects her husband to know all of these things or do all of these things just because she is his wife.

It’s the child that believes they deserve a phone, a tv, a tablet, a gift, an outing, a car, money, or anything just because they are your child and they should be doing it.

It’s an inward attitude often revealed through ingratitude.

It’s an attitude that results in unmet expectations. Now, don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad thing to have expectations in certain circumstances but if your expectations of anothers actions are based upon the fact they should be done just because you are who you are then thats a problem.

4. Love does not behave itself unseemly

Love doesn’t put others down. It isn’t insulting or demeaning to those around you. Friends, family, Children.

5. Love seeketh not her own

Love has no agenda other than the care and compassion of another.

There is no quid pro quo. You aren’t doing this because they will do that.

This is found often in the worlds form of love.

When many say I love you…and young ladies I want you to listen to this…When many people say I love you and it’s an unbiblical form of love…what they are saying

Listen…What they are saying is “I love me, I want you.”

Learn to know the difference between a biblical, godly form of Love and the lust of the world. Trust your parents and other spiritual leaders in your life with helping you to discern the difference.

6. Love is not easily provoked

Love doesn’t calculate the worst in people. Love doesn’t keep a book of wrongs done to you.

That’s resentment. Love thinks no evil toward another.

Love doesn’t get upset at the success of others. husbands and wives should always be rejoicing at what is happening in the others life rather than getting jealous or frustrated that it isn’t happening to them.

C. Love Acts Purely

It’s unfortunate that it has been said of Christians that they are the only ones who will shoot their wounded rather than trying to restore them.

When we hear of someone falling into sin or whose life is being destroyed, we should be ashamed if we have the thoughts “Well, saw that coming...” or “We should’ve known...”

Whatever happen to the understanding of who each of us are without the grace of God?

We should set the example for others when it comes to restoring relationships and restoring people.

This doesn’t mean we cover up sin. this doesn’t mean we excuse sin. It doesn’t mean if there is an illegal act committed it shouldn’t be reported to the appropriate authorities…it means if a person seeks forgiveness with repentance, we should be more than willing to give it.

D. Love Acts Patiently

Verse 7

1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV 1900

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

3 words, Bears, Hopes, endures.

Bearing means to cover in silence. It means when someone falls we again don’t cover up things but we don’t gossip about them.

If there is a question, issue, or concern about a person don’t go asking everyone around them....go ask them.

Be patient with people too. Don’t expect for someone to change over night. Don’t expect for someone to always do what you say when you say it when it comes to the relationships you have with others. You’re their friend or spouse, not their Drill Instructor.

Teens you should be immediately obeying your parents and parents, we should have gracious patience as we teach and model for our kids how they should respond.

Lastly I want you to see with me the eternality of love

III. The Eternality of Love

Look at V 8 and see Love is Eternal

A. Love is Eternal

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.

Love never fails.

God’s love never fails.

Mans love will. You may be like me and come from a broken home where your parents got divorced.

Maybe you come from an abusive background. Maybe you come from many broken relationships.

Remember, God’s love, biblical love, is eternal. Mans idea of love is temporal and is contingent upon the benefits of the relationship.

Sometimes God’s love may not seem as though it’s providing you with what you want.

We can begin to think things like “God why didn’t I get that job I wanted” or “Lord why didn’t you allow that relationship to continue”

We think these things because we are looking to closely at the scenario rather than taking the God sized perspective that He has and understand that maybe, He loves us so much that he kept those things from us.

Like the candy you keep from your child that really wants it but you know if they have it before dinner they won’t get what they really need...

Then Paul finishes this chapter with verses 8-13 highlighting again what he said in the beginning in a little more detailed way…

1 Corinthians 13:8–11 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

He tells us Gifts are transitional

B. Gifts are Transitional

Throughout each chapter in the book of 1 Cor you will find that Paul is writing to fix something.

They had some problems there.

Here Paul is addressing one of the problems in the church about everybody wanting these gifts.

He says Prophecies…they will cease. Tongues, they will cease. Those were sign gifts of the Apostle’s that we don’t have in a culture where the Word of God is complete.

These things will pass away. The gifts your seeking after…they will depart.

They were all wanting the gifts that got them the most attention. They all wanted to be the one doing the stuff people was praising them for.

Here’s Paul, the guy who has these gifts, and says “Look, these are pointless…these are useless..these are not what will pass on to the next generation of believers…what will pass on is Love.”

People can talk about what you did, people can talk about how well you did it, but whats more important than the talents and abilities you have is the love in your heart that is expressed while your living.

Paul says it’s not about all these other things....it’s about love.

Because Love is Triumphal

C. Love is Triumphal

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Greater than faith, greater than hope, is love.

Love is wrapped in the truth of God. The Bible says God is love.

Without God you cannot know love because to know love is to know God. To know God is to know love.

To show a biblical, godly love, you must have the source.

And that only comes from faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus is the greatest example of Love. He gave himself for us.

Many here this morning have made the decision to trust in Jesus as their Savior. You believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

You believe the Bible as God’s Word. You believe we should be living for and doing things for the Lord. But let me ask you this morning…are you doing them out of love?

Are we reflecting the love of Christ to our community? To our families? To our friends?

With every head bowed and every eye closed I’d like for us to transition into our time of response now.

This is when we take a few moments to reflect on what we heard and how we should respond to God.

How should you respond today?

Maybe your response is the first response you’ll ever make to the Lord.

THe response of faith.

Woudln’t you like to know the love I’ve spoke about today? Wouldn’t you like to see your life transformed by love?

It’s easy to do.

Do you need to put your faith in Him?

The Bible says in that God loves you so much He sent Jesus to die for your sins. In that same verse Jesus said that whosoever believes on him will not perish but have everlasting life.

It’s that simple. Believe on Jesus…have a relationship with Him.

Do you believe this morning? If you made the decision to trust in Jesus this morning I want to invite you to confirm that with prayer. The words of the prayer mean nothing if you don’t believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead.

If you want to make the decision to trust Jesus as your savior this morning please pray after me

“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”

Christians…what’s your next step of faith in love? What areas have you not been acting with biblical love? Talk to God about that right now and commit to making adjustments for your good and for His glory.

PRAY

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