Sermon 092897

1Co. 12:31-13:3                        The Excellent Way of Love                                           9/28/97

Series 23.20                                                                                                                       ABCC

I.     Review                                                                                                                             591

q      Believers in the church at Corinth were attempting live & minister together with jealousy, strife, arrogance & self-pity – feelings of superiority & inferiority

q      Many believers in the church at Corinth in their zeal, immaturity & arrogance had exalted & perverted the gift of speaking in tongues – God’s gift used in the wrong way/behavior!

q      Paul summarizes WHAT we are to do regarding spiritual gifts (v. 31a)

q      “Earnestly desire…” – to burn with zeal, strive after & exert yourself

q      greater gifts = those that edify the body of Christ or church (14:12) = DON’T BE SELF-CENTERED!

II.    HOW Are We To Use Our Spiritual Gifts

A.      The most gifted Christian still needs to be taught (v. 31b)  – “And I show you” [ex. = Apollos]

B.      The way that we use our gifts is very significant (v. 31b) – “a still more excellent way”

-         Anything less than the excellent way will make us ineffective (obvious within the Corinthian church)

-         Anything less than the excellent way is a SINFUL way

C.     The effect of using spiritual gifts the wrong way or without love (13:1-3)

Remember that Paul is still defining what it means “to be spiritual” or “what is the spiritual life”.

1.      You will eventually irritate & annoy those who hear you (v. 1)

People are initially impressed with spectacular religious displays of what appears to be spiritual, but when they eventually see that you have self-serving purposes it will irritate them.

2.      You are of no value to God in your present condition & ministry (v. 2) = Balaam (Num. 22-24; Jude 11)

The Excellent Way of Love, pg. 2

3.      Your sacrificial deeds do not profit you in eternity (v. 3)

You receive all your reward now = praise of men (Mt. 6:1)

Paul is emphasizing the emptiness, nothingness, profitlessness of religious deeds without love!  Every believer should demonstrate biblical love in using his/her spiritual gifts – the glory of God & the edifying of the church is the goal; self-interest & praise of people should never be the goal.  The evidence of being truly led by the Spirit is not spiritual gifts alone, but also spiritual fruit – Love, joy, peace, patience, etc..  The Holy Spirit has a specific WAY in which He functions in the church – LOVE!  A church where the Holy Spirit is active & where believers are truly spiritual is a church that demonstrates biblical love – “By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn. 13:35).  Love, just like spiritual gifts, is not something that man can create; it given to us by God – “the fruit of the Spirit is love…”; “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was give to us” (Rom. 5:5).  Love is God’s WAY - Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; “Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines…”.  Love is to be our WAY - “And you shall love the Lord your God with all…”; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”; “knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1Co. 8:1); “Let all that you do be done in love” (1Co. 16:14); “For the love of Christ controls us” (2Co. 5:14); “through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).  We are told to pursue love, put on love, increase & abound in love, to be fervent in love and to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  If you are a Christian, you already possess love and the ability to love – practice it more fervently.  If not, come to Christ…