What Love is I Cor. 13: 1 – 13

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. 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. 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. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

15 ways to say “I love you.”

Int. There is no question that what the world needs at this very moment is ‘Love”. If people really loved one another there would be no more wars, no more crime, poverty, starvation, homelessness, and immorality would be done away with!!! Love truly is one ingredient that would revolutionize this world. Love is the greatest quality of human life. In this chapter Paul give us the characteristics of God’s love. If we really want to do make a difference in this great big world of ours may I suggest that we pay close attention to the message today!!! The apostle Paul gives us a very simple outline to follow in this love chapter

The great importance of love verse 1 – 3, the great acts of love is 4 – 7, the great permanence of love verse 8 – 12, and finally the great supremacy of love verse 13.

Let’s define the word love. The Greeks had four words for love. The King James distinguishes this word from other words using the word “charity”. In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love.

The first word is the physical love between sexes; the patriotic love of a person for his nation; the ambition of a person for power, wealth, or fame. Briefly stated, eros love is the base love of a man that arises from his own inner passion. Sometimes eros love is focused upon good and other times it is focused upon bad. This word is not used in the New Testament.

Philia love is the warm love which we feel for our nearest and our dearest loved ones; it is a thing of the heart. It is an endearing love of a husband and wife.

Throughout this passage the apostle Paul tells us of a “agape love”, which originates with God. Agape love is a selfless and sacrificial love

(d) Agape love means “unconquerable benevolence and good will.” Agape love does not mean a feeling of the heart, which we cannot help, and which comes unbidden and unsought. It means that no matter what a person may do to us by way of insult, injury, or humiliation, we will never seek anything else but highest good of that person. It is therefore a feeling or determination of the mind as much as of the heart. It concerns the will of the person as much as the emotions. It describes the deliberate effort, which we can make only with the help of God, never to seek anything but the best even for those who seek the worst for us. To have this kind of love, you’ll need God’s help!

I. The great importance of Love verse 1 – 3

Without love we are just noisy

Paul is drawing a conclusion here in these verses. The verdict is in. Thought I have great speaking ability, though I have the greatest of gifts, read verse 2. Jesus mentioned to one man Mark 10:21 read. But the apostle Paul mentions read verse 3. Is there a contradiction? Absolutely not…

Mark 10:21 KJV 1900

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Let me just say many people take the phrase “tongues of men and angels” to mean more then what it says. There is never a time where in the scripture there is a language of angels. In fact, when angels did speak they spoke in the language of the people. People want to talk in a “heavenly language” in church services today. But the bible calls this confusion.

Notice verse two the end of it, it profits me nothing then again in verse 3, it profit me nothing. The gifts are not bad, they are good but without God’s love, agape love I am nothing but a lot of noise.

The gift of prophecy, speaking under the inspiration of God. If we are not careful, we will love the gift and not the giver of the gift. Gifts are not giving for ones lifting but ministering to others and the lifting up of Jesus!!! Then Paul warns of the sin of pride, he mentions understand all mysteries and all knowledge. The danger is that we look down upon people without this knowledge. Then Paul warns about the “gift or faith”. Jesus said that if you had faith you could speak to the mountains, and they would remove themselves. But Paul warns of the danger of spiritual superiority. These people have an overblown sense of themselves. Giving must be done according to the word of God and not with a sense of earning God’s favor.

II. The greatest acts of Love verse 4 – 7

Love is patience

It is a very powerful word and means “to not lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring trouble and misfortune; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be slow to punish and slow to anger; to demonstrate self-restraint when provoked.

A classic example of someone in the Old Testament that demonstrated love with this kind of restraint was David. King Saul repeatedly tried to harm David, but David did not retaliate because Saul was God’s anointed. David waited on God’s timing to deal with the king.

During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them. Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused. Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not, faced harsh persecution. In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp.

When the war was over, feelings of deep bitterness ran deep between these Christian groups and there was a great deal of tension. Finally, they decided that the situation had to be healed. Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ’s commands. Then they came together.

Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, “What did you do then?” He replied, “We were just one.” As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred.

Beloved, when love prevails among believers, especially in times of strong disagreement, it presents to the world an indisputable mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Robert Ingersoll, well known atheist said, “I’ll give God 5 minutes to strike me dead for the things I’ve said.” Theodore Parker said of Ingersoll’s claim, “& did the gentleman think that he could exhaust the patience of the eternal God in 5 minutes?” God has been patient with mankind for two millennium. His patience will run out at some point!!!!

Love is pleasant verse 4

Kind is the opposite of harsh. John 13:35

John 13:35 KJV 1900

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Love is not possessed by envy

It means “to be heated or boil with envy, hatred, jealousy, covetousness, or anger.” When you love someone, you will not be jealous, angry, or coveting what God has given to them.

Jealous brothers did not love Joseph. That is why they sold him into slavery. Jealous leaders of Babylon did not love or care for Daniel. That is why the conspired to get him thrown into a den of lions. Abel’s blood cried from the ground to the Lord because his jealous brother Cain did not love him. James 3: 14 - 16

James 3:14–16 KJV 1900

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Love does not promote itself

It means “to display or extol yourself; to be a show-off; to boast or brag.” Pushiness, parading so called “superiority” does not characterize the trait of love. Love does not lift itself up!!!

Love is not proud

The root of this word points to a windbag. It means “to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell, to make proud. Col 2:18

Colossians 2:18 KJV 1900

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

So said Jose Cubero, one of Spain’s most brilliant matadors, before he lost consciousness and died. Only 21 years old, he had been enjoying a spectacular career. However, in this 1958 bullfight, Jose made a tragic mistake. He thrust his sword a final time into a bleeding, delirious bull, which then collapsed. Considering the struggle finished, Jose turned to the crowd to acknowledge the applause. The bull, however, was not dead. It rose and lunged at the unsuspecting matador, its horn piercing his back and puncturing his heart.

Beloved, just when we think we’ve finished off pride, just when we turn to accept the congratulations of the crowd, pride stabs us in the back. We should never consider pride dead before we are.

Love is Polite

III. The great permanence of Love verse 8 – 12

God’s love is far superior than anything else. As believers in Christ, we must be careful that we do not want the things of God more then God!!!

Love is perfect and complete.

Love is mature, the maturity of the believer.

Perfect love is being face to face with the Lord.

IV. The great supremacy of Love verse 13

Both faith and hope are great qualities and gifts from God but they must be used in God’s love… Paul is reminding us that we often pay more attention on the gifts of God but love is far superior because

Faith focuses upon the revelation of God, love focuses on God!

Hope focuses on a future together with God love is superior because it focuses on God!!!

Love true love does not start with man it originates with God. Love is the very nature of God!!!

True biblical love is a gift of God and cannot be obtained without Him!!!

But love—true love—has no weaknesses or dangers. Love never fails, never comes short. But remember: love is not indulgence and license. Love involves control and discipline as well as care and giving, selflessness and sacrifice

How Patient are You?

A. Rate your self

On a scale of 1 to 10, how patient are you with:

1. Lady at the Express aisle at grocery store?

2. Boss? Employee? or Coworker?

3. Neighbors?

4. Relatives?

5. Other Christians?

6. Your children?

7. Your parents?

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