Love Works 6
Notes
Transcript
In Chapter 12 Paul is arguing the claim that a church should be focused on serving. But just as it is in our church and all churches. A full on focus of ministry turns inward. In other words it is very easy to make serving about me. Serving becomes about my favorite ministry, my favorite way to minister, whether I have the ability or money or time. These all become the factors of my ministry. The problem is this is not the primary focus of ministry. LOVE is...
So instantly Paul springs into this chapter explaining that you are not the primary consideration of ministry in the church - the love of God is...
Therefore my spiritual gift or my ministry role is based first and foremost on what is the true idea of love.
Paul is giving us the practical application of ministry, care and generosity to those in the church. But in chapter 13 Paul gives us the essence of the Grace that produces such meaningful ministry.
Text: I Corinthians 13.1-3
Cit first I am a giver of charity that ministers not in reverse.
Imagine with me a Christian without love...
A christian who does the Christian thing but is not connected to the Spirit of Christianity.
A Christian who can see the error of the world without seeing the souls being hurt by it.
A Christian who can get angry with the sinner and miss the cure for that soul which is the Gospel.
A Christian who can get caught up more in their rights than their purpose.
A Christian who can win an argument but does not apply God’s word to their life.
A Christian that can point out error in others but miss the beam in their eye.
A Christian that has grown desensitized to the sin around them so that that same sin seems agreeable.
The Value of Love
He is saying, "I want to show you the best way to take care of virtually every situation, & that is the way of love." Then he points out that love is more important than 5 other things that Christians consider very important.
I. Ministry is about demonstrating Love not showing off ability.
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.
Exp. The word tongue here is defined a language. In fact the first reference to tongues in the church were People of one language speaking to one who understood another.
Those that teach a blibberish tongue where you just make a sound that comes out as the tongue of angels fail to take into consideration… Angels have never had a problem speaking the language of Abraham (Ancient Kushitic or Proto-Saharan) Isaiah (Hebrew), Daniel (Aramaic or Chaldean) Mary, Joseph, (Aramaic or Koine Greek) Peter, John (Koine Greek).
So all of this is to say that this tongue in Scripture I suggest is the hyperbolic use of the an Angel language rather than Pauls instruction on how to speak to angels.
Aug. Many modern day Charismatics forget that praying in tongues is forbidden in Church without a interpretor...
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Which is to say why would you speak a language that no one needs. There is a reason we don’t have German interpretation at South Knollwood. It isn’t needed and would destract us even if you could speak it.
The point is not your ability the point is the need of the people within the church.
Technology has brought on, or more correctly, increased access to one of the biggest blights on humanity. And that is validity of existence. I exist therefore I count. We have more people today that believe the fact that they have an opinion means that the opinion is valid.
In fact our country has groomed us to believe that everyone’s opinion matters. Can I remind you this is a farse. The Bible trumps all opinions.
Ill. Back in the 1st Century, there was a big gong or cymbal hanging at the entrance of most pagan temples. When people came to worship, they hit them to awaken the pagan gods so they would listen to their prayers.
More modern religions do the same with wind chimes, prayer wheels, and prayer fires. To us we know they are useless regardless of how people hold on to them.
Here, Paul is saying that even if he were so blessed that he could speak with the greatest of eloquence in every language, but didn’t have love, then his life was as useless as this ridiculous act of pounding on a gong to awaken non-existent gods.
II. Ministry is about demonstrating Love not expounding on knowledge.
Exp. Paul says that even if you know it all - if you know everything there is to know about nuclear science; if you know everything there is to know about medicine; if you know everything there is to know about philosophy & psychology & theology & every other kind of “ology” - if you know it all, but have no love, then you are nothing at all.
Ill. It has always amazed me that when people look at society & try to analyze what is wrong with us, why we’re killing & abusing one another, they come back with more education.
It is the educated elites that push the murder of babies.
It is the educated elites that push evolution.
It is the educated elites that push deviant sexuality.
It is the educated elites that push the mutilation of children for trans rights.
The logical jump is not education makes us go here. But education sure hasn’t helped the morality of a country. And in many cases actively working against the science they say they stand for.
App. But I don’t think education is the answer. I’m certainly not opposed to education. But listen to what Paul says in
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
The church doesn’t need more egg heads It needs teacher that study not to look good but to lovingly feed the flock.
III. Ministry is about demonstrating Love not capitalizing on Faith.
Exp. Faith, we are told in the Scripture, is so important that it is impossible to please God without faith. And I trust that all of you have faith. But what is your faith? What do you believe for sure this morning?
Aug. Do you believe that God is the creator of the world? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son, & that He came into our world & lived a sinless life, & that He died & was buried & on the third day rose again? Do you believe that He is now at the right hand of the Father, & is preparing a place for us, & that one day He will come again? Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is our guide & counselor & comforter?
If you believe all those things, then that is well & good & I commend you for it. But the Bible teaches that if you believe all the right stuff, but you do not have love, then you are nothing. Because even faith is of no value unless it is backed up by love.
I just preached Sunday morning about the need for a church to have solid doctrine. It is vital that we believe correctly. But it won’t matter what our belief on Ecclesiology is if our church lacks Charity.
Ill. The priest & the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan had faith. The problem was they had no love.
So they walked by on the other side & just left the man lying there to die.
App.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
IV. Ministry is about demonstrating Love not expending Generosity.
Exp. Now notice that he doesn’t say, "If I give 10%." He says, "If I give everything, if I empty my checking account, if I give all my retirement funds, if I sell my house, if I cash in my insurance policies, if I sit on the corner with nothing left but what I’m wearing, & I’ve given it all away to help the poor, but I don’t have love then I am nothing at all."
Aug. You see, generosity is not enough. Are you a generous person? I get calls all the time, & I’m sure you do, too, from people appealing for funds for worthwhile causes.
But why do you give? Do you give because the preacher just preached a sermon on stewardship? Do you give because you feel guilty if you don’t? Do you give because you want to impress others sitting around you? Do you give because you’re afraid that God will get you if you don’t? Do you give because you think you will get more than you give?
App. You see, all those are wrong reasons. If the only reason that I give is to receive or to benefit myself, then love is absent, & giving is empty. The motive for giving should be love, love for God & love for God’s people.
V. Ministry is about demonstrating Love not giving up your life.
Exp. Then he says that love is more important than accomplishments. He says, "If I...surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Aug. He is talking about martyrdom. He is talking about being so faithful & so committed to God that you end up dying because of your faith. How deep is your faith? How deep is your commitment? Are you willing to lay down your life for God, if it came to that?
App. But Paul is saying that even if you go to church every time the church doors are open, if you read your Bible faithfully, if you pray, & do all the things that a Christian person ought to do, but if there is no love behind all that then it is nothing in God’s sight.
Love Demands Action, Demonstration of Love for its own sake.
Charity cannot be confused with your idea of love charity as a fact is love in action.
