1 Corinthians. 13 A more excellent way

Intro : 1 Cor. 13 is one of the most well known passages in all of the Bible

A) Many studies have been given / books written / songs created/ often sung at weddings /

B) It is indeed a clear description of the love of our Lord & savior Jesus Christ.

1) Clear description of God’s Agape Love!!!!!

A) It is indeed a GREAT STUDY !!!!!!!!

However what many people often forget is the context in which this Chapter. Is placed in the Bible . Most studies fail to observe that .

A) As a mere study on the on the Love of God it seems that a better place for this Chapter. Might be Gal. 5 right after then description of the fruit of Spirit!

B) Placed right after Paul’s exhortation to walk in the Spirit – for surely you can not come close to experience these attributes w/ out Spirit’s Power !

C) Another fitting place – Right after John. 3:16 – For God so Loved …..

1) Now here is a description of that Love !!!!

A) But those are not the places that the H.S. chose to place this Chapter.

B) Instead the H.S. puts this description of the Love of God – smack dab in the middle of His discussion on the gifts of the Spirit / function in body.

F) And it is in that Context that we want to examine this Chapter. Tonight.

1) See Paul makes it very clear in the Beg. Of Chapter. 13 – that you can have all the gifts in the world – No Love - NOITHING – MEANINGLESS

READ V.1-13

Begin tonight w/ a little re view –

12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

A) v.1-6 V.4 Diversity of Gifts – Same spirit / v.5 Diversity of functions

B) Gifts given as the spirit wills

C) Then Paul goes into this brilliant Discussion of how the church has been formed by the Lord as a body

1) Body that has many members / doing different / functions / still one body

A) Body in which no one is insignificant / can’t say because not a hand I don’t belong –

1) Or because I don’t have the gifts that so in so does / I don’t fit !!!!

A) No ONE IS INSIGNIFICANT & NO ONE CAN BE INDEPENDENT

1) No part of the body can say to the rest – I don’t need you guys – I will function on my own. PRIDE

F) And the Visible members of the body are not to be exalted – all place function - FOCUS LAST TIME

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

A MORE EXCELLENT WAY – THE WAY OF LOVE

13:1 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 begins by stating that I could have all the gifts & abilities in the World but if I didn’t have love ( Love isn’t motivation- NOTHING !!

A) Love for God / Love for others - Essence of Christianity

1) everything summed up in that

B) Motivation is RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE

C) So my purpose in seeking gifts / in desiring to be used / in reaching out is all to be out of a response to the love of God.

1) Not to be seen / IMPORTANT / in the “ IN CROWD” / Strokes feeling like satisfying my need to be useful!!!

B) WE ARE TO BE A DISPENSER – THRU WHICH THE LOVE OF GOD CAN FLOW – THRU THE GIFTS GIVEN

E) Love main Characteristic of any ministry - Not Worship team / how well studied / how good at this or that – TRADEMARK ABOVE ALL ELSE

1) LOVE

SO PAUL SAYS W/OUT LOVE – NO MATTER HOW GIFTED I MIGHT APPEAR – NOTHING

A) Tongues of men ….. Clanging cymbals / GONG

B) PROPHECY – Proclaim the Word – Preaching – No love

1) Empty – Preach & Split - G.L. Story – B. Ball – another Pastor

A) Great WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE – Insights are us !!!

1Cor. 8 Knowledge puffs up / Love Builds up

1Cor. 12:7 Purpose of the body – build up

A) I know a guy – great teacher – great insights – never made it as a Pastor – No Shepherds heart

B) Talk w/ J.M. about Bible College

1) Goal is lovers of Jesus who in turn will love people!!!

GREAT FAITH ….MTS

A) God is not impressed by our tongues / our preaching / knowledge / our faith - He is impressed by our love

A) Interesting that another thing that this seems to be saying is that it is possible to exercise spiritual gifts

1) Possible to function in the Body – Possible to even take great leaps of faith & see results

A) But be totally in the wrong & all for not – as far as any heavenly reward goes – because the MOTIVATION WASN’T LOVE

PAUL PROCEEDS TO GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF LOVE IN V. 4-7

A) Love Shined through a Prism

B) Love = AGAPE - God ‘s unconditional self sacrificing love

C) Love is Patient – almost used exclusively w/ being patient w/ people.

1) Corinthians were impatient in public meetings – everyone wanting to share – no one listen

A) Weren’t patient w/ each other in other things as well

B) Patient & Kind – Kindness is the counter part to patience

KINDNESS IN GRK – Speaks of that which is useful / serving & gracious

A) Instead of being impatient – patient & seeking to see how I can serve others

LOVE DOESN’T ENVY – NOT JEALSOUS !!

A) Jealousy & envy in a body is a sure sign of apparent lack of love

B) When ever you see that spirit says How come so & so gets to do that – how come their used in that way

1) Whenever see that pulling down of others –

C) Instead of That is so cool that so & so is doing such in such

DOESN’T PARADE ITSELF – NOT PUFFED UP

A) Hey look at me / draw attention to self - Musicians

B) I’m doing such & such

C) Not HEY LOOK AT ME / LOOK AT JESUS – JN.12

DOESN’T BEHAVE RUDELY

A) Exhortation – Encourage / not get in face

DOESN’T SEEK ITS OWN

A) Huge Problem – what is in it for me ATTITUDE

B) Love says give myself away – spent on others

1) Love understands better give than receive

THINKS NO EVIL – NO ACCOUNT

A) Book keeping term / another problem some people never shed past

B) Those in body never forget – always keep an account – Blew it / never be used here / never taken seriously

1) Scarlet Letter L tattooed for head – LOSER

A) Peter - He denied the Lord – ( day of Pentecost – don’t let Peter preach )

1) Tell Peter Risen

DOESN’T REJOICE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – rejoice = justify

A) Seeking to be little / make light / rationalize sin / make excuses

B) No Love calls a spade a spade / then & only then - repentance

C) Because I love you – confront you / Love warns corrects / challenges /

H.S. does in us !!!!!

LOVE REJOICES IN THE TRUTH !!!

A) True AGAPE is based in truth – not mushy feelings ( I love you man )

LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS = Cover / support / protect

A) 1 Peter 4: 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

B) Interesting that Peter would write that – HE LIVED IT !!!

LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS = NOT Suspicious or cynical

LOVE HOPES –

A) Faith dies – love continues

Love Endures – Hupomeno - Military term = to hold a position or to conquer

A) Hebrews 12 :3 Joy set before Him Endured the Cross - ( Jesus didn’t just make it – He conquered the Cross

V.8-13 LOVE NEVER FAILS

A) Everything else is going to vanish away = katargeo = to be rendered in active

B) Listen in the Millennial reign – Kingdom age / Heaven – no longer a need for tongues prophecy etc. / w/ the Lord – He will speak

C) But Major Characteristic in Kingdom of God will be Love !!!!