May 17, 2015
Morning Service

I Cor. 13

 

            Last Sunday I spoke concerning the spiritual gifts, in chapter 12 of I Cor.  Greg spoke on Romans 12, Sunday evening, which is another chapter concerning gifts.  Certain things concerning the gifts:

1.        God is the one Who gives, and distributes the gifts to whoever He chooses.

2.      The gifts will be given to those who are faithful, and mature.

3.      The gifts are for the lifting up, and encouragement to the church, the body of Christ.

4.      We found that everyone does not possess the same gift, and that is why everyone is needed, and that there are no big me, or little you, all are important to the functioning of the body.

It is not hard to figure out what gifts are still needed for the perfection of the church.  Now let’s notice how Paul starts out chapter 13.  Remembering that Paul closed the twelfth chapter by saying, “yet I will show you a more excellent way.”  Meaning there’s something better than the gifts.

 

1Co 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.  (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. 

·         In chapter twelve Paul listed speaking in tongues as one of the gifts.  He ask the question “do all speak in tongues, and do all interpret?”  Of course the answer was NO.  He ask this of other gifts also, and the answer was no to them also.

·         Some have taught this particular gift, as needed to prove you have the Holy Ghost, or the Spirit of God abiding within you.  But you are the temple of God, and He abides within all baptized believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.   ( I Cor. 3:16 )

·         As we continue our study in I Cor. We will see what Paul has to say about speaking in tongues.  Remembering that what he teaches is the will of God.

·         All these other gifts are meaningless without love.  I found it interesting that Paul mentions, “and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.”   So this tells me that I can do good deeds, and still not love the way I should.

·         Well, what about this love?  What should I look for in my life to know I have this love?

(4)  Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

·         I look at this as being patient, and kind.  We all know what this means, and we know if we possess it.

charity envieth not;

·         Envieth = repining or feeling uneasiness, at a view of the excellence, prosperity or happiness of another;    Again, I know if I’m like this.

charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

·         And who doesn’t know if someone thinks themselves to be better than someone else?

(5)  Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil; 

(6)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth; 

(7)  Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things. 

We know if we possess these attributes in our lives.  If we don’t then we need to spend time on our knees.  James said, 4:2, “you have not because you ask not.”

(8)  Charity never faileth:

·         You will find yourself in many a situation where you will wonder how to act, and the different judgments, or decisions you must make, just remember, always act in love, for love never fails.

·         Now notice the importance of what is said next:

but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;

·         Moses said, Deu 18:22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

·         So I say, prophecy all you want, but it better come to pass, or you are not of God.

whether there be tongues, they shall cease;

·         Tongues shall cease.  I do not believe the tongues of today were the tongues of the Bible.

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

·         This means supernatural revealed knowledge.  It is not needed, we need but to study our Bibles.  We have been given all things that pertain to life, and Godliness.  2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

(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. 

·         That which is perfect, Christ, when He returns for His church, we all shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and we also shall be perfect, knowing all mysteries.

(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.  (12)  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

·         When Christ returns we will no longer understand in part, but then face to face, we will know all things.

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

·         And I think how wonderful it is to have faith in Christ, and

·         The hope of His soon return, but

·         Paul says LOVE is the greatest thing of all.

·         When John, in his gospel, speaks concerning what Jesus said, he refers to love quite often.  In St. Jn. 17 is where Jesus prayed for Himself, His immediate disciples, and us, and He said,

Joh 17:20-26  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  (21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  (22)  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  (23)  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  (24)  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.  (25)  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.  (26)  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US FOR GUIDANCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT.   AND LORD, HELP EACH OF US TO CULTIVATE THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE MADE POSSIBLE FOR US ALL, REMEMBERING WHAT YOU SAID, “BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.”   AMEN.