Deep Places in God

Lesson 8

The Gift of Love

I Corinthians 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love,

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 love, 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 love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails:

but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;

whether there be tongues, they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

And now abides faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is Love

Let’s go through this verse by verse

We can have the gift of speaking all sorts of fancy words and even speak in tongues, but if love is not a part of our life it will come out sounding like clanging brass or tinkling cymbal

Now these instruments, when played in a full orchestra the way they are supposed to be sound in tune and harmony with the rest of the instruments. But played alone, can be very irritating to the ears. And can give you a pounding head if it goes on too long.

So it is if we are spouting off words of tongues or interpretation or prophesy, it they are not operated by love. No one wants to hear that and no one will be fooled by it. People will spot it right away and no that this person is talking off the top of their head so to speak.

“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 love, I am nothing.”

We see here some gifts of the Spirit that many would love to have operating in their life, and may have operating in their life. But if it is not mixed with love, what good is it?

If people see you and how you live. How your treat your family and others, and do not see love operating in your life, will they respect and believe any prophesies you give or words of knowledge you impart? Or will they say, well I know that he/she is an unloving person, so how can I take what they say as from God? And you may be operating in these things, because you believe the word of God and know what it says, but you also need to show love, or no one will believe you.

I have seen people that have great faith. God honors their faith because they stand on the word of God and see things come to pass. But, are not loving people at all. The try to force what they believe on others and do not do it in love. And get upset when others cannot believe the way they do.

So even though faith may be working for them, because it is based on the word of God, what does it benefit them and others? I know I have heard people say this “If that is a Faith person, I don’t want anything to do with it”

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.

I know there are people that give to the poor but it is more out of show and habit then love. They don’t really care for the ones they are giving too, but it sure looks good on their record and to others that they are a good person. But if no love it in it, it is empty.

The next part is harder to understand, but someone can believe in God so strong that they are willing to die for their belief, but do not love others around them. They will go to heaven, but think of the ones they would touch, if they had lived a life of love. They will have nothing to show when they face the Lord.

“Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked,”

Now we get into the attributes of Love

What does it mean to suffer long? It means that you will overlook the short comings in others and be kind to those that take a little longer to grasp things then you do. And slow to bring judgment on others

Definition: patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, slowness in avenging wrongs

Love does not behave rudely! That is plain and simple. Love is not rude!

And love does not seek it’s own way. It does not always have to be right, and does not always have to be first. It will step down out of the limelight and put others up. It will go without rather then have it’s own way.

And love is not easily provoked to anger. How many can say that? How quickly do you lose your temper? How quickly do you lash out at others to show them that they are wrong? How easy is it to “Get your Goat”?

That expression says something…who do the goats represent? We are lambs, not goats…don’t act like a goat!

“thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;”

I grouped these together because they go hand in hand.

If you don’t think evil, you will not rejoice in evil, you will rejoice in the truth!

We usually find it easier, or would rather believe bad about someone, then we would believe good about them. That should not be the way it is. We should always give the “benefit” of the doubt, and believe the best of others first. You know…innocent until proven guilty?? Not guilty until proven innocent. We should always be looking for the best in others, not the worst. And be happy when truth prevails!

“Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails”

This says, Love always has the best outlook on every situation it faces.

It will bear with someone, until the truth is revealed.

It will believe others, no matter what the “evidence” looks like

It will hope that things will work out, rather then they will fail.

It will endure hardships if necessary to see truth and love prevail.

And most of all…….Love will not fail!

If we can face every situation in live with love in our hearts, we will find it a lot easier. It may take just as long for things to work out. People may not change, but if we are determined to love no matter what, it will be better for us and those around us.

Love will cover a multitude of sins!

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent love among yourselves:

If we have love, we can do anything

Love Never Fails!

but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;

whether there be tongues, they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

And now abides faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is Love

All in this life will vanish away at the coming of Christ,

but faith hope and love go on forever

And the greatest thing is Love!