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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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DIFFICULTIES IN CHURCH WORSHIP (CH 11-14): THE USE AND ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (CH. 12-14) 1Co 13:1-8a (1/4/12) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. INTRODUCTION A. Chapter thirteen in the letter to the
Corinthians was perhaps Paul’s finest literary piece, in addition to being
one of the world’s finest compositions of praise on the attribute of love. B. However, Paul subject of discussion was
spiritual gifts since it is found between two chapters (12, 14) dealing with
this topic. C. It was love that the Corinthians lacked in
their use of spiritual gifts as well as every other area of their lives. For
this reason they were involved in major quarrels, selfishness, and jealously. II. SUPERIORITY OF LOVE OVER SPIRITUAL GIFTS
(1-3) A. [1Co 13:1] - Paul began with a conditional
clause that can refer to a general condition or a hypothetical condition. In
reference to the gift of tongues, we know that Paul did indeed have the gift
(1Co 14:18). But the reference to the tongues of angels was not a special
Holy Ghost language but here a hypothetical hyperbole. 1. Even being able to speak with the gift of
tongues, Paul says that without love, he is nothing more that brash metallic
noise (“noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” sometimes accompanied the ritual of
ecstatic cults). 2. “Love” is the Greek word agapê which
is the highest level of the three other Greek words for love. a) Agapê is a choice to seek a higher calling for another. It seeks
to meet the needs of another without any motives of personal gain. It is
sacrificial love as opposed to self-centered or self-seeking love. b) Agapê is the word used for God’s love (1Jo 4:8) and most often
relates to the sacrificial death of Christ on the sinner’s behalf. (Joh 3:16;
Rom 5:8; 1Jo 4:10). c) Agapê is commanded by Christ and is the distinguishing mark of
Christ’s disciples (Joh 13:34-35). d) Agapê is the goal of evangelism, edification, and instruction
(1Ti 1:5). B. [1Co 13:2] - Even prophecy (forth-telling
and fore-telling of God’s truth), which Paul will emphasize in Chapter 14 is
subject to the ministry of love. 1. Though the Corinthians would claim to
have all of these gifts including the “word of wisdom” (having divine
revelation of mysteries) and the “word of knowledge” (having divine
revelation of knowledge), they must include love. 2. If they all possessed the miraculous gift
of faith where they could move mountains, but did not possess love, they were
“nothing” (outhe,n - a negative, of no account or worthless). C. [1Co 13:3] - If they had the gift of
giving to feed the poor or if they had the boldness to be a martyr and
surrender to the flames, all of this would amount to nothing without love. It
would “profit” (ophele,ō - no benefit) the recipient of the loveless one nothing. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE (4-8a) A. [1Co 13:4] - 1. Agapê is first of all patient. “Patience is makrothume,ō which literally means to have a “long” (makros) “fuse” (thumos
- passion, including anger). It means that one’s passion of anger and
impatience is under control, forbearing and slow (cp. Pro 29:11; Jam 1:19).
The Corinthians were impatient toward one another at the Love Feasts and
other meetings. 2. Agapê is kind. “kindness” (chresteu,omai) is to show oneself mild and gentle. It is not displayed
because of weakness but rather is strong enough to show love in adverse
situations. It is the character of God (Mat 11:30; 1Pe 2:3) and is to be
emulated among one another (Gal 5:22; Rom 13:13; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12). The
attitudes of the Corinthians had turned bitter toward one another in regard
to divisions. 3. Agapê is not jealous. “Jealous” (zêlo,ō) can be a positive in the sense of being
zealous, but often it is seen in the negative sense as a hostile emotion
based on resentment or envy (Gal 5:20; Jam 3:16; 4:2). Often false teaching
on gifts leads to jealousy and envy when they teach inferiority of those who
do not have certain gifts (i.e. tongues). 4. Agapê does not brag. To brag (perpereuomai) is to be a windbag and full of nothing but hot air because
they are simply bragging and most often exaggeration and embellishment. There
was great bragging in the Corinthian church in regard to gifts and silly
things like who baptized them. Rather they should have praised and encouraged
one another (cp. 1Th 5:11, 14; Heb 3:13) and not themselves (cp. Pro 27:2). 5. Agapê is not arrogant. Love is not puffed up (phusio,ō - to blow or bellow) showing and gloating and showing itself
off. It is Christ alone in Him we are to exalt (cp. Gal 6:14; 1Co 1:31; 2Co
12:9) and not ourselves, our talents, our gifts, our position, or status,
especially in the church. B. [1Co 13:5] - 1. Agapa,ō does not act unbecomingly. Love acts with godly decorum in all
circumstances. It does not behave ill-mannered, rude, improperly, or
disgraceful (aschemone,ō - lit. shapeless (schêma), not conforming to
standards). At the Love Feats, the
Corinthians shamefully acted unbecoming of followers of Christ. 2. Agapê does not seek its own. Love seeks to meet the needs of
others. Christ Himself came to seek that which was lost. He did not come to
be served but to serve others through His sacrificial atonement on the cross
(cp. Mar 10:45; Luk 19:10). Some of the members at the church in Corinth were
incorrigible in their selfishness satisfying their own lusts. 3. Agapê is not provoked. “Provoked” is the Greek word paroxu,nō and means to sharpen (oxunō)
and figuratively to aggressively stimulate or prod. Love does not allow
itself to be provoked to emotional and fleshly responses. The Corinthians
were irritated with one another over the most insignificant things. They were
always stirred up about something, especially in regard to each other. The
description of the flesh in Gal 5:20 seemingly comes
from the Christians in the Corinth church, despite their giftedness. 4. Agapê does not take into account a wrong
suffered.. Love does not collect (logizomai - count) and harbor a
list of wrongs with the intent of repaying back someday. It is however
forgiving and merciful like God (Pro 10:12; 1Pe 4:8). God does not remember
the believer’s sin in the sense He will never bring it up against them (cp.
Psa 103:12; Jer 31:34; Heb 10:17). C. [1Co 13:6] - 1. Agapê does not rejoice in unrighteousness. There is nothing merry to attribute of
love about sin and defeat. It does not make fun of sin, failure or the
misfortune of others. Rather, it mourns over sin and over the lives decimated
by it (Pro 14:9; Pro 24:17-18). 2. Agapê rejoices in the truth. Instead, love rejoices in the truth (sugchairō - rejoice with (prep. sun). It rejoices in God’s truth especially.
It rejoices in those who take any size step toward the truth to apply it in
their lives. It rejoices when someone comes to Christ (Luk 15:10) and over
those who repent from sin. D. [1Co 13:7] - 1. Agapê bears all things. There is not a situation that causes
love to quit. Rather it “bears” (ste,gō - cover to keep water out) all things without complaining. It keep
a tight lid on complaining lips (cp. Col 3:13; Jam 5:9). Oh how the
Corinthians needed to emulate this. 2. Agapê believes all things. Love has its faith in God and “believes”
(pisteuo) that He can do the impossible (Mar 10:27; Luk
1:37), especially in people’s lives. 3. Agapê hopes all things. Love always has hope as long as God is
involved. We should never become so discouraged that we lose hope in anyone
or anything. God can always sovereignly work if He so chooses. No one has an
in-road to disqualify His work in anyone’s life. 4. Agapê endures all things. Love always endures. “Endure” is the
Greek word hupomenō and means to “remain” (menō)
“under” (hupo). Perseverance is a good synonym in that love always
perseveres and does not quit under the load, especially with ministry toward
others. E. [1Co 13:8a] - 1. Agapê never fails. “Fail” is the piptō which
can mean fall. So love will never fall or fail. It can always be depended
upon, especially with reference to God’s love. It is for this reason the
believer is secure (Rom 8:39). The child of God is to display the same
commitment of love in our marriages, ministries, fellowship, and service.
Faithfulness should characterize the believer in all facets of life (Pro 25;13; 2Ti 2:2; Tit 1:9; cf. 2Ti 2:13; Rev 19:11). IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Love is our goal (1Ti 1:5) B. Love is our message (Joh 3:16; Rom 5:8) C. Love is our modus operandi (Eph 4:25) D. Love is the mark (Joh 13:34-35) E. Love is necessary for spiritual gifts (1Co
13:1-3) |
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