Love will not Fail

I Corinthian 13:1-13Though 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,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthian 13:1-138 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke 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 in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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1. The Value of Love (1-3)

There is nothing more important in your life than the love of Christ. It is your most valuable possession. The agape love of Christ is your strength in times of weakness, your hope in times of despair, your glory in times of difficulty, your best when life throws you the worst. The love of Christ is your everything.

Agape

Agape is the highest of all Greek words for love. The reality is that God places His love in our heart through the person of Jesus. Agape is love in it’s highest form. It is the divine demonstration of love found only Christ and when that love invades a person’s heart it sweeps all hatred, malice, deception and similar behaviors away.

1. Your gifts are meaningless without loveThe work of the Holy Spirit brings gifts into the lives of those who place their faith in Jesus. Those gifts are given so that we are able to serve Jesus not in our ability but with the ability he instills within us. We cannot serve Jesus to the level of His strength without having His love living within us.

2. Your life is pointless without love Paul says that without love: I am nothing. In essence, if we do not possess the divine love of Christ within us, there is no point to our life. Just because you are breathing does not mean that you are really living. The sad fact is that far too many people settle for merely existing rather than living. If you do not have the love of Christ living within you, you are just existing and not really living.

3. Your efforts are fruitless without loveAs Christians, we are called to bear fruit and show ourselves ready to serve Jesus whenever and wherever He sends us. The reality is that our efforts will never amount to anything more than just our human work without the power of Christ’s love as a driving force in our lives.

2. The Victory of Love (4-8)Paul gives an exhaustive definition of agape

love here and does so with an incredible eloquence that shows that Christ’s love is far more than just talk, it is action. Paul does not give us some long and dull definition of love

but rather He gives us a formula for victorious living. As this comes together for Paul he

seems to be asking an unstated question: How should a Christian behave?

1. Love is patientThe word that Paul uses here refers to the way we deal with people. Paul says that we are to suffer a long time with other people. No matter what the evil or injury committed against us. No matter how others have neglected or ignored us.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

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Stuck in Traffic

2. Love is kindThe word king means to show favor to others and move beyond hurt and injury. Paul shows that love is strength of grace that allows us to grant forgiveness.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?.

3. Love does not envyThis is not having feelings against others because of what they have - spiritual gifts, position, abilities, possessions or anything else. Love is not begrudging but rather shares in the joys of others.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

4. Love does not boastPaul says that love does not brag or seek recognition. The behavior of love seeks to give, to recognize others, to honor others and applaud when others succeed.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

5. Love is not proudThe word here for proud means to be puffed up or conceited. The behavior of love does not look at oneself as being better than others. Love is humble and seeks the best.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

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6. Love is not rudeLove does not act in a way that is disgraceful or brings shame to the name of Jesus. Love treats people with respect.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

7. Love is not self seeking The Greek word that Paul uses here literally means to worship oneself. This is exactly the problem of modern society because we have become so full of ourselves. The simple reality seeks to serve others, not to be served By others.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

8. Love is not easily angeredPaul uses the word that means quick tempered or being ready to take personal offense. Love does not allow the emotions to control and it does not become angry without cause.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

9. Love keeps no record of wrong This means that we cannot think evil of others and continuously focus on the wrongs that we have suffered because this will lead to resentment and bitterness. Love endures evil and keeps its focus on the truth.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?.

10. Love does not delight in evilPaul says here that love does not take pleasure in doing what is unrighteous. In other words, if we have the love of Christ within us, the ability to do what is wrong still exists but we will make ourselves miserable doing so.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

11. Love rejoices with the TruthLove rejoices when the truth is finally discovered and when it is victorious. The reality is that we can rejoice in all situations because when the truth of God is within us we always have victory.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

12. Love always protectsPaul is saying that love has the power to cover every area of life and to give the needed strength to support every area of life. Love gives us the supernatural strength to stand and cover the faults of others.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

13. Love always trustsThe word Paul uses here means to have a perfect trust. Love gives us an ability to have a divine trust that helps us to see God’s work in our lives. It also gives us the ability to see the best in others.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

14. Love always hopesPaul says that love literally never loses hope and has every expectation of finding triumph. Love refuses to accept failure and has bright hope for the best.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

15. Love always perseveresPaul uses a military word here that means to withstand an attack. This means that the love of Christ is our strength and acts as our fortress during attack. Love endures every assault that comes against it and stands firm until the victory is won. The love of God gives us the ability to love even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

16. Love never fails Paul closes his definition of love with a bold statement that love never fails. In other words, the love of Christ is always successful. The power of our lives is found in the reality that Christ’s love gives us the ability to succeed

Are you living in the victory of Christ’s love?

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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-38

March· Hang door hangers and pass out flyers 3-2-12 at 11am· Leadership meeting 3-2-12 at 2pm · Hang door hangers and pass out flyers 3-30-12 at 11am and 11pm· Resurrection Sunday, Grand Opening Service, and Brunch 3-31-13