Category: Series

Signs of Truly Loving Others, part 5

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 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

So far we have examined:

Love is:

  • Long suffering
  • Kind
  • Not envious
  • Not boastful
  • Not proud
  • Does not display improper behavior.
  • It is not self-centered.
  • Does not display fits of anger.
  • Does not think evil of others.
  • Rejoices in what is right.
  • Does not think evil of others.
  • Rejoices in what is right.

Today we will look at:

  • Love is protective.
  • Love is trustworthy.
  • Love is hopeful.
  • Love is patient.

Protective

Romans 15:1-3 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2  Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification.3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-12 –  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]

People are not your enemy, Satan is.

  • Love helps carry the load.
  • Love pleases others, not self.       
  • Love sacrifices for the benefit of others.

Love is Trustworthy

Ecclesiastics 4:9-10 – Two [are] better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. 10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

  • Love shows up.
  • Love lifts up.
  • Love is consistent.

Hopeful

I Corinthians 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things

1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (do not put limits on your love)

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing. (love never gives up on someone)

1 Corinthians 9:19-20 –  For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

  • Love looks at what can be, not always what is.
  • Love never gives up but keeps hoping.
  • Love is limitless and timeless.
  • Love is expecting the best in the end.

Patient

James 1:4  But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

2 Peter 3:11  [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,

1 Timothy 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

True patience is a sign of spiritual maturity; therefore our love show grow stronger and stronger.

Contentment is the ultimate goal.

Patience is our goal as believers.

REMEMBER, GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH THEM YET AND YOU ARE A TOOL HE IS USING TO MOLD THEM.

II Peter 3:11-14 –   [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Truly Loving Others

I Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 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

Long suffering

Colossians 1:11– Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:11-12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Kind

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

II Peter 1:5-7 –   And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Not envious

Galatians 5:19-23 –   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

James 3:14-16    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Not boastful

Psalms 10:4-12 –  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.5  His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.7  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.8  He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.9  He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.10  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.11  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.12   Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

1 Corinthians 4:18  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

1 Corinthians 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Philippians 2:1-5 –  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Rejoice with them as they gain victory, return to the church, and become vital in reaching others.

Romans 12:14-19

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

It does not matter what someone else has done to you, FORGIVE anyway.

    Matthew 6:14-15 – 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

    II Corinthians 2:1-11 – But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.5   But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.6  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

    Ephesians 4:30-32 –  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

    Colossians 3:10-13 – And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.12   Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

    Always remember what you did to Jesus. – YOU KILLED HIM.

    I Peter 2:21-25 –  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

    Give others the same grace you want for yourself

    1. I Peter 3:8-10 – Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

    Romans 12:14;17 –

    14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

    17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

    Use your voice to encourage them – (Our job is to restore.)

    1. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

    Proverbs 29:22-23 – An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit

    Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

    Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

    James 3:10-18 – Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?12  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

    MAYBE TODAY WE SHOULD DO WHAT TOMORROW WE WILL BE GLAD WE DID

    NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ALONE

    No one, and I mean no one should be alone in this life. Some people think being alone is what is good for them. The Bible disputes that. Two are always better than one. As we look at this, I do not mean living alone in a house, but I mean always being alone and never getting out to build relationships. People need relationships. People need companionship. If the church is done the BIBLICAL way, people will have a right place to build these relationships and companionship. As we continue the series on Bring Them Back, we are going to look at being alone. Some intentionally separate from others. Even these people need to be brought home.

    Ecclesiastes 4:9-10   Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

    • We need others to help in time of need.
    • We all have time on need.
    • We will all fall from time to time.

    I Thessalonians 5: 8-11  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.11   Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do

    • We are to find comfort in relationships.
    • We are to build up one another.
    • We are to work together to glorify Christ.

    Ephesians 4:29-32 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

    • We are to be forgiving regardless of the offense.
    • We are to speak words of encouragement, not words of condemnation.
    • To live a life of unforgiveness is to grieve the Holy Spirit.
    • We are to minister grace to others.

    Galatians 6:1-2 –  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

    • We are to help carry the burden of others.
    • We are to restore, not kill the wounded.
    • We are to display a spirit of meekness (kindness) to others.Failure to follow God’s plan will set you up for a hard fall

    Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

    • Not everyone is strong.
    • We must reach out to those whose faith has been shattered.
    • We have to learn to help without judging.

    Heaven, My Home Sweet Home

    John 14:1-6 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

    There is still plenty of room

    He will not throw out anyone who comes.

    John 6:37-40 –  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.39  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

    The invitation is still open.

    Isaiah 55:1-3 –  Ho, every one that    thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.3  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

    You and I get to be the inviters
    Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

    Psalm 126:5-6 –  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

    2 Timothy1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

    Romans 12:1-3 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

    II Corinthians 5: 11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

    My new home is built by the Hand of God Himself –

    TWO NEW HOMES WE HAVE:

    New Body

    II Corinthians 5:1   For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (read thru 11)

    New dwelling place

      John 14: 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you

      Still to come – plenty of room, Jesus will be there, It is not built by man but all built by God, all the redeemed will be there, but it takes the proper paperwork to enter in.