1 Corinthians 13:1-3

                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 

The Spirit of God indwells every believer.  As part of His indwelling, He produces qualities in our lives known as the fruit of the Spirit.  He also equips believers with what we call spiritual gifts.  Both of these are vital to our Christian lives as they must both be used in cooperation with one another.  The gifts of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit is ineffective.

 

LOVE IS NECESSARY TO ELOQUENCE: The speaking gifts of teaching, prophecy, and even the gift of tongues are simply an annoying sound if they are not practiced in the context of loving relationship.  Often, we want people to come to Christ because of the messages we preach or our evangelistic efforts.  However, if we are not demonstrating genuine love, our efforts will be ineffective.  The preaching of the Gospel apart from the love the Gospel produces is likely to drive people away more than draw them near.

 

LOVE IS NECESSARY TO INTELLIGENCE: Those who have prophetic gifts and are filled with wisdom or knowledge must practice these gifts with love.  It is not a wise or knowledgeable thing to fail to love the people around us.  It is the basic command of Scripture, so failure to obey it makes the practicing of all other gifts be ineffective. 

 

LOVE IS NECESSARY TO ENDURANCE: Following Christ requires faith in the face of difficult circumstances.  Suffering and persecution will follow those who are living in light of the Gospel.  It is impressive and important for the followers of Christ to be willing to endure suffering.  However, it suffering causes hatred and bitterness in our hearts, it will not produce the desired result.  God calls us to suffer with joy and love in our hearts.

 

APPLICATION:  Love the people we try to evangelize even if they do not seem lovable to us.  Don’t become proud because of knowledge of Scripture.  Humbly love and serve those we strive to teach.  Protect our hearts from anger in the face of suffering, and replaced it with genuine love for those who persecute us.

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