WEBVTT 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:11.919 Hello and welcome to the Sermon Podcast of Mission Hills Church, located in San Marcos, California. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.759 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.920 We pray that this message blesses you and your walk with Jesus. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:26.480 First Corinthians 13, verses 1 through 13. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:34.719 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gonk or a clinging symbol. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:46.560 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. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:54.399 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.479 Love is patient and kind. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:59.119 Love does not envy or boast. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.439 It is not arrogant or rude. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.000 It does not insist on its own way. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.560 It is not irritable or resentful. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.519 It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.519 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.280 Love never ends. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.319 As for prophecies, they will pass away. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:24.319 As for tongues, they will see. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.439 As for knowledge, it will pass away. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.480 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.239 But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:39.280 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:42.640 When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:47.519 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:53.599 Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.959 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.040 But the greatest of these is love. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:00.319 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:03.120 Well, good morning, Mission Hills Church. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:16.400 My name is Dennis, I'm a friend of the church, and uh I'm a little bit tempted to just scrap all of this and talk about a faithful shepherd that Sam has been. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:30.319 And uh you know the scriptures talk so much about um faithfulness at the core of what ministry is all about, and you have done that. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:03:02.479 And so uh this body is uh deeply grateful with all the history and everything's fitting that Scott and Terry are here, and we go all of us that go way, way back to Emmanuel Faith days and the Richardsons and just looking around at the Monty Ones, and yeah, God has been faithful, and the Lord has done his good work in and through the ministry of the leaders of this church, and will continue to do that. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.199 And uh, I would just encourage you. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:14.879 The best advice I ever got before I went into the ministry, uh some of my story, um was I went to Dr. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:15.680 Strauss, Dr. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:39.199 Richard Strauss, who pastored Emmanuel Faith for so many years, and uh Doc was dying of cancer, and uh I went to him, and when it became somewhat clear that I uh would uh take that role in the future, I went to him and I asked him, uh, you know, Doc, what's the key? 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:43.520 I've never done this before, so what's the key? 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.680 And uh he looked at me and he said, I can only tell you one thing. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.439 He just said, uh, stay low before the Lord. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.840 Best advice I ever got. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.240 And Sam, you have modeled that and exhibited that, and I would just encourage you. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:02.000 It's required of a steward that one be found faithful, and you have done that. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.000 And so together we would say, Praise the Lord. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.919 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:09.919 Okay, let's open our Bibles together, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.960 We're gonna be looking this morning at the great love chapter. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:16.879 We've studied it a lot here. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:20.160 It's quoted at weddings, uh, life events. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:28.560 Uh, it's well known by many of us, but with that familiarity, uh it's a bit of a both a blessing and a challenge. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:40.560 It's a blessing to know what this text has to say, but it's also a challenge just from the standpoint of we know what it says, and we have a tendency to kind of glaze over the familiar. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.000 And we probably do that more than we care to admit. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:45.680 Anyone in that boat with me? 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:55.759 Because we're gonna hear again some stuff that every one of us who has been well taught by the scriptures already knows about this whole topic here. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:58.079 Uh so why study it again? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:19.759 Well, I really believe that the Word of God is living and active, and as a result can do something new and fresh in my heart and our hearts together about one of the key things that will keep Mission Hills together. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:27.759 One of the key things that will keep our families together, to keep our marriages together. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:35.279 And it's this whole topic of love and understanding it in a new and fresh way. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:42.879 And so that's the reason why we're gonna dig into it and uh it'll become pretty apparent what the text is having to say. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:49.680 It's just very, very hard to carry out, and that will be the challenge for us as we uh study. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:53.279 So uh let me remind you of the historic context. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:06:04.079 Uh this section in chapter 13 is part of a larger unit in chapters 12 through 14, all having to do with the topic of spiritual gifts. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:15.040 And as we saw last weekend, if you were here with us, is that in the church at Corinth, they got really confused by this whole issue of gifts. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:21.120 And we we saw that God gives some gifts that are upfront and visible. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.360 They're public gifts. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.920 And uh the scriptures call them the higher gifts. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.399 Well, what happened in that ancient church? 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:48.319 They defined those higher gifts as better gifts, as superior, that in some way they were better, higher, superior to all the behind the scene gifts that people rarely see, that really hold a church together. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:07:02.480 And Paul in chapter 12 said, listen, God designed the entire church and gave specific gifts, both upfront and behind the scenes, so that all were needed. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:03.680 And remember Mr. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:06.480 Potato Head that we used last week? 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:14.639 We're all needed to make this church be everything that God wants it to be. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:20.959 But it's not saying that the upfront public gifts are somehow unimportant. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:26.319 And that's how Paul concludes chapter 12 with these words in verse 31. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:30.720 See it with me, this will set our context and then launch us into our study. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:36.959 Paul writes this, but earnestly desire the higher gifts. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:46.399 They're the gifts that can influence a larger number of people than necessarily the individual behind the scene kind of gifts typically do. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:55.279 But then he gave this additional insight, verse 31, and I will show you a still more excellent way. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:05.920 Using your spiritual gift at Mission Hill's church is one of the keys to building this body and keeping it strong. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.319 Every one of us is needed. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:16.000 Yet Paul says here, there's even a better way to make Mission Hills strong. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:21.120 A still most excellent way, as the NIV translates it. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.279 And what's that better way? 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:28.079 The answer is simple: by loving each other. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:34.799 Especially in this context, using our gifts as expressions of love to each other. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:39.600 And that's what this whole section then is all about. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.240 Our need to show love to each other. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:46.159 And Paul interestingly uses a number of different words for love. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:53.200 Two primary words in the New Testament for love, Philia, which we get Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.000 It's that warm affection that we feel. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:00.720 It's a sibling, family kind of love, a sense of togetherness. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.919 And that's critical for the health of the church. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:06.480 But Paul is going to use a different word. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:08.320 It's the Greek word agape. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:09.279 Have you heard that before? 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.240 Say agape. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:22.480 Okay, this is this kind of love that God has for us that He says it's the most excellent way to build up the church. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:24.720 Agape love. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:31.519 It's not based on how I feel about you, my sense of closeness to you. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:38.320 It's based upon my commitment to you, whether I feel like it or not. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:48.720 If I had to define it, I would just call it an act of self-giving, regardless of any gain I might receive for myself. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.559 You can say it a whole bunch of different ways here. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:06.399 Agape love, it's what gets a person out of bed to go to work again when she or he is dead tired because we've got to pay the bills. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:15.360 Might not be jumping up and down about doing it, but you're committed to your family and you love your family, and that's agape love. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.559 It's trying to figure out uh what are we gonna have for dinner tonight? 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.799 That becomes one of the hard decisions of life, you know, as you kind of get going. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:29.840 It's cooking, it's cleaning, it's the dishes. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:33.679 It's going out of your way to listen to somebody. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.240 It's just giving yourself away. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.879 That's what this is all about here. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:49.919 Uh we we would say um agape love is not transactional. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:55.200 I do this for you so that you will do this for me. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:57.679 That's not real love. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:06.799 It's not uh quid pro quo, it's not this for that, tit for tat, it's not that in any way, shape, or form. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.759 Agape love says, I'll scratch your back, even if you don't scratch mine. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.440 And that's why it's God's kind of love. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:29.120 But God demonstrates his own love towards us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:43.440 So the love of the Lord Jesus that took him to the cross was given even while we were yet sinners, while we were his enemies, while we were hostile to him. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.000 That's the kind of love. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:51.039 And so, as I'm again known to do, did you come to hear from the Lord this morning? 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:54.480 Come on, Mission Hills Church, did you come to hear from the Lord this morning? 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:59.919 Because God's got something for you personally this morning. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:10.399 If your heart and your ears are ready to hear it, go out and show love to somebody. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:14.639 When you leave this place, that's what he wants you to do. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:21.120 That's his message to you and me and us together, and especially in this church as a whole here. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:24.639 He sacrificed for me. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.480 Now I get to go sacrifice for him. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.320 He loved me. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.759 Now I get to go love others in his name. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:44.399 And it's not going to be in the big things typically of life. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.960 It's just in a lot of smaller ways. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:56.559 Teresa of Calcutta said it this way: in this life, we cannot always do great things. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:00.320 We can only do small things with great love. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.120 So whether anybody sees it or not, just take it upon yourself. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.279 Show love to somebody. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:13.200 That's the still more excellent way. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:23.519 But I have to warn you start loving others, and you're taking a risk of having your heart broken. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.960 Because not everyone responds to love in a good way. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:36.639 Some will take advantage of you, others will use it against you. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:43.759 But the alternative is to stop loving. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:52.320 And the impact of that decision is even more devastating than the risk of loving. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:00.080 Chuck Swindahl said it this way, as only Chuck could. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:19.919 Wrap it up carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements, lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:26.000 But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:34.799 It will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:43.120 The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is hell. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.159 So, did you come to hear from the Lord this morning? 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.080 Take the risk. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.720 Give yourself away. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:05.679 And every time you do it, you'll give away a little of that selfishness in your own heart. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:14.480 And you'll be reflecting the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that he has shown to you and to me and to us. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.039 Okay? 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.879 That's it. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.639 That's the message. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:19.600 Okay? 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:29.679 Now, what Paul does in the rest of this chapter, and I'll go through this quickly, famous last words, but I'll try and go through this quickly. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:39.759 Because what Paul does in chapter 13 is he says, why loving each other is the more excellent way. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.200 Why is it so important? 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.600 So let me just run through these. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:51.120 First, it's the indispensable motivation for earning heavenly rewards. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.679 Indispensable motivation. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.399 Verse one. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:02.960 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I'm a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:13.200 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. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:24.720 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain zip. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.080 Nada. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.320 Zero. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.799 Nothing. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:53.440 So the greatest order could speak in languages on earth or in heaven, who communicates without love in her or his heart, for those who are listening, all that person is doing is spouting off religious noise. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:03.120 And if you had the capabilities of knowing all the mysteries of God, no secrets, you got them all. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:08.480 But had not love, I am nothing. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:21.920 And if you could trust God to move mountains, satanic opposition, difficulties and challenges, you had extraordinary faith. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.839 But had no love. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.279 It amounts to nothing. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:42.000 And even if you take philanthropy to its extreme and you sacrifice to the point where you sell everything you own, or even go to martyrdom, Paul says. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:50.559 Or you offer your body in the flames, but you have not love. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:56.000 Paul concludes, I gain nothing. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:04.799 The point, good deeds done without love for others will gain nothing in eternity for the pure person doing them. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.640 That's a terrifying comment. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.279 But it's one that Jesus spoke of clearly. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:31.359 Matthew chapter 6, beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them, otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:44.480 Now, how could someone do these extreme things without some love in her or his heart? 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.680 I don't know. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.519 I don't know. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:57.440 Because quite honestly, I'm appalled at my own selfishness. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.039 And so I find myself more and more. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:18.319 You know, you don't have to pretend anymore because you've already made all the mistakes and you know everybody else has made theirs too, and so we can just talk about this stuff, you know. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:21.839 I just find myself praying more and more all the time. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.240 Psalm 139. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.880 Search me, oh God, know my heart. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.039 Try me and know my anxious thoughts. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:39.519 And see if there be any hurtful way in me. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:52.559 Because what I want to do when I leave this place this morning, I want to go and show love. 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.640 But Lord, I need your help to do that. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.319 It's really, really important. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:14.160 If we want to have any kind of reward in eternity, we're gonna go out of our way to love. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.960 And indispensable motivation. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.640 So you think about it. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.079 How's your heart? 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.240 How's your heart doing? 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:36.240 Secondly, love is important because it's the sacrificial action that gives voice to our words. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:42.559 And in the church we talk a lot about loving each other. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:50.240 And we know that Jesus told us by this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:21:01.200 And it's always interesting to me that the evidence of our connection to Jesus is not a doctrinal orthodoxy, as important as that is. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.480 But it's the practical demonstrations that we show. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:16.559 And thus, if someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he's a liar for the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:29.759 So we have to take this idea of love out of theological abstraction and put it in a place of practical action that testify to the reality that we speak. 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.000 And that's what love does. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:41.680 And it's for that reason is these go-through now in verses four through eight, Paul describes love is patient, love is kind. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.960 The interesting thing is he doesn't use nouns. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:48.960 Love is patient, he doesn't use a noun, he uses a verb. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:59.359 And so I think a more accurate translation is love is being patient, love is being kind. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:05.119 And it takes it out of that abstraction and it becomes a reality. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:13.599 And as we go through each of these, I want you to just think: does this describe who I am? 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:29.599 And let's just let the word in the quietness of our connection with the Holy Spirit affirm us and challenge us. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.240 Love is being patient. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:43.519 Do you have any I call them EGR people, extra grace required people in your life? 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.359 You might be married to one, isn't it? 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:51.359 I mean love is being patient. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:54.960 Love is being kind. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:04.160 It's a friendliness, a graciousness, both an attitude and service. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:07.759 Would people describe you as a kind woman? 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:12.079 A kind young man, older man? 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:19.759 Verse 4, love does not envy. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:29.039 The original word means to boil, sometimes translated as jealousy here. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.720 In this context, it refers to a negative boiling over. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:41.200 You get ticked off at people real easily. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.880 Verse 5. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.680 Love isn't rude. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:59.359 New American translates doesn't act unbecomingly. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.720 Literally, it's without proper form. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:16.720 And so stated positively, we would say that love is courteous, has a sense of propriety, has some manners. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:25.359 Verse 5: love does not insist on its own way. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:34.160 It's not self-seeking. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:44.240 When my youngest son memorized this verse and he was reciting it back to me, he said, Dad, love is not self-sickening. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:47.759 And I thought, out of the mouth of babes. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:54.559 Because that's what destroys relationship of self-sickening. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:09.200 And how different they would be if we shelved our interests and our rights and our preferences and did not insist on our own way. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:27.519 Now where he is or how he fares, nobody knows. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.440 And nobody cares. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.720 That's where we end up. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.680 Verse 5. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:39.440 Love is not irritable. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:48.400 Paroxuno, the original word, means to be sharp. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:54.640 When you don't love, you develop a sharp edge. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:04.720 Where we get easily angered, we get touchy, we get easily provoked. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.519 Some people just say I am temperamental. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:19.519 I've discovered that temperamental is ninety percent temper and ten percent mental. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:34.319 I think we all agree that in the church today we need warmer hearts and fewer, hotter heads. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:40.960 Verse five, love is not resentful. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:47.200 Doesn't keep records of all the times you've hurt me. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:53.200 If you're married, are you hearing this? 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.599 You don't nurse a grudge. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:07.680 Verse 6 does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:14.000 So a loving friend doesn't find any joy in something that's contrary to God's will. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.079 They don't hide the truth. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:23.519 They don't delight in evil or injustice or take pleasure in the misfortune of others. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:32.480 We rejoice with the truth, and this is one of the balances that gets lost here that we need to be loving to each other, that somehow we neglect what's true. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.319 Just the opposite. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:42.559 True love confronts and warns and disciplines and corrects. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:51.920 If I love you, I'm not going to let you just run down the road that's going to destroy you. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.240 I'm going to say something to you about it. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.440 That describe you. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:11.519 But in the process, love hangs on because verse 7, love bears all things. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.039 It literally covers all things. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:19.359 It speaks about a confidentiality, protection, if you will. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.440 Love doesn't go around gossiping. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:25.920 It doesn't go around broadcasting. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:34.559 It believes all things. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.759 It's just saying that love isn't cynical. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.880 It's not suspicious. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:56.480 It doesn't always think the worst of people. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.839 It gives people the benefit of the doubt. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:09.680 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:26.960 I'm going to try to not let your failure be the final chapter in my mind of how you're going to turn out. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:42.720 Stated positively, love is optimistic because I believe in a sovereign God who can take the very worst failures in a person's life and use them for good. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:48.000 It hopes all things. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:51.839 Love endures all things. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.839 It perseveres. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.599 It hangs tough. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:58.400 It weathers every storm. 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.200 How are you doing? 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:13.119 Love is really hard to do. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:22.160 And I would venture to say that it's impossible to do without the Holy Spirit's help because the fruit of the Spirit is love. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:29.359 And so I would challenge you. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:52.480 If you really want to love, and all these things that we've talked about, you have to be serious about your relationship with Jesus, about submitting control of your life to his Holy Spirit, as David was sharing about the impact of God's word in our minds and in our hearts. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:55.039 I love that Colossians 3 passage. 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.640 You can't play at this. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:30:59.680 See? 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:08.079 Because the promise of God is that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.079 Galatians 5.16. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:21.759 So I don't know, when was the last time you said to the Lord, you could please you come and take control of me? 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.039 We know the Holy Spirit's in us. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.799 We know the Word of God is true. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:31.759 I want this for my life. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:41.440 When's the last time that you that's a universal sign of surrender, isn't it? 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.480 Please, Lord. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.880 Love. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:52.000 Our indispensable motivation. 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:54.079 It gives voice to our word. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.079 Let me wrap this up. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:58.880 It's the core virtue that lasts for eternity. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:00.240 Verse 8. 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:02.799 Love never ends. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:10.720 Again, literally, the text says love never falls. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.720 Meaning it doesn't collapse under pressure. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:21.200 It doesn't come to an end when trouble arrives. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:35.279 And where Paul is going with all of this is he's saying that love will last for all of eternity, but spiritual gifts don't last that long. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:38.640 And that's why it's a more excellent way, verse 8. 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.880 As for prophecies, they'll pass away. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.480 As for tongues, they will cease. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:44.960 As for knowledge, it will pass away. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:51.359 He's not devaluing them, he's just saying that they're just temporary. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:33:00.960 Verse 9, for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:06.720 So we just know in part of all the prophecies and all the revelation that we have from the Lord here. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:09.119 It's just a partial picture. 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:14.400 And the time is going to come when we see the Lord face to face and we'll get the complete picture. 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:21.680 The partial spiritual gifts are needed right now, but in the future they won't. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.680 And thus the analogy. 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:30.079 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:34.000 When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:42.240 The gifts are very, very appropriate for this present time of life in the church here. 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:48.960 So we're a bit like children with that, but in heaven, we're going to be mature adults. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:51.119 The gifts won't be needed. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.240 That's the illustration. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:59.279 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:07.519 Now I know in part, but I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:11.119 Our vision's a little blurry down here. 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:16.239 We don't always see things as clearly as we should. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:21.199 But the day is coming when we're going to see him face to face. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:28.079 The day is coming when we'll be made like him and it'll all become clear. 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:33.199 Thus, verse 13. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:38.559 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:44.880 The three virtues make up much of our Christian life. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:51.679 We live by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him to forgive us and accept us. 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.280 We live in hope. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:35:02.960 Hope for the future, the things to come because of the resurrection of Christ and God's promises of eternal life. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:07.280 I buried a friend yesterday. 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:12.320 And all these things just hit me that this is the hope. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:15.199 This is where it matters most. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:24.480 And we have love for one another in the context of community of sisters and brothers in Christ. 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:31.760 These abide, these remain, these three. 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:39.760 But in heaven, our faith will be sight. 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:44.559 In heaven, our hope will be fulfilled. 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:53.360 But in heaven, we're going to keep right on loving and loving and loving because God is love. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:57.039 And we will be perfected in that love. 00:35:57.199 --> 00:36:04.559 And so where Paul is going is it's just this love is the core virtue, both now and forever. 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:13.199 And that's why Paul extended this teaching into chapter 14 and verse 1 with a very simple command. 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:15.119 Pursue love. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.320 Pursue it. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:22.400 Not a suggestion, it's a command. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:32.400 The oko, the verb, is used of a track runner, getting down to the end of a hundred meter and straining to get to the finish line. 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:35.599 Everything going for that finish line. 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:38.559 And that's what we ought to be doing for love. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:42.159 Everything. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.519 This is our focus. 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.960 How do we love each other? 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:47.119 How do we care for each other? 00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:48.960 That's where we're looking. 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:09.519 So why? 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:14.320 Because he first loved us. 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:27.280 And as we drink that in, asking God to fill our hearts, fill my heart, fill our hearts with his love. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.239 So much so that it becomes a natural expression of who we are. 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:43.039 And that's what brings our marriages, and that's which brings our friendship, and that which what brings our church. 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:50.719 And that's what really brings my heart together with my relationship with him. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:56.639 So it's really appropriate that we come to communion time. 00:37:56.960 --> 00:38:01.280 So let me invite Gabe and the musicians if you want to come on up. 00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:05.760 And let me invite you to all bow your heads for just a second, will you? 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:08.000 I've used a lot of words up here. 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:17.199 All right, Mission Hills Church. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:19.599 Everybody take a really deep breath, will you? 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:36.639 What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? 00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:48.480 What is he affirming that you're doing well? 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:12.559 What is he challenging you to take some steps to love? 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:32.000 And I don't know when the last time where you raised your hands and said, I'm all yours. 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:37.039 Fill my heart with your love. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:57.039 So hear the prayers of your people, our Father. 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:03.679 All because we're dependent on you. 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:08.000 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:08.880 Amen. 00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:15.840 Thank you so much for listening to the Sermon Podcast from Mission Hills Church in San Marcos, California. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:19.760 We pray that this message blesses you as you love God and love others. 00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:26.960 If you would like more information about our church, please visit us at missionhillschurch.org. 00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:28.159 God bless.