the power of love. i corinthians 13:1-3 if i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not...

THE POWER OF THE POWER OF LOVELOVE

I Corinthians 13:1-3I Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. have not love, I gain nothing.

I Corinthians 13:4-6I Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. with the truth.

John 3:16John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal in him shall not perish but have eternal life.life.

If you actually expressed love like If you actually expressed love like that - what kind of power would that - what kind of power would you have in your life?you have in your life?

I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual Gifts!Gifts!

If I If I speak inspeak in the the tonguestongues of men and of angels, of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift the gift of prophecyof prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and can fathom all mysteries and and all knowledgeall knowledge, and if I have a , and if I have a faithfaith that that can move mountains, but have not love, I can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and poor and surrender my body to the flamessurrender my body to the flames, , but have not love, I gain nothing. - v1-3but have not love, I gain nothing. - v1-3

A. Love gives power to the gift of A. Love gives power to the gift of tonguestongues..

If I speak in If I speak in the tongues of men and of angelsthe tongues of men and of angels, , but have not love, I am only a resounding but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. - v1gong or a clanging cymbal. - v1

I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual Gifts. I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual Gifts.


1. What did the gift do?1. What did the gift do?a. Some could speak so a. Some could speak so

others others could hear in their could hear in their own own languages languages - Acts - Acts 2:1-132:1-13



1. What did the gift do?1. What did the gift do?

b. Some today claim a special b. Some today claim a special prayer language.prayer language.



2. But - what happens in the 2. But - what happens in the absence of love?absence of love?

It’s a source of pride & boastfulness!It’s a source of pride & boastfulness!


B. Love gives power to the gift of B. Love gives power to the gift of prophesyprophesy..

If I have the gift of prophecyIf I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - v2not love, I am nothing. - v2




a. Foretold the future.a. Foretold the future.

b. Spoke for God supernatur-b. Spoke for God supernatur-ally.ally.




a. The promise:a. The promise:Matthew 10:19-20 - But when they arrest you, Matthew 10:19-20 - But when they arrest you,

do not worry about what to say or how to do not worry about what to say or how to say it. say it. At that time you will be given what to At that time you will be given what to saysay, for it will not be you speaking, , for it will not be you speaking, but the but the Spirit of your Father speaking through youSpirit of your Father speaking through you. .



1. What did the gift do?1. What did the gift do?b. Philip’s daughters & b. Philip’s daughters &

Agabus Agabus were New Testament were New Testament prophets prophets (Acts 21:8-10)(Acts 21:8-10)




c. Today we associate this c. Today we associate this gift gift with powerful preaching!with powerful preaching!




It doesn’t profit God!It doesn’t profit God!


C. Love gives power to the gift of C. Love gives power to the gift of intellectual knowledgeintellectual knowledge..

If I have the gift of prophecy and If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all can fathom all mysteries and all knowledgemysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a , and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - v2not love, I am nothing. - v2




Help us understand God’s wordHelp us understand God’s word

& God’s way!& God’s way!



2. What happens in the absence 2. What happens in the absence of love?of love?

Knowledge can be very cold, Knowledge can be very cold, snobbish & prideful.snobbish & prideful.


D. Love gives power to the gift of D. Love gives power to the gift of faithfaith..

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a if I have a faith that can move mountainsfaith that can move mountains, but have , but have not love, I am nothing. - v2not love, I am nothing. - v2



If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a if I have a faith that can move mountainsfaith that can move mountains, but have not , but have not love, I am nothing. - v2love, I am nothing. - v2

Matthew 17:20 - Because you have so little faith. I Matthew 17:20 - Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will movewill move. Nothing will be impossible for you.. Nothing will be impossible for you.




It’s useless to God!It’s useless to God!


E. How about giving your life in E. How about giving your life in totaltotal sacrificesacrifice??

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. - v3gain nothing. - v3


I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual I. Love Gives Power to the Spiritual Gifts!Gifts!

II. Love Gives Power to Practical II. Love Gives Power to Practical Living!Living!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.with the truth.- v4-6- v4-6

A. Love means A. Love means patiencepatience..Love is patientLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it , love is kind. It does not envy, it

does not boast, it is not proud. - v4does not boast, it is not proud. - v4

1. 1. PatiencePatience ( (μακροθυμέωμακροθυμέω) = ) = slow slow to express your temper.to express your temper.

II. Love Gives Power to Practical LivingII. Love Gives Power to Practical Living

A. Love means A. Love means patiencepatience..

2. The problem today is family 2. The problem today is family abuseabuse..




Ephesians 6:16-17 - In addition to all this, Ephesians 6:16-17 - In addition to all this, take take up the shield of faithup the shield of faith, with which you can , with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and one. Take the helmet of salvation and the the sword of the Spiritsword of the Spirit, which is the word of , which is the word of God.God.




It always protects, always trusts, always It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, hopes, alwaysalways perseveresperseveres. - v7. - v7


B. Love means B. Love means kindnesskindness..Love is patient, Love is patient, love is kindlove is kind. It does not envy, it . It does not envy, it



B. Love means B. Love means kindnesskindness..““Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus

declared. “declared. “Go now and leave your life of Go now and leave your life of sinsin.” - John 8:11.” - John 8:11


C. Love means not being C. Love means not being jealousjealous..Love is patient, love is kind. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envyIt does not envy, it , it



D. Love means not D. Love means not braggingbragging or or being being inflatedinflated with your own with your own importance.importance.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it it does not boast, it is not prouddoes not boast, it is not proud. - v4. - v4



Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it it does not boast, it is not prouddoes not boast, it is not proud. - v4. - v4

Romans 12:3 - Romans 12:3 - Do not think of yourself more Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgmentyourself with sober judgment, in , in accordance with the measure of faith God accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.has given you.



1. What do you think about your 1. What do you think about your own abilities & achievements?own abilities & achievements?



2. Your prayer needs to be, “Lord, 2. Your prayer needs to be, “Lord, help me to look at myself help me to look at myself

realistically.”!realistically.”!


E. Love means acting with grace & E. Love means acting with grace & not insisting on your own not insisting on your own rightsrights..

It is not rude, it is not self-seekingIt is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not , it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. - v5wrongs. - v5



1. 1. GraceGrace ( (χάριςχάρις) = showing ) = showing unmerited favor, kindness, good unmerited favor, kindness, good will.will.



2. When you make decisions, 2. When you make decisions, what is your primary concern?what is your primary concern?



2. Where does your freedom in 2. Where does your freedom in Christ end and your respon-Christ end and your respon-sibility to others begin?sibility to others begin?




Romans 14:15 - If your brother is distressed Romans 14:15 - If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. acting in love. Do not by your eating Do not by your eating destroy your brotherdestroy your brother for whom Christ died. for whom Christ died.




Romans 15:1 - We who are strong ought to Romans 15:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and bear with the failings of the weak and not to not to please ourselvesplease ourselves..




Romans 14:21 - Romans 14:21 - It is betterIt is better not to eat meat or not to eat meat or drink wine or to drink wine or to do anything else that will do anything else that will cause your brother to fallcause your brother to fall..



3. Sacrificing your own desires 3. Sacrificing your own desires becomes an expression of becomes an expression of God’s love!God’s love!


Let’s do somethingLet’s do something

besides just talk about love!besides just talk about love!

Start doing something about it!Start doing something about it!

Let’s do somethingLet’s do something

besides just talk about love!besides just talk about love!

Start doing something about it!Start doing something about it!

Love will put power in your life!Love will put power in your life!

the power of love. i corinthians 13:1-3 if i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not...

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absence of love

gift of tongues

kind of power

gift of prophesy

gift of prophecy

spiritual gifts

power of lovei corinthians

tongues of men