Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- 1 Cor 13:
- Jesus shows us what love looks like in the flesh
- It also confronts us with our failure to love
- It teaches us how to love
- Looking at 'Love does not seek its own'
- Book by Philip Ryken
- We must trust in God's plans
- Hymn: Have Thine own way Lord
- Really we want our own way
- Love does not seek its own ...
- Love does not seek it own ... anything
- This is at odds with our modern society
- Quote from Philip Ryken: "We are engaged in a lifelong love affair with ourselves"
- We do not neglect ourselves - examples
'Me Centeredness' - Example of Corinthian Church
- Examples of self-seeking behaviour:
- Squabbling over those they followed - Chapter 3
- Gross sexual immorality - Chapter 5
- Defrauding and suing one another - Chapter 6
- Not considering one another regarding idol food - Chapter 8
- Not sharing food at Communion - Chapter 11
- People grabbing attention in church services - Chapter 14
- Are we selfish:
- Money / time / conversation
- Rather than thinking of others
'Other Centeredness' - Example of Paul's Life
- "Imitate me"
- Not that he is perfect but trying to set an example
- Paul gives examples of putting others first
- Food - chapter 8
- Finances - chapter 9
- Work / Relationships
- 1 Cor 10:24 - Seek the good of others
- Think about the time you have
- Not just to be 'better' people - do all to the glory of God" - 1 Cor 10:31
'God Centeredness' - Example of Jesus Christ
- Examples from Jesus' life:
- Not married, no home, no career, no holidays
- His life was characterised by asking 'what would be best for others'
- Matt 26
- Example of exam, wedding day
- Jesus knew He would be betrayed and crucified
- Thursday night - reality starts to hit home
- He was sorrowful and deeply distressed - Matt 26:37
- He asked for the 'cup of suffering' to pass - Matt 26:39
- This was God's wrath and anger - examples of sin
- The punishment poured out on Jesus
- No wonder He was distressed
- There is no other way for sin to be dealt with
- Not as I will, but as you will - Matt 26:39
- He prays the same in v42 and v44
- He knows what agony is coming - but yet He prays 'not my will'
- He is not seeking His own
- If we want to know what love really looks like - we will see nothing greater than what Jesus has done at the cross
- God wants us to run to Him and have our sins forgiven in Jesus Christ
- A hard prayer to pray - but a good prayer to pray
- Personal example
- It is a hard prayer to pray when you know what it can mean
- You can only pray this when you realise that God can be trusted and you are convinced that His way really is best
- Consider the plan of salvation - His way was best