Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Considering one verse - v5
- Paul is spending a whole chapter on love because of the problems in the Corinthian Church
- Examples
- The Spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of love
- We have the Holy Spirit so that the love of God will be poured out in our hearts
- This Church felt it was spiritual, powerful and a model to others
- It was no example
- It lacked love
- It was carnal and immature
- Love is not carnal, not rude, it respects others, it does not show contempt, it is kind
- It is not rude
- It is not about ourselves but serving others
- It is not provoked or easily offended
- It is not evil - 1 Peter 2:20
- Examples of how Jesus was provoked
- This love is supernatural - the love of God
- It is not fault finding
- As we come to the Communion table tonight
- Test our thoughts
- Test our reactions
- Test our motivation
Test our thoughts
- As a man thinks - so he is
- Out of the heart - come evil thoughts
- Are our hearts governed by the love of God?
- Is the love of Christ winning this battle?
- Does our interior match our exterior?
- God knows what is on the inside?
- Is it love that motivates and drives us?
- The Corinthians acted carnally - examples
- When you come to the Communion table - you come to remember Christ
- What are out thoughts like?
- Proud - examples
- Rude - examples
- Self-seeking (revolving around ourselves) - examples
- Jesus emptied Himself - though He was equal with/was God
- Are you convicted by this?
- It is only Jesus who fulfils all these requirements
- We are full of sin - yet we can seek after these characteristics of love, we are to be like Christ, we are to walk in His footsteps
- We need to pray that God would make us more like Jesus
- What are your thoughts?
Test our reactions
- How do you respond when someone attacks or provokes you?
- Do we pity, love, think the best of them, consider they might be having a bad day, wonder if something is going on in their life?
- Do we consider if we have acted in similar ways - so we modify our behaviour?
- How irritable are you?
- Are you prickly?
- Listen to what people say of you
- Think of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Pilate
- Think how He was treated - examples
- Think how He was provoked
- Yet He is governed by the grace of God
- If we understand that God is for us, that nothing can separate us from the love of God
- When provocation comes - God can teach us not to respond in kind
- God can do this when we are seeking God, in prayer and walking in the spirit
- What are your reactions?
Test our motivation
- Does the love of Christ motivate us?
- Love for sinners motivated Christ to come from heaven
- He was willing to die for us on the cross
- His love covered all our sins
- He choose to remember our sins no more
- He has completely forgive our sins
- What about us?
- Love thinks no evil - or better translated 'keeps no record of wrongs'
- We keep no mental tally
- We choose to remember no more
- Quote
- Do we draw a persons' past failings into the present?
- Are we motivated by grace and love?
- Various Quotes from Jonathan Edwards
- How quick we can be to judge others and magnify others - instead of being kind and forgiving?
- What are your motivations?
Closing Remarks
- As we approach the Communion table
- Do not be like the 'disciples of thunder'
- Do not have rivalry like the apostles
- Remember there is forgiveness and full redemption at the cross
- Consecrate yourself again to God