4. LOVE, LOVE AND THE GIFTS, AND HOME
LIFE. 1Cor.13.
We need both love and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our marriages,
and God delights to develop them in us.
The placing of 1Cor.13. between two chapters on spiritual gifts shows
that Paul is particularly considering love in relation to spiritual
gifts, however, this chapter can apply to every part of our lives and
to our marriage relationships as well. The "more excellent way,"
is a "more surpassing way," than just coveting spiritual gifts.
It is not love severed or separate and distinct from all other gifts,
graces, attributes, talents and relationships; it is love as the motivating
force and guiding principle of all these desirable and lovely things.
It is certainly not, as some would have us think, love in opposition
to the gifts of the Spirit.
The position of this chapter is an embarrassment to many Christian
expositors; on either side of it are experiences of which they know
little or nothing, and it is always difficult to write of an experience
that is foreign to you. Many expositors take this chapter right out
of its context and speak of love quite separately from spiritual gifts.
However, in 1Cor.14v1., Paul clearly tells us why he wrote this chapter
on love; he writes, "follow after love and desire spiritual gifts."
Paul places this discourse on love in the middle of his instruction
on spiritual gifts, to emphasise both the need that love has of spiritual
gifts, and the need for love in the manifestation of spiritual gifts.
Without God's power, love cannot meet the needs of the Church or world,
and without love, power from God can be terribly misused, as Satan abundantly
demonstrates. Love is very often powerless without the Holy Spirit's
gifts, but even His lovely gifts can be profitless without love. With
love the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our homes
is precious, profitable, and be positively critical to victory and happiness
in our lives. God desires to deliver us from temptation and evil, and
to bless and help us, and His gifts are manifested in our homes to this
end.
God knew that Satan would attack the powerhouse of the Church; and
knew that it was in the area of spiritual gifts and love that the Church
would fail most; and so through the apostle Paul He gives some direction
and advice on these great subjects. The oil of love is never needed
anywhere more than in the power-house of the Church. The Bible COMMANDS
us to seek after both love and spiritual gifts. If we really desire
and follow after love, we shall desire, encourage, and love spiritual
gifts. Those who are seeking love from the God of love, will also seek
His gifts of love. "Charismata." There is a wonderful healing
power and exceedingly precious fellowship in mature Christian love.
When a person comes into the fellowship of Christians who have this
beautiful love and affection for one another they can experience a wonderful
healing balm and comfort, and if those Christians have all the gifts
of the Spirit in operation, they can experience God's delivering power
and love through them. God pours out an absolutely wonderful blessing
upon churches where Christians really love one another. However, a church
or home, which lacks love, and is filled with strife and bitterness,
is a very unhappy place. Ps.133v1-3. Gal.5v14,15.
Paul exhorts us to manifest "agape" love.
The New Testament Scriptures use "agape" to describe the love
of God and Christian love, and it is the word that is used to describe
the love that a man must have for his wife in Eph.5v25. and Col.3v19..
It is the love that God demands for Himself and our neighbour. Mt.5v43,44.
22v37,39. It is the love of the new commandment that Christ gave. Jn.13v34,35.
15v12. It is the love that the abounding iniquity of these last days
will cause to grow cold in the careless Christian's heart. Mt.24v12.
This is the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts after endurance
in tribulation. Rom.5v5. It is the love of God from which nothing can
separate us. Rom.8v39. It is the love that caused God to send His Son
to die for us. Jn.3v16. It is the love that is the fruit of the Spirit.
Gal.5v22. "Agape" love is a matter of the heart as well as
a benevolent and loving mind. "Agape" love is not just intellectual,
it is a warm and fervent love, "see that ye love one another with
a pure heart fervently. " 1Pet.1v22. Hos.11v8. Lk.19v41-44. "Agape"
love, then, is not only an emotion, it is a standard of life, a warm
and righteous attitude of mind, it is God's divine principles and compassion
manifested to us, through us, and in us, it will totally transform our
marriage relationships if we manifest it in our lives and homes.
"Agape" love is usually distinct from "phileo"
love, the love of emotion and friendship, which could vary a great deal
in intensity and sincerity. "Phileo" love is used at its lowest
level to speak of the base love of the Scribes and Pharisees for prestige
and position, and of Judas's kiss of betrayal. Mt.23v6. 26v48. In sharp
contrast, "phileo" love is also used in the Scriptures to
speak of the highest levels of divine love and affection, and is raised
to a level of tenderness and beauty quite unknown to the Greeks. Jn.5v20.
11v3,36. 16v27. 20v2. Christ's "phileo" love for the Laodiceans,
would be quite incomprehensible to the worldling Greek. Rev.3v19. A
good example of the general difference between "agape" love
and "phileo" love is found in Jn.21v15-19.. The Lord Jesus
twice asks Peter if he still lays claim to the constant, unfailing,
benevolent "agape" love. Peter can only answer that bitter
experience has taught him that his love is only the fervent, tender,
but weak "phileo" love. When the Lord Jesus asks Peter if
he loves Him with a "phileo" love, it breaks Peter, he said
in effect, "You know my heart Lord, and my "phileo" love
for you, and you know how broken I am because my warm but weak love
has failed you." The Lord Jesus comforts His distraught apostle
with the disclosure that his life would end in a magnificent display
of "agape" love; Peter would lay down his life for his Saviour
and His sheep, and until that occurs he is to follow Him and feed His
sheep and lambs. Oh, the wonderful "agape" love of Jesus for
us, He accepts our "phileo" love and transforms it by His
grace. 1Cor.16v22. "Phileo."
The world needs the "agape" love of Jesus, worldly "phileo"
love and "Eros" love can never satisfy the soul, or transform
it into something beautiful, only divine "agape" love, can
do that. When the world sees Christians united by divine "agape"
love in our homes as well as our churches, then, and only then, will
it believe that Christ has the answer to their need. Jn.17v21.
1. EVERY MINISTRY IS PROFITLESS TO US IF WE DO NOT POSSESS LOVE. 1Cor.13v1-3.
a. We can have spiritual gifts, but without love our souls are empty.
We can speak the most beautiful tongues and yet have an empty soul.
The Holy Spirit can enable us to pray and praise with the most wonderful
languages and with the most exalted words, but if they are not manifested
in love, we will not receive or impart any real or lasting blessing
either to ourselves or others. Without love, speaking in tongues is
empty unblessed noise, "roaring brass and clashing cymbal;"
with love it opens the very gates of heaven.
We can have the gift of prophecy and yet be nothing.
We can utter precious divine truth and predictive prophecy and yet be,
not merely a nobody, "outheis;" but "nothing," "outhen,"
at absolute zero spiritually. Mighty inspiration without love still
leaves us a complete failure. It is a tragedy when the gift that is
designed to edify the Church, fails to edify the possessor of the gift,
when love is lacking. With love, prophecy conveys the comfort and strengthening
love of God into the Church. Even the gifts of the Spirit do not profit
us if we do not possess love.
We can have the gifts of power and demonstration and
yet be nothing.
Signs and wonders can be a sign of the approval of God, Acts.2v22.,
and can bring tremendous blessing to needy people, however we can manifest
these gifts and yet be a complete failure in God's eyes, if we do not
love people.
b. We can have a profound Scriptural and spiritual
knowledge and yet be nothing.
Paul tells us that it is possible to know "all mysteries,"
"musteria," that is, God's secret purposes and plans, and
"all knowledge," and yet be devoid of love to people. We can
have a mind full of divine truth and yet have an empty soul. Satan is
the perfect example of this. Ezek.28v12-20. Is.14v12,13. Rev.12v10-12.
Knowledge without love produces pride and arrogance, and a contempt
for people of less ability, privilege and gift. Compare Jn.8v3. with
Lk.6v20. Divine truth can deliver the soul, feed the mind and spirit,
and establish and sanctify the Christian; it is absolutely vital; but
we need love to make it profitable to us.
c. We can give most sacrificially but without love
it does not profit us.
Our most sacrificial giving is profitless to us unless love is our motive
for giving. We can give away all our earthly treasure, and yet not lay
up any treasure in heaven. We can give away all that we have, like the
widow of Lk.21v1-3., and yet, unlike her, it will profit us nothing,
because we have no real love for God or people. Mt.6v1-4. Mk.12v41-44.
2Cor.8v1. to 9v15. Gal.6v2,5-10. Acts.2v44,45. 1Tim.5v16. Christian
giving in love is wonderful, it blesses the giver more than the recipient
of the gift.
d. We can even die a martyr's death, but without love
it profits us nothing.
Our Lord, Himself a martyr, told us not to court persecution or death.
Mt.10v23. The needless sacrifice of our life out of a sense of bravado
or pride, will bring us no eternal reward. It is only unavoidable martyrdom
out of love for Christ, and in the will of God, and the path of duty,
that brings a heavenly reward. It is not only spiritual gifts that do
us no good, or bring us no reward, if we are lacking in "agape"
love; a profound spiritual knowledge, sacrificial giving, and a martyr's
death do not benefit us either.
2. THE ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE.
1Cor.13v4-7.
1. Love suffers long, love is patient. "Makrothumeo,"
literally, "long passion."
Paul uses "makrothumei," the present active indicative of
"makrothumeo," to emphasise the continual habit of controlling
the mind and passions for a long time. Paul showed this patience in
speaking as he did to the unruly Corinthian Christians. "Makrothumeo,"
occurs in the New Testament in the following places. Rom.2v4. 9v22.
2Cor.6v6. Gal.5v22. Eph.4v2. Col.1v11. 3v12. 1Tim.1v16. 2Tim.3v10. 4v2.
Heb.6v12. Jam.es.5v10. 1Pet.3v20. 2Pet.3v15. It speaks of divine patience,
as well as patience with people and with circumstances. It signifies
the very opposite of the attitude of the worldling, who look upon short
patience, retaliation, spite and vengeance as virtues. With the Greeks
"megalopsuchia," was a virtue; it was the desire for vengeance,
and the refusal to tolerate and accept any injury. These attitudes should
have no place in God's family; God has been very longsuffering with
us; let us imitate our longsuffering Lord, and show patience with others.
2. Love is Kind. "Chresteuetai."
"Chresteuetai," is the present middle of "chresteuomai,"
to be gentle, benign, and kind in behaviour and service to others; from
"chrestos," useful, kind, gracious, gentle (like Christ's
yoke in Mt.11v30.). Origen says it means, "Sweet to all ."
Though "chrestos" occurs elsewhere, (Mt.11v30. Lk.5v39. 6v35.
Rom.2v4. 1Cor.15v33. Eph.4v32. 1Pet.2v3.), "chresteuomai"
only appears here in the New Testament, it speaks of a gracious, kind
and gentle behaviour. Love not only suffers long with people who are
a trial to its patience, it is kind to them and does them good in a
positive manner. The present tense again shows the continuous nature
and habit of this constructive kindness.
3. Love is not envious. "Ou zeloi."
"Zeloi" is the present active indicative of "zeloo,"
from "zeo," to boil. Paul here warns us that love does not
boil with envy or jealousy. The present tense shows the permanent lack
of envy and jealousy in the soul of the Christian who is motivated by
"agape" love. The noun "zelos" is used in a good
sense of the noble aspiration, and godly zeal and ardour of our Lord
in Jn.2v17.. The verb "zeloo" is also used in a good sense
in 1Cor.12v31., where Paul exhorts us to covet spiritual gifts, but
he does not want us to manifest the envious begrudging spirit that is
part and parcel of worldly covetousness. Love recognises the various
ministries of Christ's Church, it is not jealous of what God gives to
others. 1Cor.12v4-6. Rom.12v4. Gal.5v19-21. Acts.13v44,45. Love never
boils with jealousy.
4. Love does not vaunt itself, it does not brag, or
display itself.
"Vaunteth not itself," is "ou perpereuetai," the
present middle of "perpereuomai," to brag, to boast ostentatiously;
from "perperos," braggart." Paul is speaking of a loud
talking, presumptuous, ostentatious, arrogant braggart. Paul said, "What
hast thou that thou hast not received." 1Cor.4v7. Every good gift,
ability, achievement, spiritual blessing, and conquest; arises from
God, and "agape" love, humbly and contritely recognises this.
The present tense shows that "agape" love always refuses to
brag and boast. This vaunting pride destroyed Lucifer, the light bringer,
and turned him into Satan, the prince of darkness; pride will also destroy
us if we allow it into our beings. Is.14v12-20. Ezek.28v12-20. This
vaunting spirit is the spirit of the powers of darkness. Acts.8v9. It
has no place among the children of God. If God gives us peacock's feathers,
let us humbly give God all the glory. Love is never anxious to impress
others with its gifts and achievements.
5. Love is not puffed up. "Ou phusioutai."
"Phusioutai," is the present middle indicative of "phusioo,"
to puff oneself up like a pair of bellows. It is only used by Paul in
the New Testament, in 1Cor.4v6,18,19. 5v2. 8v1. 13v4. and Col.2v18.,
the Corinthians suffered a great deal from this spiritual disease, from
the number of times that Paul mentions it. Our dear Lord Jesus is "meek
and lowly in heart," He knows the proud afar off, but dwells with
the contrite in heart. Mt.11v29. Ps.138v6. Is.66v2. Love is not conceited,
or blown up, like a pair of bellows, with a sense of its own importance.
This is the inward cause of the previous outward manifestation. The
greater our "puffage" is, the greater our spiritual "shrinkage"
will be, and the more certain it will be that the Lord will deflate
us. The present tense shows that a truly loving Christian always refuses
to have conceited and inflated ideas about themselves, or get puffed
up about their successes, achievements, or spirituality.
6. Love does not behave itself rudely, unbecomingly.
or disgracefully.
Love never behaves indecently, or unbecomingly. "Aschemonei,"
is the present active indicative of "askemoneo," to behave
in an unbecoming, indecent, or shameful manner, that is open to censure.
It is only used in 1Cor.13v5 and 1Cor.7v36., where it speaks of a virgin
being shamefully hindered from marriage by a Father or a prospective
husband. The adverb for "decently," is "euschemonos,"
is used by Paul to state that all should be done decently and in order
(taxis) in the Church. 1Cor.14v40. The present tense shows that Christians
who have "agape" love always refuse to act in a disorderly
and unbecoming manner.
Christians can experience strong workings of the Holy Spirit and be
perfectly in order in God's eyes, when men are critical of their response
to God's power. Acts.2v13-16. Lk.19v37-40. See also. Heb.5v7. Neh.12v43.
8v6,12. Ps.47v1. 98v4. 126v2. 149v3. 150.v4. Dan.8v18-26. 10v8,11,15,17.
Rev.1v7. etc. However, we must realise that what is "seemly conduct"
in the secret place of prayer, can be "unseemly conduct" in
a Christian meeting, or when the unconverted are present. Paul informs
us in 1Cor.14v17-25., that continual and loud speaking in tongues is
undesirable even in gatherings which are composed entirely of believers;
and is completely wrong when the unconverted and unlearned are present.
We should show restraint in speaking in tongues, shaking, laughing,
and anything else that causes consternation in people. We have to make
some allowance for immaturity in young Christians or young converts,
but "unruly" Christians are to be gently but firmly warned
and controlled. 1Thes.5v14. 2Tim.4v2. Titus.2v15. However, let us beware
of "unseemly discipline," for by being harsh and graceless
we can permanently injure people, destroy Christian fellowship, and
bring churches into spiritual bondage.
The Holy Spirit is a perfect Gentleman, He will not cause us to get
into a frenzy, or act in a way that produces concern, fear, friction,
stress and distraction in the saints, and disgust in the outsider. Unfortunately,
every revival brings its quota of excess and fanaticism. However, the
dangers of a powerless, sub-normal, formal Christianity are far worse.
Wise leadership, good teaching, and mature example can lead Christians
from "unseemly conduct," into the green pastures of a fruitful
manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
7. Love seeketh not her own, and does not insist upon
her rights. "Ou zetei ta heautes."
Love does not seek its own interests. This follows on from the last
quality of love, it is the cure for disorderly conduct and other misuses
of the gifts. Love does not think of its own profit or interests. it
considers how it may best profit others. The present tense shows us
that the permanent guiding principle of a heart of love, is service,
not self-seeking. Jn.13 all. Mt.20v20-28. Rom.15v1-6. N.B. v3. 1Cor.10v23,24.
8. Love is not provoked or irritable, it does not fly
into a temper.
"Provoked," is "paroxunetai," the present passive
of "paroxuno," to sharpen, provoke, or stir up. It only occurs
here and Acts.17v16., where it says that Paul's spirit was stirred within
him when he saw the city of Athens wholly given to idolatry. There are
times when it is a sin not to be angry, but a person who can't control
their temper, is no use in the service of God, for they can hurt and
injure so many people. Mt.23v1-39. Lk.16v14,15. 1Tim.3v3. 2Tim.2v24,25.
Eph.4v15. Gal.13v26. When the Corinthian Christians were misusing their
spiritual gifts, Paul gave them sound teaching, not an exhibition of
bad temper.
Love never gets angry and forbids spiritual gifts, nor does it call
this bad temper and unbelief by the name of righteous indignation. For
the noun "paroxusmos," see Acts.15v39., where Paul and Barnabus
both failed to manifest "agape" love, and had a most unchristian
angry dispute. See also Heb.10v24., where "paroxusmos" is
used in a good sense, "And let us thoughtfully consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works." Here Paul uses "katanoomen,"
the present active subjunctive of "katanoeo," to put the mind
down upon, to thoughtfully consider; and he uses the present tense to
show that "agape" love always thoughtfully considers how to
provoke to love and good works, and is never provoked to fly into a
temper.
9. Love thinks no evil, is not mindful of wrongs.
"Logizetai," is the present middle passive indicative of "logizomai,"
to count, to set down as an account, as in a ledger. Love does not keep
an account of wrongs done to it, or scores to be paid back. Love does
not have outbursts of anger, or keep that anger burning, by cherishing
real or imaginary records of the failures and sins of husbands, wives
or fellow Christians. Jesus said a Christian who is dominated with "agape
love will love their enemies, even if they do not like them, or their
ways; and pray with genuine concern for those that despitefully use
them. Mt.5v43-48. Lk.6v26-28. 23v33,34. Acts.8v51-60. Love does not
compile or settle accounts with people. It finds no sense of superiority
or satisfaction in the faults of others. Those who harbour a bitter
unforgiving spirit can expect severe discipline from God. Mt.5v21-26.
18v21-35. Mk.11v25,26.
Injuries should be dealt with immediately and not allowed to fester,
Mt.5v23,24. Lk.17v3,4., and where there is repentance there must be
whole-hearted forgiveness. If the Church fails to follow the procedure
of discipline laid down in Mt.18v15-22., then our Lord personally disciplines
His loved ones. 1Cor.11v27-32. It is better to put matters right now,
than to have to do it at Christ's judgement throne. Rom.14v10-13. The
injured party should be humble and perform positive acts of kindness
to the person who has injured them, so that repentance and reconciliation
is made easier. Gal.6v1. Rom.12v14-21. 1Cor.1v10. Phil.2v3. Eph.3v8.
1Tim.1v15. Severe judgement awaits those who have compiled cases of
"Pentecostal failures," in order to deny Christ's spiritual
gifts to His Church. Love longs that they would change these unchristian
attitudes and be blessed.
10. Love rejoices not in iniquity, it is not glad when
others go wrong.
Love does not rejoice ("ou chairei") over evil, sin and failure;
this is the mark of the wicked in Rom.1v32.. Love does not enjoy evil,
nor does it find pleasure in finding out the faults of others, or in
making them known. 1Jn.2v15-17. There is no triumph in knowing that
we were right about another's failings, a heart of love is sorrowful,
prayerful, and broken over the fall or faults of another. We are in
real trouble with God if we use a revelation of the Holy Spirit to expose
and condemn, when God wanted us to use it to convert, help and strengthen
a person, and as a directive to pray earnestly for them. See how prayerfully
and kindly our Lord dealt with Peter and the woman at the well. Lk.22v31-34.
Jn.4v16-18. Love wants to help the fallen, not condemn them. Love never
gloats over, or finds satisfaction in, other people's failures.
11. Love rejoices with the truth, it rejoices when
the truth prevails.
After describing a succession of things that love will never do, Paul
turns again to the positive aspects of love. "Love rejoices in
the truth," it not only sides with the truth, it rejoices when
truth sanctifies Christians, and is manifested in their lives. Jn.17v17.
Truth, as well as love, is here personified and powerfully compared
with unrighteousness. 2Thes.2v12. Instead of finding pleasure in compiling
and gloating over a person's faults, the loving Christian rejoices in
their spiritual victories and attainments, and will do all they can
to promote further spiritual well-being. It may be difficult to rejoice
in truth when it shows us our deficiencies, but it is essential if we
are to make spiritual progress. Jn.8v32. 7v17. 14v21. 2Tim.3v8.
12. Love bears all things, it bears up under everything.
"Panta stegei."
"Stegei," is the present active indicative of "stego,"
to cover, to hold off, to hold out against; it is from "stege,"
a roof, a flat roof of a house. It means to protect by covering, and
has the thought of enduring, sustaining, uplifting and protecting. Love
can bear and endure the faults and hatred of others, it delights to
sustain and uplift struggling souls; and where it is consistent with
Church purity and discipline, it covers with silence and conceals the
faults of people. Love secretly mends and prays over the faults of others,
no disappointment, abuse, injury or ridicule, can stop the healing ministrations
of the loving heart. Peter knew that Christ's "agape" love
had "covered his multitude of sins." In 1Pet.4v8., Peter uses
"kaluptei," the present active indicative of "kalupto,"
to throw a veil over, to cover, hide, and conceal. The noun, "kalumma,"
is used in 2Cor.3v13-16., of a veil. Love bears up, covers and veils,
where possible, the sins and failures in the body of Christ.
13. Love believeth all things, it has no limit to its
faith and trust. "Panta pisteuei."
Love is not gullible, but it does not give people up as hopeless when
the evidence is heavily against them. Prov.14v15. 1Thes.5v12. Even when
there are dark signs in a person's life, love gives themselves to believing
prayer on their behalf, and trusts God to bring them through. Love also
has a perfect trust in the Word, love and provision of God. Phil.1v6.
Faith based on love is a present tense reality, and it is an infectious
faith that encourages others to trust in God. Heb.3v13.
14. Love hopes all things, it is full of hope in all circumstances.
"Panta elpizei."
Hope looks at the character of God as the grounds of its expectation.
The victory of hope can be as great as the victory of faith, as can
be seen in the case of Abraham, "Who against hope believed in hope."
Abraham was strengthened by divine grace, and a spirit of praise and
worship. Gen.18v1-15. Rom.4v17-23. No opposition, temptation, or distress
can destroy the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus. There is a dead hope
as there is a dead faith, and there is a living hope as well as a living
faith. James.2v14-26. with 1Pet.1v3. Prov.10v28. 11v7,23. Rom.5v4,25.
15v4,13. Phil.1v19,20. Col.1v5,23,27. Titus.1v2. 2v13. Heb.3v6. 6v11,18,19.
1Pet.1v21. 3v15,16. 1Jn.3v2,3. 1Thes.5v8. When love has little grounds
for faith in a person, because of real dark appearances of sin in their
life, love never ceases to hope that the person will get back on the
right way, and that truth and goodness will triumph. Our hope springs
out of faith in the character, love and truth of God, and is a present
tense reality.
15. Love endures all things with triumphant fortitude, "Panta
hupomenei."
Love endures when it can no longer believe or hope. It endures without
limit for the sake of others. The word for "endure," is, "hupomenei,"
the present indicative active of "hupomeno," which means,
"to bear up courageously with triumphant fortitude." The same
word is used in Heb.12v2. to describe how the Lord Jesus endured the
cross with triumphant endurance. Love does not allow trials to break
or mar their spirit; it goes through trials with perfect confidence
in God. Love endures all things so that the God of love may manifest
His power and love through the lovely gifts that He has given. Indeed,
one may have to suffer the most determined vicious persecution from
unbelieving worldly and religious people for the sake of Christ's spiritual
gifts. Acts.14v19-22. 13v50-62. 1Cor.4v11-13. 2Tim.2v10-13. James.1v12.
God's love imparted to us by the Holy Spirit, enables Christians to
always face life's problems and evil people with triumphant fortitude.
Rom.5v1-5.
3. THE ETERNAL NATURE OF LOVE, AND OUR GIFTS AND KNOWLEDGE.
1Cor.13v8-13.
a. Paul tells us that our temporary gifts and knowledge are a partial
experience of Heaven.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a temporary and partial use of "the
powers of the age to come." Heb.6v5. The gifts of the Spirit do
not cease in the sense that there will never again be any miraculous
manifestations of the Holy Spirit; it means that the temporary and limited
manifestations of the Holy Spirit and partial revelations of God, are
swallowed up in the continuous, complete and eternal enjoyment of the
supernatural power and divine nature of God. The part is swallowed up
in the whole. In the same way our present knowledge will come to nought,
or vanish away, in the sense that our limited knowledge will be swallowed
up in, and superseded by, the infinite knowledge of the kingdom of God.
Our present Scriptures are but a minute fragment of God's unlimited
all-knowledge and divine truth; its moral truths will never pass away,
but it is only a very small partial revelation of God's eternal plans.
The gifts of the Spirit, which are a partial and limited use of "the
powers of the age to come," will continue, like our present limited
knowledge, until our dear Lord Jesus comes again.
b. God uses spiritual gifts, and our experiences of
life, to produce love in us.
God uses life, with all its trials and difficulties, mixed with His
grace and gifts, to conform us to the image of Christ and form love
in us. Rom.8v14-18,28-39. Our experience of life, and the proper use
of our temporary spiritual gifts and partial knowledge produce eternal
"agape" love in us, and prepare us for the permanent, unlimited,
and eternal manifestations of the knowledge and powers of the heavenly
kingdom, so they are vitally important.
c. Our present Christian experience compared with life
in God's kingdom of love.
Paul compares a baby with a full grown man.
Paul tells us that our knowledge and most wonderful Christian experiences
in this world, when compared with the knowledge and glory of God's heavenly
kingdom, are like the first broken and hardly intelligible words and
thought of a child, compared with the greater knowledge and speech of
a keen and well-informed man. Oh the glory and immensity of God's kingdom!
Oh the glory of His presence! Press on struggling Christian to the glorious
life that awaits you in heaven.
Paul compares a shadowy image through an obscure mirror with face to face
vision.
"Darkly" means literally "an enigma, or riddle,"
and then, "an obscure intimation." The revelations that we
receive are sometimes very trying and puzzling until they come to pass.
1Pet.1v10-12. Even the Scriptures can only give us a limited idea of
the glory of God's heavenly kingdom, for no language can describe or
convey an experience that is so sublime and glorious. Rev.21 and 22.
2Cor.12v1-4. Compare 2Pet.1v19. with Mal.4v2. 2Cor.4v17. 1Jn.2v27,28.
d. The perfect day and kingdom of love for which God
is preparing us. "to telion." v10.
God's aim in Christian service is to produce love in us, as well as
to meet people's needs. The quality, not quantity, of our lives and
work is the thing that matters in God's eyes. 1Cor.3v11-17. God is trying
to get us conformed to the image of Jesus; He is trying to prepare us
for living in Heaven, and ruling with Christ. The powers of the age
to come demand heavenly love. Rom.8v29. Eph.1v5,6,17-23. 2v6,7. Heb.6v5.
When Christ comes we shall be known perfectly, and
know others perfectly.
We shall "fully know as we are fully known." "Fully know,"
is "epiginosko," which speaks of full knowledge. Our abilities
and personality will no longer hide the secret state of our heart. We
shall see and know each other as He knows us, nothing will be hidden,
everything about us will be made known. For the pure in heart this will
be a day of great joy, for others it can be a day of shame. Mal.1v1-3.
1Jn.2v28.
When God's kingdom comes we shall know God perfectly.
We shall see our heavenly Father and Jesus face to face, we shall see
how glorious and wonderful They are and experience the most wonderful
communion with Them and rejoice in Their plans for us. Even if our works
have been "burned up," at His "kind but searching"
examination of our lives, we will enjoy His blessing and salvation,
and eternal kingdom. 1Cor.3v13-15.
Love faith and hope will abide eternally in the kingdom
of God.
There is one thing that is supreme in heaven and earth, a heart that
is full of love, and this love with faith and hope will eternally abide.
God is love and love is the supreme quality of character, it is love
that makes heaven, heaven. In heaven faith and hope will never be disappointed,
heaven will be a place of eternal expansion, joy peace and variety,
because of universal rule of love and infinite kindness, love and affection
of the lovely God of love. Until that perfect day and kingdom come,
let us obey the command of God that Paul gave to us, let us pursue and
follow after love, and earnestly desire and be full of zeal for the
manifestation of the Holy Spirit's lovely gifts in our lives, homes,
and churches.. 1Cor.14v1.
5. THE CAUSES OF BREAKDOWN IN MARRIAGE.
1. Many people blame the breakdown of their marriages on the monotony
of their marital lives.
Many people today say that they are disappointed with their marriages,
and complain that their lives are monotonous and empty, and wrongly
feel that happiness will come with a change of partner and new circumstances.
It is not long since the average length of life for woman was 32, and
38 for men, these longer lives have produced new areas of temptation
for many men and women.
2. The mid- life crisis 40 to 55, is a time when many
marriages have broken down.
a. In Mal.2v14-17., God severely warns men who forsake their wives to
go after younger, prettier woman.
b. The hormone changes of menopause can sometimes greatly reduce sexual
desire, and so cause marital problems.
c. The departure of children can leave a big hole in some people's lives,
which they try to fill by unlawful relationships.
d. The mid-life crisis can be a fact with people who have disappointed
work and marital ambitions, and because they fail to find happiness
and fulfilment in their lives, go after extra marital relationships
to try and fill the emptiness of their lives.
3. Domination by fleshly desires and affairs with other
people outside of the marriage.
a. The harlot, some of the Corinthian Christians fell to this temptation.
1Cor.6v13-20. The frustrated single or married woman.
b. Some lustful or ambitious males or females make determined efforts
to seduce their work-mates or associates.
c. The increased spare time that some people enjoy, leads many of them
into temptation and sin like David. People with time on their hands
can fall into temptation, Satan usually finds work for idle hands to
do. Watch the flesh. Rom.6 and 7.
4. At the opposite end of the scale, there is the too busy husband or
wife.
Some people are so busy in their work and social life that they fail
to communicate or show affection to their partner. Exhaustion through
overwork, and the consequent ill-health, can also cause nerves to be
frayed and tempers to be on a short fuse, many marriages have broken
up through the friction arising from these causes. Trying to get to
the top in the rat race, and career orientated living, can cause friction
and marital problems. There can be frustration due to the pressure of
management, or from management, and this can cause emotional instability,
and bring pressure on the home.
5. Financial and unemployment pressures.
Many marriages are breaking up because bitter men take their frustrations
out on their wives, until they can take no more.
6. Difficult partners who make life a misery for their
partners often cause marriage break-ups.
a. Job's wife exhorted Job to curse God, because of the great evils
that had befallen them. Job.2v9,10.
b. Abigail's husband, the foolish Nabal. 1Sam.25v2-38. Beware of making
a similar wrong choice of partner.
c. Samson's choice of wife caused him real problems, and Delilah cost
him his eyes and life. Judges.14v1 to 16v31.
7. Sometimes an unbelieving partner is unwilling to
live with a Christian. 1Cor.7v15.
Paul and Peter give valuable commands and advice on how Christians should
act when they have an unbelieving partner.
a. Paul's advice and commands.
In 1Cor.7v12-16., Paul goes into the problems that can arise when a
Christian is married to an unbeliever. Paul directs Christians to stay
with their unbelieving partners if it is at all possible, for a Christian
partner sanctifies the marriage, and they may save their husband or
wife if they act in a kind and loving way. They should not leave, or
drive away, their partner.
b. Peter's advice and directions.
In 1Pet.3v1,2., Peter states that Christian wives must be in subjection
to their unconverted husbands, and not preach at them, but should win
them without a word by the thoughtful way that they live. In 1Pet.3v3-6.,
Peter stresses the need for a gentle and quiet spirit, he says that
outward beauty, like plaiting hair, wearing jewellery, or fine clothes,
does not make a woman beautiful, but the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit does, and is in God's eyes, beyond price. The beauty of caring
love is to be shown to an unconverted husband. "Meek," is
the adjective "praus," which means meek, or gentle. In. Mt.5v5.,
Jesus said that a gentle humility and patient submissiveness brings
true blessedness. Jesus is gentle, "praus," "and lowly,
"tapeinos," in heart, and as we accept His invitation to come
to Him, we will find rest and recreation, "anapausis," in
His lowly-minded gentle love. Mt.11v28-30. Jesus will never be hard
with a burdened or broken seeker, He will give us his kind and easy,
"chrestos," yoke. In Numb.12v3., God said that Moses was the
meekest man on the face of the earth, he was certainly not weak. "Meekness,"
is the noun "prautes," it signifies not merely outward behaviour,
but an inner quality of disposition and a fruit produced in us by the
Holy Spirit, it is closely connected with "tapeinophrosune,"
humility. Eph.4v2. Col.3v12. Zeph.3v12. Meekness is the gentleness of
strength under the control of love, we need to manifest this fruit of
the Spirit in our marriages.
In Isaiah.53v7., the enormous strength and gentleness of Christ are
seen in his silence before his bitter enemies, "He was afflicted
yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb so He opened not his mouth."
We see the flawless strength of the character of Jesus; His gentle kindness
controlled His mighty spiritual power. We read in 1Peter.2v23., "Who
when he was reviled, reviled not again: when He suffered He threatened
not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously." This
is true meekness. Let us seek the Lord for grace to help us to imitate
Him in our relationships in our homes. Meekness is needed so that we
are not provoked by others, a quiet spirit, "estuchios," is
needed so that we do not provoke others. This meek and quiet spirit
is essential in the husband, as well as the wife, if there is going
to be harmony in our marriages, and they are going to be preserved from
friction and breaking up. Jesus said that God ordered Moses to institute
divorce, "Because of the hardness of your hearts." "Hardheartedness,"
"sklerocardia," speaks of a heart that is dried up, "skleros,"
and is hard and tough. Love that manifests itself in a meek and quiet
spirit is the divine antidote to this hardness of heart. Mt.19v8. On
judgement day Jesus will tell the truth about us, and our marriage relationships,
and He will have very strong words to say to cruel and hardhearted partners.
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