Rossville Christian Church
Sunday, January 17
- Only King Forever
- Victory In Jesus
- Intro:“Human nature is a web of contradictions. We are at once the grandeur and degradation of the created order; we bear the image of God, but we are ensnared in trespasses and sins. We are capable of harnessing the forces of nature but unable to rule our tongue; we are the most wonderful and creative beings on this planet but the most violent, cruel and contemptible of Earth’s inhabitants.” - Kenneth BoaBecause of our ability to reason and think, because God granted us freewill are definitely filled with contradictions. However, because of that free will I have the ability to love beyond reason and understanding. To love unconditionally as it says in 1 Cor 13:13
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.PrayHave you counted the cost of your freedom of your salvation? What does it mean to count the cost, I thought this was a free gift from God like Ephesians says? Well, its gonna cost more than you think, if you read the Word and not listen to the world.But what does it mean that the greatest of these is love? Well, as part of our mission statement and vision we will learn to love unconditionally. This means without reservation, without limit, we are to love with the Agape love of God, the full unending, never ceasing love that brought Christ to the Cross, but perhaps it is in 1 Cor 13 that we find the true nature of this love that is unconditional, look at1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NIV If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.Love Is BiggerA. It is above Spirituality - vs 11 Corinthians 13:1 NIV If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.1. What is it we seeka. Spiritual giftsb. Hyper spirituality2. The love of Goda. It’s authority behind these thingsb. It’s powerc. It is above these things because it is deeperi. these will fade away but love remainsB. It is above knowledge - vs 21 Corinthians 13:2 NIV If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.1. Knowing is not Employinga. I can know a lot of things and never do anythingb. Love compels our knowledge to action2. Knowing is not Enougha. Doing is where it is atb. Just to know Jesus, don’t the demons do that3. Love must engage not knowledgea. put it to use in lifeb. Put it to use in others livesc. Defeat my own selfishness and love othersC. It is above service - vs 31 Corinthians 13:3 NIV If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.1. What is the gaina. Serving the poorb. Giving to those in needc. Dying for Something2. The only gain is love!D. Because Love is the Foundation - vs 131 Corinthians 13:13 NIV And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.1. God’s lovea. Ceaselessb. Boundlessc. Causeless2. Nothing I dida. Never earnedi. Only tried to spurnii. Only succeeded at evil3. God is Love1 John 4:7–8 NIV Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.a. That’s the foundationb. He is relationshipi. Born of Godii. Automatically relationalLike having kids, see the relationship all the time and start to grasp the unconditional love of GodII. Love is Unconditional1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.A. Duality of People1. Either this or thata. Take a look at what the World says is OKi. God’s love isn’t the sameii. Cannot be self-seeking and still be loveMatthew 6:24 NIV “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.a. Either I love with God or notb. No grey in unconditional lovec. Paul was unlovableThe blind couple story2. Love and free willa. It’s unconditional because we choose to loveb. We see the deficiency and love anywayi. Because that’s what God doesc. God Chooses to lovei. Didn’t destroy in the Gardenii. Jesus calls MatthewMatthew 9:9 NIV As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.B. Love -1 Corinthians 13:8–10 NIV Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.1. Love never failsa. Because it is boundlessb. Because it belongs to GodJob 10:12 NASB95 ‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit.i. right in the middle of sufferingii. He knows God’s love even when it seems hidden2. It maturesa. All these “spiritual” things will endi. Love will be what remainsii. We will love in fullb. God is ceaseless, love is ceaselessi. Why we practice it nowii. It will be what is in the endC. It has to be Unconditional1 Corinthians 13:11–13 NIV When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.1. I don’t get to set boundariesa. God is love1 John 4:8 NIV Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.b. He Exemplifies in ForgivenessPsalm 103:12 NIV as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.2. Love Everyonea. God will sort themb. Not my jobc. Cannot be as a child anymorei. Grow up to deeper thingsii. Understanding love in light of eternity, not now3. Great thing, I get to do the good thingLuke 6:35–36 NIV But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.a. Don’t have to worry about condemnationb. Just love and live the Gospelc. Live in God’s loved. Choose to love others4. Will Lead Othersa. To Christb. To the Choicec. To LoveConclusion: 1 Corinthians 13:13NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:1–3NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:1NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:2NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:3NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:13NIV2011
1 John 4:7–8NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:4–7NIV2011
Matthew 6:24NIV2011
Matthew 9:9NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:8–10NIV2011
Job 10:12NIV2011
1 Corinthians 13:11–13NIV2011
1 John 4:8NIV2011
Psalm 103:12NIV2011
Luke 6:35–36NIV2011
- All The Poor And Powerless
- Overcome
Matthew 28:19–20NLT