Attributes of Love (A)

Learning to Love Series: Part 4
Attributes of Love (A)
1 Corinthians 13:1-13

I. FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
a. The key verse in 1 Corinthians 13- 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
b. Paul states that faith, hope, and love are eternally related to one another- the attributes of love
i. 1 Thessalonians 1- 3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Love is the greatest of these three
i. Faith is what we choose to believe
1. Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
ii. Hope is what we long for
1. C.S. Lewis- Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world
iii. Love is what we are and what we do
d. Love is the greatest because it is the reason for our faith in God and our hope in fulfilling what he has promised.
II. LOVE IS PATIENT
a. Patience and faith are one directly related to one another.
b. When we wait upon the Lord—we are choosing to believe in Him (have faith), even when the circumstances would drive us to disbelief
i. Psalm 37:7- Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
c. We are patient because we know that God is in control and faithful
i. Psalm 40:1- I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
ii. Philippians 1:6- he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
iii. Isaiah 40:31- But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)
d. Loving by faith and not by sight
i. Galatians 5:6- 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
ii. 2 Corinthians 5:7- We live (love) by faith, not by sight.
iii. Many times we lose our patience with others because we are living by FEELINGS (our senses) and not by FAITH.
e. Our faith means we are patient with God and with others recognizing that:
i. Eccl. 3:11- He has made everything beautiful in its time.
ii. His ways are mysterious
1. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
III. LOVE IS KIND (James 2:14-25)
a. Faith and Love are tied together and Faith without works is dead
i. If you love you will show it.
ii. Matthew 12:34- For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
iii. James 2:18- Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
b. Ephesians 2:10- For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
c. How do we show kindness?
i. Romans 12- 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
1. Don’t give up on people- because God has not given up on them
2. Serve the Lord by Serving Others
a. Colossians 3:17- 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
b. Matthew 25:40- 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
3. Let the Joy of the Lord be Your Strength and Delight in Him
a. Nehemiah 8:10- Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
b. Psalm 37:4- 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
c. Philippians 4:19- 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
d. Ephesians 3- 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.