1 Corinthians 12:31 AMP.
But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way
[one that is better by far and the highest of them all--love].
Every principle, law and prophetic word hangs on the love of God. If things aren’t working in your life, examine your love walk. The only way that God can invade humanity is by His agape love flowing through people. You have the capacity to love like God does; His love is in your heart.
I. Every principle, law and prophetic word hangs on the law of
love Matthew 22:36-40 NLT 36"Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" 37Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Love is the distinguishing mark of the Christian; it is the only way the world will recognize you as a Believer (John 13:34-35 Turn & Read!).
The gifts of the spirit are necessary, but love is the more excellent way. True spiritual gifts only operate through God kind of love!
Galatians 5:25 KJV If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Walking in the spirit is walking in love.
So we better go back to His rule of check point in Galatians 5:22-23 NLT But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
We must see if truly my life is governed or lived by these fruits? It is not good enough to be hitting 6 out of 9!
II. Every Christian has the capacity to love as God does Romans 5:5 NLT And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
God’s agape love has been poured into the heart of every Believer. Therefore, we are able to love supernaturally.
Human love is emotional love.
Agape love is supernatural love that will enable you to love beyond your natural ability.
A sign of the end times is when love grows cold among people… (Matthew 24:12-14 Turn & Read).
The law of love includes loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate and curse you, or speak negatively about you (Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:18-21 Turn & Refer to them).
The Good News of the Gospel is the message about absolute surrender & relentless love for God & His ways!
God desires that you bear the fruit of love in your life (John 12:24; John 15:4 Turn & Read).
III. Love is the sole aim and purpose of the Bible’s teachings
1 Timothy 1:5 NLT The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.
Pure Heart – Psalm 24:3-5 NLV “Who may go up the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?
4He who has clean hands and a pure heart. He who has not lifted up his soul to what is not true, and has not made false promises.
5He will receive what is good from the Lord, and what is right and good from the God Who saves him.”
Clear Conscience – Luke 1:6 MSG “Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God.”
Conscience – The dictionary defines it as, the human faculty that enables one to decide between right & wrong acts or behavior, especially in regards to one’s own conduct.
Acts 23:1 MSG [ Before the High Council ] “Paul surveyed the members of the council with a steady gaze, and then said his piece: "Friends, I’ve lived with a clear conscience before God all my life, up to this very moment."
Sincere Faith – 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.”
1 John 4:2 MSG “Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ--the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person--comes from God and belongs to God.”
1 Peter 1:7 MSG “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”
Remember what Paul said; 1 Timothy 1:5 NLT The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.
There are six reasons why God’s love is important.
A. It’s the only way you will ever see that God’s ways are the only way!
B. It’s the only way others will know you are a Christian.
C. It proves you are abiding with God & obeying His commandments.
D. It shows you are filled with the fullness of God.
E. It’s proof that you love God.
F. It’s the perfect bond of union between you and others.
