2.9.16 Bible Study
The Way of Love
There is no question; what the world needs more than anything else is love. If people loved each other, really loved each other, there would be no more war, crime, abuse, injustice, poverty, hunger, starvation, homelessness, deprivation, or immorality. Love is the one ingredient that could revolutionize society. Love is the greatest quality of human life. Love is the supreme quality, the most excellent way for a man to love.
I. The love of God has preeminence over every subject discussed in the Word of God.
A. Love encompasses everything.
B. Nothing in your life, finances, family, healing, and so on-will work to its full potential until you perfect
your love walk. (Galatians 5:6).
C. Love is not an option (John 15:12)
D. We must strive to increase our love for people (I Thessalonians 3:12)
E. Our power is derived from our relationship with others.
II. You must deal with selfishness in your life.
A. Removing the stony heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
B. Loving others will use people to recognize you as a disciple (John 13:34-35).
III.Practice the way of LOVE (I Corinthians 13:1-3 AMP)
A. Love endures long
B. Love is patient
C. Love is kind (Ephesians 4:32 AMP)
D. Love is not envious ( James 3:16)
E. Love is not jealous
F. Love is not boastful
G. Love is not haughty (Proverbs 16:18)
H. Love is not conceited
I. Love is not rude
IV. Conclusion
A. The great importance of love . Unequivocally, the decree is pronounced; the judgement is given; the verdict is declared:
1. The superior quality of life is love; it is no gifts.
2. The most excellent way to live and serve is to possess and share love; it is not gifts.
B. The contrast between love and gifts is vivid. Three verdicts are declared and the verdicts stress with resounding fo
Verdict one: tongues without love are meaningless.
A person can possess the gift and ability to speak and share Christ in all the languages of the world, but if he does not have love, he becomes only a clanging and tinkling noise. His speech is meaningless.
A person can possess the spiritual gift of tongues, that is, speak in the heavenly language of angels; but if he does not have love, he becomes only a clanging and tinkling noise. His heavenly, angelic language is meaningless.
Note the phrase he becomes. This is a crucial point: The gifted person’s speech is not only meaningless, the person himself becomes meaningless. He becomes useless in his life and ministry for Christ. Love is far more superior than the gift of tongues.
C. Verdict two: gifts without love are no thing.
1. Not only is his gift of prophecy nothing, but he is nothing.
2. Not only would his understanding and knowledge be nothing, he would be nothing.
3. Imagine a person possessing “all faith” yet, if he did not possess love, he would be nothing.
D. Verdict three: giving without love profits nothing.
1. Imagine giving everything- “bestowing all my goods to feed the poor- yet, if I have not love, it profits me nothing.
2. Yet, if a person does not have love, his martyrdom profits him nothing. He dies in vain.
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