1 Corinthians 13 – Ancient Paths

God’s love for us is forever
We are knitted together with bonds of love that are eternal
We are to continue to grow in love and charity in the body of Christ This love is gentle and kind with a humble and tenderhearted attitude
Love never gives up
Love never loses faith
love always endures through every circumstance
love is always hopeful
love lasts forever! 1 Cor 13:8

The bible tells us that God’s love for us lasts forever. He has chosen you as His own people(1 Thes 1:4). We are told that we are knit together with bonds of brotherly love – and this love in Christ lasts forever. Jesus told us that three things last forever – faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love. I can’t imagine a greater gift, it’s a gift that all the money in the world can’t buy. This is what it means to be rich in the things that don’t belong to this world.

Could all the money in the world buy eternal salvation?
Could all the world’s gold buy God’s love and mercy for us eternally?
Could all the galaxies put together be enough to pay the price for us to enter the Holy of Holies before a perfect, just and holy God?

Jesus made the greatest sacrifice for us – a love we can’t understand – that He would pay the price for us. If you read the Song of Solomon, you will read about a great love between a king and his bride. That love, that we can understand from an earthly standpoint, times infinity is the love that God in heaven has for you.

We know that this world and all the things the world craves after will one day come to an end. (1 Peter 4:7) but the love we have from the Lord and for others will never end– it’s forever! According to scripture, when we die, the love we have for others is still alive- and it’s forever.

Brotherly love

You must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22

“or thy friend, which is as thine own soul” Dt 13:6

Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8

Consider the verse in 1 Samuel 18:1- And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

KNIT TOGETHER

In Colossians, Paul talks about our hearts being knit together in love. If love lasts forever, then this knitting of believers in love also lasts forever. I guess you could say this is another way of seeing the body of Christ, Christ being the head. Also, a way as seeing believers as a vine or tree as described in scripture. The Jewish people being the branches and gentiles, by God’s grace, being grafted in as heirs, sons and daughters.

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” Colossians 2:2-4

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Col 2:15-22

This verse says that we are to grow together in strength and knowledge in Christ, the head of the body of believers knit together in love.

A Love THAT lasts forever

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 1 Corinthians 13:8

LOVE IS

Patient
Kind
Not jealous or boastful or proud
Not rude
Does not demand it’s own way
Keeps no record of wrongs
Does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices in the truth
Never gives up
Never loses faith
Always hopeful
Endures allA person who has no love is dead. Real love is what Christ did for us, so we should also give our lives up for others. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Let your faith grow as you walk in moral excellence, adding knowledge of God’s word in your heart and mind daily. Practice self-control and patient endurance with godly character as you walk in brotherly love with everyone. 1 John 3:14 1 John 3:16 1 John 3:17 2 peter 1:5-7

Walking with God : Moses, Enoch, Noah, David and YOU

^“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle Ex 33:11

And Enoch walked with God. Genesis 5:22-24

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God Genesis 6:9.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22

God wants to walk with you

For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people 2 Corinthians 6:16

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Image result for three things will last forever faith hope and love

All this love stuff sounds great, but if we aren’t walking right with God, we are fooling ourselves. If we have all the gifts of God but don’t have love, we are nothing. If we could move mountains and speak the language of angels, but don’t have love, we are nothing. If we were filled with all wisdom and knowledge but didn’t love others, we are nothing. If we give to the poor and spend our time serving the church and others, but didn’t love others, we are nothing. You can boast about all these great things, but without love, you have gained nothing.

Get rid of all bitterness, anger, sin and unforgiveness. Ask God to search your heart to see if there is anything hiding that has separated you from Christ. Are you holy ? You were created to be holy as He is holy. Are you lukewarm? Are you half in the world and its ways and a half baked Christian? It’s time to grow up, cut off the sins and the ways of the world and get right with God. Love Him with all your heart, draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. Grow in love, being knit together in love with other believers, bringing others in and snatching them from death.

How awesome is God’s eternal love for us! How awesome that we are knitted together in love forever! May your love for others abound in Christ!

Okay, here comes that Sword of the Spirit. The Lord has been searching my heart lately and showing me some things. Not fun, but I can understand why Adam and Eve wanted to run and hide in the garden, because sometimes I want to run and hide too.

If you were to ask me if I loved other people, I would say ” OF COURSE! I have the Love of Jesus in my heart. I forgive, and quite frankly, I can’t think of anyone I hate.” I would answer this patting my back, “oh, Lisa, you are just sooooo Christ like” If you were to ask my friends, they’d probably agree too….uhhhmmmm, right?

So lately, I can hear the spirit say and remind me : Love does not demand it’s own way. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Really?
Not that I’m some big brat, but I do like things to go my way. I’m just being honest. I plan my days, my hours and my trips- allowing for some interference, but if my entire plan goes haywire-I not always thrilled (ok, I get mad). For instance: My Disney trips are planned from morning to night- I have everything mapped out- where we go first, who gets the fast pass, what restaurant we will be in for lunch, who gets the next fast pass, while I get in line for small world, and run to line for Mickey signing.Then a quick run to the parking lot to get to our 6:15 dinner reservations at sho-gun. My family doesn’t mind, in fact, they know if they follow me, all will go well and everyone has fun. I tell my outside family and cousins ” no, I will not go to disney with you, you do not want to go with me”. So they know, that’s one place I draw the line when it comes to sharing the day. However,circumstances beyond my control……. throw me in a big family vacation… with other dictators besides myself- totally annoying! I could rip out my hair and roll around the asphalt screaming or take an advil and tell myself this will be the worst day ever (which is actually my coping mechanism, that way if anything good happens, I’m super happy)

To add to it, I was flipping through channels early this morning and I heard Sid Roth say “What is love, that one would lay down his life for another”. Immediately my mind said to me, yep, Lisa, that’s you…… There isn’t anyone you wouldn’t lay down your life for. Before I had a chance to pat myself on the back, the Spirit reminded me “are you kidding? you didn’t even let that car get in your lane yesterday”

So the Lord has been showing me, maybe I’m not all there like I thought I was. This one “not demanding my own way” is going to be a tough one to get through. I didn’t realize how many things I want -“my way”. I can’t even watch the tv unless the clicker is in my hand- seriously- I think I have small seizures if I can’t hold it while I watch tv. How can I not demand my own way? I’m getting a stomach ache just thinking of this change in me- not going to be easy ! However, I’m jumping in and will accomplish this- not on my own, but the grace of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Pray for me.

Now on to the LOVE TEST— and note to self- don’t just ask yourself in your own wisdom these questions, but ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in your heart you need to change…

Are you Kind? Do you consider others? what do your actions say?
Are you patient? How do you behave in line at the DMV? Are you patient with others? Do you allow for the faults of others with patience? Do you expect everyone to be where you are spiritually and get annoyed if they are not as holy as you?
Do you get jealous? Do you despise your brother’s house? Do you want to kick your sister’s car? Do you stand angry and silent when someone tells you something wonderful in their life ” I won $100,000 with the lotto numbers you gave me”
Are you boastful? Do you love to toot your own delirious horn? Do you take a compliment and let everyone know about it for the next 10 years (in your own words).
Are you proud? haughty? prideful? Do you judge others? Do you think you are super Christian and everyone else is pathetic because they are not at your high level of religiousity?
Are you rude? be truthful! How do you treat others? Are you nice to everyone? Do you consider other’s feelings? Do you talk to others and say hello? Do you enjoy slinging rude comments like darts to insult people? How do you treat others who are rude to you? yikes! it was easier thinking of all the rude people we know- wasn’t it? Well, how do you respond to the rudies?
Do you demand your own way? guilty!
Are you irritable? I’d like a recall on this one- but that is not gonna happen – so when I’m irritable – I’m not being loving???? great, another one I need to work on. If you’re judging me here, let me know and I’ll give my kids a huge chocolate bar and send them to your house for the afternoon. hahahahahahaha, then tell me you never get irritated. okay, fine, I’ll work on that too.
Do you keep a record of wrongs people have done to you? yes you do! I know it. Erase them from you brain and determine not to think about them again. Give it to God. I don’t want my wrongs recorded, so I probably shouldn’t record the wrongs of others either. Fix your thoughts Phil 4:8
Do you rejoice about injustice or rejoice whenever the truths wins out. Sounds like a safe one, doesn’t it. hmmmm let’s rephrase.. Do you rejoice when you are caught in a lie? Do you rejoice always in the truth? Do you try to make your own truths?
Love never gives up! Are you determined- have you set your mind to never give up? Are you always walking with the Lord and remembering and hoping in all His promises? – it’s another post- but I’ve been noticing examples in scripture where Persistance pays off – it’s true. Be persistant and determined in your prayers, your studies, and you walk with the Lord. Don’t give up on the Lord, and keep praying for the salvation of those around you- and never give up. (The serpent chants “I can’t, I can’t”- if you catch yourself saying that, consider it’s orgins)
Are you always hopeful? or are you always complaining? stop complaining! Where’s your faith? Don’t you know the Promises are God are true- they are yes and amen!
Love never loses faith- Fear God and not man! Do you let the words of man worry and shake you or do you rely on the Lord your God?
Love endures all things. Satan wants you to give up- he chants “I can’t, I can’t” in your mind continually. You know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! He will give you the power to endure all things.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proudor rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty Power. May Christ dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and the length, and depth and height, and to know the Love of Christ which passeth all knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.