Charity (Agape) – Love, benevolence, good will
LOVE = When I suffer, so other people can be blessed.
THE LOVE OF GOD = Jesus suffered so we could be blessed.
- The Greatest Commandment *First fruit of the Spirit *You are nothing without this
- The more excellent (superior/extraordinary) way. Better than any skill, talent, resource or ability
- Suffereth long – patient
Longsuffering: Bearing injuries or provocation (annoyance; poking) for a long time.
Patient: Having the quality of enduring evils without murmuring or fretfulness (irritation); sustaining afflictions of body or mind with fortitude, calmness and Christian submission to the divine will; Calm under the sufferance of injuries or offenses; not revengeful; not eager or hasty.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Be patient toward all men.
*The days of Noah, long suffering to us-ward…
- Kind – kind, gentle
Gentle: mild; meek; soft; considerate; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; Tame; peaceable; not wild, as a gentle horse.
Luke 6:35 for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the holy
Think of all the people who receive rain, sun and good things from God.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
*You can have the right position with the wrong disposition (temperament).
- Envieth not – envy, resentment, rivalry, jealousy
Envy: To feel uneasiness or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another’s prosperity; to fret or grieve one’s self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.
*Joseph’s brothers. Saul was envious of David. Pharisees and Jesus.
*What do you do & how do you feel when someone else is blessed?
- Vaunteth not itself – to boast, brag, be arrogant, prideful external
Boast: to make a display of one’s own worth; to talk with excessive pride and self satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.
Proverbs 27:2 let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth
2 Cor 10:10 for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth
How do you handle winning or being better than others? What does boasting do to others?
*Goliath Nebuchadnezzar (statue) Israel pride goes before destruction…
- Not puffed up – to inflate yourself (balloon), haughty, conceited internal
Conceited: having an inordinate estimation of oneself; feeling important
Romans 12:3 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly
“Why can’t they just be more like me…the world would be a much better place.”
- Doth not behave itself unseemly – disgraceful, ill-mannered, rude, indecent, improper; inappropriate
*(1) Things that bring shame on others. (2) Things that bring shame on self.
What things do you say or do that bring shame or disgrace on someone else?
When you act shameful in front of others, what does that say about how you view them?
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently (of high standing, proper) and in order
Maintain the dignity (worthiness, respect) and honor of yourself and the others that are around you.
- Seeketh not her own – selfish, self-seeking, seeking one’s own interest or happiness above others
Selfish: concerned excessively or exclusively with self. Lacking concern for others.
*“I exist to make others happy, at the expense of my own happiness.” God is faithful.
Hebrews 12:2 who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross
Matthew 16:24 …let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me
Healthy negotiation/compromise/settlement
- Is not easily provoked – to sharpen or excite heat; caused to be upset, irritated, made angry
James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
James 3:15-18 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
*What is at the root of being quick-tempered? – selfishness
- Thinketh no evil – keeps no record of wrongs, forgives; is merciful; not treat others based on past failures
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Psalm 103:10-12 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities…As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
“You always . . . You never . . . Remember when . . . ”
- Rejoiceth not in iniquity – not glad when others commit sin, or when sin is present
Ezekiel 33:11 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked
David – Saul, Absalom mercy triumphs over judgment
How do you feel when other people get caught, punished or lose out? snitch
- But rejoiceth in the truth – glad when anyone does right, and when righteousness is proclaimed
Are you more concerned about winning, or about truth being exalted; about “being right” or that what is right would happen?
- Beareth all things – to put up a roof; to keep confidential; to cover, to pass over in silence
To put up with annoyance or difficulty; hides and excuses the faults of others
1 Pet. 4:8 above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Proverbs 11:13 a talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter
Pro 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. *Joseph concealed Mary *Against Gossip/busybody How do you handle secrets? juicy info?
Are you trying to protect other people or make them exposed?
- Believeth all things – convinced, confidence, trust
Love believes that another person’s repentance is real (70×7).
Quick to give the benefit of the doubt. Not judging others’ motives
How many chances does God give us?
- Hopeth all things – hope for, expect to see
Love is hopeful for the improvement & success of others – those who you don’t like. *Jonah
Mark 10:27 With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
- Endureth all things – to stand one’s ground, persevere, remains, stays
Love sticks it out- cheerfully and without murmuring. Love is loyal and faithful – even in the face of others seeking your hurt. Love doesn’t divorce; Love doesn’t just run.
Charity never faileth – to fail, weaken; to drift off course. *Want to succeed?
1 Cor. 14:1 Follow (diligently pursue) after charity
But How? (1) Accept the standard (2) Repent (3) Meditate (4) Believe (5) Repeat #1-4 forever
Brother Lee 