FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

By Pastor Terry Thompson

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. I am intrigued by the apostle Paul's description of the word love. What was Paul's purpose placing a chapter about love right in the middle of the two chapters dealing with the gifts of the Holy Ghost?

Let us start by reading chapter 13. (I have broken it up in segments so that it can be understood a little better.)

1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13

FIRST

"1.Though I speak with the tongues (languages) of men and of angels, and have not charity (love, kindness), I am become as sounding (roaring) brass (hollowed out vessel) , or a tinkling (wail) cymbal.

SECOND

2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love, kindness), I am nothing.

THIRD

3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love, kindness), it profiteth me nothing.

DESCRIPTION OF LOVE

4. Charity (love) suffereth long (patience), and is kind; charity envieth not (is not jealous); charity vaunteth (boasts) not itself, is not puffed up (proud),

5. Doth not behave itself unseemly (indecent), seeketh not her own in (selfishly), is not easily provoked (stirred), thinketh no evil;

6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7. Beareth (endure patiently) all things, believeth (have faith) all things, hopeth (trusts) all things, endureth (to have fortitude in) all things.

8.Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

STATUS OF OUR MATURITY

9. For we know in part (a section), and we prophesy in part (a section).

10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11. When I was (immature like) a child, I spake as a child, I understood (opinion) as a child, I thought (estimated) as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12. For now we see through a glass (mirror), darkly (in riddles); but then face to face: now I know in part (a section) but then shall I know (recognised) even as also I am known.

Conclusion

13.And now abideth

(1) faith,

(2) hope,

(3) charity (love),

these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)."

INCEPTION

History reveals that at the inception of the Christian church house meetings were the backbone of its development. It was that way for over 300 years until Emperor Constantine declared the Roman empire as Christian. As we read the book of Corinthians we see an eagerness to use the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

Paul understood the importance of the gifts used in their gatherings. Yet he knew he had to do a little tweaking in their application. Too many times the church has been guilty of throwing the baby out with the bathwater concerning the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The twenty-first century church has also been too eager to clampdown on novices when mistakes have been made using the gifts; there are always mistakes in a growth pattern. I believe it is time for us as leaders to take a leaf out of Paul's book. Paul clearly warned the church not to be so hasty in forbidding speaking in tongues, and to covet to prophesy.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:39

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

BLENDING THE GIFTS AND CHARACTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

At the beginning of this chapter Paul addresses the inspirational gifts of tongues and prophecy, followed by sacrifice. Then he closed the chapter with three segments of the fruit of the Holy Ghost,

1. faith

2. hope

3. charity (love).

In the last verse of chapter thirteen he dealt with the manner or attitude in which we should implement these powerful spiritual giftings.

Paul skillfully blends the gifts and fruit of the Holy Ghost to show a healthy and mature application of this new level they had risen to in their spiritual walk. Just like the church at Corinth we need to understand that the gifts and fruit of the Holy Ghost are inseparable.

The gifts are the actions of the Holy Ghost working through us, and the fruit is the attitude or expression of the Holy Ghost working through us. God's plan is to activate Kingdom power in the hearts of the saints.

FROM GLORY TO GLORY

When a person becomes a born again Christian they receive their citizenship from heaven.

Ephesians 2:19

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"

They become a part of the heavenly economy and according to the measure they use, it is multiplied back to them.

Luke 6:38

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

At the time of receiving the baptism in the Holy Ghost they are furnished with dunamis (miracle working power). They become compatible for the Holy Ghost to activate His tools (the gifts) within their lives. An amazing love relationship is developed at this time and they become a friend of God.

CONCLUSION

When we use the gifts of the Holy Ghost in public we need to let them marinate in our hearts in the fruit of the Holy Ghost before we release them.

Paul said,

I Corinthians 14:3

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

Galatians 5:22-23

"22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Paul was instructing the church at Corinth to use the gifts of the Holy Ghost in a way that would create faith, give hope and release the love of the Father to the listener.

Everytime we use the gifts of the Holy Ghost we need to check our attitude and ask ourselves, what would Jesus do?

Love Y'all!!

Pastor Terry Thompson.

Keep under the spout where the Glory runs out!!!