Thursday, March 24, 2011

BE YE HOLY - 12

L – BE YE HOLY – 12

The Scriptures speak a lot about fruit.  So it is with holiness.  Rom. 6:22  David speaks of fruit of a godly life.  Ps. 1:2,3  The godly man is like a tree that bears fruit.  Ps. 92:14  The righteous man will still be yielding fruit in old age.  Prov. 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is to win souls.  Isa. 3:10  We will eat the fruit of our actions so we desperately want our lives to be holy.  Jer. 6:19  The fruit can be negative for their plans did not follow God’s Word.  Hosea 10:12,13  We reap the fruit we sow.  They were admonished to sow in righteousness or they would reap wickedness.  We want to sow fruit to holiness and in the end reap everlasting life.

As we turn to the N.T. probably the first scripture we think of is Gal. 5:22,23.  This speaks of fruit in the Christian life through the Holy Spirit as given to the believer when he accepts Christ as Savior in baptism.  It is his gift.  Acts 2:38  We do not automatically have those attitudes mentioned but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to work on these attitudes that we may have the kind of spirit of holiness that Christ wants in us as one that belongs to Him.  Remember Ps. 1:3.  We are like a tree that is nourished by the Holy Spirit and the fruit we bear is holy.

Phil. 1:10,11  As we follow Christ, we bear fruit of righteousness.  We discern the things that would be to the glory of God.  Jam. 3:17,18  We need the wisdom from above that is sown with the seed of peace.  Here we have another fruit list:  pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and not hypocritical.  We see ourselves as so knowledgeable.  This scripture is in the middle of teaching about disorder, quarrels, and conflict.  1 Cor. 8:2  We sometimes have the facts but not the spirit.  We must be ever so careful to keep this good seed of peace   Prov. 16:7;  Jam. 4:10   Humility is one way.  We need to write Jam. 1:19 as a frontlet on our forehead.  The devil’s biggest asset is trouble through unrighteous spirits.  One of the 7 abominations of the Lord is sowing discord among brethren.  Prov. 6:19  This isn’t the kind of seed that bears the fruit of righteousness.

Another kind of fruit is our example and our witnessing.  1 Jhn. 1:3  We realize that we have not seen and heard Jesus in person, but we have experienced His working in our lives.  We have a faith and spirit that shows.  We have a personal relationship with Him.  To be a true witness we have to have that relationship ourselves.  Ps. 126:6  If we sow, we will reap.  If we never sow, we will never reap.  Prov. 11:30  This is one fruit of one that longs to be holy.  1 Cor. 3:6  As we work to bear fruit in this way, God will give the increase.  It is not us, but we can sow the seed and water it.  Remember the types of soil.  Not all will take root.  Jhn. 15:18,19

1 Pet. 3:15  We sometimes wonder what to study with 66 books in the Bible.  This might be one of our goals in study—be prepared to explain salvation with scripture and other questions that might be asked.  Ps. 51:13   Everyone is apprehensive when it comes to approaching someone about the Lord.  We never know what the outcome will be.  Prayer comes before the approach; then kindness and understanding of where they are in their spiritual life.  God will be with us.  We need not fear.  2 Tim. 1:7  Think how they treated Christ;  then are we afraid we will be turned down.  Even if we are, we may have planted a seed.  We must always leave with an open door if ever they need us or want to talk about the Bible.

Being holy is being Christlike.  We know Christ came to “seek and save the lost.”  Lk. 19:10  So this must be one of our aims; but Christ also came to serve.  Matt. 20:28  So we also must serve others.  Gal. 5:13  There are so many ways to serve others.  We won’t all serve in the same way.  Some of them are simple.  Others may be sacrificial of time and finances.  Matt. 25:40  This one included hunger, thirst, strangers, need of clothing, sick, even those in prison.  2 Cor. 1:4 reminds us of the comfort we receive from God and so we in turn comfort others in need of comfort.  We serve whoever for we know that we will receive good back from the Lord.  Eph. 6:7,8    Gal. 6:10  mentions all men but especially those of the household of faith or Christians.   “All” men would not exclude because of color, social status, financial status, etc.  Too often people will help others to be lifted up in the eyes of the community.  They help for the sake of pride.  We are to be servants—helpful—in any way we can and in any way we are needed.  This means leaving our comfort zone, giving of our time, setting aside things we wanted or maybe even needed to do.  Our eyes need to be open to find ways to serve.  We get so wrapped up in our own work, interests, entertainment that we never see the needs of others.  Ps.119:18

Whatever we do—to serve or to witness—we must do it with a spirit of love and thanksgiving.  Col. 3:17  Without love we are nothing.  No matter how much we serve or how many we witness to, if we do it with a spirit of  obligation (not really wanting to do it) and without a spirit of love with the attitude that we are working for the Lord and to His glory—then we are nothing.  1 Cor. 13:3 

To be holy: We must be set apart—separate—from the world.  We cannot do the things they do or have the attitudes they do if it is unspiritual and not to the glory of God.  We are His people.  We have been bought at a very expensive price—Christ on the cross.  We praise and thank Him every day of our lives.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, Bible study and prayer, we develop a godly character, conduct of holiness, and attitudes pleasing to our Master.  All we think, say, and do are filtered by things that are holy.  Our lives are lived to love, witness, and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those that are in the world.  As a “light” and “salt” of the world, we are an example to others as we follow Christ who is our example.

We cannot grow weary.  Gal. 6:9;  1 Cor. 15:58  Our reward is forever and greater than we can even imagine.  1 Pet. 5:10;  Gal. 6:8

May we always strive to wholly holy.


  


BE YE HOLY - 11

K – BE YE HOLY – 11

In striving daily to be holy, we need to develop holy habits.  What is a habit?  A regular tendency of action or attitude.  Frequent repetition causes habits to form.  Jerry Bridges in his book, The Pursuit of Happiness, gives four principles to develop holy habits. 
·        Frequent repetition develops and reinforces a habit.  When we say “no” to sin, we are developing a holy habit.
·        Never let an exception occur.  If we give in “just this once,” we make an exception for sin and it is easier to give in the next time.
·        Diligence in all areas is required to ensure success in one area.  We need to pursue holiness in all aspects of life.  We cannot pick and choose.  Jam. 2:10  It is like a glass of pure water with just one drop of black ink dropped into it.
·        Don’t be discouraged by failure.  God forgives and restores.  We just keep up our fight against sin and Satan.

For your own personal study, use Eph. 4:17-32 for a contrast between the old man and the new man in Christ with holy habits.  The discarded the old clothes of lying, stealing, nagging, and blaming and started new, holy habits of loving, encouraging, and forgiving.

Here are some of the holy habits that we should develop through frequent repetition.
·        Ps. 119:160  TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE  The words and laws of Scripture are true. All our thoughts and actions as well as attitudes must be measured against what the Word of God says.
·        Eph. 4:25  SPEAKING TRUTH  We must always have the habit of truth.  We cannot make one exception or our determination to be truthful will vanish.  Telling a lie is on almost every sin list.  It is easy to get in this habit.
·        Eph. 4:31;  Jam. 1:20  PATIENCE The habit of patience is very important to develop and can only be done by erasing anger from our lives.  It is much easier to show anger than to show patience. 
·        Eph. 4:29  UPLIFTING WORDS All of our conversation must be of a kind, uplifting spirit to one another.  Habits of complaining and grumbling are sometimes hard to break.  We do it so much we do not realize when we do it.  We cannot have thankful hearts if we are grumbling and complaining.
·        Phil. 4:8  FILTER OUR THOUGHTS  When we make a habit of using this verse as a filter for our thoughts, our holiness cannot help but grow.  Our thoughts will be pure. 
·        Ps. 101:3; Isa. 33:15  CONSISTENCY BETWEEN BELIEF AND PRACTICE We may say one thing and practice another.  This goes with the above.  Consistency must be practiced between what we say we believe and what we watch or read and that from which we are entertained.  Rom. 1:32
·        1 Cor. 16:13;  1 Cor. 15:58  STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE IN FAITH  We are not blown about by every wind of doctrine.  Do we hide our faith?  We don’t want others to see us carrying our Bible or a religious book.  We may not speak up to defend the faith. 
·        1 Tim. 4:12;  Titus 2:7;  1 Pet. 2:21  BE AN EXAMPLE  Our lives may be the only sermon many have.  We need to make a habit of witnessing also.  Matt.28:20
·        Eph. 5:16  USE TIME WISELY   Make a habit of planning our time well.  There is so much to do for the Lord.  Redeem the time.  We cannot waste the days that the Lord has let us remain here on earth. 
·        Phil. 4:6;  Heb. 13:15  PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING  We take so much for granted.  We need to get into the habit of heartfelt praise and show God thankfulness every day.
·        Gal. 5:13,14  SERVE OTHERS    Christ left us this example.  Sometimes our eyes are closed to the needs of others.  We need the prayer on our heart found in Ps. 119:18  We become so concerned with the needs of “me” that we forget to focus on the needs of others.
·        Acts 2:25,28  PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD  We need God with us at all times.  Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, God can be with us.  (Providing we are within His will)
·        Ps. 119:11  BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER, MEDITATION  We will starve to our spiritual death without these.  Matt. 5:6
·        Acts 8:4;  Rom. 1:16  WITNESSING  We don’t have to be gifted as a preacher or teacher to witness about what Jesus has done for us, His blessings, and invite people to church and to learn about the Lord.

All of these are holy habits of which we need to develop together with the fruit of the Spirit.  Samuel Johnson said that the chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.  Have we let ourselves fall into spiritually unhealthy habits?  God will give us the strength, courage, and wisdom to develop holy habits IF we have a strong desire to do so and if we ask Him to help us.  Matt. 7:7

BE YE HOLY - 10

J – BE YE HOLY – 10

As we come to the 10th lesson in this series, we want to see from where we have come so that we might remember and then have a better view of where we are going. 

Our study of “Be Ye Holy” comes from 1 Pet. 1:15,16.  We studied just who God is and how we have to recognize Him who gave, is giving, and will give us everything.  We might ask “How can we ever be holy?”  We find in 2 Pet. 1:3  that He provides all that we need for life and godliness.  2 Pet. 1:4 further gives us the promise that we can partake of the divine nature.  Through Him we can even escape the corruption of the world.

We then studied the word “holy” with its implications.  Simply put, to be holy we must be set apart or separated from the unholy or things of this world.  Jesus gave the word “perfect” which means complete in Matt. 5:48.  In putting together the puzzle of our life. we cannot hold some of the pieces out and have a perfect, complete puzzle.  We separate ourselves from things of the world but want to hold on to some things that keep us from being completely all for Christ.

When we decide to be holy, we have a new purpose in life.  We have a new calling. As we become a Christian, we are a new creature.  1 Thess. 4:7  We can no longer make provision for the former desires of the world that we had.  Rom. 13:14  Our desire in life is not for human or selfish desires any longer but for the will of God.  1 Pet. 4:2

We begin setting our mind on things above.  Col. 3:2  As we do things, we realize that we have many “old clothes” or earthly desires that we must “take off” and now we cloth ourselves with spirits, thoughts, actions that are pleasing to Christ.  We discipline ourselves for godliness.  1 Tim. 4:7

The greatest energizer for this new life is love.  Lk. 10:27  Love is what God is.  As God first loved us, so we love Him and our fellow man—whether lovely or unlovely.  1 Cor. 13 explained what love is and what love is not.  This is the kind of love we must follow.

As we love God and put our trust in Him,  we hand our lives over to Him.  This helps make us content in whatever we have, whatever we are, whatever circumstance in which we find ourselves.  1 Tim. 6:6  If we are content, then we can be more thankful as the two go hand in hand.  In our contentment we must still do and be the very best that we can and not become apathetic and sluggish in our Christian life.

As we strive to be holy, we will be tempted.  Temptation is not wrong.  It depends on what we do with it.  Jesus was tempted, yet He did not falter but looked to the Word and to God.  We must be careful to not needlessly walk into temptation but we also must be aware that Satan wishes to destroy our zeal to be holy.

What is temptation?  It is an enticement or invitation to sin.  Sin is the opposite of what God wants us to do and be.  It separates us from God.  It keeps us from “being holy.”  Jam. 1:14  The results of sin are not good.  Jam. 1:15  It comes in steps.  Best we not take that first step—even if we think it is just a baby step.  Jam. 1:12  Just because we are tempted, we do not have to give in.  We might say or think we are in Christ, but if we are in sin, we don’t know our Lord.  1 Jhn. 3:6  Jesus knew these things would come and He prayed for us.  Jhn. 17:15;  2 Thess. 3:3  Jesus overcame the world and He will help us, too.  Jhn. 16:33  We do not go through these temptations alone.  Many other Christians go through like temptations.  1 Cor. 10:13  What an encouraging scripture!  We are like a support group for each other for we all have temptations.  We have this promise of being able to endure whatever comes.  This is not a passive promise.  We still must have our Christian armor on and cry out to God for help.  2 Pet. 2:9  God is able.

As we stand against temptation, we exercise our spiritual muscles to grow in strength—not our own strength but in the strength of the Lord.  Jam. 1:2-4  Christians have many tests that come in many forms.  We can have tests of really knowing Him—not just knowing about Him.  Many of our tests come in living for Him and also serving Him.  John puts our knowing, living, and serving together in 1 Jhn. 2:3-6  This follows in steps.  We know Him in v. 3.  We love Him in v. 5.  We abide in Him v. 6  We walk in Him in v.6.   1 Jhn. 2:10,11  So in 1 John we can put together the 1st commandment and also the 2nd commandment.

As we have tests and temptations, because of Christ we can triumph over them. 
1 Jhn.4:4  We become slaves to sin or to righteousness.  We choose.  Rom.6:16,17  Since we now have the Spirit in us, we can be free from the law of sin.  Rom. 8:2  We can be overcomers.  G. Campbell Morgan said, “Holiness is not freedom from temptation, but power to overcome temptation.” 

Lest we become discouraged with our sin, we have a promise in 1 Jhn. 1:9  God knows our weaknesses and our needs even better than we do.  Lk. 9:23  Following Jesus is a daily process.  If we want to be holy, we must be ready to daily do what we need to do.  Steve Martini said, “The trouble most people have with resisting temptation is that they never really want to discourage it completely.”  “Just a little bit” or “Just once more.” 

We have instructions in God’s Word to help us daily. 
  • Psa. 61:8 – Keep our commitment to God daily
  • Psa. 72:15,19; Psa. 88:9 – Never a day go by without praise and prayer
  • Isa. 58:2 – Seek to know God’s will daily
  • Heb. 3:13;  Heb. 10:24,25 – Responsibility to one another
  • Heb. 5:14 – Study and discipline ourselves daily to discern good from evil

Once a week is not enough to discipline and train our lives in holiness.  Josh. 1:8;  This Scripture mentions day and night.  Do you ever have trouble sleeping?  To what does your mind turn automatically?  We need to be so steeped in spiritual things that at a moment’s notice our mind turns to God—day and night.  This is like pray without ceasing.  1 Thess. 5:17  Our minds and hearts are always tuned in to God.  Psa. 1:2


BE YE HOLY - 9

I – BE YE HOLY – 9

There are so many aspects to consider in striving for holiness.  One characteristic that has not yet been mentioned is contentedness.  Not many women of the world are content.  This sets a Christian woman apart.  It seems that women are always wanting—more, bigger, more in style, new.  Never satisfied.  Our study will be based on the Bible—but also as Becky Dalrymple used the Word in her article in the Voice of Evangelism in the June, 2006, issue.

This illustration really brings to mind the idea of contentment and its meaning.  A fisherman, having already caught the fish he needed for the day, was lazily sitting beside his boat.  A business man came by and was perturbed and asked why he was not out getting more and more fish which he could sell and make more money.  The fisherman asked, “What would I do then?”  The answer was, “Then you could sit down and enjoy life.”  The fisherman replied, “What do you think I’m doing now?”  It seems that life has become focused on getting more and more.

“Content” as a descriptive word simply means satisfied.  “Content” as an action word means “to limit one’s requirements, desires, or actions.”  Not only is a contented person satisfied with life, he is pleased with possessions, status, and his situation.  There is no need for constant change.  Contentedness is reflected in the spiritual, mental, and physical life of a person.  Too often we are content until we see something better.  Then we want.

As for our spiritual lives, we want to be constantly growing.  We cannot and should not just sit and be content with our spiritual knowledge and growth so let’s investigate just what being content means for a Christian.

The Holeman Bible Dictionary defines contentment  as “an internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances.”  Contentment depends upon our confidence in the Lord.  We are willing to accept life and its circumstances with great joy in the Lord and peace because we trust that God is in control and will help us through.  Phil. 4:11

Heb. 13:5  Contentment is a command—not an option.  Two women in 1 Sam. 1: 1-8 had spirits of discontentment.  They were Peninnah and Hannah.  We recognize Hannah as a very godly woman.  She was the mother of Samuel who became one chosen of God to serve as a prophet.  Hannah wanted a son so much she was willing to give him to the Lord.  Before she had Samuel, Peninnah would cruelly taunt Hannah because she had no children.  Peninnah had children but she did not have the secure love of her husband.  She wanted this and was jealous and discontent over this fact.  Hannah had this devoted love of her husband but wanted a son.  Both had something that the other wanted.

There are many ways in which we are to be content.  Women are always trying to make themselves beautiful.  We need to be content with the way God made us.  This is not to say we need to be dirty or a slouch.  We just need to be the very best we can be to the glory of God.  We need to represent Christ in a modest, loving way as we serve Him and others in a peaceful, helpful, and joyful way.  When we become discontent with our size (maybe we can do something about it), or our hair or features, then we fail to focus on the things of the Lord.  Our minds are in constant turmoil and we start adding adornment on the outside as a crutch rather than adorning the inside—our spirit and character.  
1 Pet.3:3

Unfaithfulness in marriage is rampant today.  If we go back in history, even in Jesus’ day, the same has always been true.  Why?  Not content.  It is so easy to look at the marriage or spouse of another and compare to our own and then be discontent—not satisfied.  Who chose that spouse?  Who is one-half of the marriage?  Discontentment will not make it any better.  When we are not content, we begin to pick at every flaw.  Of course, we have no flaws to overlook.  Can we find good things—and then tell him?  Do we pray for him and find things to thank God for in our marriage.  Here is a good suggestion found in the Voice article.  “For one week, spend ten minutes each day thanking God for your husband.  Make a list and thank your husband out loud for things he does for you.  So often we just take for granted the things our husbands do.”  Marriage is precious in the sight of God.  So much so that Jesus used it as an example of His church.  Eph. 5:29-32  Just as Christ is faithful to His church, so we must be faithful to our spouse—as long as we live. Mk.10:9

Aside from our spouse, we have a family.  It may be small.  It may be large.  It is my belief that our family by marriage is our family, too.  So many extended, and maybe even immediate, families are torn apart with strife and jealousy.  No forgiveness or forbearance is shown.  As Christians, we cannot be a part of those conditions.  They may exist, but without us.  First, we must honor our parents.  Matt. 15:4-6  This was in the 10 commandments but Jesus here emphasizes the importance of it and even goes so far as not to speak evil of them.  What a blessing for children to recognize the needs of their parents and be willing to help them.  How many parents are left alone without visits or calls in rest homes.  Here is where our Christian family can take over.

What about our children?  First, we brought them up.  (in the nurture of the Lord?)  Deut. 6:7-9  We have a maxim to which we cling but sometimes doubt when our children go the wrong way.  Prov. 22:6  Perhaps we just “think” we brought them up in the Lord.  Have we prayed for them and with them every day?  Have we led them with the right example in following Jesus?  Have we shown the righteous attitudes in the home for them to observe?  We do recognize that children advance to adulthood and must make their own choices.  Properly taught, they still may follow wrong paths but recognize it and come back.  A maxim is a general truth, not a promise.  Proverbs is full of maxims.  Solomon was very wise and is the one who gave this maxim but did follow through with it himself.

Sometimes we must have a very difficult contentment—desiring children and not having any.  We have to remember that God sees the big picture that we cannot see.  He knows best and we just have to put our trust in Him and accept whatever comes. 

Timothy was an example of good results in his training.  2 Tim. 3:15.  The roll of grandparents is also important.  2 Tim. 1:5  Let us not be too discontent with the outcome of our children or extended families without looking inside ourselves where we might have failed.  Be content with the family we were born into and love them (which overlooks sins 1 Pet. 4:8)  and be a good influence on them.

None of us ever complain about our home, do we?  It is too small—not enough room for our family and not enough storage space.  This may be true.  Think about those that are homeless for real.  Does looking at large, beautiful homes make you wish?  Try cleaning one or paying the utilities on one.  Look at that spacious lawn.  Takes work.  With many of the amenities comes work and expense.  If we have honest needs and can afford it, that is wonderful.  Praise the Lord.  We just cannot forget to be thankful for what we have and grumble about it.

A man was jealous of the lovely homes his friends had, so he put his house up for sale and began looking for one to buy.  He found just what he wanted in a listing.  The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, “But sir, that’s your house you are describing.”  We don’t realize what we have many times.

Are we ever content with our finances?  Just such and such would be enough, but “enough” never comes.  Eph. 4:19  This expresses it well—“a continual lust for more.”  It is a tendency for us to think that if I had more, I could help the church or missions.  How much are we helping with what we now have?  Matt. 25:23  It is so easy for money to slip through our fingers.  We may even spend it for something good while things more necessary go begging.  Phil. 4:11  This will help us be more content with our NEEDS and not our GREEDS.

God has a plan, a purpose, for us.  We were created special.  We are His workmanship.  We need to be content in what He has and will do in us.  Eph. 2:10  We have been given gifts to use for His glory.  Rom. 12:6;  1 Cor. 4,11  We may feel like we can’t do much.  Do we trust and pray that God can and will work in us and through us?  Moses felt like he was not up to the task God was giving him.  God worked through the weakness of many of the “greats” in Heb. 11.  2 Cor. 12:10 

We cannot be thankful and be discontented.  They go hand-in-hand.  In trying to be holy, we have great gain when we learn to be content.  1 Tim. 6:6  Satisfaction comes with contentedness.  Ps. 90:14  With God’s lovingkindness comes joy and gladness.  When we are contented, we are satisfied with what God gives us.  Prov. 13:25  When we serve the Lord, He will satisfy our needs.  Isa. 58:10,11  gives us a contented picture of this satisfaction.  Ezek. 7:19 gives us a contrast.  Those who have not been contented and have treasured possessions will pitch them.  They will not be satisfied for fear of the wrath of God.  We will leave it all behind some day.  As we honestly look at our contentment in the way God made us, the family in which we were born, the marriage we chose, our homes and finances, our circumstances, and the plan God has for us, may God help us learn the important lesson of contentment that we may be thankful for all things.  Eph. 5:20  (synonyms of content:  pleased, delight, grateful, glad, cheerful, fulfilled)



BE YE HOLY - 8


1 CORINTHIANS 13
H -TO BE HOLY - 8

In the last verse of the previous chapter, Paul introduces this chapter.  He is going to show them a more excellent way.

1 – He uses himself, “I,” as an example but it is true for all of us.  He had been writing about the use of tongues or languages.  If one could speak all the languages in the world but have not love for man and God, he would be nothing.  There are some people today that can speak 5 languages but even that is rare.  We think of anything associated with angels as being glorious and toward perfection.  Maybe Paul was thinking of the time when he was caught up into Paradise.  2 Cor. 12:4  The languages of men and angels would be a great gift but of no value compared to a sincere love for God and all men.  Some of the idol worshippers used repetitive sounds and loud gongs and cymbals in their worship.  These would be loud sounds but just noise—no harmony, no meaning.

This “agape” love was not emotional love of lovers.  It included affection, good-will, regard, benevolence.  Eph. 1:15;  1 Jhn. 2:10,11  God has loved us even when we were very “unlovely.”  1 Jhn. 4:10  So in turn, we love the “unlovely.”  This isn’t the way of the world but because they see this love in us, the world knows we belong to Christ.  Jhn.13:35

2 – We saw how important knowledge and wisdom and mysteries were to the Corinthians.  But even if they had all of this understanding and could relate this to other men in a powerful way, it would be nothing without love.  Matt. 7:22,23;  1 Jhn. 3:18  Our life has to follow our words. 

This faith was not just consent.  Mk. 11:23,24  This was miracle-producing faith for that time.  Yet, we, too, have to have more than just a consent faith.  When we pray, we must believe that our prayer will be answered—within God’s will.  Even if we have this kind of faith and did not have love—it would still be faith in vain.

3 – This presents two types of extreme sacrifice.  The Christians on the day of Pentecost did not give everything they had and yet they gave so much.  This would be extreme as would giving your body to be burned.  We know Christians were burned at the stake.  If both of these extreme sacrifices were given without love, it would still be of no value.

These first 3 verses show us the importance of love.  The next 4 verses describe the love that Christians are to possess.  This completely erases “self” and “pity-parties.”  Neither does it leave room for manipulating others in the body of Christ.  Too often we want to manage things because we know how it should be done.  That’s dangerous thinking!

LOVE IS:
4 – Love is patient.  I. It is long suffering - makrothymei. It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the mind firm, gives it power over the angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct. It will put up with many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly effects of such patience on him.  Rom. 2:4

Love is kind.  chresteuetai. It is benign, bountiful; it is courteous and obliging. The law of kindness is in her lips; her heart is large, and her hand open. She is ready to show favours and to do good. She seeks to be useful; and not only seizes on opportunities of doing good, but searches for them. This is her general character. She is patient under injuries, and apt and inclined to do all the good offices in her power. Eph. 4:2

LOVE IS NOT:
Love is not jealous. 
It envieth not; it is not grieved at the good of others; neither at their gifts nor at their good qualities, their honours not their estates. If we love our neighbour we shall be so far from envying his welfare, or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it. His bliss and sanctification will be an addition to ours, instead of impairing or lessening it. This is the proper effect of kindness and benevolence: envy is the effect of ill-will. The prosperity of those to whom we wish well can never grieve us; and the mind which is bent on doing good to all can never with ill to any.  1 Pet. 2:1

Love does not brag and is not arrogant. 
is not bloated with self-conceit, does not swell upon its acquisitions, nor arrogate to itself that honour, or power, or respect, which does not belong to it. It is not insolent, apt to despise others, or trample on them, or treat them with contempt and scorn. Those who are animated with a principle of true brotherly love will in honour prefer one another, Rom 12:10. They will do nothing out of a spirit of contention or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind will esteem others better than themselves, Phil 2:3.  1 Cor. 1:31
alms the angry passions, instead of raising them.

5 - Love is not unbecoming (haughty, selfish, rude)
It does nothing out of place or time; but behaves towards all men as becomes their rank and ours, with reverence and respect to superiors, with kindness and condescension to inferiors, with courtesy and good-will towards all men. 
Minding its own business, without taking upon it to mend, or censure, or despise, the conduct of others. Love will do nothing that misbecomes it.

Love does not seek its own (way) 
Love is an enemy to selfishness: Seeketh not its own, does not inordinately desire nor seek its own praise, or honor, or profit, or pleasure. 
Love never seeks its own to the hurt of others, or with the neglect of others. It often neglects its own for the sake of others; prefers their welfare, and satisfaction, and advantage, to its own;  Phil. 2:3-5

Love is not provoked (irritable or touchy)
It tempers and restrains the passions. Ou paroxynetai - is not exasperated. It corrects a sharpness of temper, sweetens and softens the mind, so that it does not suddenly conceive, nor long continue, a vehement passion.

Love does not take into account a wrong; thinks no evil.
It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.
TLB 
it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
NLT
It will not make the worst construction of things, but put the best face that it can on circumstances that have no good appearance. 
 It cherishes no malice, nor gives way to revenge:

6 - Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.. 
It takes no pleasure in doing injury or hurt to any.  No pleasure taken when bad happens.
It wishes ill to none, much less will it hurt or wrong any, and least of all make this matter of its delight, rejoice in doing harm and mischief. Nor will it rejoice at the faults and failings of others, and triumph over them, either out of pride or ill-will, because it will set off its own excellences or gratify its spite.

LOVE DOES:
Love rejoices in truth. 
Is glad of the success of the gospel.  2 Jhn. 4
It gives it much satisfaction to see truth and justice prevail among men, innocency cleared, and mutual faith and trust established, and to see piety and true religion flourish.

7Love bears all things. 
How many slights and injuries will he put up with! How many hazards will he run and how many difficulties encounter!  Col. 3:12

Love believes all things. 
You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him,
TLB
It is apt to believe well of all, to entertain a good opinion of them when there is no appearance to the contrary.

Love hopes all things.
 It will yet hope well, and continue to hope as long as there is any ground for it. Eph.2:12;  Rom. 8:24;  1 Pet. 1:3

Love endures all things. (very close to “bears all things”)
Bears up under all persecutions and mal-treatment from open enemies and professed friends;
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.  Comments from vs 4-7)

8 – This kind of love will go on and on without fail.  Love will go with us through eternity.  It holds up in all circumstances in this life.  The gifts of prophecy will no longer be necessary some day.  Giving God’s message to man is now done through His written Word.  The ability to speak in languages not learned will stop.  God’s Word is being translated into more and more languages.  Miraculous knowledge will no longer be necessary.  At first the Holy Spirit had to give God’s message to the apostles.  Until the Spirit came upon them, they didn’t know many things about the church.  Today God’s message has been given—orally by the apostles and the ones that the apostles laid their hands upon—the written Word as the authors were inspired to write the Holy Scriptures.

9, 10 -  The Greek is neuter in gender.  “That” is come is complete.  There is nothing else to be added to the Word of God.  Rev. 22:18,19

11 – At first Christians were “babes” in Christ.  The church was in an early stage and had much to be taught to them.  As they matured, they grew in Christ and in their understanding.

12 – Wisdom and knowledge was not complete in the Corinth church yet.  When the full revelation through the Bible was available, then they could fully know.  Their actions indicated their lack of understanding and their immaturity.

13 – Faith would deepen.  “I believe.  Lord, help my unbelief.”  2 Tim. 1:12  Paul had a faith that would not be shaken.

Hope in the fact that Christ would come again as they believed in His resurrection.  Rev.1:7 

Love goes with us through eternity.  Faith and hope will be satisfied.  1 Jhn. 3:2;  4:8,16
Hope and faith will be completed when we get to heaven for then we can see and know.




BE YE HOLY - 7

BE YE HOLY – 7

If we have a deep, sincere love, all of the attributes to “put on” that we have studied will be more easily accomplished.  Love caps it all.  1 Cor. 13:13  We might ask the question, “How is your love life?”  We are not talking about the emotional love life and commitment between a man and a woman.  We want to consider the two greatest commandments found in Lk. 10:27.  Luke states them in one verse.  If we take this commandment seriously, and we should by all means take every commandment seriously, we may feel the need of some important makeovers in our spirit.

Let’s take the love of God first.  We are to love our Maker in four ways.  All our heart would include strong emotion and fervency with sincerity and strong devotion and commitment.  This is the first way that love is mentioned.  This is a love that is intense and also active.   2 Thess. 3:5  Paul wanted this kind of love to be in the heart of these people.  1 Jhn. 5:1  Our love cannot be divided.  God must be everything to us.  Ps. 103:1  This entire psalm reminds us of what God has done for us.  Why would we not love Him?  If the love of God is truly perfected in us, then we will keep His commands.  1 Jhn. 2:5  It has been said that love is the oil for the wheel of obedience. 

We are to love God with all our soul.  Gen. 2:7  Our soul is our life.  It includes the seat of our emotions and personality.  This differentiates us from an animal.  Mk. 8:36  We love God more than life itself.  We have martyrs and missionaries that have given up their lives.  This isn’t all.  We go on living but we give up those desires that we might have since we know they would not glorify God or that they would not please Him.  Do we ever give up something we want in order to help our children?  We love them so it is a natural response.  Our natural Christian response should be a willingness to give up absolutely anything that would deny the will of the One who died for us.  Matt. 10:37  God has given each of us talents and abilities to be used for God’s glory.  If they are buried, we are ungrateful.  We must use and develop gifts and personality to glorify God because we love Him so much.

Next, we are to love God with all our strength.  Serving the Lord takes energy.  Sometimes we would rather stay in our comfort zone than get out and go to services to encourage and build others up.  Heb. 10:24,25  When we do this for others, we are actually doing the same for ourselves.  We get out with other Christians and begin thinking about someone else besides ourselves.  Then we feel better.   Heb. 12:3; 
2 Thess. 3:13;  Gal. 6:9  It takes energy to get out of our homes and visit those in sickness or sorrow.  There are so many tasks that need to be done around the church building.  Transportation needs are always present.  Part of our loving God is using our strength for His glory.

We are to love God with all our mind.  We want to grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  2 Tim. 2:15  This is not just used for our own spiritual benefit, but also to the benefit of those that need answers.  1 Pet. 3:15  The more we know about God the more we will know Him, come closer to Him, and love Him more and more.  1 Kgs. 4:29  Solomon was known as the wisest man on earth.  His wisdom was a gift of God.  Later in life he did not use his wisdom well.  Job 28:28  God is the giver of understanding also.  Ps.111:10  Wisdom and understanding go together but notice how obedience is tied to both as well.  1 Cor. 1:24,25  The world thinks it has wisdom and understanding.  It cannot be trusted.  We desire the wisdom that leads us to a life with Christ.  Jam. 3:17  This wisdom is defined for us.  It is in this wisdom that we want to grow.

1 Jhn. 5:1  If we love God, we also love Christ.  This love is not just saying we love Christ.  The love of Christ changes us.  2 Cor. 5:14,15  It compels or makes us do those things pleasing in His sight.  It constrains us from those things displeasing to Him.  Our love for Christ controls us in that we no longer live for ourselves but for the Lord.

Now we want to see how this love of Christ will affect our relationship with others.  This involves the second greatest commandment.  Matt. 22:39  Our attitude toward others shows our true love of Christ.  Jhn. 13:34,35  We do not realize the impact we have on the world that reflects on our Lord, His church, and even other Christians.  We all have a tendency to base our impression of someone or some group by one incident.  People do this with Christians and the Lord’s church.  The testimony of our attitudes, words, and deeds may be good until….We fail our Lord so many times. 

This love is not for just those that love us.  Lk. 6:32-36  (one verse per reader)  Sometimes this is not easy to do.  Do we love Christ?  Are we committed to glorify and obey Him?  Then this we must do.  We see faults in others; someone “bugs” us; we get so provoked at the way we are treated by another; a family member is not fair or dislikes us; someone hurts our feelings.  If we have love, then we forgive, forbear, put up with.  How big is the problem in comparison to the big picture as God sees it.  We get so picky.  This type of attitude not only destroys our spiritual life but it discourages others.  Consider Prov. 10:12;  1 Pet. 4:8  What does this mean?  We pass over their treatment of whatever it is that “bugs” us because we love them.  We may say, “Yes, but that’s a sin.”  Really?  Is it your call or God’s call?  Maybe it is a mistake or weakness on their part.  Some forget.  Others loose.  Maybe some others break or spill.  Some have a loose tongue.  Others miss service after service.  Let’s love them, not discourage them.  What do we do that may discourage others.  Our attitudes show to other Christians and the world as well.  We may think we hide it, but we can’t and be sincere.  Rom. 12:9; 1 Pet. 1:22  We deceive ourselves.  It affects our relationship with them.  Every time we listen to conversation, that “bug” comes to our mind.  It is definitely a spirit destroyer.

This attitude spills over when we see a job someone else was supposed to do and it is not done.  Maybe we can offer help or quietly do it without complaint.  1 Thess. 1:3  This meshes with our study of loving God with our strength.  Whatever we do, we are doing for the Lord and He will remember.  Col. 3:23; Heb. 6:10  God created us to do good works.  Eph. 2:10  Praise the Lord if we have the strength and ability to do it.

Another way in which we can show our love to others is by reaching out to those who may feel alone.  These people may feel they are not loved.  They may be discouraged and in a spiritual valley.  As Christians we can spread the joy of Christ to them in many ways.  Maybe they need someone to read the Bible to them to remind them of God’s love.  They may just need a listening ear to which they may vent their feelings and frustration—in privacy.   We do want to be ready with Scripture to help them.

If we have feelings such as the above, we must realize that we are to reach out to others as they are to reach out to us.  It is so easy to get into the mood of a “pity-party” and think about ourselves to the extent that we forget about others and what I can do for them.  That is the best way to get out of a “pity-party.” Also count the many blessings God has bestowed upon us.

The Scripture is very specific about our loving our brother.  1 Jhn. 4:20,21  We can say that we don’t “hate” a certain person but in the Greek this word hate means “love less.”  We are without excuse.  We must conquer our ill feelings toward all.  God will simply not accept our love for Him if we do not show our love for our brothers and neighbors.  We could show many Scriptures regarding love toward all.  Read 1 John with open eyes and heart to address this problem.  Sometimes we wonder why we don’t grow.  Could it be our “love life?”  1 Thess. 5:8  The breastplate of  love protects us from many sins of attitude and disposition that occur in our lives. 

Love is listed first in the fruit of the spirit.  Gal. 5:22  We are told to bear much fruit to be Christ’s disciples.  Jhn. 15:8  Without love there is no joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  As love is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,  we can have hope.  Rom. 5:5 

So how is our love-life?  Can we follow our Lord in His example and commandment of love?  If we are weak spiritually, have we short-changed our love for God and our fellow man whether in our home, the church or wherever we go.  Love brings strength.  If we love God, we will hunger and thirst aft righteousness which in turn will cause our relationships with others to grow with love. 

May we gain in spiritual strength and faithfulness to the glory of our Lord as we strive to allow love to grow in every aspect of our lives.  1 Cor. 16:14