The Victory of Love
Rex Yancey
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
For the past few weeks we have been studying one of the finest pieces of literature in the world. It is an ocean of thought in an economy of words. We know it as the love chapter. But this word must have its own definition. It is God's kind of love. It is a John 3:16 kind of word. It is not a fleshly love or a brotherly love. It is a self-giving, self-sacrificing, and unselfish kind of love.
This chapter is sandwiched between chapter 12 and chapter 14 both of which talk about spiritual gifts. That suggest to me that agape is at the heart of who we are and what we do as Christians.
This love is not natural; it is supernatural. It is a turn the cheek, go the second mile, love your enemies kind of love. It is not something e decide to do. It is always a work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. When the Holy Spirit is in charge, agape is active. When we quench the Spirit agape ceases to be and is replaced by a lesser, self-serving love.
One man said, ''I always loved my wife; but when I got saved my love for her changed.'' The Holy Spirit replaced natural love with a supernatural love. Agape is the best thing that can happen to marriage and family life.
Agape can accomplish what nothing else can do and without agape there is no victory in Jesus. The most optimistic, confident people in the world are those whose hearts are filled with the love of God.
Notice with me three things that suggest victory in God's kind of love.
1. THERE IS A PERMANENT VICTORY.
V. 8 says ''love never fails.'' He didn't say, pardon my English, ''Love hardly ever fails.'' Never means, ''Not ever.'' Love continues when other things cease to be. There is never a time when agape is irrelevant.
When we get to heaven we want need to live by faith because we will live by sight. We will no longer need hope for heaven will be a fulfillment of our hopes. But there will always be a place for agape.
We will not always nee ...
Rex Yancey
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
For the past few weeks we have been studying one of the finest pieces of literature in the world. It is an ocean of thought in an economy of words. We know it as the love chapter. But this word must have its own definition. It is God's kind of love. It is a John 3:16 kind of word. It is not a fleshly love or a brotherly love. It is a self-giving, self-sacrificing, and unselfish kind of love.
This chapter is sandwiched between chapter 12 and chapter 14 both of which talk about spiritual gifts. That suggest to me that agape is at the heart of who we are and what we do as Christians.
This love is not natural; it is supernatural. It is a turn the cheek, go the second mile, love your enemies kind of love. It is not something e decide to do. It is always a work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. When the Holy Spirit is in charge, agape is active. When we quench the Spirit agape ceases to be and is replaced by a lesser, self-serving love.
One man said, ''I always loved my wife; but when I got saved my love for her changed.'' The Holy Spirit replaced natural love with a supernatural love. Agape is the best thing that can happen to marriage and family life.
Agape can accomplish what nothing else can do and without agape there is no victory in Jesus. The most optimistic, confident people in the world are those whose hearts are filled with the love of God.
Notice with me three things that suggest victory in God's kind of love.
1. THERE IS A PERMANENT VICTORY.
V. 8 says ''love never fails.'' He didn't say, pardon my English, ''Love hardly ever fails.'' Never means, ''Not ever.'' Love continues when other things cease to be. There is never a time when agape is irrelevant.
When we get to heaven we want need to live by faith because we will live by sight. We will no longer need hope for heaven will be a fulfillment of our hopes. But there will always be a place for agape.
We will not always nee ...
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