1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,640 Well today, we come to the last in this short series 2 00:00:02,640 –> 00:00:06,920 that we’ve entitled Love, a Beginner’s Guide. 3 00:00:06,920 –> 00:00:08,620 You may recall if you were here last week 4 00:00:08,620 –> 00:00:12,320 that I mentioned that the idea for the series 5 00:00:12,320 –> 00:00:16,240 had been planted in my mind through a conversation 6 00:00:16,240 –> 00:00:18,240 that I had with someone who’s been worshiping here 7 00:00:18,240 –> 00:00:21,160 in this congregation for some months now 8 00:00:21,160 –> 00:00:24,600 and had come to visit with me and during that conversation 9 00:00:24,600 –> 00:00:29,040 had asked the question, what does love look like? 10 00:00:29,040 –> 00:00:32,380 And his name is Casey Mars 11 00:00:32,380 –> 00:00:34,139 and after the service last week, 12 00:00:34,139 –> 00:00:36,200 Casey came up to me and he said you know, 13 00:00:36,200 –> 00:00:38,939 that he would really like to share his story 14 00:00:38,939 –> 00:00:41,820 of what God has been doing in his life. 15 00:00:41,820 –> 00:00:45,180 And Casey since you have been the inspiration 16 00:00:45,180 –> 00:00:47,180 for this series I think on the last Sunday, 17 00:00:47,180 –> 00:00:49,380 I can’t think of anything better than to hear that story 18 00:00:49,380 –> 00:00:50,720 so come and share that story 19 00:00:50,720 –> 00:00:51,900 and please give him some encouragement 20 00:00:51,900 –> 00:00:53,580 as he comes to share with us. 21 00:00:53,599 –> 00:00:54,480 Thank you. 22 00:01:00,720 –> 00:01:02,560 What does love look like? 23 00:01:02,560 –> 00:01:04,339 When I first came to Pastor Collin, 24 00:01:04,339 –> 00:01:05,860 what I didn’t know is that love 25 00:01:05,860 –> 00:01:08,459 was already working in my life. 26 00:01:08,459 –> 00:01:11,580 Twenty years ago, I started to experiment with alcohol. 27 00:01:11,580 –> 00:01:15,320 Later, becoming addicted to Crystal Meth and Cocaine 2. 28 00:01:15,320 –> 00:01:17,720 I lost one job after another 29 00:01:17,720 –> 00:01:20,260 and everyone I knew gave up on me. 30 00:01:20,260 –> 00:01:22,220 Eventually, I gave up on myself 31 00:01:22,279 –> 00:01:23,820 and ended up living in my car. 32 00:01:24,959 –> 00:01:27,180 I made several attempts at suicide. 33 00:01:27,180 –> 00:01:29,839 The last time, with a gun in my mouth, 34 00:01:29,839 –> 00:01:31,599 I cried, God please help me. 35 00:01:32,959 –> 00:01:34,339 Then the phone rang. 36 00:01:34,339 –> 00:01:36,360 Another fellow addict, a friend of mine, 37 00:01:36,360 –> 00:01:38,400 heard me crying for help 38 00:01:38,400 –> 00:01:41,320 and took me to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. 39 00:01:41,320 –> 00:01:43,279 That was February 17th, last year. 40 00:01:44,199 –> 00:01:46,720 In AA, they told us to find a higher power. 41 00:01:46,720 –> 00:01:48,440 I knew mine was God, 42 00:01:48,440 –> 00:01:50,480 but I didn’t know anything about him. 43 00:01:50,480 –> 00:01:52,739 After I began to ask him for help, 44 00:01:52,739 –> 00:01:54,580 things began to change in my life. 45 00:01:55,620 –> 00:01:57,480 The Niman family took me in 46 00:01:57,480 –> 00:01:59,019 and a good job came my way. 47 00:01:59,879 –> 00:02:02,160 That’s when I began coming to this church 48 00:02:02,160 –> 00:02:03,860 and met Jesus Christ, God’s Son. 49 00:02:05,160 –> 00:02:06,559 He has helped me to develop patience 50 00:02:06,559 –> 00:02:10,119 and acceptance of people and situations in my life. 51 00:02:10,119 –> 00:02:12,080 I couldn’t help but share with others, 52 00:02:12,080 –> 00:02:13,880 hoping it would help them too. 53 00:02:13,880 –> 00:02:17,919 I also started doing something I never thought I’d do. 54 00:02:17,919 –> 00:02:20,160 Caring and praying for others. 55 00:02:20,639 –> 00:02:23,080 Jesus Christ has taught me how to deal with cravings, 56 00:02:23,080 –> 00:02:25,820 rage issues and stress. 57 00:02:25,820 –> 00:02:28,300 Continuing to pray every day. 58 00:02:28,300 –> 00:02:30,479 I’ve seen him open many doors for me. 59 00:02:30,479 –> 00:02:33,100 For example, getting to volunteer in New Orleans 60 00:02:33,100 –> 00:02:37,960 a week ago was some really wonderful people in this church. 61 00:02:37,960 –> 00:02:40,960 I know that Colin was right when he said 62 00:02:40,960 –> 00:02:43,679 we should have forgetfulness of the self. 63 00:02:43,679 –> 00:02:45,520 That’s when the true blessings come. 64 00:02:46,559 –> 00:02:48,880 Jesus was at work on the Katrina trip 65 00:02:48,880 –> 00:02:50,199 in all of us. 66 00:02:50,199 –> 00:02:53,679 Last June, when I asked Colin what love looked like 67 00:02:54,600 –> 00:02:56,160 I didn’t know the answer. 68 00:02:56,160 –> 00:02:58,320 Now it’s becoming clearer every day. 69 00:02:58,320 –> 00:03:02,139 1 Corinthians 13 8 says it best, love never fails. 70 00:03:02,600 –> 00:03:03,479 If anything is so sweet, love never fails. 71 00:03:05,639 –> 00:03:11,679 so sweet, love never fails. 72 00:03:25,000 –> 00:03:28,460 Wonderful thing is that as God is doing 73 00:03:28,460 –> 00:03:30,119 a new work in Casey’s life, 74 00:03:30,119 –> 00:03:33,279 as he’s doing a new work in every Christian’s life, 75 00:03:33,279 –> 00:03:36,139 the work that he begins he always continues, 76 00:03:36,139 –> 00:03:38,979 and the work that he continues, he always completes. 77 00:03:38,979 –> 00:03:40,559 Let’s just pause for a word of prayer 78 00:03:40,559 –> 00:03:43,020 before we continue, Father. 79 00:03:43,020 –> 00:03:45,800 Thank you for what Casey has shared with us, 80 00:03:45,800 –> 00:03:48,419 what you are doing in his life, 81 00:03:48,419 –> 00:03:50,479 what you will keep doing in his life, 82 00:03:50,479 –> 00:03:54,399 and what you will complete for all eternity in his life. 83 00:03:54,399 –> 00:03:56,820 Thank you for using one family and this church 84 00:03:56,820 –> 00:03:59,880 in a very special way to minister to him. 85 00:03:59,880 –> 00:04:02,279 Thank you for using him now in a very special way 86 00:04:02,279 –> 00:04:04,580 to minister to others down in New Orleans 87 00:04:04,580 –> 00:04:07,460 with the team that went there just the other week. 88 00:04:07,460 –> 00:04:09,720 Thank you that you are at work, 89 00:04:09,720 –> 00:04:12,500 and thank you for this testimony 90 00:04:12,500 –> 00:04:15,899 to your love that never fails. 91 00:04:15,899 –> 00:04:19,559 May we grow in that love today 92 00:04:19,559 –> 00:04:21,160 through Jesus Christ our Lord 93 00:04:21,160 –> 00:04:24,260 and all God’s people together said amen. 94 00:04:24,260 –> 00:04:25,899 Please have your Bible opened then 95 00:04:25,899 –> 00:04:28,279 at 1 Corinthians in Chapter 13. 96 00:04:28,880 –> 00:04:32,480 We’re coming today to the last of three questions 97 00:04:32,480 –> 00:04:35,220 that we are answering from this passage of the Bible 98 00:04:35,220 –> 00:04:38,700 and the question today is how can love last? 99 00:04:38,700 –> 00:04:40,040 It’s obviously a very big question, 100 00:04:40,040 –> 00:04:42,079 a very practical question. 101 00:04:43,320 –> 00:04:46,820 Many times we have either said that we love 102 00:04:46,820 –> 00:04:49,000 or someone else has said that they love 103 00:04:49,000 –> 00:04:50,880 and then we’ve come to wonder 104 00:04:50,880 –> 00:04:52,920 is that something that we can sustain? 105 00:04:52,920 –> 00:04:56,179 Is that something that someone else can sustain? 106 00:04:56,220 –> 00:04:59,980 How can love last? 107 00:04:59,980 –> 00:05:02,000 The very, very real question 108 00:05:02,000 –> 00:05:05,940 and we’re going to find a very powerful answer 109 00:05:05,940 –> 00:05:08,579 from the Bible today. 110 00:05:08,579 –> 00:05:11,179 I hope you have your Bible open at 1 Corinthians in 13. 111 00:05:11,179 –> 00:05:13,339 Here’s how we’re going to approach it. 112 00:05:13,339 –> 00:05:16,420 I want to begin with a simple word of explanation 113 00:05:16,420 –> 00:05:19,299 about how we should understand this passage 114 00:05:19,299 –> 00:05:20,839 because there really is an important issue 115 00:05:20,839 –> 00:05:22,459 just to settle in our minds 116 00:05:22,500 –> 00:05:26,420 so that we can know how to interpret the passage correctly. 117 00:05:26,420 –> 00:05:27,980 So, word of explanation, 118 00:05:27,980 –> 00:05:30,480 then I want to make two simple observations 119 00:05:30,480 –> 00:05:32,859 that will take us to the heart and the thrust 120 00:05:32,859 –> 00:05:34,899 of what Paul is saying here 121 00:05:34,899 –> 00:05:38,100 and then we will be in a position I think very clearly 122 00:05:38,100 –> 00:05:40,059 to identify the answer, 123 00:05:40,059 –> 00:05:42,279 the very wonderful answer to the question, 124 00:05:42,279 –> 00:05:44,140 how can love last? 125 00:05:44,140 –> 00:05:47,059 So, a short explanation, two observations 126 00:05:47,059 –> 00:05:50,600 and then the answer to this great question. 127 00:05:50,600 –> 00:05:52,000 First, then the explanation 128 00:05:52,239 –> 00:05:53,299 and I hope you have your Bible open 129 00:05:53,299 –> 00:05:55,459 and will look at verse 10 130 00:05:55,459 –> 00:05:57,279 because there’s a big issue here 131 00:05:57,279 –> 00:06:01,880 that has to be settled for us to rightly understand 132 00:06:01,880 –> 00:06:05,859 what Paul is teaching us here in this passage of the Bible. 133 00:06:05,859 –> 00:06:10,339 What does Paul mean when he says in verse 10, 134 00:06:10,339 –> 00:06:15,339 when perfection comes the imperfect disappears? 135 00:06:15,660 –> 00:06:19,619 What is this perfection that’s going to come 136 00:06:19,619 –> 00:06:21,839 and then the imperfect will disappear? 137 00:06:21,839 –> 00:06:23,579 That’s really the key question 138 00:06:23,579 –> 00:06:27,459 I think in rightly understanding this passage. 139 00:06:27,459 –> 00:06:30,000 Now down through the centuries of Christian history, 140 00:06:30,000 –> 00:06:33,160 some have suggested that this perfection 141 00:06:33,160 –> 00:06:36,660 that Paul speaks of here is the perfect revelation 142 00:06:36,660 –> 00:06:38,839 that we have in the Scriptures, 143 00:06:38,839 –> 00:06:40,239 which are without error 144 00:06:40,239 –> 00:06:43,799 because they are given by inspiration of God. 145 00:06:43,799 –> 00:06:47,260 And those who have interpreted the passage this way argue 146 00:06:47,260 –> 00:06:50,040 that the spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues 147 00:06:50,059 –> 00:06:53,600 and knowledge were given by God 148 00:06:53,600 –> 00:06:56,279 only until the new testament was completed 149 00:06:56,279 –> 00:06:59,040 and that when the church received the full revelation 150 00:06:59,040 –> 00:07:01,859 of the Scriptures that these gifts of prophecy 151 00:07:01,859 –> 00:07:05,220 and tongues and particular knowledge revealed by God 152 00:07:05,220 –> 00:07:08,359 that they ceased and that they then passed away 153 00:07:08,359 –> 00:07:11,399 and that this is what Paul is saying in verse 10 154 00:07:11,399 –> 00:07:12,920 when he says, when perfection comes 155 00:07:12,920 –> 00:07:14,679 the imperfect disappears. 156 00:07:15,579 –> 00:07:17,119 Now there is a long history 157 00:07:17,440 –> 00:07:20,660 of that understanding of this passage of Scripture 158 00:07:20,660 –> 00:07:22,079 but I want to say to you this morning 159 00:07:22,079 –> 00:07:26,500 that I do not believe that that is what Paul is saying here 160 00:07:26,500 –> 00:07:28,480 and here’s why. 161 00:07:28,480 –> 00:07:31,019 If you look at verse 12, 162 00:07:31,019 –> 00:07:34,859 you will see that Paul contrasts our experience now, 163 00:07:34,859 –> 00:07:36,359 obviously when he was writing the letter 164 00:07:36,359 –> 00:07:37,700 to the Corinthians, 165 00:07:37,700 –> 00:07:39,920 and our experience then, 166 00:07:39,920 –> 00:07:42,959 which is when the perfection comes. 167 00:07:42,959 –> 00:07:44,359 And he makes two contrasts, 168 00:07:44,359 –> 00:07:48,179 notice first he says now we see a poor reflection 169 00:07:48,179 –> 00:07:51,980 but then, that is, when the perfection comes, 170 00:07:51,980 –> 00:07:53,119 we shall see face-to-face. 171 00:07:55,660 –> 00:07:57,959 Now God has given us a wonderful revelation 172 00:07:57,959 –> 00:08:00,339 of himself in the Scriptures 173 00:08:00,339 –> 00:08:02,140 but it really stretches language 174 00:08:02,140 –> 00:08:04,140 and stretches credibility, I think, 175 00:08:04,140 –> 00:08:07,200 to suggest that the knowledge of God 176 00:08:07,200 –> 00:08:11,019 we have in the scriptures is a face-to-face knowledge, 177 00:08:11,019 –> 00:08:14,019 surely the knowledge of God face-to-face 178 00:08:14,019 –> 00:08:19,019 in Christ, remains for another day that still is ahead. 179 00:08:19,420 –> 00:08:22,040 And then he makes a second contrast. 180 00:08:22,040 –> 00:08:23,940 Now I know in part, 181 00:08:23,940 –> 00:08:26,839 then, that’s when the perfection comes, 182 00:08:26,839 –> 00:08:29,980 I will know fully, even as I am fully known. 183 00:08:29,980 –> 00:08:31,940 And, again, we thank God for everything 184 00:08:31,940 –> 00:08:34,539 that we know of him in the Scriptures 185 00:08:34,539 –> 00:08:36,780 but, surely, it stretches credibility 186 00:08:36,780 –> 00:08:40,020 to suggest that we know God fully 187 00:08:40,020 –> 00:08:41,460 in what is revealed in the Bible. 188 00:08:41,460 –> 00:08:43,179 That awaits another day. 189 00:08:43,200 –> 00:08:44,979 The Scriptures themselves say 190 00:08:44,979 –> 00:08:47,299 that the secret things belong to the Lord 191 00:08:47,299 –> 00:08:49,960 and only the things that have been revealed 192 00:08:49,960 –> 00:08:52,140 belong to us. 193 00:08:52,140 –> 00:08:54,979 So, I draw the conclusion then from this 194 00:08:54,979 –> 00:08:58,619 that the perfection the Paul talks about 195 00:08:58,619 –> 00:09:01,820 in Verse 10 cannot be the completion 196 00:09:01,820 –> 00:09:04,580 of the New Testament or anything else 197 00:09:04,580 –> 00:09:07,460 in our experience or our Christian growth 198 00:09:07,460 –> 00:09:10,059 in this world. 199 00:09:10,059 –> 00:09:11,700 The perfection that he speaks about 200 00:09:11,840 –> 00:09:15,440 in Verse 7 surely then must refer to heaven, 201 00:09:15,440 –> 00:09:18,619 the great day when you will be translated 202 00:09:18,619 –> 00:09:22,020 into the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus Christ 203 00:09:22,020 –> 00:09:24,179 and then you will know fully 204 00:09:24,179 –> 00:09:26,859 and then you will see face-to-face. 205 00:09:26,859 –> 00:09:28,859 If you are a Christian 206 00:09:28,859 –> 00:09:32,340 this will happen either at the moment of your death 207 00:09:32,340 –> 00:09:34,900 as you are translated into the presence of Christ 208 00:09:34,900 –> 00:09:36,719 or if you are still alive, 209 00:09:36,719 –> 00:09:38,520 if we’re still alive at that time 210 00:09:38,520 –> 00:09:41,099 when Jesus Christ appears in glory 211 00:09:41,099 –> 00:09:43,799 and the Bible says His people will be caught up 212 00:09:43,799 –> 00:09:45,159 to meet Him in the air 213 00:09:45,159 –> 00:09:47,760 and so we will be forever with the Lord. 214 00:09:47,760 –> 00:09:50,179 That is when the perfection comes. 215 00:09:51,080 –> 00:09:54,039 I think that’s very important for us to settle in our minds 216 00:09:54,039 –> 00:09:56,539 that when Paul talks about what lies ahead, 217 00:09:56,539 –> 00:09:59,619 what remains, the perfection that is to come, 218 00:09:59,619 –> 00:10:02,039 he is pointing us to the glories 219 00:10:02,039 –> 00:10:04,640 of heaven and the blessings 220 00:10:04,640 –> 00:10:08,260 that lie ahead in the presence of Jesus. 221 00:10:08,260 –> 00:10:10,039 Now, that’s the explanation. 222 00:10:10,039 –> 00:10:13,520 I want to move on to two simple observations 223 00:10:13,520 –> 00:10:15,119 from this passage. 224 00:10:16,919 –> 00:10:20,880 When the perfection comes, Paul says, 225 00:10:20,880 –> 00:10:25,859 you need to remember that some things will pass away 226 00:10:27,239 –> 00:10:31,200 and other things will remain. 227 00:10:31,200 –> 00:10:34,000 That’s the thrust of what He is teaching us here 228 00:10:34,000 –> 00:10:36,200 and when we grasp it, I think we will be ready 229 00:10:36,200 –> 00:10:39,559 to answer our big question. 230 00:10:39,559 –> 00:10:42,159 Let’s look first, then, at the things that pass away, 231 00:10:42,159 –> 00:10:45,219 which is really the focus of verse 8-10. 232 00:10:46,299 –> 00:10:50,419 Where there are prophecies, they will cease. 233 00:10:51,559 –> 00:10:56,299 Where there are tongues, they will be stilled. 234 00:10:56,299 –> 00:11:00,919 Where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 235 00:11:02,159 –> 00:11:06,280 Now, Paul is talking here about miraculous gifts 236 00:11:06,299 –> 00:11:10,020 that were highly valued in the church at Corinth 237 00:11:10,020 –> 00:11:11,200 and I think it’s important to say 238 00:11:11,200 –> 00:11:13,200 that he’s not attacking them in any way. 239 00:11:13,200 –> 00:11:15,640 They are good gifts from God. 240 00:11:15,640 –> 00:11:17,640 He is simply saying that these things 241 00:11:17,640 –> 00:11:18,960 that were so highly valued, 242 00:11:18,960 –> 00:11:21,419 at least by some in the church in Corinth, 243 00:11:21,419 –> 00:11:23,479 are things that will not last. 244 00:11:23,479 –> 00:11:25,280 That’s the point he’s making. 245 00:11:25,280 –> 00:11:27,520 They will pass away and, of course, 246 00:11:27,520 –> 00:11:28,919 the reason that they will pass away 247 00:11:28,919 –> 00:11:32,200 is that they will be swallowed up in something greater. 248 00:11:33,400 –> 00:11:35,640 If you think about a brochure 249 00:11:35,640 –> 00:11:38,320 that you might pick up at the travel agent 250 00:11:38,320 –> 00:11:42,080 when you’re beginning to think and plan your next vacation 251 00:11:42,080 –> 00:11:44,200 and you pick up this brochure 252 00:11:44,200 –> 00:11:45,280 and it is really helpful 253 00:11:45,280 –> 00:11:48,659 because it gives to you a wonderful picture 254 00:11:48,659 –> 00:11:51,059 of a place that you have never been before 255 00:11:51,059 –> 00:11:54,460 but you are planning to visit on your next vacation 256 00:11:54,460 –> 00:11:55,799 and you enjoy the brochure. 257 00:11:55,799 –> 00:11:57,960 It has real value and it helps you 258 00:11:59,340 –> 00:12:02,559 but as soon as you arrive at the vacation, 259 00:12:02,559 –> 00:12:05,799 the brochure is of no continuing value. 260 00:12:05,799 –> 00:12:08,080 You’re no longer looking at the brochure 261 00:12:08,080 –> 00:12:11,960 because your joy is to actually look at the reality 262 00:12:11,960 –> 00:12:13,200 that is right there in front of you. 263 00:12:13,200 –> 00:12:14,919 I mean, wouldn’t it be ridiculous 264 00:12:14,919 –> 00:12:18,960 for you to stand on the balcony of your hotel 265 00:12:18,960 –> 00:12:22,960 in front of this magnificent beach that is laid out 266 00:12:22,960 –> 00:12:25,200 and the sea stretching beyond 267 00:12:25,200 –> 00:12:27,440 and to stand looking at the brochure right in front of you 268 00:12:27,440 –> 00:12:28,359 you don’t do that, do you? 269 00:12:28,359 –> 00:12:30,380 You put the brochure aside 270 00:12:30,419 –> 00:12:31,859 because actually the brochure 271 00:12:31,859 –> 00:12:33,640 only gave you a little snapshot. 272 00:12:33,640 –> 00:12:36,739 What you see now that you’re confronted with the reality 273 00:12:36,739 –> 00:12:39,719 is far greater and far more marvelous 274 00:12:39,719 –> 00:12:42,580 and far more extensive. 275 00:12:42,580 –> 00:12:44,960 The brochure showed you in part, 276 00:12:44,960 –> 00:12:49,419 but when you arrived you saw fully. 277 00:12:49,419 –> 00:12:52,840 Now this is surely what Paul is saying about these gifts. 278 00:12:52,840 –> 00:12:57,840 Prophecy speaks of the wonderful works of God, 279 00:12:57,960 –> 00:12:59,479 but when you arrive in heaven 280 00:12:59,479 –> 00:13:02,039 and behold the glory of his presence, 281 00:13:02,039 –> 00:13:03,719 you will not need any prophecy. 282 00:13:03,719 –> 00:13:04,719 Why would you need someone 283 00:13:04,719 –> 00:13:06,179 to give you a partial description 284 00:13:06,179 –> 00:13:08,380 of what you are now looking at 285 00:13:08,380 –> 00:13:12,460 and experiencing directly in reality? 286 00:13:12,460 –> 00:13:16,119 And tongues may give a person a release of spirit 287 00:13:16,119 –> 00:13:18,359 in worshiping God in this world, 288 00:13:18,359 –> 00:13:20,739 but when you are in the presence of the angels 289 00:13:20,739 –> 00:13:23,080 and your whole soul is bathed 290 00:13:23,080 –> 00:13:24,659 and raptured in worship, 291 00:13:24,739 –> 00:13:28,820 who needs the gift of tongues in that context then? 292 00:13:28,820 –> 00:13:30,700 And what about knowledge? 293 00:13:30,700 –> 00:13:31,539 Now, remember, 294 00:13:31,539 –> 00:13:33,320 Paul is particularly talking 295 00:13:33,320 –> 00:13:35,719 about miraculous gifts of knowledge, 296 00:13:35,719 –> 00:13:38,239 that is particular things that God may reveal 297 00:13:38,239 –> 00:13:40,159 in a supernatural way 298 00:13:40,159 –> 00:13:42,460 that could not otherwise be known. 299 00:13:42,460 –> 00:13:46,159 He’s not saying that all knowledge will pass away, 300 00:13:46,159 –> 00:13:47,119 and we know that, of course, 301 00:13:47,119 –> 00:13:48,539 just by looking at verse 12, 302 00:13:48,539 –> 00:13:49,380 where he says, 303 00:13:49,380 –> 00:13:51,179 in heaven, we’ll know fully 304 00:13:51,179 –> 00:13:53,299 even as we are fully known. 305 00:13:53,299 –> 00:13:54,200 And someone’s pointed out 306 00:13:54,640 –> 00:13:56,020 rather cleverly, 307 00:13:56,020 –> 00:13:59,419 that if all knowledge passed away, 308 00:13:59,419 –> 00:14:01,979 nobody could even know it, right? 309 00:14:01,979 –> 00:14:02,960 If you see what I mean. 310 00:14:02,960 –> 00:14:04,539 And Paul is not saying 311 00:14:04,539 –> 00:14:06,380 that all knowledge will pass away, 312 00:14:06,380 –> 00:14:08,080 which would be a ludicrous 313 00:14:08,080 –> 00:14:10,239 and even a meaningless thing to say. 314 00:14:10,239 –> 00:14:12,020 He’s saying that these particular gifts 315 00:14:12,020 –> 00:14:15,059 of knowledge being revealed to a person 316 00:14:15,059 –> 00:14:17,239 about something they would not otherwise have known 317 00:14:17,239 –> 00:14:20,679 that were so highly valued in Corinth in particular, 318 00:14:20,679 –> 00:14:22,700 he says, this will pass away. 319 00:14:22,700 –> 00:14:23,780 These gifts will be 320 00:14:24,320 –> 00:14:25,640 no longer needed, 321 00:14:25,640 –> 00:14:27,840 their work will be finished, 322 00:14:27,840 –> 00:14:30,679 just as a river ceases to be a river 323 00:14:30,679 –> 00:14:33,479 when it flows into an ocean, 324 00:14:33,479 –> 00:14:35,520 so these things will be swallowed up 325 00:14:35,520 –> 00:14:39,859 in something far greater than themselves 326 00:14:39,859 –> 00:14:42,520 and will pass away. 327 00:14:42,520 –> 00:14:44,219 Now let’s pause for some application 328 00:14:44,219 –> 00:14:46,760 before we move a little bit further on. 329 00:14:48,020 –> 00:14:51,059 Remember the Paul is teaching 330 00:14:51,099 –> 00:14:53,859 a Christian congregation here about worship 331 00:14:55,520 –> 00:14:57,559 and in this particular church 332 00:14:57,559 –> 00:14:59,979 to which he’s writing in Corinth, 333 00:14:59,979 –> 00:15:01,020 there were a number of people 334 00:15:01,020 –> 00:15:03,099 who thought that prophecy in tongues 335 00:15:03,099 –> 00:15:04,820 and gifts of knowledge 336 00:15:04,820 –> 00:15:07,940 were really, really important 337 00:15:07,940 –> 00:15:12,659 when it came to the congregation’s gathering in worship 338 00:15:12,659 –> 00:15:14,559 and surely what Paul is saying to them 339 00:15:14,559 –> 00:15:16,780 here at this point is, 340 00:15:16,780 –> 00:15:19,659 look, you need to remember 341 00:15:19,659 –> 00:15:22,979 that these things are passing away 342 00:15:24,179 –> 00:15:27,460 and when you realize that they’re passing away 343 00:15:27,460 –> 00:15:29,219 you’ll get them into perspective 344 00:15:29,219 –> 00:15:33,580 and you’ll discover they are not half as important 345 00:15:33,580 –> 00:15:34,919 as you may think. 346 00:15:35,979 –> 00:15:38,359 Now, that raises the question 347 00:15:38,359 –> 00:15:40,840 what do we think is important in worship? 348 00:15:41,900 –> 00:15:45,780 If we were to take a survey of this congregation 349 00:15:45,780 –> 00:15:46,900 and to ask the question 350 00:15:46,900 –> 00:15:50,479 what do you think is important in worship? 351 00:15:50,479 –> 00:15:53,539 We would get a thousand different answers 352 00:15:54,559 –> 00:15:57,659 and many would be very strongly expressed. 353 00:15:58,739 –> 00:16:00,739 This has been true throughout the history of the church, 354 00:16:00,739 –> 00:16:03,479 it’s true in every church that you will ever visit 355 00:16:03,479 –> 00:16:06,640 that Christian believers have strong feelings 356 00:16:06,640 –> 00:16:10,500 in regards to what really matters 357 00:16:10,500 –> 00:16:12,539 when it comes to worship 358 00:16:12,539 –> 00:16:14,080 and surely that’s one reason 359 00:16:14,719 –> 00:16:15,539 why the issue is addressed 360 00:16:15,539 –> 00:16:18,320 so directly right here in the Bible. 361 00:16:19,799 –> 00:16:24,580 Now, whatever you might put down in such a survey 362 00:16:24,580 –> 00:16:26,719 which we’re not going to take but just suppose we did, 363 00:16:26,719 –> 00:16:28,119 whatever you might put down. 364 00:16:30,239 –> 00:16:32,320 I want to suggest to you 365 00:16:32,320 –> 00:16:33,859 that what you’re likely to put down 366 00:16:33,859 –> 00:16:36,559 and what I’m likely to put down 367 00:16:36,559 –> 00:16:40,320 isn’t half as important as either of us think 368 00:16:41,320 –> 00:16:45,239 because, in all likelihood, you will identify, 369 00:16:45,239 –> 00:16:48,780 as I will identify something that’s gonna pass away. 370 00:16:48,780 –> 00:16:51,200 It’s just here in this world, it’s of great value, 371 00:16:51,200 –> 00:16:52,559 but it’s like the brochure. 372 00:16:53,940 –> 00:16:58,940 Jesus said that God is looking for people 373 00:16:59,700 –> 00:17:04,699 who will worship him in spirit and in truth. 374 00:17:05,339 –> 00:17:10,020 That matters, everything else passes away. 375 00:17:12,219 –> 00:17:16,219 So Paul is giving guidance here, as an apostle, 376 00:17:16,219 –> 00:17:18,979 to the church, that we keep our focus 377 00:17:18,979 –> 00:17:21,040 on what really matters. 378 00:17:22,180 –> 00:17:24,160 Now, let’s make a broader application 379 00:17:24,160 –> 00:17:26,819 because this surely speaks to other issues 380 00:17:26,819 –> 00:17:28,939 beyond the sphere of worship. 381 00:17:28,939 –> 00:17:31,520 Let’s broaden out the question to other things 382 00:17:31,520 –> 00:17:34,140 that, in this congregation, we might think 383 00:17:34,140 –> 00:17:37,000 really matter in life. 384 00:17:37,000 –> 00:17:39,760 Things that are important, but they are 385 00:17:39,760 –> 00:17:41,939 passing away, and I find it very helpful 386 00:17:41,939 –> 00:17:43,359 to think of it like this. 387 00:17:45,060 –> 00:17:47,619 On the day when I arrive in heaven, 388 00:17:47,619 –> 00:17:48,959 I mean, let’s just suppose that there’s 389 00:17:48,959 –> 00:17:50,599 an angel there that welcomes us there 390 00:17:50,599 –> 00:17:55,199 and I arrive and I say, I’m Colin Smith, 391 00:17:55,199 –> 00:18:00,199 and I trusted in Jesus Christ, and I’m a pastor. 392 00:18:00,219 –> 00:18:04,060 I am a pastor, and I think the angel 393 00:18:04,060 –> 00:18:05,699 might well say to me, well I’m so glad 394 00:18:05,699 –> 00:18:07,479 that you’ve trusted in Jesus Christ 395 00:18:07,479 –> 00:18:09,819 because that is your entrance into heaven. 396 00:18:09,819 –> 00:18:13,420 It is only through him, and I’m glad 397 00:18:13,420 –> 00:18:15,040 you’ve been a pastor, but you need to know 398 00:18:15,040 –> 00:18:17,280 you’re not gonna be a pastor here now. 399 00:18:17,280 –> 00:18:21,880 Cause these folks don’t need your preaching. 400 00:18:21,880 –> 00:18:25,359 They’re right here in the presence of God, 401 00:18:25,359 –> 00:18:27,180 and the best you ever did was to describe it 402 00:18:27,180 –> 00:18:28,939 in part, and they’re looking at the reality, 403 00:18:28,959 –> 00:18:31,000 so been there, done that. 404 00:18:33,420 –> 00:18:35,239 Passes away being a pastor. 405 00:18:37,540 –> 00:18:39,060 Someone else introduces themselves, 406 00:18:39,060 –> 00:18:41,780 they trusted in Christ and they’ve been a missionary, 407 00:18:41,780 –> 00:18:44,760 the angel says, oh, it’s a fantastic thing. 408 00:18:44,760 –> 00:18:46,619 You won’t be a missionary here though. 409 00:18:47,479 –> 00:18:49,239 All these people know Christ, and love him, 410 00:18:49,239 –> 00:18:51,140 and they’re rejoicing in his presence. 411 00:18:53,160 –> 00:18:54,939 You come, what else might we say? 412 00:18:54,939 –> 00:18:57,020 You know, I’ve run my own business. 413 00:18:57,060 –> 00:18:58,660 Fantastic, well you’re not running your own 414 00:18:58,660 –> 00:19:00,459 business here, just so you know that. 415 00:19:05,319 –> 00:19:08,300 I held this position, you know, hold it now. 416 00:19:10,219 –> 00:19:13,180 I made this money, you don’t have it now. 417 00:19:15,140 –> 00:19:17,219 I was involved in this movement, 418 00:19:17,219 –> 00:19:19,239 oh that’s great, it was a useful movement on earth, 419 00:19:19,239 –> 00:19:21,380 but we don’t have it here in heaven. 420 00:19:21,380 –> 00:19:22,260 It’s passed away. 421 00:19:22,939 –> 00:19:27,500 In heaven, you won’t be a pastor, 422 00:19:27,500 –> 00:19:29,020 a missionary, a businessman, a student, 423 00:19:29,020 –> 00:19:33,199 a stock broker, a sports star, or a stay at home mom. 424 00:19:35,540 –> 00:19:38,540 All these things pass away. 425 00:19:41,099 –> 00:19:44,819 So it’s a good thing if we want to live life wisely 426 00:19:44,819 –> 00:19:49,819 to make a list of all the things that will pass away 427 00:19:50,699 –> 00:19:54,400 and then to put alongside it the things we know will remain. 428 00:19:55,280 –> 00:19:56,959 I worked a little bit on my list this week 429 00:19:56,959 –> 00:19:58,380 and found it really helpful. 430 00:19:59,300 –> 00:20:02,520 You’ll be able to add to it as you make yours. 431 00:20:02,520 –> 00:20:04,719 But I put down these things, possessions, 432 00:20:04,719 –> 00:20:06,500 all my possessions. 433 00:20:07,739 –> 00:20:11,219 Everything that I own, everything that I’ve earned, 434 00:20:11,219 –> 00:20:13,880 every material thing in my life will all pass away. 435 00:20:14,319 –> 00:20:19,160 Everything, my career, everything that I accomplish 436 00:20:19,160 –> 00:20:22,000 in my work in this world, it’ll all pass away. 437 00:20:23,479 –> 00:20:27,719 Ministry positions, any position that you hold, 438 00:20:27,719 –> 00:20:29,819 you only hold for a short time, 439 00:20:30,780 –> 00:20:32,140 and then it will pass away. 440 00:20:33,180 –> 00:20:35,640 When you get hung up on some position, you hold. 441 00:20:36,540 –> 00:20:39,180 Qualifications, we work so hard to get them, 442 00:20:39,180 –> 00:20:41,619 and they’re of tremendous value in this life, 443 00:20:41,619 –> 00:20:43,140 enabling us to do many things 444 00:20:43,140 –> 00:20:44,839 and equipping us for good work, 445 00:20:44,839 –> 00:20:47,380 but they’re only for this world, 446 00:20:48,459 –> 00:20:50,099 and then they pass away. 447 00:20:50,099 –> 00:20:53,680 Achievements, organization, 448 00:20:54,719 –> 00:20:57,540 appearance, how I look. 449 00:20:58,459 –> 00:21:02,300 How much attention is that drawing in your life? 450 00:21:02,300 –> 00:21:07,300 How much anxiety do you have over your looks? 451 00:21:08,920 –> 00:21:11,479 Don’t worry too much, just accept it’s passing away. 452 00:21:13,479 –> 00:21:17,479 Our strength, vigor, you go down to the gym 453 00:21:17,479 –> 00:21:21,640 and see people pumping iron and throwing all this energy 454 00:21:21,640 –> 00:21:24,839 into maintaining strength in the body. 455 00:21:24,839 –> 00:21:28,660 I was in fantastic shape when I was 20 and 25, 456 00:21:28,660 –> 00:21:31,099 and so I’m trying to keep it going to 30, 40, 50, 457 00:21:31,099 –> 00:21:31,939 and beyond. 458 00:21:33,160 –> 00:21:34,359 It’s passing away. 459 00:21:35,780 –> 00:21:36,920 It’s passing away. 460 00:21:38,280 –> 00:21:42,280 Power, the fulfillment that you experience 461 00:21:42,300 –> 00:21:45,319 in being able to lead or to influence others 462 00:21:45,319 –> 00:21:48,939 or for your words to carry weight or whatever it is, 463 00:21:48,939 –> 00:21:49,780 will pass away. 464 00:21:49,780 –> 00:21:52,520 Someone else will take that role from you. 465 00:21:53,599 –> 00:21:57,819 Trends, you pride yourself in being up-to-date. 466 00:21:57,819 –> 00:21:59,839 Hey, cutting edge, with it, hip. 467 00:22:00,979 –> 00:22:03,719 All of that will pass away. 468 00:22:05,859 –> 00:22:08,160 Thank God there are some other things that will pass away. 469 00:22:08,160 –> 00:22:10,119 Troubles that seem to be with you. 470 00:22:10,160 –> 00:22:13,119 Year after year, they’ll pass away. 471 00:22:13,900 –> 00:22:17,560 Illness, you suffer from an illness 472 00:22:17,560 –> 00:22:19,199 that debilitates your life. 473 00:22:20,839 –> 00:22:22,339 You have had in God’s providence 474 00:22:22,339 –> 00:22:25,839 to find ways of learning to live with it. 475 00:22:25,839 –> 00:22:29,020 Remember, it is passing away, 476 00:22:30,180 –> 00:22:33,339 even if it is with you throughout your life in this world. 477 00:22:33,339 –> 00:22:36,060 When the perfect comes, 478 00:22:36,060 –> 00:22:38,939 the imperfect will disappear. 479 00:22:40,199 –> 00:22:43,160 Frustrations of life passing away, 480 00:22:44,540 –> 00:22:49,180 intractable temptations that seem to dog your progress 481 00:22:49,180 –> 00:22:52,199 and be a struggle throughout your Christian life, 482 00:22:52,199 –> 00:22:54,300 year after year passing away. 483 00:22:54,300 –> 00:22:58,140 When perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 484 00:23:00,239 –> 00:23:03,439 Now, when we grasp what Paul is teaching us here, 485 00:23:03,439 –> 00:23:05,719 surely it’s application is that we learn 486 00:23:05,719 –> 00:23:09,640 to hold everything that passes away lightly. 487 00:23:10,459 –> 00:23:14,579 Thank God for all the good gifts he gives in your life, 488 00:23:14,579 –> 00:23:17,800 for all the privileges and all the opportunities, 489 00:23:17,800 –> 00:23:19,699 but remember that when the perfect comes, 490 00:23:19,699 –> 00:23:22,619 everything else will pass away. 491 00:23:23,540 –> 00:23:25,060 And when you face great trials 492 00:23:25,060 –> 00:23:27,540 and when you face big temptations and frustrations, 493 00:23:27,540 –> 00:23:30,280 remember, this is not forever 494 00:23:30,280 –> 00:23:33,060 and you will be encouraged in your battle. 495 00:23:33,060 –> 00:23:35,040 And Paul says, remember your troubles 496 00:23:35,040 –> 00:23:36,099 that you’re experiencing. 497 00:23:36,099 –> 00:23:37,520 Even if you put all the troubles 498 00:23:37,520 –> 00:23:39,859 of your whole life together into a heap, 499 00:23:39,859 –> 00:23:42,219 it would amount to, I use an old phrase, 500 00:23:42,219 –> 00:23:46,739 a hill of beans compared to the surpassing greatness 501 00:23:47,979 –> 00:23:51,920 of the glory of God that will be in you. 502 00:23:53,359 –> 00:23:57,439 The greatest mistake a Christian can make in this life 503 00:23:57,439 –> 00:24:01,000 is to major on the things that pass away. 504 00:24:02,660 –> 00:24:07,020 The biggest mistake a church can make in ministry 505 00:24:07,020 –> 00:24:12,020 is to be focused on things that pass away. 506 00:24:16,060 –> 00:24:20,119 Hold lightly to all that passes away. 507 00:24:21,640 –> 00:24:24,260 Don’t let it fill you horizon, 508 00:24:24,260 –> 00:24:29,239 don’t be deceived into thinking that this is your life. 509 00:24:30,680 –> 00:24:31,540 Because it’s not. 510 00:24:33,900 –> 00:24:36,479 So here’s the first thing that Paul was alerting us to, 511 00:24:36,520 –> 00:24:39,579 if we are to live successfully, 512 00:24:40,719 –> 00:24:43,280 we need to know what is passing away 513 00:24:43,280 –> 00:24:45,140 and be absolutely clear about it. 514 00:24:47,239 –> 00:24:50,160 But, the other side of the coin is that we also 515 00:24:50,160 –> 00:24:52,479 equally need to know the things that remain, 516 00:24:52,479 –> 00:24:55,380 and so here’s my second observation this morning, 517 00:24:55,380 –> 00:25:00,380 the things that remain, and we find them in verses 11 to 13. 518 00:25:00,880 –> 00:25:03,939 And in verse 13, Paul states it quite clearly, 519 00:25:03,939 –> 00:25:08,939 that three things remain, faith, hope, and love. 520 00:25:10,380 –> 00:25:14,579 But the greatest of these, he says, is love. 521 00:25:16,300 –> 00:25:18,319 Now when he identifies faith, hope, and love, 522 00:25:18,319 –> 00:25:22,260 we need to include with that and in that 523 00:25:22,260 –> 00:25:25,180 everything that flows from faith, 524 00:25:25,180 –> 00:25:28,260 everything that expresses love, 525 00:25:28,260 –> 00:25:33,000 everything that is a consequence of living hope. 526 00:25:33,900 –> 00:25:36,099 And the reason that I say that is of course 527 00:25:36,099 –> 00:25:37,880 the rest of the Bible makes it clear. 528 00:25:37,880 –> 00:25:40,800 The Lord Jesus Christ said on one occasion, 529 00:25:40,800 –> 00:25:45,140 if you even give a cup of cold water to someone in need 530 00:25:45,140 –> 00:25:47,459 and you do it in my name, 531 00:25:47,459 –> 00:25:51,739 that act will certainly not lose its reward. 532 00:25:53,020 –> 00:25:56,260 So what Jesus is saying there is even the smallest act, 533 00:25:56,260 –> 00:25:57,939 the giving of a cup of cold water, 534 00:25:57,939 –> 00:26:00,579 you can’t think of a much smaller gift than that, 535 00:26:01,459 –> 00:26:06,579 but even the smallest act that is an expression of love 536 00:26:06,579 –> 00:26:11,579 in the name of Jesus Christ will remain, abide, 537 00:26:13,500 –> 00:26:17,160 reverberate to the praise and the glory of God forever. 538 00:26:17,160 –> 00:26:21,180 It will certainly not lose your reward. 539 00:26:22,420 –> 00:26:26,579 Every initiative that comes from faith, 540 00:26:27,420 –> 00:26:29,540 every little kindness, 541 00:26:29,540 –> 00:26:34,359 whether hidden or known by others that flows from love, 542 00:26:34,359 –> 00:26:38,420 every hanging in there in your experience 543 00:26:38,420 –> 00:26:41,619 that comes simplybecause you have hope in God 544 00:26:41,619 –> 00:26:44,619 to do great things yet in the future, 545 00:26:44,619 –> 00:26:48,260 these things will remain forever. 546 00:26:49,540 –> 00:26:52,380 Your sins and your iniquities, God says, 547 00:26:52,380 –> 00:26:55,880 if you are in Christ, I will remember no more 548 00:26:57,020 –> 00:27:00,420 but all that flows in your life from faith and hope 549 00:27:00,420 –> 00:27:05,420 and love will be a joy in the heart of God forever. 550 00:27:08,020 –> 00:27:12,660 So for example, little boy 11 years old 551 00:27:12,660 –> 00:27:14,380 came up to me at the end of the first service. 552 00:27:14,380 –> 00:27:19,380 He said, Pastor Colin, one of my life goals 553 00:27:19,699 –> 00:27:24,699 is that my grandma will come to know the Lord, 11 years old, 554 00:27:25,060 –> 00:27:27,280 and he said he was praying for her. 555 00:27:27,280 –> 00:27:28,859 He said that there are some families 556 00:27:28,859 –> 00:27:30,020 where everyone’s a Christian, 557 00:27:30,020 –> 00:27:31,739 but my grandma’s not a Christian, 558 00:27:32,760 –> 00:27:35,839 and right there there is, in an 11 year old, faith, 559 00:27:36,979 –> 00:27:40,219 and there is hope, and there is love, 560 00:27:41,839 –> 00:27:46,839 and that reverberates to the glory of God forever. 561 00:27:51,020 –> 00:27:53,160 If you are ever tempted to think 562 00:27:53,160 –> 00:27:55,540 that your life doesn’t count for much, 563 00:27:57,339 –> 00:28:02,140 it probably means that you are looking at the wrong things. 564 00:28:03,699 –> 00:28:07,959 You’re looking at the list of things that pass away. 565 00:28:07,959 –> 00:28:10,000 You’re saying, well, what positions have I held? 566 00:28:10,000 –> 00:28:13,020 What achievements have I got, and so forth and so on? 567 00:28:13,020 –> 00:28:14,819 You’re looking at the wrong things. 568 00:28:15,839 –> 00:28:19,079 You need to start looking at the things that will remain, 569 00:28:20,060 –> 00:28:23,819 and when you start pursuing the things that remain, 570 00:28:23,819 –> 00:28:27,640 you will be released and delivered 571 00:28:27,640 –> 00:28:29,319 from ever thinking again 572 00:28:29,319 –> 00:28:33,219 that your life doesn’t count for anything much. 573 00:28:36,239 –> 00:28:38,680 Now, I want you to notice the powerful word 574 00:28:38,680 –> 00:28:41,459 that Paul uses here, and it’s going to take us 575 00:28:41,459 –> 00:28:43,359 right to the answer to our big question, 576 00:28:43,359 –> 00:28:44,739 how can love last? 577 00:28:45,699 –> 00:28:48,199 Notice that Paul says, right at the end of this chapter, 578 00:28:48,199 –> 00:28:51,959 that love remains. 579 00:28:51,959 –> 00:28:52,839 Remains. 580 00:28:54,119 –> 00:28:55,119 Remains. 581 00:28:55,119 –> 00:28:56,760 I want us to take that little word in 582 00:28:56,760 –> 00:28:59,300 because it’s so important. 583 00:28:59,300 –> 00:29:00,560 Love remains. 584 00:29:01,959 –> 00:29:07,060 Now, when he says love remains, 585 00:29:08,599 –> 00:29:12,439 is it not obvious from that that he is therefore assuming 586 00:29:12,439 –> 00:29:15,439 that this love already exists 587 00:29:15,439 –> 00:29:18,839 within the lives of the people to whom he is writing? 588 00:29:20,280 –> 00:29:22,680 See, if he had said, 589 00:29:22,680 –> 00:29:24,000 when Christ comes, 590 00:29:24,000 –> 00:29:25,680 when perfection comes, 591 00:29:25,680 –> 00:29:28,000 love will be given, 592 00:29:28,000 –> 00:29:28,920 then we might conclude, 593 00:29:28,920 –> 00:29:29,880 well, there you are, you know, 594 00:29:29,880 –> 00:29:31,560 we’re not gonna know much of it here and now, 595 00:29:31,560 –> 00:29:32,920 but at least on the last day, 596 00:29:32,920 –> 00:29:35,160 we will then be filled with the love of Christ. 597 00:29:35,160 –> 00:29:37,800 But it isn’t really accessible to us now. 598 00:29:37,800 –> 00:29:38,760 But he doesn’t say, 599 00:29:38,760 –> 00:29:39,839 when the perfection comes, 600 00:29:39,839 –> 00:29:40,760 love will be given. 601 00:29:40,760 –> 00:29:42,160 He says, when the perfection comes, 602 00:29:42,160 –> 00:29:43,000 when Christ comes, 603 00:29:43,000 –> 00:29:44,900 love will remain! 604 00:29:45,959 –> 00:29:48,640 Now by using this word remain, 605 00:29:48,640 –> 00:29:50,520 what he is clearly saying to us, 606 00:29:50,520 –> 00:29:53,000 the conclusion we have to draw from this, 607 00:29:53,000 –> 00:29:56,800 is that this love is already present. 608 00:29:56,800 –> 00:29:59,319 If you belong to Christ, 609 00:29:59,319 –> 00:30:02,500 his love is already in you. 610 00:30:02,500 –> 00:30:05,040 Indeed, that is a biblical definition 611 00:30:05,040 –> 00:30:07,359 of what it means to be a Christian. 612 00:30:07,359 –> 00:30:08,800 If you are a Christian, 613 00:30:08,800 –> 00:30:11,260 Christ is in you. 614 00:30:11,260 –> 00:30:13,959 It’s not just that you have known his love from afar, 615 00:30:13,959 –> 00:30:15,339 but as you have come to trust him, 616 00:30:15,619 –> 00:30:17,660 your Savior and he’s forgiven your sins, 617 00:30:17,660 –> 00:30:19,819 he says I will give my spirit to you. 618 00:30:19,819 –> 00:30:22,939 If the Spirit of God who is love lives within you, 619 00:30:22,939 –> 00:30:25,540 God’s love by definition is in you, 620 00:30:25,540 –> 00:30:27,939 and the apostle John makes this most clear 621 00:30:27,939 –> 00:30:29,699 in saying that this is the very heart 622 00:30:29,699 –> 00:30:31,500 of what it means to be a Christian. 623 00:30:31,500 –> 00:30:33,459 Not that you know God from afar, 624 00:30:33,459 –> 00:30:36,699 but by his grace, his love, his presence, 625 00:30:36,699 –> 00:30:41,239 his spirit has come to live within you. 626 00:30:42,060 –> 00:30:47,060 Now this side of Heaven, the love of Christ in you 627 00:30:49,000 –> 00:30:52,719 gets mixed up with all kinds of other stuff. 628 00:30:52,719 –> 00:30:55,319 The stuff of the flesh that’ll dampen it down, 629 00:30:55,319 –> 00:30:57,560 sometimes seem to smother it completely, 630 00:30:57,560 –> 00:30:58,920 bind it up and all the rest of it, 631 00:30:58,920 –> 00:31:00,680 that’s why life is such a struggle, 632 00:31:01,719 –> 00:31:04,540 but if you are a Christian, 633 00:31:05,719 –> 00:31:07,920 the New Testament makes it very clear 634 00:31:07,920 –> 00:31:10,520 that the love of Christ, the spirit of Christ, 635 00:31:10,520 –> 00:31:14,920 the presence of Jesus Christ is in you. 636 00:31:17,760 –> 00:31:19,479 When you arrive in heaven, 637 00:31:20,540 –> 00:31:22,199 God’s work within your life 638 00:31:22,199 –> 00:31:25,000 will take a quantum leap forward, 639 00:31:26,479 –> 00:31:29,199 but it will be the same work 640 00:31:29,199 –> 00:31:32,599 that takes a quantum leap forward, not a different work. 641 00:31:32,599 –> 00:31:36,400 Notice the continuity in the pictures that Paul uses here. 642 00:31:36,400 –> 00:31:38,760 He says it will be like moving verse 11 643 00:31:38,760 –> 00:31:40,800 from childishness to maturity. 644 00:31:40,800 –> 00:31:43,359 There’s a continuity there, you see. 645 00:31:43,359 –> 00:31:46,119 It’ll be like moving verse 12 from confused, 646 00:31:46,119 –> 00:31:49,540 seeing in part, to clarity, seeing fully. 647 00:31:51,160 –> 00:31:53,040 It will be when the perfection comes, 648 00:31:53,040 –> 00:31:54,540 it will be when God’s work in you 649 00:31:54,540 –> 00:31:56,359 is complete in the presence of Jesus, 650 00:31:56,359 –> 00:31:58,040 a quantum leap forward, 651 00:31:58,040 –> 00:32:02,719 but it will be a finishing of what God has already started 652 00:32:02,719 –> 00:32:06,939 because if you are in Christ, 653 00:32:06,939 –> 00:32:08,400 then God’s love is in you. 654 00:32:09,739 –> 00:32:13,040 You have experienced this love. 655 00:32:14,339 –> 00:32:16,699 You have received this love. 656 00:32:17,800 –> 00:32:19,900 Your body has become, Paul says, 657 00:32:19,900 –> 00:32:22,260 the temple of the Holy Spirit 658 00:32:22,260 –> 00:32:24,900 who is the fountain of this love. 659 00:32:26,300 –> 00:32:31,079 You have received it and therefore you are able to give it. 660 00:32:33,819 –> 00:32:36,380 Let me say this to the men of this church, 661 00:32:37,239 –> 00:32:41,660 if Jesus Christ lives in you, 662 00:32:43,199 –> 00:32:47,640 you are in a different position from other men. 663 00:32:47,640 –> 00:32:50,920 You have a different capacity 664 00:32:50,920 –> 00:32:54,319 for showing a love that lasts. 665 00:32:55,319 –> 00:32:57,660 Let me say this to the women of the congregation. 666 00:32:58,680 –> 00:33:02,699 If the Spirit of Christ lives within you, 667 00:33:03,520 –> 00:33:07,119 you have a different capacity from other women. 668 00:33:07,119 –> 00:33:08,920 Really, you’re born again. 669 00:33:08,920 –> 00:33:10,439 The Spirit lives within you. 670 00:33:11,699 –> 00:33:14,439 You have a capacity that is not given to other women 671 00:33:14,439 –> 00:33:16,640 who do not know Christ, 672 00:33:16,640 –> 00:33:20,540 to love in a way that lasts. 673 00:33:22,400 –> 00:33:24,040 Other men and other women 674 00:33:25,560 –> 00:33:26,760 are able to give 675 00:33:26,760 –> 00:33:30,239 a natural affection, 676 00:33:30,339 –> 00:33:35,060 a love that is given to us by nature. 677 00:33:36,680 –> 00:33:40,060 But the love that is given to us by nature 678 00:33:40,060 –> 00:33:42,219 is a love that will pass away. 679 00:33:44,479 –> 00:33:47,300 You are given a different capacity, 680 00:33:48,479 –> 00:33:51,040 and that puts you in a different kind of position. 681 00:33:52,520 –> 00:33:54,920 The love that has come to your heart 682 00:33:54,920 –> 00:33:56,680 is a love that will never let you go, 683 00:33:56,680 –> 00:33:58,939 the love of Christ for you. 684 00:33:58,939 –> 00:34:01,500 It is a love that will remain for all eternity, 685 00:34:02,359 –> 00:34:06,219 and your capacity to love others 686 00:34:06,219 –> 00:34:08,860 will be a reflection of the love 687 00:34:08,860 –> 00:34:11,100 with which God has loved you. 688 00:34:12,580 –> 00:34:13,419 Now take this in. 689 00:34:13,419 –> 00:34:15,580 This is part of believing the gospel. 690 00:34:17,120 –> 00:34:22,120 God’s love never fails, 691 00:34:22,219 –> 00:34:25,419 and if you are in Christ, 692 00:34:25,419 –> 00:34:28,580 this love is in you. 693 00:34:28,620 –> 00:34:31,419 There is no such thing as a Christian believer, 694 00:34:31,419 –> 00:34:33,020 at least in terms of the New Testament, 695 00:34:33,020 –> 00:34:35,580 there is no such thing as a Christian believer 696 00:34:35,580 –> 00:34:39,939 who does not have the love of Christ within him or her. 697 00:34:39,939 –> 00:34:43,580 So now let’s come back to our question. 698 00:34:43,580 –> 00:34:47,020 How can love last? 699 00:34:47,020 –> 00:34:49,879 And here’s the answer from the Scriptures. 700 00:34:49,879 –> 00:34:54,100 Your love will last as God’s love lives in you. 701 00:34:55,100 –> 00:34:58,939 Jesus says, remain in my love. 702 00:34:58,939 –> 00:35:01,780 And as you remain in his love, 703 00:35:01,780 –> 00:35:06,739 then his love will continue 704 00:35:06,739 –> 00:35:10,100 to be reflected through you. 705 00:35:11,780 –> 00:35:13,100 Now, if we’ve grasped that teaching, 706 00:35:13,100 –> 00:35:15,340 it seems to me that there are two possible ways 707 00:35:15,340 –> 00:35:17,139 in which we might want to respond 708 00:35:17,139 –> 00:35:20,139 at the end of the series this morning. 709 00:35:20,879 –> 00:35:23,439 The first is that if you are truly 710 00:35:23,520 –> 00:35:26,919 a Christian, and if you know that God’s love 711 00:35:26,919 –> 00:35:29,120 by his incredible grace has come to you, 712 00:35:29,120 –> 00:35:30,500 his spirit lives within you, 713 00:35:30,500 –> 00:35:33,840 you could say with Paul, yeah, Christ lives in me. 714 00:35:34,899 –> 00:35:37,439 But you may very well find, as I so often find, 715 00:35:37,439 –> 00:35:39,860 that your own love begins to be like a flame 716 00:35:39,860 –> 00:35:41,459 that’s burning very low. 717 00:35:43,280 –> 00:35:45,639 And if that’s your position this morning, 718 00:35:45,639 –> 00:35:49,159 you may like to ask God to fan the flame 719 00:35:49,159 –> 00:35:51,939 of his love in your life. 720 00:35:54,000 –> 00:35:55,620 Let me give you a very practical example 721 00:35:55,620 –> 00:35:57,239 of someone who did that. 722 00:35:57,239 –> 00:35:58,959 And I’m deliberately taking an example 723 00:35:58,959 –> 00:36:03,879 from a few years ago so that we can see effects that last. 724 00:36:05,280 –> 00:36:07,399 A number of years ago, I had breakfast 725 00:36:07,399 –> 00:36:09,340 with someone who had been serving 726 00:36:09,340 –> 00:36:13,560 in a particular ministry in this church for many years. 727 00:36:13,560 –> 00:36:16,979 Wonderful person, faithful to the Lord. 728 00:36:16,979 –> 00:36:19,560 He had done good work with the same group of people 729 00:36:19,560 –> 00:36:21,479 for a long period of time, 730 00:36:21,520 –> 00:36:24,239 but after many years when we met for this breakfast, 731 00:36:24,239 –> 00:36:26,439 it was quite clear that he was tired. 732 00:36:27,620 –> 00:36:29,379 He was getting frustrated 733 00:36:29,379 –> 00:36:31,300 with this particular group of people 734 00:36:31,300 –> 00:36:33,580 that he’d worked with for such a long time. 735 00:36:33,580 –> 00:36:37,679 And he said to me that he was really seriously thinking 736 00:36:37,679 –> 00:36:42,479 about packing in that particular responsibility in ministry. 737 00:36:42,479 –> 00:36:43,719 I don’t know, he said, 738 00:36:43,719 –> 00:36:46,239 Oh, the people are not responding to me like they used to. 739 00:36:46,239 –> 00:36:47,439 And people are complaining 740 00:36:47,439 –> 00:36:49,379 and picking up on this and that. 741 00:36:49,500 –> 00:36:52,659 I just feel really fed up with that all, really. 742 00:36:52,659 –> 00:36:55,439 And I remember saying to him 743 00:36:55,439 –> 00:36:57,260 in the course of the conversation, 744 00:36:57,260 –> 00:37:00,459 It sounds like you’re getting tired of these people. 745 00:37:02,179 –> 00:37:05,340 And I said, why don’t you ask God 746 00:37:05,340 –> 00:37:08,060 to renew your love for them? 747 00:37:08,939 –> 00:37:10,699 And then the conversation moved on. 748 00:37:13,080 –> 00:37:15,040 A few days later he phoned me up. 749 00:37:16,000 –> 00:37:16,979 He said, You know, 750 00:37:16,979 –> 00:37:19,520 I’ve really thought about what you’ve said. 751 00:37:19,520 –> 00:37:20,879 And you know that was right. 752 00:37:21,760 –> 00:37:23,860 I’ve stopped loving these people. 753 00:37:25,340 –> 00:37:28,399 And I’ve asked God to forgive me for that 754 00:37:29,360 –> 00:37:33,760 and I’ve asked Him to help me start loving them again. 755 00:37:35,520 –> 00:37:36,699 And you know what? 756 00:37:37,840 –> 00:37:40,459 God answered his prayer. 757 00:37:40,459 –> 00:37:44,080 I believe from recollection that was five years ago. 758 00:37:44,080 –> 00:37:47,360 He’s still joyfully and fruitfully 759 00:37:47,360 –> 00:37:49,540 in the same ministry today. 760 00:37:51,000 –> 00:37:54,479 Now, where in your life can you recognize 761 00:37:54,479 –> 00:37:59,479 this kind of jadedness, this love burning low, 762 00:37:59,520 –> 00:38:03,500 this kind of frustration and tiredness? 763 00:38:05,760 –> 00:38:08,280 You can come to God today 764 00:38:09,699 –> 00:38:11,520 and you can say as a Christian believer, 765 00:38:11,520 –> 00:38:13,620 Lord Jesus Christ, 766 00:38:14,320 –> 00:38:19,320 renew my love for the people you have called me to serve 767 00:38:22,840 –> 00:38:25,620 so that I may do it with a freshness again. 768 00:38:27,260 –> 00:38:29,739 I had to tell you, in 27 years of ministry, 769 00:38:29,739 –> 00:38:32,000 I’ve had to do that many times. 770 00:38:33,340 –> 00:38:36,560 And thank God that by His Spirit, 771 00:38:36,560 –> 00:38:38,600 He’s able to renew love. 772 00:38:39,580 –> 00:38:41,419 And that’s how you sustain 773 00:38:42,300 –> 00:38:45,439 what God has trusted you to do. 774 00:38:46,840 –> 00:38:49,580 So it may be that, this morning, 775 00:38:49,580 –> 00:38:51,040 you want to make that your prayer. 776 00:38:51,040 –> 00:38:55,659 Will you, Lord, please fan the flame 777 00:38:58,139 –> 00:38:59,919 of your love in me 778 00:39:00,959 –> 00:39:03,439 so that I may be wonderfully renewed, 779 00:39:04,379 –> 00:39:09,000 replenished, filled for what you are calling me to do? 780 00:39:10,439 –> 00:39:12,679 And there’s a second possible response, 781 00:39:12,679 –> 00:39:15,020 and this is the last thing, and it’s just this. 782 00:39:16,199 –> 00:39:20,199 It may be, for some of us in the congregation this morning, 783 00:39:20,199 –> 00:39:23,540 that your honest reaction to this series is to say, 784 00:39:23,540 –> 00:39:27,439 you know, I’m not sure I have ever 785 00:39:27,439 –> 00:39:29,139 known what you are talking about. 786 00:39:29,620 –> 00:39:33,939 You talk about Christ living in me, 787 00:39:33,939 –> 00:39:37,239 you talk about God’s love living in me, 788 00:39:39,959 –> 00:39:41,659 you talk about the Holy Spirit living in me, 789 00:39:42,659 –> 00:39:45,780 I read these things here in the scriptures, 790 00:39:45,780 –> 00:39:49,179 but I’m not sure I have ever really known 791 00:39:49,179 –> 00:39:52,979 or experienced what you are speaking about. 792 00:39:55,459 –> 00:39:58,360 Well, if that’s what you’re thinking right now, 793 00:39:58,379 –> 00:40:01,780 let me say first, I am so glad you are here, 794 00:40:01,780 –> 00:40:04,139 and I’m so glad that you are listening to the Bible 795 00:40:04,139 –> 00:40:06,340 thoughtfully and intelligently. 796 00:40:07,500 –> 00:40:12,120 And if this is an honest reflection of where you’re at, 797 00:40:12,120 –> 00:40:14,300 I don’t know what you’re talking about, 798 00:40:14,300 –> 00:40:18,800 then you can receive this love, you can. 799 00:40:20,020 –> 00:40:25,020 You can come to Jesus Christ who died for you 800 00:40:25,580 –> 00:40:29,379 and rose again and is alive today 801 00:40:30,419 –> 00:40:35,340 and you can ask him that he will pour his love 802 00:40:35,340 –> 00:40:40,179 into your heart, and he will do it if you ask him 803 00:40:40,179 –> 00:40:44,580 and you come to him humbly in repentance and in faith. 804 00:40:46,159 –> 00:40:50,060 This is how Paul describes what God does 805 00:40:50,060 –> 00:40:52,300 in Romans chapter five and verse five. 806 00:40:52,300 –> 00:40:57,300 He says, God has poured out his love into our hearts 807 00:40:59,939 –> 00:41:02,360 by the Holy Spirit whom he has given to us. 808 00:41:02,360 –> 00:41:05,379 Now the big question is who are the us? 809 00:41:05,379 –> 00:41:08,399 Into whose hearts does God pour out his love 810 00:41:08,399 –> 00:41:09,500 by the Holy Spirit? 811 00:41:09,500 –> 00:41:13,540 And the answer is, to everyone who has come 812 00:41:13,540 –> 00:41:17,439 to Jesus Christ in repentance and in faith, 813 00:41:18,080 –> 00:41:23,080 acknowledging your need, believing his promise, 814 00:41:26,939 –> 00:41:31,939 and why should you not come to him in this way today 815 00:41:32,139 –> 00:41:35,239 and receive his promise which is for you 816 00:41:35,239 –> 00:41:40,239 as well as for others, that his love should be poured 817 00:41:40,239 –> 00:41:43,080 into your heart by the Holy Spirit 818 00:41:43,080 –> 00:41:44,639 who he will give to you? 819 00:41:45,479 –> 00:41:50,479 You can tell him, Lord, as I have seen your kind of love, 820 00:41:55,139 –> 00:41:57,280 I realize I don’t have what it takes. 821 00:41:57,320 –> 00:42:00,820 I’ve gone through a lot of my life thinking 822 00:42:00,820 –> 00:42:02,760 that I’m really a very caring kind of a person 823 00:42:02,760 –> 00:42:04,239 and a very loving kind of person, 824 00:42:04,239 –> 00:42:08,879 I look at your love, I see I don’t have 825 00:42:08,879 –> 00:42:10,040 something like that at all. 826 00:42:11,040 –> 00:42:15,919 Will you come and give to me what I do not have? 827 00:42:17,860 –> 00:42:20,399 Will you forgive me for my arrogance and pride 828 00:42:20,399 –> 00:42:22,500 thinking that I have all that’s needed 829 00:42:22,500 –> 00:42:23,939 somehow to live my life 830 00:42:23,939 –> 00:42:25,659 and somehow to enter eternity 831 00:42:25,659 –> 00:42:28,100 as if I had it within me 832 00:42:28,100 –> 00:42:29,979 rather than receiving it from you? 833 00:42:32,100 –> 00:42:36,020 Lord I see what a self centered person I really am. 834 00:42:38,100 –> 00:42:39,179 Will you forgive me? 835 00:42:41,040 –> 00:42:42,419 Will you cleanse me? 836 00:42:44,340 –> 00:42:45,899 Will you change me? 837 00:42:47,000 –> 00:42:48,520 Renew me, fill me. 838 00:42:50,020 –> 00:42:52,500 Will you give me the kind of love 839 00:42:52,500 –> 00:42:54,300 that you have and I don’t 840 00:42:54,300 –> 00:42:57,679 through your son Jesus Christ? 841 00:42:59,439 –> 00:43:01,560 And here is the promise of God to you 842 00:43:01,560 –> 00:43:04,600 that if you will come to Jesus Christ in this way, 843 00:43:04,600 –> 00:43:06,040 in repentance and in faith, 844 00:43:06,919 –> 00:43:09,719 he will never, never, never turn you away, 845 00:43:09,739 –> 00:43:11,800 that is, nothing that you have done, 846 00:43:12,879 –> 00:43:15,320 no number of years of delaying in coming 847 00:43:15,320 –> 00:43:18,000 that would cause him to back away from you. 848 00:43:20,159 –> 00:43:25,159 If you will come exchanging the clenched fist 849 00:43:25,159 –> 00:43:30,159 towards God for the open hand before God, 850 00:43:33,739 –> 00:43:38,739 you will receive what Christ died and rose. 851 00:43:40,719 –> 00:43:41,899 To give you. 852 00:43:43,639 –> 00:43:45,620 So there are two possible responses. 853 00:43:47,840 –> 00:43:52,520 If Christ is in you but you know that love is burning low 854 00:43:52,520 –> 00:43:55,800 and it’s just smothered over by all kinds of other stuff, 855 00:43:57,439 –> 00:44:01,639 ask him to fan that love that is within you 856 00:44:01,639 –> 00:44:04,379 into a new flame and you will be blessed 857 00:44:04,379 –> 00:44:07,639 and renewed and resourced and replenished 858 00:44:07,639 –> 00:44:10,080 for everything he is truly calling you to do. 859 00:44:12,000 –> 00:44:15,340 And if you know that that love is not within you 860 00:44:15,340 –> 00:44:17,659 and you are not yet Christ 861 00:44:17,659 –> 00:44:20,139 and Christ is not yet truly in you by the spirit, 862 00:44:20,139 –> 00:44:23,120 will you come and ask that he will give you 863 00:44:23,120 –> 00:44:24,459 what you do not have? 864 00:44:26,060 –> 00:44:28,179 As you see, we really need to face honestly the question, 865 00:44:28,179 –> 00:44:30,379 do you have this love? 866 00:44:32,280 –> 00:44:35,139 If you have it, you can give it. 867 00:44:35,860 –> 00:44:40,100 If you don’t have it, you can receive it. 868 00:44:41,959 –> 00:44:45,219 So, either way, let’s come to him. 869 00:44:45,219 –> 00:44:47,500 Shall we bow in his presence and pray together? 870 00:44:49,199 –> 00:44:53,580 Lord, thank you for the amazing gift of the gospel 871 00:44:53,580 –> 00:44:58,540 in my life, Christ in me, 872 00:44:59,840 –> 00:45:03,100 your Spirit, the fountain of love indwelling me, 873 00:45:05,320 –> 00:45:09,120 fan your love that never fails into a great flame, 874 00:45:11,000 –> 00:45:13,979 renew by your Spirit, my love 875 00:45:15,860 –> 00:45:17,719 for all who you call me to serve. 876 00:45:20,179 –> 00:45:24,239 Give me the capacity to love in the hardest places, 877 00:45:26,280 –> 00:45:29,580 stretch my patience, replenish kindness, 878 00:45:30,399 –> 00:45:34,399 aid me not to be angry quickly at wrongs, 879 00:45:37,959 –> 00:45:40,560 let me remain in the full knowledge of your love 880 00:45:42,300 –> 00:45:47,139 and really to give and reflect that love to others. 881 00:45:51,540 –> 00:45:54,360 Or, maybe you will join me in this other prayer. 882 00:45:55,879 –> 00:45:59,080 Lord Jesus Christ, I don’t have what it takes 883 00:45:59,080 –> 00:46:04,080 and the only way that I could ever have any hope 884 00:46:10,219 –> 00:46:13,540 of fulfilling what you’re calling me to do 885 00:46:15,860 –> 00:46:20,860 is if your love, your spirit should live in me. 886 00:46:21,139 –> 00:46:26,139 Should live in me, so I confess my need, 887 00:46:27,639 –> 00:46:32,639 I confess my failure, I ask your forgiveness 888 00:46:34,800 –> 00:46:39,659 and I believe your promise that risen Lord Jesus Christ, 889 00:46:39,659 –> 00:46:44,659 you will come to those who ask, 890 00:46:46,500 –> 00:46:50,040 you will save those who call 891 00:46:50,899 –> 00:46:55,899 you will forgive those who confess. 892 00:46:58,820 –> 00:47:03,820 Now please pour your love into my heart by the Holy Spirit 893 00:47:08,820 –> 00:47:13,820 and then walk with me throughout this life 894 00:47:14,659 –> 00:47:19,280 throughout this life and into eternity 895 00:47:19,280 –> 00:47:21,979 as my savior and as my Lord 896 00:47:26,320 –> 00:47:31,320 so that from my life there may be an abundance 897 00:47:31,580 –> 00:47:36,580 that remains to your praise and glory 898 00:47:37,280 –> 00:47:41,899 and honor through Jesus Christ 899 00:47:42,800 –> 00:47:44,840 who is now my Lord. 900 00:47:47,239 –> 00:47:48,100 Amen.