1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,940 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,940 –> 00:00:11,160 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN365 3 00:00:11,160 –> 00:00:15,680 or visit our website OPenthebible.org 4 00:00:15,680 –> 00:00:19,320 Let’s get to the message. Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,320 –> 00:00:28,540 Well, Happy New Year to all of you at Barrington, Itasca, Marengo, Vernon Hills and Northfield. 6 00:00:28,620 –> 00:00:35,580 May God bless you in this year that lies ahead as we launch out to serve him 7 00:00:35,580 –> 00:00:45,580 together. As we’re launching out into this new year, is there any word from God for us? 8 00:00:47,180 –> 00:00:53,380 What should we be asking of God? What should we seek from him? What should we pursue? 9 00:00:54,000 –> 00:00:59,779 I’ve been thinking a great deal about these questions over these last weeks 10 00:00:59,779 –> 00:01:07,800 and as I’ve done this and sought the Lord there’s one word that has pressed into my 11 00:01:07,800 –> 00:01:15,160 mind and into my heart and that word is the single word love. In the first four weeks of 12 00:01:15,160 –> 00:01:23,000 this new year, I want us to look together at what it means to grow in love and how it is 13 00:01:23,099 –> 00:01:30,139 that we can go about just that. You all know that our world is becoming more angry, more 14 00:01:30,139 –> 00:01:38,919 hostile, more divided and the natural response to increasing division and hostility and 15 00:01:38,919 –> 00:01:46,959 anger in the world is an increasing hostility and division also in the Church of the Lord 16 00:01:46,959 –> 00:01:48,120 Jesus Christ. 17 00:01:49,059 –> 00:01:54,779 But, you know, that the Lord Jesus calls us to be different. 18 00:01:54,779 –> 00:01:55,779 Jesus said, 19 00:01:55,779 –> 00:02:02,559 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. 20 00:02:02,559 –> 00:02:07,860 Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. 21 00:02:08,100 –> 00:02:18,820 By this all people will know that you are my disciples that you love one another. 22 00:02:18,820 –> 00:02:25,199 Love is to be the distinguishing mark of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and this 23 00:02:25,199 –> 00:02:26,300 is not an option. 24 00:02:26,300 –> 00:02:28,360 Notice, it’s a commandment. 25 00:02:28,360 –> 00:02:31,300 A new commandment I give to you. 26 00:02:31,300 –> 00:02:32,300 The Lord Jesus says, 27 00:02:32,300 –> 00:02:36,580 I command you that you are to love one another. 28 00:02:36,580 –> 00:02:43,380 That’s what he is saying so that by this everyone, all people will know that you really 29 00:02:43,380 –> 00:02:46,100 are my disciples. 30 00:02:46,100 –> 00:02:55,860 Now, as the world becomes harsher and more divided, our calling will make us more distinct. 31 00:02:55,860 –> 00:03:04,699 Where else could you ever hope to find a community of people who will really love one another 32 00:03:04,759 –> 00:03:10,160 across all the many differences that divide people so deeply? 33 00:03:11,320 –> 00:03:15,880 Now I expect that as we come to this subject today, most of us will feel that we need to 34 00:03:15,880 –> 00:03:23,500 grow in love especially when it comes to those with whom we deeply disagree. 35 00:03:23,500 –> 00:03:28,080 And the good news is that love can be learned. 36 00:03:28,080 –> 00:03:37,580 It is possible to grow in love, and the Holy Spirit is given to us for this very purpose. 37 00:03:38,460 –> 00:03:44,039 Now this is going to be a very practical series over these next four weeks. 38 00:03:44,039 –> 00:03:49,720 Today and next week, I want us to look at why we need to grow in love. 39 00:03:49,720 –> 00:03:56,240 And my prayer is that growing in love will become something that you really want to do, 40 00:03:56,259 –> 00:04:01,860 that you will want to make this your new year commitment, that you will give yourself to it, 41 00:04:01,860 –> 00:04:05,259 that you want to seek it, that you’ll want to pursue it. 42 00:04:05,259 –> 00:04:09,419 And then for the two weeks that will follow, we’ll look at the how. 43 00:04:09,419 –> 00:04:12,259 How is it that we can grow in love? 44 00:04:12,259 –> 00:04:19,279 We’re gonna see where love begins and we’re going to see how it is that love can be learned. 45 00:04:19,279 –> 00:04:22,619 So please open your Bible with me 46 00:04:22,619 –> 00:04:25,459 at 1st Corinthians and chapter 13. 47 00:04:25,459 –> 00:04:31,420 This marvelous passage that has been read to us on the subject of love. 48 00:04:31,420 –> 00:04:35,820 Why Should We Seek to Grow in Love? 49 00:04:35,820 –> 00:04:38,399 Why is this so important? 50 00:04:38,399 –> 00:04:43,299 Well, this chapter gives us three powerful answers. 51 00:04:43,299 –> 00:04:47,160 We’re going to look at the first answer just in the first three verses today 52 00:04:47,160 –> 00:04:50,440 and then God willing, we’ll look at the second and the third answers 53 00:04:50,459 –> 00:04:53,779 from the same chapter next week. 54 00:04:53,779 –> 00:04:56,140 Why should we grow in love? 55 00:04:56,140 –> 00:04:58,980 Well, the first answer that Paul gives to us here 56 00:04:58,980 –> 00:05:06,940 is that love will enable us to use our gifts effectively. 57 00:05:06,940 –> 00:05:12,359 And Paul lists six highly valued gifts, each of them 58 00:05:12,359 –> 00:05:15,779 a gift that comes from the hand of God himself, each of them 59 00:05:15,779 –> 00:05:20,700 a gift that is obviously of value to the church of the Lord 60 00:05:20,700 –> 00:05:22,160 Jesus Christ. 61 00:05:22,160 –> 00:05:26,260 And the first of these gifts that Paul identifies 62 00:05:26,260 –> 00:05:30,899 is the gift of eloquent speech. 63 00:05:30,899 –> 00:05:36,459 If I speak in the tongues of men. 64 00:05:36,459 –> 00:05:38,179 Now let’s pause there for a moment. 65 00:05:38,179 –> 00:05:41,140 We’ll come to the rest later. 66 00:05:41,200 –> 00:05:46,980 He’s talking here about the gift of clear and compelling 67 00:05:46,980 –> 00:05:49,700 communication. 68 00:05:49,700 –> 00:05:52,640 And the ability to communicate clearly 69 00:05:52,640 –> 00:05:56,299 is a marvelous gift from God. 70 00:05:56,299 –> 00:05:59,779 If you’re a student in middle school, high school, 71 00:05:59,779 –> 00:06:06,619 or in college, do all that you can to develop this gift. 72 00:06:06,619 –> 00:06:08,260 Remember that the Bible tells us, 73 00:06:08,720 –> 00:06:10,220 in the beginning was the word. 74 00:06:13,380 –> 00:06:17,380 And the word was with God and the word was God. 75 00:06:17,380 –> 00:06:20,559 God speaks. 76 00:06:20,559 –> 00:06:25,500 So do all that you can to become articulate. 77 00:06:25,500 –> 00:06:30,420 Work hard at learning to express yourself in words. 78 00:06:30,420 –> 00:06:32,700 Learn the meaning of words. 79 00:06:32,700 –> 00:06:36,320 Develop and expand your vocabulary. 80 00:06:36,320 –> 00:06:37,459 Write sentences. 81 00:06:38,760 –> 00:06:42,880 And learn to speak in sentences. 82 00:06:42,880 –> 00:06:46,279 Gifts of speech were very highly prized 83 00:06:46,279 –> 00:06:48,320 in the ancient world, 84 00:06:48,320 –> 00:06:53,320 and we are wise if we place a high value on them today. 85 00:06:55,299 –> 00:06:59,000 But you know, every gift brings its own temptation. 86 00:06:59,000 –> 00:07:00,640 And this verse reminds us 87 00:07:00,640 –> 00:07:05,359 that it is possible to speak well without love. 88 00:07:06,320 –> 00:07:08,779 The big temptation, of course, 89 00:07:08,779 –> 00:07:11,540 for the person who is able to articulate 90 00:07:11,540 –> 00:07:15,679 a persuasive argument is to bully. 91 00:07:16,720 –> 00:07:18,399 It’s to oppress. 92 00:07:19,320 –> 00:07:20,839 It’s to intimidate. 93 00:07:21,760 –> 00:07:24,320 It’s to shout the other person down. 94 00:07:25,200 –> 00:07:29,359 It’s to be self-opinionated and overbearing. 95 00:07:31,160 –> 00:07:33,079 Now, you don’t need me to tell you 96 00:07:33,079 –> 00:07:36,679 that we live at a time in which discourse, 97 00:07:36,679 –> 00:07:41,679 conversation is becoming increasingly angry and divisive. 98 00:07:42,559 –> 00:07:46,519 People have discovered that if you use 99 00:07:46,519 –> 00:07:50,200 outrageous and inflammatory language, 100 00:07:50,200 –> 00:07:53,839 you get more attention from people who agree with you. 101 00:07:54,720 –> 00:07:55,679 But I want you to notice 102 00:07:55,679 –> 00:07:57,720 what Paul says in the scripture here. 103 00:07:58,679 –> 00:08:03,679 “‘If I speak with the tongue of men, and of angels, 104 00:08:03,920 –> 00:08:08,920 but have not love, I am a noisy gong, 105 00:08:10,839 –> 00:08:13,040 and a clanging cymbal.’” 106 00:08:14,720 –> 00:08:17,920 Eloquent speech without love 107 00:08:17,920 –> 00:08:20,519 is a cacophony of noise. 108 00:08:22,239 –> 00:08:25,079 People can put up with it for a time, 109 00:08:25,079 –> 00:08:27,320 but eventually, the noise, 110 00:08:27,519 –> 00:08:30,200 like a cymbal that just keeps reverberating 111 00:08:30,200 –> 00:08:32,359 and never stops, 112 00:08:32,359 –> 00:08:36,239 it becomes unrelenting and unbearable. 113 00:08:37,239 –> 00:08:40,559 And people feel then that they need to get away from it. 114 00:08:43,080 –> 00:08:48,080 Always remember that it is possible to win an argument 115 00:08:49,059 –> 00:08:50,280 and lose a friend. 116 00:08:51,719 –> 00:08:53,200 And that’s never a good deal. 117 00:08:54,119 –> 00:08:58,780 What is the value of prevailing in an argument 118 00:08:58,780 –> 00:09:02,099 if you lose the person you were trying to win? 119 00:09:03,979 –> 00:09:08,979 Without love, eloquent speaking will be worse than useless 120 00:09:11,039 –> 00:09:13,840 because instead of winning people, 121 00:09:15,039 –> 00:09:18,119 you actually end up driving people away. 122 00:09:18,940 –> 00:09:23,940 But if you grow in love, 123 00:09:24,700 –> 00:09:28,979 you will be able to use your God-given gift 124 00:09:30,260 –> 00:09:31,940 of speaking effectively. 125 00:09:34,700 –> 00:09:38,020 Now the second gift that Paul identifies here 126 00:09:38,020 –> 00:09:41,640 is the gift of spiritual experiences. 127 00:09:41,640 –> 00:09:43,440 Notice what he says. 128 00:09:43,520 –> 00:09:47,799 If I speak in the tongues of angels, 129 00:09:47,799 –> 00:09:49,520 now what’s he referring to here? 130 00:09:50,599 –> 00:09:53,719 Well, in the chapter before and the chapter after 131 00:09:53,719 –> 00:09:56,880 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, 132 00:09:56,880 –> 00:10:01,039 Paul speaks repeatedly about the gift of tongues. 133 00:10:01,039 –> 00:10:03,119 And the apostle himself tells us 134 00:10:03,119 –> 00:10:06,880 that he experienced and used this gift. 135 00:10:06,880 –> 00:10:10,359 It was a kind of ecstatic speech 136 00:10:10,359 –> 00:10:13,080 that bypasses the mind 137 00:10:13,080 –> 00:10:18,080 giving a believer freedom in prayer and in worship. 138 00:10:19,400 –> 00:10:22,520 And it’s clear from these chapters 139 00:10:22,520 –> 00:10:26,719 that this particular gift was highly valued 140 00:10:26,719 –> 00:10:30,080 at least among some of the believers in Corinth. 141 00:10:30,080 –> 00:10:34,440 And again, Paul himself affirms the value of this gift. 142 00:10:34,440 –> 00:10:37,000 He says in chapter 14 and verse 18, 143 00:10:37,000 –> 00:10:41,159 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 144 00:10:43,320 –> 00:10:48,320 Now, some of you have had remarkable spiritual experiences. 145 00:10:50,419 –> 00:10:51,359 You really have. 146 00:10:52,719 –> 00:10:54,440 Some of you have seen a vision. 147 00:10:56,140 –> 00:10:58,539 Some of you have experienced a miracle. 148 00:11:00,179 –> 00:11:04,500 Some of you have had intense and wonderful experiences 149 00:11:04,500 –> 00:11:08,260 of the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. 150 00:11:08,260 –> 00:11:12,039 And all of these experiences 151 00:11:12,039 –> 00:11:16,039 are gifts from the gracious hand of God. 152 00:11:17,979 –> 00:11:19,780 But what we’re learning from these verses 153 00:11:19,780 –> 00:11:24,219 is that every gift brings its own temptation 154 00:11:25,179 –> 00:11:30,179 and the temptation that comes with spiritual experience 155 00:11:30,320 –> 00:11:33,080 is the temptation to withdraw. 156 00:11:34,140 –> 00:11:37,340 I have to tell you, I know this temptation in my own life. 157 00:11:38,460 –> 00:11:41,719 There is a part of me that would be very happy 158 00:11:41,719 –> 00:11:44,640 to retire into a private world 159 00:11:44,640 –> 00:11:49,419 where I could just spend unlimited time with my books, 160 00:11:49,419 –> 00:11:51,880 pondering the scripture, 161 00:11:51,880 –> 00:11:53,559 sitting in a chair, 162 00:11:53,559 –> 00:11:56,280 enjoying the thrill of seeing something 163 00:11:56,280 –> 00:11:58,320 I had never seen before 164 00:11:58,320 –> 00:12:00,679 with no pressure and no deadline. 165 00:12:00,679 –> 00:12:04,400 You’ll be able to come up with a parallel to that 166 00:12:04,400 –> 00:12:06,119 in your world as well. 167 00:12:06,799 –> 00:12:10,080 But you see, this verse is telling me 168 00:12:10,080 –> 00:12:11,960 that if I did that, 169 00:12:11,960 –> 00:12:14,700 I would gain nothing. 170 00:12:15,919 –> 00:12:16,739 Nothing. 171 00:12:17,619 –> 00:12:21,900 Now again, this speaks very powerfully to our world today. 172 00:12:21,900 –> 00:12:26,359 We live at a time where believers are tempted to withdraw. 173 00:12:27,940 –> 00:12:29,940 Why bother with coming to church 174 00:12:29,940 –> 00:12:32,200 when you can see the service online? 175 00:12:33,619 –> 00:12:35,219 And you can see any service 176 00:12:35,260 –> 00:12:36,739 from any church online. 177 00:12:38,320 –> 00:12:41,460 All that matters is that I nourish 178 00:12:41,460 –> 00:12:43,799 my own relationship with Jesus. 179 00:12:46,260 –> 00:12:49,859 But you see, your distinct calling 180 00:12:49,859 –> 00:12:52,780 as a person who belongs to Jesus 181 00:12:53,700 –> 00:12:54,739 is to love, 182 00:12:55,820 –> 00:12:59,640 and you cannot possibly do that on your own. 183 00:13:00,960 –> 00:13:03,320 Isolation is the death of love. 184 00:13:05,719 –> 00:13:10,179 Withdrawing into the world of your own private experience 185 00:13:10,179 –> 00:13:11,900 will be of no value to you 186 00:13:11,900 –> 00:13:15,140 and it will be of no value to anyone else. 187 00:13:15,140 –> 00:13:17,840 But growing in love, 188 00:13:17,840 –> 00:13:19,299 oh, if you grow in love, 189 00:13:19,299 –> 00:13:22,500 it will keep you from spiritual isolation, 190 00:13:22,500 –> 00:13:24,239 and here’s what growing in love will do. 191 00:13:24,239 –> 00:13:27,359 It will move you towards other believers. 192 00:13:31,099 –> 00:13:34,780 The third gift that Paul identifies 193 00:13:35,479 –> 00:13:38,320 is the gift of a brilliant mind. 194 00:13:39,140 –> 00:13:42,619 I thank God for those who’ve been given this gift. 195 00:13:44,500 –> 00:13:46,940 If I have prophetic powers 196 00:13:48,020 –> 00:13:51,179 and understand all mysteries 197 00:13:52,940 –> 00:13:54,219 and all knowledge, 198 00:13:56,359 –> 00:14:00,840 some people have been blessed with brilliant minds. 199 00:14:01,780 –> 00:14:06,679 And over time they acquire vast sums of knowledge. 200 00:14:07,900 –> 00:14:12,440 Some people are blessed with profound insight 201 00:14:12,440 –> 00:14:17,440 into what is mysterious and perplexing to others 202 00:14:17,619 –> 00:14:20,419 so that they are able to help the rest of us 203 00:14:20,419 –> 00:14:23,559 when we find ourselves uncertain and confused. 204 00:14:25,179 –> 00:14:27,440 A brilliant mind 205 00:14:27,440 –> 00:14:29,340 is a marvelous gift. 206 00:14:30,239 –> 00:14:34,320 And if God has given that gift to you, 207 00:14:34,320 –> 00:14:37,559 develop it to the full. 208 00:14:37,559 –> 00:14:41,580 Use it to bring blessing and help to others 209 00:14:41,580 –> 00:14:44,979 in every way that you possibly can. 210 00:14:47,080 –> 00:14:50,440 But what the apostle is making clear to us in these verses 211 00:14:50,440 –> 00:14:55,440 is that every gift brings its own temptation. 212 00:14:55,599 –> 00:15:00,599 And the big temptation that comes with a brilliant mind 213 00:15:01,419 –> 00:15:04,739 is to become wise in your own eyes. 214 00:15:05,940 –> 00:15:10,099 To look down on other people who did not have the ability 215 00:15:10,099 –> 00:15:13,260 or perhaps the education that you have been privileged 216 00:15:13,260 –> 00:15:16,940 to have to become increasingly remote 217 00:15:18,260 –> 00:15:22,479 from the needs, life, and ministry of the Church. 218 00:15:26,440 –> 00:15:31,260 Growing in love will be what enables you 219 00:15:31,260 –> 00:15:33,880 to use your brilliant mind effectively. 220 00:15:35,580 –> 00:15:40,359 And growing in love will make the Christian scholar 221 00:15:41,299 –> 00:15:45,359 a servant of ordinary believers. 222 00:15:46,460 –> 00:15:50,719 And when that happens, it is a beautiful thing. 223 00:15:51,080 –> 00:15:56,080 Then some people have been gifted fourthly 224 00:15:58,260 –> 00:16:01,219 with outstanding achievements. 225 00:16:01,219 –> 00:16:02,780 Look at what Paul says next. 226 00:16:03,859 –> 00:16:08,859 And if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, 227 00:16:12,280 –> 00:16:15,099 to move a mountain, well, that’s really something. 228 00:16:16,460 –> 00:16:19,299 I’ve been reading the story of William Wilberforce 229 00:16:20,140 –> 00:16:21,719 the member of the British Parliament 230 00:16:21,719 –> 00:16:24,500 in the 18th and early 19th century 231 00:16:24,500 –> 00:16:29,020 who proposed legislation to abolish slavery. 232 00:16:29,880 –> 00:16:34,880 He was defeated 11 times over a period of 20 years, 233 00:16:38,700 –> 00:16:43,700 but by God’s grace, he overcame that mountain of opposition 234 00:16:44,739 –> 00:16:48,640 and was finally blessed with wonderful success. 235 00:16:50,219 –> 00:16:54,380 Wilberforce had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 236 00:16:54,380 –> 00:16:59,039 and God used him to move a mountain. 237 00:17:01,340 –> 00:17:04,500 Now, some people like Wilberforce 238 00:17:04,500 –> 00:17:07,260 are drawn to the hardest tasks, 239 00:17:07,260 –> 00:17:11,739 and if that’s you, it’s a very wonderful gift indeed. 240 00:17:11,739 –> 00:17:15,380 Some people have a special kind of faith 241 00:17:15,380 –> 00:17:17,339 that enables them to believe 242 00:17:17,339 –> 00:17:20,479 that a mountain can be overcome 243 00:17:20,479 –> 00:17:23,459 and if God has given you that kind of gift, 244 00:17:23,459 –> 00:17:24,780 I want to encourage you. 245 00:17:24,780 –> 00:17:28,920 Find the mountain that he is calling you to move 246 00:17:28,920 –> 00:17:32,380 and then give yourself to moving it by faith, 247 00:17:32,380 –> 00:17:36,739 even if it takes the whole of your life to see it happen. 248 00:17:38,260 –> 00:17:39,560 But remember this, 249 00:17:40,459 –> 00:17:45,540 that every gift brings its own unique temptation. 250 00:17:46,839 –> 00:17:49,479 And the obvious temptation 251 00:17:49,479 –> 00:17:52,079 to those who accomplish great things 252 00:17:53,400 –> 00:17:55,040 is the temptation to pride, 253 00:17:56,280 –> 00:18:00,160 the feeling that what has been accomplished 254 00:18:00,160 –> 00:18:03,839 was the result of your own power. 255 00:18:04,479 –> 00:18:05,420 That’s called pride. 256 00:18:07,099 –> 00:18:10,839 James Deney gives this warning 257 00:18:10,839 –> 00:18:14,060 to pastors as well as to those 258 00:18:14,060 –> 00:18:16,180 who are successful in business. 259 00:18:16,180 –> 00:18:17,520 Let me quote what he says. 260 00:18:19,780 –> 00:18:23,699 The sense may steal upon a man’s mind 261 00:18:24,900 –> 00:18:27,979 that his commanding personality 262 00:18:29,040 –> 00:18:33,060 is that to which circumstances yield 263 00:18:34,540 –> 00:18:37,400 his practical capacity 264 00:18:37,400 –> 00:18:39,579 is that which transmits force 265 00:18:39,579 –> 00:18:41,760 and sees that work is done. 266 00:18:43,060 –> 00:18:46,119 And when that happens, Deney says, 267 00:18:46,119 –> 00:18:48,719 all is lost. 268 00:18:51,219 –> 00:18:55,119 If you think that the moving of a mountain 269 00:18:55,119 –> 00:18:59,500 was ultimately your personality, 270 00:18:59,500 –> 00:19:01,699 your force, your power, 271 00:19:02,599 –> 00:19:05,339 rather than that God in his marvelous grace 272 00:19:05,339 –> 00:19:07,500 used you to do it, 273 00:19:07,500 –> 00:19:09,699 you’ve lost everything. 274 00:19:10,800 –> 00:19:13,239 That’s what Deney is saying. 275 00:19:13,239 –> 00:19:15,520 And that’s what the Apostle Paul is saying here. 276 00:19:16,719 –> 00:19:19,780 If I have all faith 277 00:19:19,780 –> 00:19:23,619 so as to remove mountains 278 00:19:23,619 –> 00:19:26,420 but have not love, 279 00:19:26,420 –> 00:19:29,060 I am 280 00:19:29,119 –> 00:19:30,160 nothing, 281 00:19:31,560 –> 00:19:32,319 nothing. 282 00:19:35,439 –> 00:19:38,959 Love is what enables a person 283 00:19:38,959 –> 00:19:40,780 to achieve great things 284 00:19:40,780 –> 00:19:43,280 and then still to serve with humility. 285 00:19:44,920 –> 00:19:47,959 Love reminds a believer 286 00:19:50,040 –> 00:19:54,000 that his calling to move one mountain 287 00:19:54,000 –> 00:19:56,400 may not be the calling of another believer 288 00:19:56,400 –> 00:19:58,839 who may be called to move another mountain. 289 00:20:00,060 –> 00:20:02,579 And love will enable you to find joy 290 00:20:02,579 –> 00:20:04,619 in the achievements of others 291 00:20:04,619 –> 00:20:08,239 as much as you find joy 292 00:20:08,239 –> 00:20:10,420 in the achievements of your own. 293 00:20:12,479 –> 00:20:14,280 And then fifthly, 294 00:20:14,280 –> 00:20:19,280 Paul identifies this gift of unusual generosity. 295 00:20:20,020 –> 00:20:20,920 Look at what he says, 296 00:20:20,920 –> 00:20:25,900 If I give, verse three, all I have, 297 00:20:25,939 –> 00:20:28,719 not a tenth, not even half, 298 00:20:29,959 –> 00:20:32,859 if I give everything, all that I have. 299 00:20:32,859 –> 00:20:36,579 This is what Jesus called the rich young ruler to do, 300 00:20:36,579 –> 00:20:39,239 and he couldn’t do it, he couldn’t bring himself to do it 301 00:20:39,239 –> 00:20:40,739 because he didn’t have love. 302 00:20:42,780 –> 00:20:44,180 Paul says, 303 00:20:44,180 –> 00:20:49,119 If I give all that I have. 304 00:20:50,079 –> 00:20:54,699 Now God calls all of us to be generous, 305 00:20:55,760 –> 00:20:59,260 but some people have a special calling 306 00:20:59,260 –> 00:21:03,760 and a special ability in this regard. 307 00:21:03,760 –> 00:21:08,000 And if God has put it into your heart to be generous, 308 00:21:08,000 –> 00:21:11,780 be as generous as you possibly can. 309 00:21:13,339 –> 00:21:17,140 But remember, that every gift carries 310 00:21:17,140 –> 00:21:18,979 its own hidden temptation. 311 00:21:19,819 –> 00:21:23,819 And the temptation to those who give generously 312 00:21:25,060 –> 00:21:28,760 is that it is possible to give simply as a matter of duty. 313 00:21:30,040 –> 00:21:33,900 It’s possible to give in order to make an impression. 314 00:21:34,880 –> 00:21:39,180 It’s possible to give as a means of exercising control. 315 00:21:40,239 –> 00:21:43,400 You can give without love. 316 00:21:44,359 –> 00:21:45,199 And Paul says, 317 00:21:45,199 –> 00:21:49,439 if I give all that I have and have not love, 318 00:21:50,579 –> 00:21:53,020 I gain nothing. 319 00:21:54,359 –> 00:21:57,239 But you see growing in love 320 00:21:57,239 –> 00:22:02,239 is what will enable you to give with freedom and with joy. 321 00:22:03,160 –> 00:22:05,839 And your reward will be very great. 322 00:22:05,839 –> 00:22:08,239 The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians, 323 00:22:08,239 –> 00:22:09,920 the next letter in the New Testament, 324 00:22:09,979 –> 00:22:14,640 whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly. 325 00:22:14,640 –> 00:22:19,640 And whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 326 00:22:20,760 –> 00:22:25,760 Sow bountifully because your heart is growing in love. 327 00:22:27,599 –> 00:22:32,540 Grow in love, and you will sow bountifully. 328 00:22:34,959 –> 00:22:37,760 And then the last gift that Paul identifies here 329 00:22:37,760 –> 00:22:41,579 is the gift of courageous commitment. 330 00:22:41,579 –> 00:22:42,780 Look at what he says. 331 00:22:42,780 –> 00:22:47,780 And if I deliver up my body to be burnt, 332 00:22:49,060 –> 00:22:52,579 now Paul is describing here the courage 333 00:22:52,579 –> 00:22:55,219 of believers who pay the ultimate price 334 00:22:55,219 –> 00:22:57,760 of laying down their own lives 335 00:22:57,760 –> 00:23:01,219 for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 336 00:23:01,219 –> 00:23:05,380 Believers have faced persecution from the earliest times 337 00:23:05,380 –> 00:23:09,079 and around the world, many still do today. 338 00:23:09,079 –> 00:23:14,079 Some have died and still die horrible and painful deaths. 339 00:23:16,020 –> 00:23:18,280 And no one could possibly do this 340 00:23:18,280 –> 00:23:22,119 without being given a special gift of strength 341 00:23:23,140 –> 00:23:28,140 to meet the unique challenge of this particular calling. 342 00:23:28,219 –> 00:23:32,459 Now, God may have called you 343 00:23:32,459 –> 00:23:37,459 to an unusual level of sacrifice and of commitment. 344 00:23:39,939 –> 00:23:42,400 And if that is the case, 345 00:23:42,400 –> 00:23:47,219 give yourself to what God has called you to do 346 00:23:47,219 –> 00:23:49,880 irrespective of the cost, 347 00:23:49,880 –> 00:23:52,500 knowing that God will give to you 348 00:23:52,500 –> 00:23:57,459 all that you need to fulfill all that he has called you. 349 00:23:58,300 –> 00:23:59,140 To do. 350 00:24:00,699 –> 00:24:04,140 But remember that it is possible 351 00:24:04,140 –> 00:24:08,839 to make great sacrifices without love. 352 00:24:10,579 –> 00:24:13,239 And the obvious temptation 353 00:24:13,239 –> 00:24:16,579 for those whose sacrifices have been great 354 00:24:16,579 –> 00:24:21,579 is to resent those whose paths in life have been easier. 355 00:24:21,599 –> 00:24:26,599 And I remember very vividly hearing from a pastor 356 00:24:30,680 –> 00:24:33,760 in a country in Eastern Europe 357 00:24:33,760 –> 00:24:37,420 who told me that the greatest difficulty 358 00:24:37,420 –> 00:24:41,000 that the churches faced after the fall of communism 359 00:24:41,000 –> 00:24:46,000 was the tension that emerged between church leaders 360 00:24:46,119 –> 00:24:49,300 who had been imprisoned during the communist time 361 00:24:49,300 –> 00:24:54,300 and others who had not and you can understand this. 362 00:24:56,380 –> 00:25:00,359 We took a costly stand, where were you 363 00:25:02,199 –> 00:25:06,619 when we were in jail, why weren’t you with us? 364 00:25:08,359 –> 00:25:11,619 Why didn’t you take the same stand as we did? 365 00:25:14,780 –> 00:25:18,180 But you say, what is the point 366 00:25:19,459 –> 00:25:23,540 in taking a costly stand if you cannot love 367 00:25:23,540 –> 00:25:27,479 your own brother who chose a different path? 368 00:25:30,739 –> 00:25:35,739 If I deliver my body up to be burned, 369 00:25:37,119 –> 00:25:38,380 the apostle says, 370 00:25:39,500 –> 00:25:41,619 but have not love, 371 00:25:43,859 –> 00:25:44,959 I get nothing. 372 00:25:46,880 –> 00:25:47,719 Nothing. 373 00:25:49,479 –> 00:25:54,300 And what a tragedy would be to make great sacrifices 374 00:25:54,300 –> 00:25:59,300 for the Lord Jesus Christ and gain nothing from it. 375 00:26:01,920 –> 00:26:05,880 Now, this temptation to resent people 376 00:26:05,880 –> 00:26:09,680 who choose an easier path than the one that you walk 377 00:26:09,680 –> 00:26:12,900 may actually be closer to home than some of us might think. 378 00:26:14,280 –> 00:26:17,000 The more committed you become, 379 00:26:17,979 –> 00:26:21,859 the more you will be tempted to resent those 380 00:26:21,859 –> 00:26:26,160 who don’t show the same measure of commitment that you do. 381 00:26:28,160 –> 00:26:32,000 But it is love that will set you free 382 00:26:32,000 –> 00:26:33,880 from this kind of resentment. 383 00:26:34,859 –> 00:26:39,859 It is love that will enable you to say what I do, 384 00:26:41,920 –> 00:26:46,420 I do for the Lord Jesus Christ and for His people 385 00:26:46,420 –> 00:26:49,260 and though it be costly 386 00:26:49,260 –> 00:26:53,060 I have no regrets. 387 00:26:53,060 –> 00:26:56,060 Love will enable you to say that. 388 00:26:58,560 –> 00:27:01,420 Courageous commitment is a marvelous gift 389 00:27:02,579 –> 00:27:07,579 but only if it is exercised with love. 390 00:27:11,060 –> 00:27:14,420 Now, I had originally intended 391 00:27:14,420 –> 00:27:16,359 to try and speak from the whole 392 00:27:16,359 –> 00:27:19,939 of 1 Corinthians in chapter 13 today 393 00:27:19,939 –> 00:27:21,420 but there’s just so much 394 00:27:21,420 –> 00:27:23,760 in these first three verses 395 00:27:23,760 –> 00:27:26,979 that I’ve decided to leave the rest for next week 396 00:27:26,979 –> 00:27:29,339 and we’ll come back to it then. 397 00:27:29,339 –> 00:27:31,859 So let me in these remaining minutes 398 00:27:31,859 –> 00:27:36,239 try to press this home into our hearts. 399 00:27:36,239 –> 00:27:39,479 The main point of the message today 400 00:27:39,479 –> 00:27:42,300 is that whatever our gifts 401 00:27:43,160 –> 00:27:47,560 we all need to grow in love. 402 00:27:49,119 –> 00:27:51,180 I wonder if you noticed 403 00:27:52,400 –> 00:27:56,339 that these verses written by the Apostle Paul 404 00:27:56,339 –> 00:27:59,520 are framed in the first person. 405 00:28:00,479 –> 00:28:02,079 Paul says, 406 00:28:02,079 –> 00:28:07,079 “‘If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels 407 00:28:07,280 –> 00:28:09,000 “‘but have not love, 408 00:28:09,020 –> 00:28:13,339 “‘I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.’” 409 00:28:15,400 –> 00:28:18,260 And you know, the Apostle gives us 410 00:28:18,260 –> 00:28:21,599 a rather marvellous example 411 00:28:21,599 –> 00:28:26,160 of expressing oneself in love 412 00:28:26,160 –> 00:28:29,719 by the way that he puts this. 413 00:28:29,719 –> 00:28:33,979 A less thoughtful person would say, 414 00:28:33,979 –> 00:28:37,780 “‘If you speak with the tongues of men and angels, 415 00:28:37,780 –> 00:28:40,300 and if you don’t have love, well, you know what? 416 00:28:40,300 –> 00:28:43,920 You are just a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.’” 417 00:28:43,920 –> 00:28:47,140 But the Apostle Paul doesn’t say it like that. 418 00:28:48,839 –> 00:28:50,339 He offers himself 419 00:28:51,780 –> 00:28:53,280 as an example 420 00:28:54,459 –> 00:28:56,800 of someone who would gain nothing, 421 00:28:56,800 –> 00:28:58,060 be nothing, 422 00:28:59,660 –> 00:29:01,400 if he did not have love. 423 00:29:03,119 –> 00:29:05,560 Now, the more I think about this, 424 00:29:05,560 –> 00:29:09,040 the more staggering it seems to me that it is. 425 00:29:10,640 –> 00:29:13,400 Think about Paul’s speaking. 426 00:29:15,119 –> 00:29:19,040 God used this man’s gift of speaking 427 00:29:19,040 –> 00:29:21,099 more than any other person 428 00:29:21,979 –> 00:29:24,239 to spread the gospel 429 00:29:24,239 –> 00:29:27,260 across the entire ancient Roman world, 430 00:29:27,260 –> 00:29:31,239 and it happened with extraordinary effect. 431 00:29:32,219 –> 00:29:35,760 And then think about this man’s spiritual experience. 432 00:29:37,500 –> 00:29:40,479 He saw the glory of the risen Lord 433 00:29:40,479 –> 00:29:43,160 who appeared to him on the road to Damascus. 434 00:29:44,420 –> 00:29:46,339 It would be hard to imagine 435 00:29:46,339 –> 00:29:50,079 a more remarkable spiritual experience than that. 436 00:29:51,560 –> 00:29:53,959 And then think about this man’s brilliant mind. 437 00:29:55,020 –> 00:29:57,920 I mean, he was trained in the school of Gamaliel, 438 00:29:57,920 –> 00:29:59,900 one of the best schools 439 00:29:59,939 –> 00:30:02,400 that anyone could have gone to at that time, 440 00:30:02,400 –> 00:30:07,400 and his natural gifts were heightened even further 441 00:30:07,400 –> 00:30:10,839 by the work of the Holy Spirit opening his eyes 442 00:30:10,839 –> 00:30:12,459 to the meaning of scripture 443 00:30:12,459 –> 00:30:15,020 and to the mystery of the gospel. 444 00:30:16,619 –> 00:30:20,540 And think about the Apostle Paul’s extraordinary achievement. 445 00:30:20,540 –> 00:30:24,300 I mean, planting churches across the Roman empire 446 00:30:24,300 –> 00:30:28,160 in the face of relentless hostility and opposition, 447 00:30:28,160 –> 00:30:31,119 this man was used by God to move mountains. 448 00:30:31,119 –> 00:30:32,239 He really was. 449 00:30:35,280 –> 00:30:37,000 And think about his generosity. 450 00:30:39,719 –> 00:30:43,400 The Apostle Paul gave himself to the service 451 00:30:43,400 –> 00:30:46,000 of the Lord Jesus Christ freely. 452 00:30:47,060 –> 00:30:52,060 He often worked as a tent maker by day, 453 00:30:52,079 –> 00:30:55,599 then giving himself to ministry at night. 454 00:30:55,599 –> 00:30:56,439 Why? 455 00:30:56,459 –> 00:31:00,160 So that he did not have to impose a financial burden 456 00:31:00,160 –> 00:31:04,160 on newly formed churches by asking people to support him. 457 00:31:06,959 –> 00:31:08,959 And then think about this man’s courage. 458 00:31:11,260 –> 00:31:16,260 Shipwrecked, beaten with rods, 459 00:31:17,319 –> 00:31:21,459 repeatedly arrested and imprisoned. 460 00:31:22,400 –> 00:31:27,020 You could hardly have a more gifted, 461 00:31:27,020 –> 00:31:30,979 committed, generous, courageous person 462 00:31:30,979 –> 00:31:32,760 than the Apostle Paul. 463 00:31:32,760 –> 00:31:35,359 And yet he says, 464 00:31:35,359 –> 00:31:39,459 if I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, 465 00:31:39,459 –> 00:31:40,819 but have not love, 466 00:31:40,819 –> 00:31:45,540 I am a noisy gong and a clanging symbol. 467 00:31:46,459 –> 00:31:49,640 And a clanging symbol. 468 00:31:49,640 –> 00:31:51,859 And if I have prophetic powers 469 00:31:51,859 –> 00:31:54,739 and understand all mysteries and have all knowledge, 470 00:31:54,739 –> 00:31:58,339 if I have faith that can move mountains, 471 00:31:58,339 –> 00:32:01,780 but I have not love, 472 00:32:01,780 –> 00:32:03,680 well, I am nothing, 473 00:32:03,680 –> 00:32:05,880 the Apostle Paul. 474 00:32:07,780 –> 00:32:10,380 And if I give all that I have 475 00:32:10,380 –> 00:32:12,339 and deliver up my body to be burned, 476 00:32:12,380 –> 00:32:15,680 if I make the ultimate sacrifice itself 477 00:32:15,680 –> 00:32:19,400 and have not love, I gain nothing. 478 00:32:19,400 –> 00:32:21,839 The Apostle Paul gaining nothing? 479 00:32:25,719 –> 00:32:28,900 Now friends, if this was true for him, 480 00:32:30,859 –> 00:32:35,819 how much more true is it for me and for us? 481 00:32:38,400 –> 00:32:41,939 The message today is really very simple. 482 00:32:43,180 –> 00:32:47,319 I am asking you at the beginning of this new year 483 00:32:47,319 –> 00:32:51,800 to join me in seeking to grow in love. 484 00:32:54,680 –> 00:32:59,699 I am wholly persuaded that the greatest need 485 00:33:02,180 –> 00:33:07,180 of the church today is a fresh outpouring 486 00:33:07,640 –> 00:33:11,099 of faith, hope and love. 487 00:33:13,180 –> 00:33:16,119 And in as much as that happens, 488 00:33:17,079 –> 00:33:20,479 the world will see something radically different 489 00:33:21,660 –> 00:33:26,160 that could only have come from the hand of Jesus. 490 00:33:28,280 –> 00:33:33,280 You may be wondering, where could I find love like this? 491 00:33:35,619 –> 00:33:39,520 Maybe you’re thinking, I’ve never been loved like this. 492 00:33:39,520 –> 00:33:41,640 Maybe the very mention of the word love 493 00:33:41,680 –> 00:33:44,260 makes you feel something that you lack. 494 00:33:44,260 –> 00:33:46,920 I’ve never been loved like this. 495 00:33:46,920 –> 00:33:48,880 Oh yes you have. 496 00:33:51,359 –> 00:33:53,500 I want you to remember today that the man 497 00:33:53,500 –> 00:33:58,500 who wrote these words was once an angry, violent man. 498 00:34:02,719 –> 00:34:07,719 He lived with a passion for his own particular issue 499 00:34:08,439 –> 00:34:11,320 and he hated everyone who disagreed with him. 500 00:34:11,320 –> 00:34:12,139 He hated! 501 00:34:14,739 –> 00:34:18,060 How did love come into his life? 502 00:34:19,340 –> 00:34:21,540 He tells us in Galatians in chapter two 503 00:34:21,540 –> 00:34:26,540 in verse 20, the Son of God loved me 504 00:34:29,000 –> 00:34:32,340 and gave himself for me. 505 00:34:34,399 –> 00:34:38,419 The knowledge of that love of Jesus Christ 506 00:34:38,459 –> 00:34:42,600 for this man transformed him from the inside out 507 00:34:42,600 –> 00:34:45,379 and the same love of the Lord Jesus Christ 508 00:34:45,379 –> 00:34:47,540 can change you, too. 509 00:34:49,500 –> 00:34:52,939 Love is at the heart of all that God calls us 510 00:34:52,939 –> 00:34:56,939 to do for him and love is at the heart 511 00:34:56,939 –> 00:35:01,419 of all that God has done for us. 512 00:35:01,419 –> 00:35:05,899 God shows his own love for us in this 513 00:35:05,899 –> 00:35:10,899 that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 514 00:35:14,820 –> 00:35:17,899 In this is love, not that we loved God 515 00:35:17,899 –> 00:35:22,540 which of course we didn’t but that he loved us 516 00:35:24,000 –> 00:35:29,000 and he sent his son to be the propitiating sacrifice 517 00:35:30,580 –> 00:35:31,780 for our sins. 518 00:35:32,659 –> 00:35:35,540 God so loved the world 519 00:35:36,860 –> 00:35:39,000 that he gave his only son 520 00:35:40,340 –> 00:35:43,080 that whoever believes in him 521 00:35:44,300 –> 00:35:49,300 should not perish but have eternal life. 522 00:35:52,020 –> 00:35:53,020 Let’s pray together. 523 00:35:55,659 –> 00:35:57,780 Father, thank you for bringing us 524 00:35:57,780 –> 00:36:00,340 to the beginning of this new year. 525 00:36:02,139 –> 00:36:04,199 And as we set out into it, 526 00:36:04,199 –> 00:36:07,939 we have this one request that we lay before you 527 00:36:09,620 –> 00:36:13,600 that by your mercy you would cause us 528 00:36:15,179 –> 00:36:16,419 to grow in love. 529 00:36:18,580 –> 00:36:21,560 Thank you for that everlasting love 530 00:36:22,459 –> 00:36:26,060 that is ours in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. 531 00:36:27,540 –> 00:36:29,820 Thank you that we are able to love 532 00:36:29,820 –> 00:36:31,860 in a hostile and divided world 533 00:36:31,860 –> 00:36:36,360 because the Son of God has first loved us. 534 00:36:37,739 –> 00:36:42,139 Grant that it may be increasingly true 535 00:36:43,739 –> 00:36:48,739that people know us to be the disciples of Jesus. 536 00:36:51,659 –> 00:36:53,179 Not because we’re angry, 537 00:36:55,979 –> 00:36:58,280 not because we’re bitter, 538 00:37:00,379 –> 00:37:03,699 but because we love one another. 539 00:37:06,659 –> 00:37:09,139 Father, by your Holy Spirit, 540 00:37:09,139 –> 00:37:12,379 pour out upon your people, 541 00:37:12,379 –> 00:37:13,719 we plead with you. 542 00:37:15,300 –> 00:37:18,500 A fresh filling of faith, 543 00:37:19,699 –> 00:37:20,520 of hope, 544 00:37:22,300 –> 00:37:23,699 and especially, of love 545 00:37:25,699 –> 00:37:27,260 for these things we ask 546 00:37:28,139 –> 00:37:30,199 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 547 00:37:32,120 –> 00:37:32,959 Amen. 548 00:37:34,399 –> 00:37:35,639 You’ve been listening to a sermon 549 00:37:35,639 –> 00:37:38,040 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 550 00:37:38,040 –> 00:37:43,280 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 551 00:37:43,320 –> 00:37:46,360 or visit our website, openthebible.org