October 29
TEN DANGEROUS POSSESSIONS
(GROWING UP IN GOD)
#5 GIFTS WITHOUT LOVE
According to Bill Britton:
-"In chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians we hear Paul saying that it is possible to have gifts of the Spirit,
such as tongues, prophecy, faith, and knowledge and still not profit from their use, because we do not have the divine motivation
of “agape” love. Without love, the gifts are useless, meaningless, and even dangerous. Used in love and humility,
the gifts are a means of communication with heaven, a mighty weapon against the forces of hell. They strengthen, edify, and
build up the church, bringing glory to God. But God have mercy on that one who uses a gift from God to bring fame and fortune
to himself, to build himself a kingdom, or to attack or mislead God’s dear children." ( Ten Dangerous Possessions,
Bill Britton )
-1st Corinthians chapter 13 is probably one of the most important ( if not the most important ) passages
of scripture in the entire Bible. It teaches us that the most important attribute of our Heavenly Father is LOVE. Remember
… GOD IS LOVE! To operate in the gifts of the Spirit without love is to become as sounding brass or a tinkling
cymbal. The gifts of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit WILL PROFIT US NOTHING. This was the new commandment
that Jesus came to give us.
-John 13:34,35 states, … A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another
… Notice the importance of this statement that is made by Jesus. BY LOVE shall all men know that we are the disciples
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for the gifts of the Spirit that the Father bestows on us, but the gifts of the Spirit
cannot bring us to full maturity in God. In order to mature and grow up in God we must learn to receive and partake of God’s
great love. For whether there shall be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there
be knowledge, it shall vanish away, BUT LOVE NEVER FAILS ( 1st Corinthians 13:8 ) …
-Let us cherish the gifts of the Spirit that have been given to us, but let us add to these gifts of the Spirit
the fruit of the Spirit, for this is the more excellent way that the apostle Paul spoke of. It is by this more excellent way
that men shall come to know and see that we are the true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now abides faith, hope, love,
these three; …
-BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE!-
( 1ST Corinthians 13:13 )
