LOVE IS THE RULE
Since all God’s saints are to do the work of the ministry
(Eph. 4:12 ), all
Christians should be different from the world in their manners. Love must be the rule for our relations to
others. Love is not just a feeling. Love is a principle we practice, a way of
life. Love is mannerly; and the manners
of a saint should show him or her to be a gentleman or a lady.
Even a seemingly little “M” like manners can close doors to
people and their ministries. In whatever form, ill manners will tend to discredit our
ministries.
Love and the Gifts
Counterfeit gifts are marked by their lack of love in their
use.1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you
a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 Though I speak with the tongues of men
and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it
profits me nothing.1 Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts.
Even the priestly garments of Old Testament Priests represent Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit. Tabernacle priests wore a priestly skirt, fringed at the bottom with bells and pomegranates. Pomegranates represent fruit, and bells represent gifts. Both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit represent the manifestation of the Spirit. The alternating bells and pomegranates on the garments of Aaron typify the "gifts" and "fruit" of the Spirit in balance and co-dependency (1 Cor. 12:8-10; Gal.5:22 -23)--the
ministry and nature of our Lord which adorns His glorious Church (Ex. 28:2;
Eph. 5:25 -27). We operate
in a ministry of Love.
Even the priestly garments of Old Testament Priests represent Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit. Tabernacle priests wore a priestly skirt, fringed at the bottom with bells and pomegranates. Pomegranates represent fruit, and bells represent gifts. Both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit represent the manifestation of the Spirit. The alternating bells and pomegranates on the garments of Aaron typify the "gifts" and "fruit" of the Spirit in balance and co-dependency (1 Cor. 12:8-10; Gal.
Words you speak must come from a heart of love. Therefore,
you are to test all you do by this guideline:
1 Corinthians 13:9-13 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:9-13 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
In 1 Cor. 13, love is the qualifying factor for biblical
exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Without love the most magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most
heroic self-sacrifice means nothing. Out
of all the gifts love is the greatest gift.
If God is in us and God is love, then it should manifest through us (1 John 4:7-21). We should check the following list to see if we have all these characteristics in our lives.
If we are missing any of these characteristics, then we should start practicing the area where we are weak. Practice will make us stronger in that area. See if we qualify in all these characteristics:
If God is in us and God is love, then it should manifest through us (1 John 4:7-21). We should check the following list to see if we have all these characteristics in our lives.
If we are missing any of these characteristics, then we should start practicing the area where we are weak. Practice will make us stronger in that area. See if we qualify in all these characteristics:
- Love
is patient. Are you impatient with
imperfect people?
- Love
is kind. Are you not active in
doing good to others?
- Love
does not envy. Are you possessive
and competitive? Do you hate to see
others get ahead?
- Love
does not boast. Are you always
patting your self on the back of what you have accomplished?
- Love
is not proud. Do you treat others
arrogantly?
- Love
is not rude. Do you display bad
manners and not courteous to others?
- Love
is not self-seeking. Do you insist
on your rights and precedence over others?
Are you selfish and always complaining? Are you fearful?
- Love is
not easily angered. Are you
irritable or touchy, rough or hostile?
Are you not graceful under pressure?
- Love
keeps no record of wrongs done to you.
Are you resentful? Do you find satisfaction in shortcomings of
others and spread evil reports? Do
you not defend and hold others up? Are
you always suspicious and never give others credit for good
intentions? Do you give up on people
and see them as having no future?
Are you not loyal to others?
If we say “yes” to any of the above questions then we need to
grow in maturity in these areas.
Jesus commanded that we love one another as He has loved
us (John 15:12 ).
Song of Solomon 8:7 says; Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.
Song of Solomon 8:7 says; Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.
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