I Corinthians 12-14 continued...

The Gift of Prophecy

The following was taken off the Internet:

"A powerful testimony in the world today
The Imprisonment of Queno

From: BHMIN@aol.com
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 16:47:12 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Friends:

Lori (Pinney) Nij and her husband Eugene Nij serve as missionaries in San Raymundo, Guatemala. They have been there for over a decade. With the help of the New Iberian Mission Association they have built an orphanage, a Free School and a number of churches to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Last week, two women tried to kidnap a baby in the town square (kidnapping is very common and out of control). When they grabbed the baby, some of the merchants heard the mother screaming and went to her aid. They caught the two women and got the baby back, but not before the square was filled with women who had seen what had happened. They formed a mob and were just going to kill these women (out of frustration for the many babies who were still missing). When Eugene heard the news he frantically hurried to stop this.

When he got there the town's women were out of control. The police were trying to figure out what they were going to do with this mob. Eugene asked that he be allowed to speak to them. He calmed them down, but he warned the police that they needed to take these women (the kidnappers) to another town to be jailed for their own protection. Eugene then went back across town to the Free School to finish his day.

That afternoon, the women were placed in the jail there in San Raymundo, in spite of Eugene's advice, and when the husbands came in from the fields, the women of the town incited them to tear down the jail and kill the women. By the time the police got there one woman was killed and the other seriously injured. Today, Eugene has been arrested and charged with murder 1.

The government has always sought a way to close the Free School and the orphanage as well as the churches and this is how they plan to do it. There are over 300 witnesses, including the police officers that can testify that Eugene wasn't even present, but these voices are not being heard.

My friends, this is where you come in...I believe with all my heart that Satan and his forces are waging war on Christians world-wide. He wants to isolate and destroy. Lori said that the worst part was the loneliness with Eugene in jail and her family clear across the world. I am pleading that you begin, the minute you receive this, praying. The kind of prayers that ascended when Peter was imprisoned. The kind of prayers you have received when you were in a trial. The kind of prayer that in love can change the world.

I pray that you send this to every person, church and Christian organization that you can and together we will not only see Eugene released, but we will form a chain of prayer that will blanket the globe and no longer will we be alone in our struggles...But united, with almighty God as our King. And when the trumpet shall sound, the time shall be no more, we shall meet face to face and I shall be honored to gaze at the sea of Brothers and Sisters who prayed with me and loved me as their own.

God Bless You.

Tim Worstell
Email: timlw@juno.com

Update

Please forgive the delay, but as you might imagine, we are going around the clock. I will give you a summation, and If you are interested--I will mail you a copy of the New Iberian Mission Association Newsletter--It will go into even more detail. As for the latest news, When Eugene (Queno) got to prison, he found that he would be put in general population. That means that he would be put in the same holding place with murderers, rapists, terrorists, anyone who would be put in a federal prison for a crime worthy of a death sentence.

He began to pray, within a few minutes, the inmates asked him to pray for them. He began to preach, much like Paul and Silas did. These men began to cry out, "What must we do to be saved?" He continued, hours passed. He affected even the guards. They have been sneaking him up to the head office late every night to call Lori and pray with her and to update her on his conversions, even though inmates are not allowed to make phone calls. On the first day, as he began to preach, a man came to him. He introduced himself as the devil himself. He obviously ran things inside the prison, and had now pulled Queno off to the side to stop him from preaching. Queno told him that the power he was looking for, that he thought he had found in the Mafia, that he thought he had found here, was only available in one place...Jesus Christ. He prayed with and taught him all night long. The next day, this man, whose shadow eclipsed Queno, made an announcement to the whole prison. "Anyone who messes with the preacher messes with me!"

That day, Lori was held up bringing his food to him (they are allowed to eat once a day and the family has to bring it or they don't eat at all) and as it became obvious that he would not get to eat today, one by one the inmates began to tear off bread from their plates. One said to him, "You've fed us all day from the plate of God, now let us feed you from our plate." [What did Jesus say to Peter in John 21:15-17? "Feed my lambs...Take care of my sheep...Feed my sheep." This is the number one job and responsibility of every minister of Jesus Christ. Queno is living up to the high calling of Jesus Christ, as a true minister of Jesus Christ!] My friends, what Satan meant for evil, God has used for good.

Please continue to pray for Queno, the life expenctancy in this prison is very short. My prayer has been that, as Queno has made the front page of the national newspaper for two weeks in a row now, he will be able to draw great crowds anywhere he preaches. This will enable him to have much more profound effect on this country. Back in San Raymundo, there have been lines as far as the eye can see for 5 days. One by one the people who knew Queno and were touched by him are lining up at the Lawyer's office to give their deposition. They have over a THOUSAND SO FAR! And the line doesn't look like it has moved.

These people whose annual income is equivalent to a hundred dollars or so, are coming to Lori's house with money they had stored to feed their families and are offering it to her to pay the legal bills, and to help feed her family as Queno is in prison. Guatemala is largely a Catholic Country, and this has been a struggle for the past decade for Queno and Lori. On the day he was arrested every Catholic church in the state announced that there were going to fast and pray until Queno was released. They have been very faithful to that promise.

The country will never be the same. My friends, I cannot express to you in words what your dedication to this prayer vigil means to me. I may never know the significance of brothers around the world uniting in prayer in one voice, with one heart. However, I can attest that when I am asked how I can know that there is a God, I can only respond, "Because I have his signature." May God Bless Each Of You in your faithfulness.

Sincerely,
Dean Pinney

UPDATE

Today the U.S. Ambassador called Lori and insisted that they meet right away. He told her that his phone is ringing off the hook. He can't get anything done on his computer for the e-mail stacking up. He was contacted by 2 U.S. Senators this morning that told him that they expected an explanation by tomorrow regarding the imprisonment of Queno. In addition, he has received E-Mail from "every continent, from Governments around the world." He asked Lori, "Who are you?!!! I have received messages from every continent around the globe over the weekend and now I have the U.S. Senate breathing down my neck."

Lori told him that they were merely Christians whose family around the world was concerned. He told her to rest assured that the U.S. was now involved and they would bring things to an end. He told her that he has never met anyone in his entire career that had such influential ties. She said that Queno's imprisonment was used by God to UNITE THE CHRISTIAN WORLD and that there is a new day dawning for those persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Because there are millions across the world on their knees seeking counsel with the Most High God--and He is obviously giving them His attention.

The President of the Evangelical Association in Guatemala interviewed Lori for two hours yesterday and was astonished at her reassuring response. He told her that they must be the "Most protected people in the world." He said that he sent 2 detectives last week to locate her and tell her that he wanted to meet with her. When they got to San Raymundo they began asking where they could find her. No one would tell them where she lived. They offered money, threatened, and nothing persuaded the people to tell where she lived. Finally, they resorted to driving the many miles of road that is made up of the Alto Plano and searching for her truck.

Finally, the President of the Evangelical Association decided he would find her himself. He found a Catholic Priest (thinking that surely this man, a religious enemy, would tell him where to find them) when he asked him if he knew Queno. (He told Lori that he had never seen anything like this before.) "Do I know him? My son, he has changed our lives! Come, let me tell you about my brother...for thirty some minutes he went on about how Queno has given life to these people. Then he ended with, "May God forgive me, but I cannot tell you where she lives."

Sunday the church where Queno preaches normally, was packed out into the streets. There were faces there that had sworn they wanted nothing to do with religion. "We want to know, What kind of God turns sadness into singing?" they cried.

Friday, Queno called Lori. "When you come next week, bring extra food." Lori, worried about why he wasn't getting enough, asked, "Aren't you getting yours?" "Oh yes, but there are many here who have no family and they don't have food at all. I try to share mine, but I run out before we get to everyone." Lori assured him that she would find the money to buy more.

She took her last bit of money and went to the market, she began to fill bags with food. The grocer, a lady that has known Queno for a long time, asked Lori if she was leaving town. Lori then told her that Queno had talked about the men in prison who weren't getting food and that they were going to feed them. The grocer stood there dumbfounded. "Back your truck up to the door" she told Lori. "If your husband is in prison and he is more concerned about the other prisoners than himself, or his own expense--then I don't want to be left out of what your God is about to do there." She FILLED Lori's truck with food and told her to come back if that wasn't enough. It only takes a spark...

A song that I remember learning 25 years ago now takes on a whole new meaning. "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it--you spread his love to everyone, you want to pass it on."

In a small village in Central America that most of you have never heard of, there was a man who grew up without a father. Raised by his mother, very poor, he learned to be a carpenter. When he was of age, he was converted by his uncle to Christ. His life was never the same. He vowed to go to bible college and learn how to bring others to Christ and come back and preach to this lost village made up primarily of Mayan Indians.

At Colegio Biblico, in Eagle Pass Texas he met and married his missions professor. To the amazement of his people, he returned as he had said. (Everyone who got the chance to leave never came back.) His biggest concern were the thousands of children orphaned by a century of civil war. As he began building a church, he also envisioned an orphanage. As he began to work with the children, he realized that they were not getting a very good education. So his next challenge was to build a school to educate them. It would have to be free, because the poverty was overwhelming. A decade later, the orphanage is mother and father to many children, the free-school is giving a future to the next generation of Guatemalans. The church has outgrown its building, meeting every day of the week to overcrowded audiences starving for a peace that passes understanding.

And this small Mayan preacher, in love with his people, is lying tonight on a concrete floor, giving praise to his God that he was chosen for this ministry. Praying that he can reach "one more" before his time is up. Tonight, he fed the multitudes--with so much food from a grocer that normally would put her out of business. But up in Heaven God is smiling...another demon on the unemployment line. I am reminded of the jar that never emptied as the prophet asked the widow to make him a cake.

Don't close your Bible yet, God is still keeping jars from going empty. He's still holding the water back so his servants can cross on dry land. He still asks, "Whom shall I send, Who will go for us?" It only took a spark, that small ember of faith shielded from the wind, that grows into a raging fire that the wind cannot put out--in fact, the stronger the wind--the stronger the fire.

And somewhere tonight, from a desolate prison cell there is one who is calling to God for the first time as he awaits death for his crime, saying, "Remember me in paradise." And beside him is a five-foot tall preacher with a ten-foot tall spirit fueled by the prayers of Christians from every land.

Get in, sit down, hang on.

Dean
If you want a Newsletter contact:
The New Iberian Mission Association
P.O. Box 668
Organ, NM 88052
505/382-9209

Send faxes to:

1) President of the Republic
S.E. Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen
[Salutation: Sr. Presidente/Dear President]
Fax: 011-502-221-4537

2) Attorney General
Lic. Hector Hugo Perez Aquilera
[Salutation: Sr. Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General]
Fax: 011-502-251-5368

3) Minister of the Interior
Lic. Rodolfo Mendoza
[Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister]

4) Guatemalan Ambassador to the United States
Pedro Lamport
[Salutation: Sr. Embajador/Dear Embassador]
Fax: 202-745-1908

Tim Worstell
Summum Christian Church
8888 East Turner Highway
Astoria, IL 61501
309-759-4236 Email: timlw@juno.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------This message comes in the middle of Larry's--after the part of Queno's entry into the prison, and before the call from the US Ambassador to Guatemala.
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I apologize that it has taken me so long to give you an update on the condition of our brother Queno in Guatemala. He is still imprisoned in the Federal Prison in Guatemala City, Charged with Murder. He is still being held with no evidence or witnesses. He is still being kept from his ministry that he has been devoted to for over a decade. He is still being kept from praising God for the opportunity to preach to the lost. He is still changing lives forever.
Yesterday, was the day set aside for visitors to come to the prison. This is a rare event, they do not allow visitors often due to the nature of the crimes of these inmates. Lori stood in line for hours with Tabitha, and Herbert--waiting to see daddy. They were patiently waiting to tell Queno, husband...daddy, that they loved him.
They were anxious to tell him of the phone calls that they have received from around the world. They were anxious to tell him that the people in the village who had never been interested in their ministry were asking what they could do to help. About how these people, impoverished beyond our imagination, were taking grain, the corn that was their meager store of food to feed their family--and they made food for Lori and the children. About how these strangers to religion, saw an opportunity to show their love for a family that had brought hope to the hopelessness of the forgotten village of San Raymundo. They were anxious to tell Queno that the government threatened every member of the press to stay away from this situation or they would be held in contempt by the Federal Government. How that a member of the press told Lori that he was risking his life to report the story in his small independent paper. They wanted to tell Queno about the Baptist, Pentecostal, Disciple and Catholic Churches around the Alto Plano that are STILL fasting and praying for his safety and release. Tabitha wanted to tell daddy that today in school she was approached by a reporter that wanted to tell her that he was trying to find a way to tell their story so that even the government couldn't stop it. Herbert wanted to tell his daddy that his friends had told him that their mommies and daddies are selling their possessions to raise money to get his daddy out of jail. Lori wanted to tell her beloved husband that she has been faithful to his ministry...that she has been organizing around the clock prayer and fasting for the conversion of the inmates in the prison that Queno was witnessing to.

But there they were, standing in a line that seemed to string for miles. Soon, Lori asked a guard why it was taking so long to get in. The guard told her that it was because the inmates were taking their families to meet the "preacher". Each one telling his wife and children, "You have to meet this man who has changed my life! He knows God, and he told His God about ME! And he said his God will forgive me!" One after another, each one giving up his time with his family to take them to meet the "preacher". Lori's head dropped in prayer, "God, I can wait." They didn't get to see Queno until late that evening, and then for only a few minutes because it was so late. He glowed with excitement as he tried to tell Lori of each one of these men whose lives had been changed forever. As they were taken out of the prison, they looked back to say their last "good-byes", and he was already kneeling down with another inmate and they were praying.

The walls came tumbling down in this place. Walls that separated men from God, walls that divided families, walls that held men hostage to sin, walls that divided churches, walls that kept love out and hate in...fell. There were no trumpet blasts, there was no earthquake, just the people of God on their knees in prayer.

Friends, I need to tell you that today they had another hearing, the Judge is even more angry that no evidence has been found. Even with the enormous reward offered for a "witness"--no one will say they saw him do it. The guard told Lori that he is amazed that they are having so much trouble "buying" a witness because these people are so poor. But they are not persuaded by the dull riches of man, for they have seen the treasures of God.

Thank you for your faithfulness, thank you for your prayers, and may God change the world through men and women like you. And, as for Dean, I have seen a glimpse of Heaven in the love of Christians around the Globe. God Bless you."

Eugene or Queno sounds like he is right out of the Book of Acts doesn't he? No, the time of miracles is not over by a long-shot. As a matter of fact, as times get more perilous, God will work more, not less, miracles--but so will the enemy.

Verse 10, the gift of prophecy is speaking the Word of God in the Spirit (speaking or writing). We just read an amazing 20th Century example of a man, Eugene Nij, exercising the gift of prophecy--speaking the Word of God in the Spirit. And so much so, that many prisoners considered incorrigibly dangerous and beyond redemption have been changed and converted, and are showing the fruits of the Spirit of God in them! Is the time of miracles gone? Nonsense! The gift of prophecy can also be a foretelling of something to come.

In Luke 19:41-44 both aspects appear here, foretelling and forthtelling. Luke 19:41-44. "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

The body of Christ needs all the proclaiming gifts. The world is trying to discredit the Word of God. The gift of prophecy helps the Church stay on course.

Gift of Distinguishing of Spirits

Distinguishing of spirits (vs. 10) is the working of the Spirit to see that something is not right about an individual. Matthew 7:21-22. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Plainly Jesus tells us that others can prophecy and cast out demons, but they are false Christians. History has shown us that Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia, could work miracles and healing, but these were by the power of Satan.

The Gift of Tongues

Prophecy, Bible prophecy--foretelling the future--is for the believer. It shows us that God is in control, no matter how things may look in the present evil world. But the gift of tongues was and is a sign to the nonbeliever. Acts 2:1-11 is an example where tongues was used to call 3000 into the body of Christ the very day the Church was born, on the Day of Pentecost. On this day of Pentecost all nations and tongues were brought together to the Lord. At the tower of Babel the tongues were given to divide man. A modern day example of tongues which occurred in a service where the minister and his wife were attending, one lady got up in services and started speaking a message from the Lord in French. She didn't understand French. The minister's wife didn't understand French, but she got up and interpreted the message, just like in Acts 2. Others that knew French could tell that the giving and interpretation were correct.

Verse 12, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." i.e. None of us are the body of Christ by ourselves, we're only a part of the body of Christ. None of us can effectively live alone outside the body. We need to be part of the body. Verse 13, "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." Matthew 3:11. "I baptize you in water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." By the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we're baptized into the body. Physical baptism in water is only a physical outward sign symbolizing what the Holy Spirit has and is doing in a person. You can be baptized by the Holy Spirit without ever being baptized in water.

Comment: The minister (also the station manager for the local Christian radio station here) got a phone call from a young man who was all excited about the radio. When asked what Church he belonged to he said that the radio was his Church. How would Paul look at this? I Corinthians 12 shows us what Paul feels about the people who think that listening to a good Christian radio station fulfills their need for belonging to a Church. Those that think this are overlooking the Church/community-wide responsibility we Christians have to use the spiritual gifts and talents God gives us through His Holy Spirit for the common good (I Cor. 12:7). Is that what Queno did with his talents? Jesus in the parable of the talents shows us how he will look upon side-line, bench-warming Christians. Matthew 25:24-30. "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground [all our talents come from God, for it is God who designed and made us]. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Therefore you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.' 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

Naturally, Christian radio is beautiful for shut-ins and the elderly who can't get out and around to use their talents in such a way. Christian radio serves and nurtures these wonderful people, bolstering their walk with Jesus often times just before they pass on to him. And Christian radio can be a wonderful supplement to our normal spiritual diet. But the greatest growth and Christian character development for the rest of us comes when we serve others with the spiritual gifts and talents that God has bestowed on each of us. The gifts outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 are meant to be used collectively for the corporate good.

The Body has many different members, each to fulfill a function within the body. These parts are not designed to survive on their own. When we're alone on our own we don't, we can't experience all the spiritual gifts. i.e. The gift of discernment in one can warn other members in the body that a person or group isn't what they appear to be. All these gifts are given for the corporate good of the body of Christ, and the local congregations of the fellowships that make up that body. Verses 12-26, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many [back in Paul's day there was only one Church, the apostolic Church of God. Now there are many Christian fellowships which have the Holy Spirit. So this set of verses can apply to Christian fellowships as representing the various parts of the body of Christ, or it can apply to individual members of a congregation within a Christian fellowship, as it was originally written.]. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you! [but some fellowships say this toward other fellowships, now don't they?] And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Now Paul goes on to give the corporate structure of the Church showing how the gifts and ministries fit together to form one body [and in his day this one body was composed of one church]. Verses 27-30, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues [margin: other languages]? Do all interpret?" Do all possess the same gifts? No, some have teaching, some don't etc. That is what Paul is saying. Right in the middle of Paul's description of the spiritual gifts--the "spirituals"--Paul gives us 1 Corinthians 13, the best gift, which we all can have acting within us. Verse 31, "But eagerly desire the greater gifts." What greater gifts? That last statement leads us into 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul describes the "greater gifts."

1 Corinthians 13

True greatness, what is true greatness? Billy Graham, Charles Finney, D.L. Moody, George Mueller--they all did great things for the Lord. What about all the martyrs? Paul said previously that all the Corinthians had many spiritual gifts, but were very carnal. They all wanted the more dramatic gifts, almost like little kids, they wanted to show them off. But they didn't want these gifts for the right reasons. They liked to be noticed. They liked to appear spiritual and manifest these gifts (in front of others). What did Jesus say about the Pharisees liking to make public display of their praying and almsgiving, all for show, while their motives were evil inside. Paul didn't go so far as to say this to them, but the shoe certainly fit. Instead he went on to show them in a positive way what their motive ought to be, and how they could achieve the best gifts at the same time. Verses 1-3, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 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. 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."

What is the Greek word for love used here? It is Agape, [Strongs #26: Agape; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; from #25; agapao; to love (in a social or moral sense)...]. The other word used for love in the New Testament is Phileo, or brotherly love [Strongs 5368; to be a friend (fond of)[an individual or an object]i.e. to have affection for (denoting personal attachment, a matter of sentiment or feeling; while 25 [Agape] is wider, embracing espec. the judgment and the deliberate assent of will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety...the former [phileo] being chiefly of the heart and the latter [agapeo] of the head...]. A third word for love in the Greek is Eros, which is sexual love between husband and wife. It is not used or found once in the Bible. God didn't have to worry about telling people to have this kind of love. It was in abundance. But Godly love, Agape, only comes from one source. It is a spiritual gift from above, just as the other gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. Paul goes on to break this love down into it's constituent spiritual components or colors. Verse 4, "Love suffers long [Strongs #3114: makrothumeo; to be long-spirited, i.e. forbearing, patient:-bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.] and is kind [Strongs #5541: chresteuomai, from 5543, to show oneself useful, i.e. act benevolently:- be kind. #5543; chrestos; useful...good(ness), kindness.] Jesus said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" when they crucified him. Is that the reaction we would have had? I don't think so. But Jesus had agape love without measure. He set the example that we are to follow (1 Peter 2:20-21). When people get "righteous and Holy" they tend to get judgmental, not kind. How would you look upon a homeless person who walked in the door right now, in his dirty clothes, unwashed, smelly, and hungry? Most of us would have a judgmental reaction.

Love does not envy [Strongs #2206: zeloo; to have warmth of feeling for or against:-affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over...]; Envy is a selfish thing. It is not agape love.

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up [Strong #5448: phusioo, from 5449 in the prim. sense of blowing; to inflate, i.e. make proud:-puff up.]..." Knowledge without agape love puffs up.

Verse 5, "[love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own [is not selfish], is not provoked [Strongs #3947: paroxuno, to sharpen alongside, i.e. (fig.) to exasperate:-easily provoke, stir.], thinks no evil; God's agape love is not provoked, it can't be provoked. It is never rude to another individual, no matter what the circumstances. Are you ever rude? When the salesperson calls up on the phone at dinnertime are you kind to him or her? When in the check-out line or in traffic are you seeking your own advantage? Do you think evil of other's (who may deserve it)? Or do you think good things toward that person? What about the guy who cut you off in traffic? Ever think evil of him? Rudeness has no place in the kingdom of God. Apply this one in your daily life. Agape love is not self-seeking. Here's a good formula:

Jesus first
others second
self third Agape love is not selfish.

Not easily provoked. In the Greek, "easily" is not there. Love is not provoked, angered, ever.

Love thinks no evil of other people, no matter how much we think they may deserve it. It does not rejoice in evil (that happens to others that may deserve it).

Verse 6, "does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth;" Ever like hearing the juicy tid-bits about what someone else did, or how they got in trouble? Especially your enemy? God's agape love doesn't do that. A proverb warns us not to laugh when your enemy stumbles. God's love doesn't.

Verse 7, "[love] bears all things, believes all things [i.e. the best about people], hopes all things, endures all things." Can we do this?

God's Agape love always gives and never expects anything in return. Paul says that no matter how great a work we may work, it is nothing without agape love. Speaking in tongues is nothing without agape love--just making a noise, that's all. So when all is said and done in God's plan for mankind, what will be left? Verse 8, "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail, whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away..." That's Paul's answer. Verses 9-12, "For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 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. 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 am known." Love is permanent but all else will fail. There will be a time when there will be no need for prophecy, tongues, or any of the other gifts--but love will abide. Verse 13 shows that love itself includes faith and hope, that is why these three never fail. Hope is for the future, love is for today. Verse 13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

So Paul says speaking in tongues is nothing without agape love--it's just making a noise. The Church today needs to read chapters 12, 13 and 14 together. He's saying, you and I, both men and women, like to look spiritual, but without the agape love its' nothing at all. We want to clang our symbols and make a show but it's nothing without agape love, it's just making a noise--it's nothing at all. Sometimes a church can come together with a lot of fanfare and excitement but it's hollow without God's agape love. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you" Jesus said.

Knowledge without love merely puffs up, but love edifies. Having great Biblical knowledge puffs, and turns into a spiritual danger. People need to learn to have true compassion. You can love the ministry and hate people. I've seen this before. Paul says you may be used to move mountains, to teach all kinds of Bible knowledge--but without agape love it's nothing. We run the race for Eternal glory, but the secret in doing that is agape love, more than any manifestation gifts. That's what Paul is saying in verse 3. What's the main difference between other religions and Christianity? Agape love is the difference. Even our financial sacrifices without agape love profits us nothing.

God is going to use us if we abide in his love. What people around you need to see is your compassion. John 15:1-14. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [margin: cleans] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."

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