September 15th, 2024 - Just Love - Love With Gifts

Scripture Passages:  I Corinthians12:1-6, 27-31; 13:1-2; 14:1-5

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Just Love
Love and Gifts

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13 is between 12 and 14
Love taught in the context of gifts
 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

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Mute idols and speaking gifts
 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 

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Mouth speaks heart language
3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

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Unity in complexity
4 ... different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit .... 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but ... the same God at work. 

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Unity in hierarchy?
 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first ... second ... third ... different kinds of tongues. ... 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

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In that context...
... I will show you the most excellent way.

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Lower end gift package
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels,

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Mute Idol or Noisy Gong?
... but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

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Deluxe package
 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

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Farther to fall
...but do not have love, I am nothing.

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How to have healthy power
 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

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Our local twist:
1. Do we
eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
and buy into
5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,  ?

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2. Have we shied away from powerful gifts from God because we have seen them misused?

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Healthy spiritual gift use:
1. Awareness of power.
2. Awareness of source of love and gifts.
3. Assess character (love) above ability (gifts)