Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

October 6, 2002

 

*Intro:  *

*Read Revelation 2:1-5*

Ø *There is a matter in ministry that is commonly and easily missed.*

*A-  **It starts with the desire for perfection to the Lord in our service to Him.*

1-   We’ll pray for the power of the Holy Spirit.

2-   Determine the gifting that we are blessed with.

3-   We’ll be obedient to His call in our lives.

a-   We then seek to do ministry excellently, BUT, sometimes at great personal expense.

-         We can end up with this awesome monument (the ministry) but one strewn with bodies along the way.

*b-  **It is so easy to use people as stepping-stones to achieve success.*

-         A ministry built in this manner is really a failure in God’s sight.

·        The ends NEVER justify the means.

·        The means are everything.

-         It’s not that we minister It’s HOW we minister that matters.

·        Jesus ministry was very hands on and fruitful to those He ministered to and with.

*Read Ephesians 4:11-16*

*B-  **We are not to be mechanics but Healers.*

1-   Are people able to come to you to be healed or do you attempt to FIX them.

a-   *Chuck Smith:* Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken.

-         All people, as well as situations, are not the same.

·        We need to bend with the needs of those whom God brings to us.

*PEOPLE* = Are the target

*MINISTR*Y = Is the means of hitting the target.

*Read Revelation 2:1-5*

*Read Hebrews 6:9-12*

*Read Matthew 18:11-14*

 

2-   Pastor’s Conf.

In Vista

a-   The shooting

-         The Police VS the Paramedics

*1 Corinthians 12:31*,  But earnestly desire the best gifts.

And yet I show you a more excellent way.

A-  *BETTER TRANSLATED:* *,* But “you” earnestly desire the best gifts.

1-   *You =* The Church at Corinth covet (always a negative term) the gifts that exalt you.

2-   *PAUL SAYS:* “I will show you a superior manner of thinking.”

a-   These people’s mindset was to covet the better gifts to draw attention to themselves at the expense of ministry and the people.

-         *To draw attention to myself 2 things will happen.*

·        I will need to raise myself above all others and the ministry itself (improper purpose of the gifts).

·        I will need to lower others (improper usage of the gifts.)

3-   Paul closes Chapter 12 telling us “I will show you a more superior way of thinking concerning the purpose and usage of the gifting of the Holy Spirit.”

Ø *(We’ll put the cart before the horse) The proper usage of the gifts causes the love of God for His people to be magnified.*

*Turn to Galatians 5:22-26*

A-  *Fruit of the Spirit* = The proof of the nature of someone with the Holy Spirit.

*1-   **The word fruit = singular = love*

a-   Notice how Galatians meshes with 1 Corinthians.

- Joy           VS              Thinks no evil

- Peace      VS              Not provoked

- Longsuffering   VS              Suffers long

- Kindness                    VS              Kind

- Goodness         VS              Not rude

- Faithfulness     VS              Bears all things

- Gentleness       VS              Not puffed up

- Self-control       VS              Does not parade

·        *In Chapter 12* we studied the mechanics of the gifts (working of)

·        *In Chapter 13* we’ll see the proper application.

*1 Corinthians 13:1*, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

A-  *Love* = agape a sacrificial love

1-   The gifts are to operate in love unconditionally.

*Jeremiah 31:3*,  The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

*John 3:16*,  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

*B-  **NOTICE how Paul speaks in the 1st person using himself as an example.*

1-   *Tongues of men:* A known language not known to the speaker.

2-   *Tongues of angles*: A personal prayer language.

a-   “Since not everyone speaks in tongues (12:28b) I could easily use tongues to place myself in a place of Spiritual superiority.”

-         And cause them to feel Spiritually inferior.

·        The purpose of tongues would not be achieved.

*1 Corinthians 13:1*,  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

A-  sounding brass or a clanging cymbal = Idol worship = Car alarm.

*1-   **To exorcise tongues properly in love is to *

a-   *In the tongues of men:* glorify God for the purpose of the edification of the body.

b-   *In the tongues of angles:* A deeper time of prayer for a bro or sis.

*1 Corinthians 13:2*,   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.

Ø *The gift of prophecy: to proclaim God’s truth to people so that they will knows and understand it.*

*A-  **The biblical example of the improper use of prophecy is PERSOANL GAIN”.*

Balaam *Numbers 22*

Caiaphas , *John 18:14, *Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

1-   Then the prophet who ministers in love.

*Jeremiah 9:1, *Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!

*Acts 20:19* “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

a-   To prophesy in love is to have a burning desire for people to know God’s truth.

Ø *Mysteries and Knowledge*

A-  *Mysteries :* The secrets of God once hidden and now revealed.

1-   *Knowledge:* Insight into deeper meaning of scripture.

a-   To be blessed with an understanding of God’s word.

-         The Guy at the church before CCCV

b-   With the absents of love the Word of God is not used for it’s intended purpose.

*Matthew 23:15*,  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Ø *Faith*

*A-  **Not salvation but a faith of what God is able to do through a people.*

*Matthew 17:20*,  So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

1-   If you are able to do all these things BUT do not do them in love you are nothing.

(no one)

a-   Remember their motive they wanted to be someone.

*1 Corinthians 13:3,  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.*

*A-  **Paul then takes it to an extreme*

1-   All substance

2-   Even you life