Love

Love Never Fails

Sunday February 25, 2024 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Introduction: It's A Miracle!

Scripture: 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 Corinthians 13:1-3).

1. Personal testimony: Health scare leading to reflection on life's purpose and God's call.
2. Highlighting the importance of love in every aspect of life.

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.

Speak in Love

1. Illustration: Personal experience of inability to walk and losing speech due to a mini-stroke.
2. Scripture: Psalms 45:1
3. Emphasize the power of words spoken in love.
4. Create a symphony of loving sounds in our interactions.

2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge

God's Gift of Love

1. Reference to Pentecost and the gift of tongues.
2. Scripture: Acts 2:1-4
3. Connection to Pentecost: God gives a new tongue grounded in love.
4. Speak with love, echoing 1 Corinthians 13.
5. Connection between the new tongue given by God and speaking in love.
6. Importance of operating in God's love through His gifts.

2b. and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Faith and Love

1. Illustration: Experience of child-like faith during a health crisis.
2. Scripture: John 17:5
3. Faith without love is empty.
4. Testimony from Delhi hospital: Child-like faith and experiencing God's glory.
5. Reference: John 17:5 - Glorifying God even in our weaknesses.
6. Faith working through love brings true spiritual significance.
7. Faith without love is empty; faith and love go hand in hand.
8. Manifest God's glory through our lives.

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.

Service and Sacrifice in Love

1. Service without love is meaningless.
2. Personal journey of learning to walk three times, paralleled with learning to walk in love.
3. Pause in plans for a project: God's call to increase love for one another.
4. Reference: John 13:35 - Love as the identifying mark of discipleship.
5. Encouragement to wait upon the Lord, drawing strength from His unfailing love.

Conclusion:

1. Love is the foundation of discipleship and fulfilling the Great Commission.
2. Reminder of the Great Commandment preceding the Great Commission.
3. Encouragement to live a life grounded in love, knowing that God's love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8 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. 9 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....13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.