NOT LEFT ALONE!

                                                            NOT LEFT ALONE

            One of the biggest fears I had growing up was the fear of being left alone. My Mother and Father both worked in a hospital in India. Due to their work, they came home quite late each night. We children were left with our grandmother at home. I remember those evenings were quite long and frightful. I would stay awake, wondering whether my Mom and Dad would come back home. I would only fall off to sleep hearing their assuring voices upon their return.

            Children and grown-ups also have fears of being left alone or facing loneliness. Many have endured loneliness due to the Pandemic for the last two years. We have been isolated from our loved ones. Some affected by COVID-19 died in the hospital alone without being surrounded by loved ones. Students graduated high school and college alone without friends at home.  

            Church members have lost their fellowship with other church members. Several pastors have felt lonely as they were restricted from their usual way of ministering to the needs of congregation members. They preached to empty pews through a cellphone to imaginary crowds that were not there. Isolation and loneliness are the two biggest problems we face today.

            Here are some key findings on Loneliness in America. "American adults, 36% of respondents reported feeling lonely frequently, including 61% of young people aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children. Half of the lonely young adults surveyed said that no one in the past few weeks had "taken more than just a few minutes" to ask how they were doing to make them feel like the person "genuinely cared."[1] Loneliness is an awful reality, hard to face.

            Have you been lonely of late, or do you know someone feeling lonely? We are not meant to be alone; we are created for community. Yet we go through fears of being left alone or having to face life alone. When faced with loneliness, what hope do we have? John 14:15-31.

            Every kid who grew up in the Lutheran Church in our town in India memorized and recited the Apostles Creed during Sunday worship service. The Apostles Creed is not because the early Apostles wrote it, but it summarizes their teachings. It was developed somewhere between the second and ninth century AD. Christian faith rests on the teachings of the apostles.             Here is the Apostle's Creed. “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

            I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church (the universal Church), the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.[2] As a twelve-year-old kid, I recited it regularly without fully understanding it. Since becoming a follower of Christ, I have grown in my understanding and appreciation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is also called the doctrine of the Triune God.

            What Christian doctrines do we teach our kids these days? Many kids growing up in Christian homes know more about Santa Class and Easter Bunny than the Virgin birth, crucifixion, and the resurrection of Christ. Christians must know and believe the correct doctrines when there are so many false doctrines and conspiracy theories out there.

            We will get back to learning about the gifts of Tongues and Prophecy next week. Today I want to introduce you to the giver of all the ministry gifts, the third person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit. What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit only meant for Pentecostals or Baptists as well? The Holy Spirit is only for men? How about the women?

1. The Promised Holy Spirit is for all people regardless of gender, age and denomination.

            God promised to send the Holy Spirit into the world at an appointed time. Joel 2:27-28, Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.      In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike." This scripture refers to the days when God would pour His Spirit upon all people regardless of gender and age. He began that outpouring of His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts chapter two and has not stopped ever since. He will continue that outpouring until Jesus returns to the earth for the second time. Wilma and I have experienced this infilling of the Holy Spirit.

            You may ask, Pastor, has the Holy Spirit not come into my heart when I got saved? Do I have to be filled by the Holy Spirit again and again? Let's see how this infilling of the Holy Spirit worked out in the life of Jesus. We need to realize that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit from His birth. Remember the words of the Angel to Mary, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35.

            Yet something significant happened at age 30 when he was baptized in the River Jordan and anointed with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-23). From that point on, Jesus began His public ministry with powerful teaching and performing great miracles as the Holy Spirit enabled Him.

            Similarly, we Christians are only born again by the work of the Holy Spirit. In a sense, every truly born-again Christian has the Holy Spirit. Yet the appeal of Paul to be filled with the Spirit to the Ephesians and us remains the same. Ephesians 5:18, "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." There are over 63 scriptures in the Gospel of John that indicate Jesus was entirely dependent on God. How much more do you and I need to rely on God to navigate the challenges of this life.

II. The Nature and the Ministry of the Holy Spirit

            John chapter 14 begins with these words, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." What made the hearts of disciples troubled? It was the announcement of Jesus' departure, which came as a shock to the disciples. Upon hearing Jesus' initial call, they have left everything and followed Him. Jesus and His promises were their only security. Now even that was being threatened. It was a moment of uncertainty. A sense of abandonment and fear loomed large on the disciples' faces. In that frightening context, Jesus spoke these words.

            John 14:15-16 "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you." Vs. 16, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever." AMP

            Hasn't Jesus promised to be with his disciples until the end of the age? Now the time has come to keep that promise. He would ask the Father, and He will give them another helper to be with them and in them forever. Let us look at the nature of the Holy Spirit?

            John 14:26, But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you." AMP.

            John 16:13-16, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me."

            Throughout the scriptures, we see this working in concert among God the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God, the Father, honors the Son. Jesus obeys the Father, and the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. When we accept Jesus, all the three make their dwelling in our hearts.

III. Not Left Alone

            When Jesus was on earth, he did several things to take care of His disciples. He saved them, taught them about the Kingdom of God, corrected them, fed them, and protected them. Now Jesus was going away, who would carry out these crucial tasks, so they wondered.

            The disciples thought they were going to be left behind as orphans. Vs. 18, "I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you. Jesus fulfilled that promise by sending the Holy Spirit to help them navigate their lives.

            Similarly, God's children are not left as orphans in this world. We have the promised Holy Spirit to live with us, live in us, and help us in our spiritual journey. When the Holy Spirit is in us, we are never alone. How does the Holy Spirit help a believer? First, He helps us understand God's word as He is the one who inspired all of the scriptures. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

            Secondly, He helps us in our weaknesses by interceding for us before God (Romans 8:26). Thirdly, through his gifts of wisdom and understanding, he helps us make the right decisions. (Romans 12). Fourthly, He gives us other ministry gifts to serve one another and build up His Church. Fifthly, when we walk by the Spirit, He helps us to overcome sin (Gal 5:16)

            Six, He helps us overcome the decapitating fear of all sorts. (Ps 56:3,4, II Tim 1:7) Seven, the Holy Spirit affirms our status of being sons and daughters of God. (Romans 8:14). Eight, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a life that is pleasing unto God (Romans 8:11). Are you feeling lonely? Are you overwhelmed by the challenges of life? When you have no strength left in you, remember you have the mighty power of the Holy Spirit in you. Amen!  

 

 

 

 

             

           

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[1] https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america February 2021

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed#Lutheran_Church

The Ultimate Goal Of A Christian

                                             THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A CHRISTIAN

Introduction: If you ask people what is the Ultimate Goal in life? The answers vary depending on who you ask. A politician's highest goal might be to become the next president of the USA. For an actor, it could be to win an Oscar award and an athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

            Yet, for others, the ultimate goal in life may be to pursue the all-American dream. Jeffery Arthurs, a theologian, talking about the hollowness of the American dream, notes, "You work hard in high school so you can get into a dream college, then you study hard in college so you can get a dream job. You work overtime at your dream job so you can drive a dream car.

            And that helps you attract a dream spouse; you have a dream wedding, move into a dream house, and have 1.7 dream kids; then you save money to take a dream vacation to get away from the dream kids; then you plug away to build up a dream 401(k), so you can take a dream retirement. Then you die. And you have a dream funeral with a dream casket placed in a dream hole in the ground. Is there something better to pursue than the American Dream?[1] 

            What does the Bible say about our ultimate goal in life? In both letters to the Corinthian Church, the Apostle Paul endeavored to show the Corinthian Christians what he pursued in his life and encouraged them to do the same. As we have been journeying through I Corinthians 13^th, by now, you may have grasped why Love is the trademark of a Christian, understood Love as the essence of life, clarified what Love is and is not, what it does and does not do. 

            Throughout this discourse, we saw the Apostle Paul as an ardent student who learned the essentials of Christian Love and applied them in his life. As we come to the end of the chapter, he shows us when pursuing Love becomes our ultimate Goal; Immaturity gives way to Maturity and imperfection to perfection. The Ultimate Goal of a Christian. I Corinthians 13:8-13

I. Spiritual gifts become useless in the light of enduring Love. (8-10)

            Vs. 8-10, Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But Love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of Prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless."

            We will look into Prophecy and speak in tongues more in chapter fourteen. But for now, the Corinthian believers were boasting about exercising those gifts at the expense of practicing Love. So, Paul rebuked them, saying you may have all these gifts, but you are nothing if you have no love. Unlike some popular understanding, I believe these gifts of Prophecy and speaking in tongues did not cease but are still meant to be in operation in the Church.

            However, as this scripture suggests, they become useless when the time of perfection comes. In other words, we may not need them in the future as much as we need them now. However valuable and necessary those gifts may be, they are to be exercised by Love.

             What did Paul mean by "when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless"? The context suggests that Paul refers to the Second Coming of Christ as the final event in God's plan of redemption and revelation. Compared to what we will receive then, the present blessings are only partial and thus imperfect, including our knowledge of Him.

            We try to explain God's ways poorly with our limited knowledge, but when Christ returns, we will know God fully. According to Jeremiah, on that day, God would say to his people, "I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," Jeremiah 31:34. We only get to know God deeply by loving Him intimately and remaining in His Love continually.

II. Immaturity gives way to Maturity as we grow in Love. (11-12)

            Vs. 11-12, "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."

            Paul used two metaphors of a child and a mirror in these two verses. What was this putting away childish things all about? Was he referring to their chronological age or urging them to grow up? It wasn't about the physical progression of a child becoming an adult.

            He was referring to their spiritual growth. Though chronologically grown up, they were acting like spiritual infants. Here is Paul's assessment of the Corinthian believer's Maturity. I Corinthians 3:1-3, "Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you, I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger." Paul expected some emotional and spiritual maturity in them.

            At times we see people in their 40's, 50's, 70's acting like infants and children. Some of our congressional leaders behave that way, and we even see that kind of behavior in churches. Like the Corinthian believers, some attend Church and sit through the teachings, yet remain infants in Christ. Is it possible to become physically mature yet remain spiritually immature?

            We have found some answers in our Emotionally Healthy Spirituality class. I want to share four different stages of spiritual growth that we all go through. How do we recognize our phase of development? Here are some pointers that might help us identify. I. Emotional Infants: They look for others to take care of them. Have great difficulty entering into the world of others. They are driven by instant gratification and use others as objects to meet their needs.

            II. Emotional Children: They are content and happy as long as they receive what they want. They unravel quickly from stress, disappointment, and trials. They interpret disagreements as personal offenses and are easily hurt. They complain, withdraw, manipulate, take revenge, become sarcastic when they don't get their way. They have great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way. Do you know some emotional children?

            III. Emotional Adolescents:  They tend to be often defensive are threatened and alarmed by criticism. They keep score of what they give to ask for something later in return. They deal with conflicts poorly, often blaming, pouting, going to a third party, or ignoring the issue entirely. They become preoccupied with themselves have great difficulty listening to another person's pain, disappointments, or needs. They are often critical and judgmental.

            IV. Emotional Adults: They can ask for what they need, want, or prefer—clearly, directly, and honestly. They recognize, manage, and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings. Under stress, they can state their beliefs and values without becoming adversarial.

            They respect others without having to change them. They give freedom to people to make mistakes and not be perfect. Appreciate people for who they are—the good, bad, and ugly not for what they give back. They are deeply in tune with their own emotional world and can enter into the feelings, needs, and concerns of others without losing themselves. They can resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspective of others.

            After listening to these four phases of emotional and spiritual development, where do you see yourself? We all want to be emotionally spiritually matured adults, but that doesn't happen automatically. None of us were born as mature adults into the family of God. We all started our journey as spiritual babies. Our goal is to grow into emotionally mature adults. God is committed to building His teachings precept by precept in us to become emotionally and spiritually mature.

            How long will God continue this work of equipping? As Paul says, in Ephesians 4:13-15, "This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the complete standard of Christ.

            Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in Love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the Church."

            As a shepherd of Hope Church, I see that as my role in a small way. The great shepherd, our Lord Jesus, is working in all of us so that we will become more like Him when He returns. 

III. Our ultimate goal in life is to pursue love (13)

            After explaining at length various aspects of Love and its implications on the body of Christ, Paul makes a bold declaration saying, Vs.13, "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." When everything else fails, our faith, and hope in God, and Love for Him will remain. The greatest of these is Love.

            God's Love was the premise of Chapter 13. Paul wanted the Corinthians to grow up and become people of God's Love. So, he laid the foundation in Chapter 12: 31, "But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. He concluded with a challenge in Chapter 14:1, Let Love be your highest goal! Can this be our ultimate goal in life as well?

              I enjoyed learning together about this crucial chapter of Love. Now it is time to put into practice what we have learned. I am already seeing this teaching bearing fruit at Hope Church. Let's grow to be a community of people who love God Love themselves and others well. We love each other because He loved us first. So, let us bask in our heavenly father's deep Love. As we live in God, our Love grows more perfect. Amen!

           

 

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[1]   Jeffrey D. Arthurs, “Preaching as Reminding.” Page 81

FOUR THINGS THAT LOVE DOES

                                                     4 THINGS THAT LOVE DOES

Introduction: We are supposed to be in the season of Love, with Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow. I wanted to find out what is considered the best Valentine's Day gift, so I Googled. In 1.01 seconds, around 227,000,000 (millions) web pages lined up. Most of them will try to sell me what I must buy to make my wife happy and feel loved.

            It still doesn't answer what makes the best Valentine's Day gift for someone we love? Then I typed what the most popular gift is? I found out as cliché, as it might be, the heart-shaped box of chocolates is still one of the most popular Valentine's gifts, and nearly 48% of consumers say chocolate is one of the top gifts they present to their sweetheart."[1]

            My quest to find out the best Valentine's Day gift led me to pricy, material things. Is giving material gifts the only way we show Love? How else can we express Love? Today we will look at Four Things That Love Does. I believe these four are the best gifts you can give to someone you currently love or may enter into a love relationship with in the future.

            After laying a standard of true Love that does not demand its own way, is not easily angered, doesn't keep a record of wrongs, and doesn't rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out; the apostle Paul goes on to unfold Four Things That Love Does.

I. LOVE NEVER GIVES UP (Always Protects NIV, It keeps every confidence NASB)

            At the start of this chapter, Paul humbly puts himself as a student who needs to learn true Love. He shows us how a follower of Christ should imitate the Love of Christ in a society that is devoid of true Love. What does it mean that Love never gives up or always protects? In Greek, the word means "roof over, or to cover with silence." It means what you share in private remains intact with the person who truly loves you. You can be safe around them.

            God invites us to come to Him and confess our sins to Him. Nothing will surprise Him as He knows them anyway. Coming to God may not always feel comfortable, but you can be safe around Him. When we confess our sins, he forgives our sins but lets us face the consequences.

            The sowing and reaping principle works with sin. All sin, big or small, has consequences. Out of God's Love, He forgives all our sins, but we still face the consequence of physical death, but the free gift of salvation is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23).

             How does this all-covering Love operate in our daily lives? Peter experienced this kind of God's love firsthand, so he advised his listeners to do the same. I Peter 4:8, "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."

            True Love covers all things; however, if someone tells you that they have killed someone or are thinking of killing themselves or others. What would you do? If you cover it up, you become complicit with a criminal, or you would let a person or innocent persons die. The most loving thing we can do is inform the concerned authorities to take appropriate actions.

II LOVE NEVER LOSES FAITH (Always trusts NIV, Love believes all things NASB)

            True Love exists and thrives in a trusting environment. Once trust is broken, it is hard to love that person. It is not that it can never be regained. It takes a long time to trust them again. We see this loving relationship between a mother and a nursing child and a husband and wife. When a child can know and trust their mother, they will grow in confidence and security.

            There is Love when there is trust in a marriage, and that marriage thrives. God uses two metaphors of a mother and a husband to express his Love towards his people. Isaiah 66:12-13 "This is what the Lord says: "I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child."

              Several scriptures portray God as a husband to his people. Isaiah 54:5, "For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven's Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. In Ephesians 5:1, Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do because you are his dear children. "How are we imitating God's Love?

            On the eve of Valentine's Day, husbands, how do you love your wives? Do you love them as Christ has loved the Church? (Eph 5:25). Christ loves his bride the Church and entrusts her with His mission despite her faults. We live in a time where there is so much distrust.

            We don't trust the government and the Church. For that matter, we don't trust anyone. We often assume the worst of people. True Love trusts all people until they are proven wrong. What did Ronald Regan say, "Trust, but verify."? Did you know that is a Russian Proverb?[2]

            True Love believes all things, and this doesn't mean conspiracy theories. It means believing the best in each person. When it comes to conspiracies and other heresies, we must test them against God's truth and believe them only if they follow the Scriptures. The followers of Christ must flat-out reject and stop spreading them because it is not the loving thing to do.

III. LOVE IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL (remaining steadfast during difficult times) AMP

            If there is one word most often used by people and the very thing the world desperately needs and wants, what would that be? I would say hope! Without hope, there is no meaning and purpose to life. People who lose all hope often end up committing suicide. What is Hope?

            It is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular (good) thing to happen. The word hope in Hebrew (Tikvah) is more concrete. It implies expectation, which also means cord or rope, which comes from a root word that binds. When someone is drowning in a river, they need a rope to be pulled to safety. That is what hope does to a person drowning in life's challenges.

            Hold on to these hopeful scriptural promises amid difficult times. Hebrews 6:19, "This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. "David knew who to turn to and put his hope on in times of distress.

            Psalm 62:5-6, "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." In difficult times we turn to God and find hope in Him. At times he allows difficulties on our way to strengthen our hope.

            Romans 5:3-5, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his Love." True Love is always hopeful.

            When we say we love God, we don't quickly lose hope when things get tough to handle. That is when we hold on to God, the anchor of our lives. When we say we love someone, especially in close family relationships and friendships, we stick with them, pray and support them when they go through hard times.  

            I see beautiful examples among us where families, marriages, and individuals hold on to God and one another despite difficulties and troubling situations. A minister friend of mine took care of his wife, who suffered from MS for 25 years, keeping his marital vows until death separated them. What does this Love is always hopeful mean for your situation?

            You may be going through a situation beyond your control, and you feel like giving up. I encourage you to hold on to the rope of hope that will get you through. When you are depressed, preach to yourself as David did. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!" Psalm 42: 11

IV. LOVE ENDURES THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE

            Here is an incredible story of endurance. Colby Stevenson from Park City, Utah, overcame traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation after a near-career-ending car crash in 2016. The gifted skier suffered multiple skull fractures in the crash, and doctors had little hope for a full recovery, let alone freestyle skiing on a professional level. Stevenson endured vertigo and memory problems but showed the will to power through the ordeal.

            He won a gold medal in X games in 2020 and a silver medal in the big air men's free skiing final at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. He said, "your character is really defined in those tougher times in your life. Even though maybe you're dealt bad cards, it's how you're going to look at that in a positive light and move forward and push toward your dreams. Even though they seem so far out of reach, you just stay true to what you love."[3]

            This is an excellent story of Love that endures through every circumstance. Whatever difficult circumstance you may be going through, don't give up. Put your hope in God. Love God with all your heart, as He commanded us to do so. I close with this prayer. "I pay that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13. Amen!

 

 

                       

           

           

 

 

           

             

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[1] https://www.bobbooks.co.uk/blog-post/10-of-the-most-popular-valentine-s-day-gifts

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/08/colby-stevenson-wins-silver-medal-mens-freeski-big-air/6707233001/[3]

FOUR THINGS LOVE DOES NOT DO

                                                  FOUR THINGS LOVE DOES NOT DO

Introduction: In our Interfaith clergy meetings, we allotted five minutes for each clergy to do their check-ins, where we share how we are personally doing and our congregations. I shared a few aspects of Love being patient and kind. It is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. I said we have to put our name in place of Love, and that would lead us to self-evaluation.

            A Catholic priest resonated with that as he too preached on Love this past Sunday. He noted how our society needs loving people who are patient, kind, and not rude to others. Can you imagine a world without rudeness, where everyone is patient and kind with one another? Would that be possible? That was what Paul might have envisioned in his first letter to the Corinthians.

            We have been working through this all-time great chapter on Love for several weeks. By the end of our study, I hope we will become more loving people. Today we will look at Four Things Love Does Not Do. Let's hear from a contemporary version—the Message.

            I Cor 13:1-6. "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.

            So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without Love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first, doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth."

I. Love does not demand its own way.

            In NIV, it reads, "it is not self-seeking." In ESV, "It doesn't insist on its own way."

            Have you been in a business meeting where one person insists on having their way, refuses to listen to other points of view, and says, "it is my way or the High Way, I am out of here?" Unfortunately, this insisting on having their way for selfish reasons happens everywhere, at home, in marriages, among friends, and even in the family of God, the Church.

            The Corinthian Church was fighting and arguing over seemingly trivial matters. To address this problem of insistence, Paul said, "Love doesn't demand or insist its own way? Does it mean that we should never insist on a particular way or take a firm stand? It is never a loving thing when Christians fight, argue, or quarrel to prove a point; instead, of living together in unity.

            Paul didn't mean; Love never insists on a particular way. In some incidents, Paul insisted on God's way, and other times he did not demand his own way. For instance, Paul took a firm stand on the truth and publicly rebuked Peter. In the earlier days of God's outpouring on Gentiles, Peter was eating freely and openly with the Gentile believers in Antioch.

            But when some friends of James came, he stopped eating with Gentiles, fearing criticism. As a result, Peter's hypocrisy led Barnabas and other Jewish believers astray. Seeing how Peter and others were not following the truth of the gospel Message, Paul confronted them by insisting that "a person is only made right with God by their faith in Christ not by following the ceremonial aspects of the law. (Gal 2:11-16). Here Paul was adamant and insistent.

            There was another occasion about eating meat offered to the idols. For the sake of certain weak believers, Paul did not demand his own way. Instead, he was willing to give up his right to eat meat altogether. (I Cor 8,9). Paul was never insistent on his own rights when it came to sharing the truth of the Gospel. He tried to find common ground.

            At times, Love must insist on a particular way; at other times, must not insist on its own way." But we must always keep in mind that my firm stand on a specific matter enhances God’s Kingdom or my selfish agenda?

II. Love does not easily get angry

            Handling anger is an important life skill. Christian counselors report that 50 percent of people who come in for counseling have problems dealing with anger. Anger can shatter communication and tear apart relationships, and it ruins both the joy and health of many. Sadly, people tend to justify their anger instead of accepting responsibility for it.

            Everyone struggles, to varying degrees, with anger. Thankfully, God's Word contains principles regarding handling anger in a godly way and overcoming sinful anger. The Apostle Paul did not say Love never gets angry. He said, "Love does not quickly get angry. In other words, love is not quick-tempered or doesn’t fly off the handle. If love is not easily angered, then a person with a "short fuse," who becomes angry quickly, is not showing Love.

            Anger itself is not sinful but can quickly lead to sinful expressions. For this reason, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Ephesians 4:26). There are times when we become angry, yet we are called to express our anger in non-sinful, constructive ways. Love will guide us in the proper handling of anger.

            Being hot-tempered usually involves making snap judgments, seeking to pay back, and refusing a second chance. However, true Love refuses to jump to quick conclusions, take revenge, or hastily judge anyone. Think about how God has been patient with us and given us many opportunities to return to him and get things right. How do you deal with your hot temper?

            Follow what the Scripture says instead of rashly saying that you will never be angry. "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." (James 1:19) Psalm 86:15, "But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. "May the Lord fill us with His unfailing love and make us more patient and kinder so that we can control our anger. 

III. Love does not keep records of wrongs (doesn't keep score of the sins of others)

            Don't be a scorekeeper of other people's wrongs. That is not loving. But how often do we keep score of other's mistakes? In a conflict situation, we quickly say, "you always do this or that." Really? How often was an offense committed at you? Twice, or thrice, but not always?

            The News Media is brutal when it comes to keeping the records of the wrongs, mainly of politicians. They vilify them by saying how many thousands of lies they have told. That is not very loving. Is there anyone who has never done a wrong thing here? How about if only God kept a record of all the bad things we have ever done and publicized it to the world?

            That would become a New York Times Bestseller. But because of His abundant love for us, He erases all our sins and remembers them no more each time we confess them to Him. Consider these scriptures: Psalm 130: 3-4, "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you."

            Because God is gracious, He doesn't punish us according to our sins. Psalm 103:10-12, "He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."

            God is like a loving father to us, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. If God doesn't keep a record of our sins and treat us as our sins deserve, what business do we have to keep score of the sins of others? True Love doesn't keep records of the wrongs of others.

            Remember how God has been merciful to you when you are tempted to pull out the list of all the wrong things that your friend or spouse committed against you. Peter thought he was brilliant when he asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.” Matt18:21-22

IV. Love does not rejoice about Injustice but rejoices with the truth.

             When the apostle Paul wrote these words, he may have addressed the elders condoning the behavior of a man living in sin with his stepmother. (ch 5). Instead of removing that man from the fellowship by showing him the truth, they tolerated that evil and even boasted about it.

            On the other hand, God, who is Love, will not rejoice with evil, let alone tolerate it. Instead, He wants to purge it from the lives of His beloved children and the Church. Similarly, He wants His Children of Love to do the same wherever they see evil lifting its ugly head.

             As children of God, when we tolerate evil or Injustice in the Church or anywhere, it is equivalent to rejoicing over it. Proverbs 4:13-15, “Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.”

            What happens when you let that kind of evil continue in a congregation like the Corinthian Church? Like a bit of yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough, that evil can corrupt the entire Church. Therefore, instead of rejoicing with sin, we must tackle it by holding up the truth of God’s word. In other words, we must speak up when we see Injustice.

            In the Inter-Faith Clergy Martin Luther King’s Day celebration, we read Dr. King's letter from the Birmingham Jail. Here is a quote: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."[1] We are interconnected with one another.

            Our acts of Love or lack thereof affect all of us. Let us live out the true Love of God in our Church and community. Love does not demand its own way, not easily get angry. It does not keep records of wrongs. Love does not rejoice about Injustice but rejoices with the truth. Amen!

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[1] https://mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org/justice