Happy Valentine’s Day! True Love is . . .

 

A Description of True Love: 

I Corinthians 13:4-8a -”Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8  Charity never faileth.”
For a more detailed study of each description click on the highlighted text:
1. Love is longsuffering – It bears injuries or provocation for a long time; it is patient, not easily provoked – Is there someone you need to continue to be patient with in a loving way?
2. Love is kind – Disposed to do good to others – Is there someone you can show kindness to this week in a loving way?
3. Love does not envy – It desires not to deprive others of what is rightfully theirs, it does not wish that they did not have it or had it to a lesser degree. – Is there someone or something you are envying that is keeping you from being loving?
4. Love is not proud – Is there something that you are proud about that is keeping you from loving God and others?
5. Love is not unseemly – it is not unfit, unbecoming, or indecent. Do you have unloving behavior in your life for which you should receive correction from the Lord, so you can be a more loving person?
6. Love seeketh not her own – Love is not selfish! Are there some selfish thoughts and motives in your heart that are keeping you from loving others?
7. Love is not easily provoked – Is not quick-tempered, touchy, irritable. Have you been irritable with someone today? If so the loving thing to do is to make it right by asking forgiveness.
8. Love thinketh no evil – It does not keep a ledger of the wrongs – it does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received. Do you have a list of someone’s wrongs stored up that you just won’t forgive? If so, do the loving thing and give it to God.
9. Love does not rejoice in iniquity – Love finds no pleasure in the sin of others that brings hardship and judgment into their lives. If you are rejoicing over the downfall of others, repent and pray for God’s mercy to be upon them.
10. Love rejoices in the truth – What truth have you rejoiced in today? Can you think of something true, that you can rejoice about in a loving way with others?
11. Love bears all things – It enduringly protects and covers the beloved in all things. What ever the hardship, difficulty, attack, and trial, the loving person is there to help, not only to back you up but also to be a shield. Are you being a protecting shield in your love for others?
12. Love believeth all things – love is completely trusting, it is not suspicious. Have you failed to give someone the benefit of the doubt lately? The loving thing is to check it out!
13. Love hopeth all things – It does not despair, it keeps on hoping for the best in regard for all men. Love refuses to take failure as final it does not give up on someone. Have you been tempted to give up on someone for whom you care deeply? Love keeps caring!
14. Love endureth all things – Love sustains the assaults of suffering or persecution, in the sense of bearing up under them, and enduring them patiently. Is your love for someone being tested? Let God help you to love them for the long hall.
Conclusion:  Love Never Fails

A Valentine’s Day Message on Love

Title:  Love  (26 minutes)
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Download: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/119826336
Playback: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/119826336/play
Have a great week thinking about love,  Mark

A Definition of Love for the Whole Year -- not just this Valentine's Day

This is the passage i turn to when i am not being loving: 


I Corinthians 13:4-8a -”Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8  Charity never faileth.”

For a more detailed study of each description click on the highlighted text:

1. Love is longsuffering – It bears injuries or provocation for a long time; it is patient, not easily provoked – Is there someone you need to continue to be patient with in a loving way?

2. Love is kind – Disposed to do good to others – Is there someone you can show kindness to this week in a loving way?

3. Love does not envy – It desires not to deprive others of what is rightfully theirs, it does not wish that they did not have it or had it to a lesser degree. – Is there someone or something you are envying that is keeping you from being loving?

4. Love is not proud – Is there something that you are proud about that is keeping you from loving God and others?

5. Love is not unseemly – it is not unfit, unbecoming, or indecent. Do you have unloving behavior in your life for which you should receive correction from the Lord, so you can be a more loving person?

6. Love seeketh not her own – Love is not selfish! Are there some selfish thoughts and motives in your heart that are keeping you from loving others?

7. Love is not easily provoked – Is not quick-tempered, touchy, irritable. Have you been irritable with someone today? If so the loving thing to do is to make it right by asking forgiveness.

8. Love thinketh no evil – It does not keep a ledger of the wrongs – it does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received. Do you have a list of someone’s wrongs stored up that you just won’t forgive? If so, do the loving thing and give it to God.

9. Love does not rejoice in iniquity – Love finds no pleasure in the sin of others that brings hardship and judgment into their lives. If you are rejoicing over the downfall of others, repent and pray for God’s mercy to be upon them.
10. Love rejoices in the truth – What truth have you rejoiced in today? Can you think of something true, that you can rejoice about in a loving way with others?

11. Love bears all things – It enduringly protects and covers the beloved in all things. What ever the hardship, difficulty, attack, and trial, the loving person is there to help, not only to back you up but also to be a shield. Are you being a protecting shield in your love for others?

12. Love believeth all things – love is completely trusting, it is not suspicious. Have you failed to give someone the benefit of the doubt lately? The loving thing is to check it out!

13. Love hopeth all things – It does not despair, it keeps on hoping for the best in regard for all men. Love refuses to take failure as final it does not give up on someone. Have you been tempted to give up on someone for whom you care deeply? Love keeps caring!

14. Love endureth all things – Love sustains the assaults of suffering or persecution, in the sense of bearing up under them, and enduring them patiently. Is your love for someone being tested? Let God help you to love them for the long hall.

Conclusion:  Love Never Fails

Time to move on! But where?

Last Wednesday night I felt the peace of God in an unusual way. While the vote of confidence ballot was being counted I asked the 30 members in attendance and a few visitors to turn to the hymn, "It is Well with my Soul" and we sang all 4 verses. As we continued to wait for the 4 deacons to return with the result, I asked if anyone would like to share a verse of scripture that would be edifying. About 6-7 people read or quoted comforting, encouraging, and challenging passages. During this time the deacons returned and all sat down and finally a deacon looked at the other deacons and got up and whispered in my ear, "15 to 15! It is your call Pastor" Earlier in the week I had had a premonition that it would be a split vote. When I heard that it was indeed, I felt the sovereign love of God for me and God's love in my heart for those who voted for me to continue as pastor and for those who cast a no confidence vote. For the first time in my life I experienced, in a great way for me and in a small way in comparison to my Lord, how He must have felt when He said on the cross, "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do." As moderator I could have cast a vote in my favor to have a majority but knew that God wanted me to abstain from voting and read my prewritten resignation letter:

Resignation Letter of Pastor Mark Worden

August 18, 2010

Having not received a sufficient percentage for a vote of confidence as indicated by the constitution or my own conscience before God, I submit notice of my resignation as Pastor of FBC. I will gladly serve the church for another month or mutually agreeable date. I desire to work toward a peaceful and fruitful transition to the glory of God. My thoughts and emotions are mixed. First, I want to thank the Lord for his grace and help these past (nearly) 6 years. Second, I thank the congregation for the privilege of being your pastor, for the fellowship and friendship which we have enjoyed, and for the lessons of life and ministry that we have experienced together. Tammie and I will be praying for God’s blessing upon each of you and the congregation as a whole in the days to come. Romans 8:28 should bring hope, direction, and comfort to all of us at this time: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” We ask for your prayers during this transition time and for God’s future leading in our lives to fruitful ministry in the place of His calling, wherever it may be.

Sincerely in Christ,

Mark R. Worden

Now we are looking to the Lord for His direction, comfort, and wisdom and ask for your prayers.

If you get a chance listen to the message preached the Sunday before the vote of confidence: Good from Bad
http://sermon.net/download.php?c=18884-count_audio_download-2475187

God's Sovereignty