Sermon 1664A - Sixteen Classes of Love in First Corinthians, Chapter Thirteen - 2nd Message…..(Fri day 4/24/98)

SIXTEEN CLASSES OF LOVE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER THIRTEEN -- 2ND MESSAGE.....(FRI DAY 4/24/98)

(Employee Seminar) The first three verses of First Corinthians, chapter thirteen, clearly establish the need to lay hold of love by stature rather than by gift. Although we speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, if we have not love, we are as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal (verse one). Although we have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, although we have all knowledge and have faith to remove mountains, if we have not love, we are nothing (verse two). Although we bestow our goods to feed the poor and even give our body to be burned as a living sacrifice, if we have not love, it profiteth us nothing (verse three). Verse four begins to reveal the nature of love.

The love described in this chapter fits with the Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Prudent Choice of the LORD’s Tetragrammaton. The first class of love is longsuffering love, which is revealed through the Wisdom of the LORD’s Name. Longsuffering, very basically, means a long bough, a long branch, a long vine that keeps on growing. The Longsuffering Love of Jesus Christ is a Living, Fruitful Bough that extends itself in our hearts and lives.