Summary:

Exercise your "love muscles" by choosing to love those against whom you wish to retaliate. This will enable you to become proficient in walking in love..

1. Love is the preeminent force. Nothing in your life will work until you cultivate God's love in you (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
   
   1. Although you may operate in the gifts of the Spirit and have mountain-moving faith, you are nothing without the love of God (verse 2).
   2. Sowing financial seed and performing good deeds mean nothing without love; God is always looking at your motives (verse 3).
   3. When you walk in the love of God, you are not easily provoked (verse 5).
   4. Love (charity) stands out far above faith and hope (verse 13).
      
      1. You must be rooted and grounded in love for your faith to work (Galatians 5:6).
      
      
      
2. Loving others is a commandment (John 13:34).
   
   1. Love must be perfected, or cultivated.
      
      1. You must stop indulging in things that do not fall into the love category (i.e., unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, carnality, etc.).
      2. Jesus wants you to be conformed to His image--love. As you develop in love, you will begin to look, act and think like Him.
   2. You cannot be rooted in selfishness and expect God's Word to work for you.
      
      
3. You must mature in love (Ephesians 4:11-24)
   
   1. A perfect man is a "mature man" (verse 13).
   2. When you mature in the love of God, you find yourself in the fullness of Christ.
   3. Maturing in God's love costs you something.
   4. Once you have matured in love, you are no longer a child that is easily deceived (verse 14).
   5. Christians must speak the truth in love (verse 15).
      
      1. Your speaking in love helps others to receive the truth.
      2. Let your life speak for you. In doing so, you build yourself up in love (verse 16).
   6. Perfected love causes you to live a holy life.
      
      
4. There is a difference between growth and development.
   
   1. There are areas of your love walk that must be developed.
   2. Growth requires no effort on your part; development requires effort, pressure and diligence.
      
      1. What you do is what you will become proficient in.
      2. Purpose not to develop in the wrong areas.
   3. Develop your love for God by "practicing" your love for others.
      
      
5. Many Christians are looking for an emotional high when they come to church.
   
   1. Don't mistake experiencing a "good feeling" in church for the Holy Spirit.
   2. A true experience with God involves the manifestation of His promises.
   3. The five-fold ministry gifts are not intended for entertainment, but to bring understanding of the Word to the body of Christ.
   4. Some Christians look for someone to justify their sins.
      
      1. First John 1:9 is often mistakenly used as a license to sin; however, this scripture is to be used to put an end to a sinful lifestyle.
6. You must train yourself in godliness to be spiritually fit (1 Timothy 4:7-8, AMP).
   
   1. The diligent pursuit of love will help you to avoid offense (Acts 24:16, AMP).
   2. Obey God; share love with those He instructs you to love.
   3. God knows what tests you must pass before you can graduate to the next level.
   4. Believe in the love of God, and it will work for you.
   5. Turning the other cheek is walking in love. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Scripture References:

• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Galatians 5:6
• John 13:14
• Ephesians 4:11-24
• 1 John 1:9
• 1 Timothy 4:7-8, AMP
• Acts 24:16, AMP

Pastor Robert Bagonza

Redeemed Church

www.mrolec.org