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PERFECTING LOVE

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Qualification for High Calling

• Not doctrine

• Character development

• Love – for the truth, brethren, God and Lord Jesus

We have come here

• We LOVE the truth

• We LOVE the brethren

• We LOVE to be together

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1 John 3:14

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

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1 John 4:8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

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1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

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God wants us to develop LOVE

• We must know how to love

• We must teach others to love

• Perfect intent and perfect love are to be developed in us

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Ps 40:8

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

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Eph 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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1 Cor 13:2

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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

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1 Tim 1:5

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

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1 Cor 13:4-8

4 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;

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1 Cor 13:4-8

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...

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1 Cor 13:4

• Charity (Greek; agape, love) suffereth long (is patient)

• Patience is necessary for character development

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Heb 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

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Our Heavenly Father is so patient

• How long have Satan and his followers rebelled?

• Spoken evil of God?

• God has given them blessings beyond measure

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James 1:4

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

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Heb 12:3

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

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1 Cor 13:4

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

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Luke 6:35

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

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Eph 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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1 Cor 13:4

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

• Does not envy others

• Conduct of Abraham

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Prov 11:25

The generous man will be prosperous,

And he who waters will himself be watered.

ASV

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1 Cor 13:4

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

• Every good gift is from God

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1 Cor 3:18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

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Eph 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

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1 Pet 5:5,65 Likewise, ye younger, submit

yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

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Isa 14:13-15

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

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Isa 14:14-15

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

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Matt 18:3,4

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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1 Cor 13:5

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

• Courtesy shows the behaviour of love

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1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

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1 Cor 13:5

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

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1 Cor 13:5

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

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Ps 145:8

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

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Prov 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

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Rom 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose

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1 Cor 13:5

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

• Makes all possible allowances

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Matt 5:11-12

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

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1 Cor 13:6

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

• Love has no pleasure in doing wrong

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Matt 18:35

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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1 Cor 13:7

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

• Love covers faults• Keep in secret• Love covers a multitude of sins

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2 Tim 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

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Gal 6:2

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

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1 Cor 13:7

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. It is trustful

• We should be merciful

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Matt 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

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1 Cor 13:7

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. It is trustful

• We are saved by hope

• 1 Thes 5:8 “helmet of salvation”

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Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Heb 2:10

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

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Charity never faileth

• Greatest of the graces

• It will never cease

• Provided in Divine plan

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Conclusion

• We must strive to love like God

• Hearts centered on things above

• Love abides with us for ever

• It is part of us in all ages to follow

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Amen