INTRODUCTION
Love is the unconditional act of grace by which God gave His only begotten Son to redeem humankind.
Love is the disposition of the believer to give to the undeserving person to the point of being willing to lay down his or her life.
Love is the manifestation of selflessness and generosity.
This generation of believers seeks to make an impact on the world through preaching, signs and wonders and acts of benevolence. It is however, imperative for us to embrace a love revolution in order to achieve that objective.
THE EFFECIENCY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS/WORKS
The operation of love gives spiritual gifts and the Gospel the ability/power to fulfil their purpose.
The efficiency of spiritual gifts depends on the love that accompanies their manifestation.
The apostle Paul elevated love above the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
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.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
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;
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: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
- The clarity/results of spiritual gifts.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
The aim of prophecy and other gifts is for edification, exhortation and comfort. Without love, spiritual gifts produce the opposite effect.
- The attainment of personhood.
The display of our gifts defines our personhood – who we are, our worth.
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.
- The guarantee of present and eternal rewards.
Our love and character attract the rewards we obtain in this life and the next from the exercising of our gifts.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ said, it is by loving one another that the world would know that we are His disciples.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34-35
Love overcomes hatred and unbelief.
It unlocks the treasures of God’s goodness to man.
We are the stewards of God’s gifts to humankind. Love moves us to release the things under our stewardship to bless others.
It unlocks our hearts to have the will to do good to those around us.
FOUNTAIN GATE CHAPEL
INTERNATIONAL EXTRA OIL CONFERENCE 2016
DESERT PASTURES – FGC WORLDWIDE