AFTER LOVE COMES IN
1. Speaking like a child.
2. Understanding like a child.
3. Thinking like a child.
These things that are "Put away" (as one matures into their "Head" The Lord Jesus Christ), are the things put away after Love comes. If that seems a bit convoluted, the Word already makes plain what must be put away. It's plainly written; it's spiritually implied; and then it's personal. Where Divine Love is, there is no room for another love, [whatever that might mean for the individual believer]. I Cor. 13 is called the Love Chapter by theologians, the pulpit masters, politicians and just about everyone that calls themselves a christian according to whatever standard they embrace. But it is a chapter that has been read out of context. However; if the WHOLE WORD is not believed and/or understood in the context of the FULLNESS of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit anointing, then the intended end result is not reached. But, then again, His Word will not return unto Him void will it? Still, Out of spiritual context, the Word's intended purpose is missed, but never incomplete. But when LIFE comes, then comes Divine Revelation in union with the Son Jesus Christ who is the very Love of God and who is God incarnate in human flesh. When Life comes, Faith and Hope give birth to Love.
In I Corinthians 13, there is revealed NINE ingredients of Divine Love:
1. Patience: Love is passive, it is in no hurry. Love suffers long; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. ALL THINGS.
2. Kindness: Kindness is Love in Action. Love never acts rashly or insolently. Love is not inconsistent, puffed up or proud.
3. Generosity: Love is not in competition. Love is not envious or jealous.
4. Humility: Love is hidden in the secret places. In the cleft of the Rock; the Lord Jesus Christ. With Love there is no parade, no airs. Love works it's work, then retires.
5. Courteous: Love in society does not behave unseemly and is always polite. Love is at home with all classes, races, colors, customs and nationalities; and is never rude or discourteous.
6. Unselfishness: Love in essence is never selfish, sour or bitter. Love seeks only the good of others and does not retaliate or seek revenge.
7. Good-Tempered: Love in disposition, is never irritated and never resentful.
8. Righteousness: Love in conduct hates sin. Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love is always gladdened by goodness to others and is always slow to expose the lack of some of their brethern. Love is always eager to believe the best; always hopeful and always enduring.
9. Sincerity: Love in profession is never boastful, never conceited and not a hypocrite. Love is honest. Love leaves no impression but what is strictly true. Love is never self-assertive; does notblaze out in passionate anger and does not brood over wrongs. Love is always JUST, JOYFUL, and TRUTHFUL. Love knows how to be silent and full of trust. Love is always present and consistent.
These are the "Nine Ingredients of Divine Love" How is it possible that Christ's reality becomes our reality? Jesus tells us in John 17 that in becoming ONE with the Son, we become ONE with the Father as well and recipients of His Divine Nature. We don't become God....we become vessels of His intentions. "Sanctify them in the Truth, thy Word is Truth (Vs 20)...And not for these only do I ask, but for them also that believe unto me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory that thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (Jn. 17:17b & 20-23). To be tabernacled with Christ is to come into union with the Father by relationship with the Son and become submerged in His great LOVE. "Tabernacled with Christ", I like the way that sounds. But what does it mean; and, more importantly, what does it do? The attributes of Christ is the "Fruit of the Spirit." The "Fruit" is one, yet there are 9 realities involved in making up the ONE FRUIT. In union with Christ these several realities of the Spirit of Christ, come alive in the believer. They are to be manifested in the hearts and lives of the believers.
This "Fruit" is found in Gal. 5:22-26 and they are: "LOVE; JOY; PEACE; LONGSUFFERING; GENTLENESS; GOODNESS; FAITH; MEEKNESS; TEMPERANCE...if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, one is filled with the Spirit of Christ; hence; "Walking in the Spirit!" Walking in the Spirit is walking in the Nature of Christ. Our Glory is "Christ in you the HOPE of Glory" (Col. 1:27). Isn't it interesting to note that Love is at the top of the Divine Realities that make up the "Fruit" of the Spirit? Yet in the LOVE CHAPTER, notice the chronology; "Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Love these three....(I Cor. 13:13). See the progression? And when you get to Love, you have entered into a whole new realm of FAITH. Love is the number one reality of the attributes of Christ. His Glory is His Love and it is "Faith which worketh by Love" (Gal. 5:6). Without Love, faith has no goal. Without Faith, you can't get to Love. Whats in the middle? HOPE!!!
In John 15:12 Jesus said: "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." "As I have Loved You." HE LOVES US. HE LOVED US FIRST. WE NEED TO GET THAT. This is a tremendous statement made by our Lord. We are to Love "EVEN AS." But we need to see that He loved us first. The evidence of the progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the contrite believer, is the endument of power to walk in the Spirit of the Love of God. Speaking in tongues is a baby step in the Spirit of God movement: it is a precurser. But it is only to strengthen faith as you move into the progressive reality of the higher, deeper, mind-blowing Fruit of the Spirit. If you stay in the tongues realm without working out your own salvation, you just might end up being a clanging dong, or tinkling cymbal. Salvation is progressive and is an ascention reality. It is from Glory to Glory and Faith to Faith. The evidence of the progressive infilling of the Holy Spirit is a fountain flowing deep and wide. It is a RIVER which has overflowed her banks. His name is His Nature and His Nature is the Fruit of the Spirit found in Gal. 5:22 which marries up with the true Spirit of LOVE found in I Cor. 13. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of he will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD." (I Cor 13:12-13.) It is "OF GOD" that the Spirit abides, fills, transcends, transfigures and changes the heart and will of a man. Relationship with Him produces His Love in the believer. How will you know? You will know even as you are known. GOD IS LOVE.
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