A More Excellent Way Love Pt. 1 - Patience “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31 Love

Love 1 Corinthians 12 Described the miraculous gifts Knowledge, healing, prophecy, tongues, interpretation But there is something much better 1 Corinthians 13 Love

1Cor. 13 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Jn.4:8 1 Cor. 13:4-8a Description of Love 4. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5. does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8. Love never fails. 1 Jn.4:8

Love 1 Cor. 13:4-8a Description of Love Guilelessness Patience Kindness Generosity Humility Courtesy Unselfishness Good temper Guilelessness Sincerity Spiritual strength Open-Mindedness Optimism Faithfulness Loverly

A More Excellent Way Pt. 1 - Patience “Love suffers long” If there is love in our heart, there is patience in our lives

What Is Patience ? Greek = to have patience, wait, patiently endure “Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; …” Patience is that quality of character that enables us to endure things without complaining or murmuring.

Job Examples of Patience “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away” “What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” James 5:11 - “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Christ Examples of Patience He suffered for you and me. God allowed His Son to be the sacrifice for us. I Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

God Examples of Patience Robert Ingersoll - Atheist “I’ll give God five minutes to strike me dead for the things I’ve said.” Response: Do you think you can exhaust the patience of God in five minutes ?

Why Is Patience Important? Essential to our eternal inheritance Psalms 37:9 “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Hebrews 6:12 “inherit the promises.” Hebrews 10:36 “ye might receive the promise.”

Why Is Patience Important? Essential to our Bearing Fruit Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

What will Patience Do ? Make us Stronger Abraham and Job Help us Get to Heaven 3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Rom. 5:3-4

Yes Must we have Patience ? 1 Thes. 5:14 “be patient toward all men.” “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,” 2 Timothy 2:24

Galatians 5:22

A More Excellent Way Love Pt. 1 - Patience “Love suffers long” Love Where there is love in the heart, there is patience in the life.

Love 1 Cor. 13:4-8a Description of Love Guilelessness Patience Kindness Generosity Humility Courtesy Unselfishness Good temper Guilelessness Sincerity Spiritual strength Open-Mindedness Optimism Faithfulness Loverly

A More Excellent Way Love Pt. 1 - Patience “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31 Love

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 evanscoc@bellsouth.net www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening July 14, 2013