Living Out Love: Action in Faith

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often pray for the fruit of the Spirit, especially love, to manifest in our lives. The question is, do we truly embody this love, or do we remain self-centered? Love is not just a feeling but an action that compels us to care deeply for others, to ask genuinely, "How are you?" and to be part of the solution to their struggles. This week, I was deeply moved by the plight of children caught in human trafficking, a reality that should break our hearts and spur us into action. Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 12-14, is the greatest gift, surpassing all spiritual gifts. It is the essence of our faith and the driving force behind our actions.

Reflecting on the story of a woman in Thailand who risked her life to rescue children from brothels, I am reminded of the fulfillment that comes from selfless love. This is not just about feeling good but about being alive in Christ, who laid down His life for us. We are called to do the same for others, to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not limited to our families but extends to every child, every person in need. It is a call to action, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs His love.

The church is experiencing a movement where people are tired of just attending services and are eager to be the church, to make a tangible difference in the world. This is not just a call for the young but for all generations to rise up and live out their faith in action. We are reminded that our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit but for the common good, to build up the body of Christ and to serve others in love.

As we take communion, let us remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave everything for us. Let this be a reminder to live sacrificially, to love deeply, and to act courageously. May we be inspired to live lives that reflect the love of Christ, to be rescuers in a world that needs hope and healing.

Key Takeaways:

- True love is an action that compels us to care for others genuinely, asking, "How are you?" with a sincere desire to help and be part of the solution to their struggles. This love is the essence of our faith and surpasses all spiritual gifts. [02:15]

- The story of a woman in Thailand who risked her life to rescue children from brothels exemplifies the fulfillment that comes from selfless love. This is not just about feeling good but about being alive in Christ, who laid down His life for us. [12:22]

- The church is experiencing a movement where people are eager to be the church, to make a tangible difference in the world. This is a call for all generations to rise up and live out their faith in action, serving others in love. [19:03]

- Our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit but for the common good, to build up the body of Christ and to serve others in love. This is the point of 1 Corinthians 12-14, where love is the greatest gift. [27:56]

- As we take communion, let us remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave everything for us. Let this be a reminder to live sacrificially, to love deeply, and to act courageously, reflecting the love of Christ in our lives. [32:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - The Call to Love
- [00:51] - Genuine Care for Others
- [03:29] - Emotional Reflection
- [04:01] - Human Trafficking Awareness
- [05:02] - Mourning with Those Who Mourn
- [06:13] - Love Beyond Family
- [07:49] - Imagining the Unthinkable
- [10:00] - Love as Action
- [12:22] - A Heroic Story
- [14:14] - Fulfillment in Love
- [19:03] - A Movement of Action
- [25:01] - Spiritual Gifts and Love
- [31:29] - The Greatest Gift
- [32:06] - Communion and Sacrifice

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 12:7 - "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
2. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
3. Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the primary purpose of spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12? [25:58]

2. How does the pastor describe the emotional impact of learning about human trafficking on his own life? [05:02]

3. What story from Thailand was shared in the sermon, and what does it exemplify about selfless love? [12:22]

4. How does the pastor describe the current movement within the church regarding faith in action? [19:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul emphasizes love over spiritual gifts. How does the pastor illustrate this point through his personal experiences and stories shared in the sermon? [28:38]

2. The sermon mentions a movement within the church to "be the church" rather than just attend. What might this look like in practical terms for different generations? [19:03]

3. Reflecting on Romans 12:15, how does the pastor suggest we should respond to the suffering of others, and what does this reveal about the nature of Christian love? [05:19]

4. How does the pastor's emotional response to human trafficking challenge the congregation to think about their own reactions to global issues? [10:00]

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Application Questions:

1. The pastor challenges us to genuinely ask others, "How are you?" with a sincere desire to help. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily interactions this week? [02:15]

2. Reflect on the story of the woman in Thailand who rescued children from brothels. What is one tangible action you can take to support or engage in a cause that aligns with your values? [12:22]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of using spiritual gifts for the common good. Identify one of your spiritual gifts and discuss how you can use it to serve others in your community. [25:58]

4. The pastor describes a movement within the church to live out faith in action. What is one specific way you can contribute to this movement in your own church or community? [19:03]

5. During communion, we are reminded of Jesus' sacrifice. How can this reflection inspire you to live sacrificially in your own life? [32:06]

6. The pastor shared his emotional response to human trafficking. How can you cultivate a heart that is sensitive to the needs and suffering of others, both locally and globally? [10:00]

7. Consider the pastor's call to love beyond our immediate family. What is one step you can take this week to extend love to someone outside your usual circle? [06:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Love as Genuine Action
True love is not merely a feeling but an active commitment to care for others. It involves asking, "How are you?" with a sincere desire to help and be part of the solution to their struggles. This love is the essence of our faith and surpasses all spiritual gifts. It calls us to move beyond self-centeredness and to embody the love that Christ has shown us. By doing so, we become instruments of His love in a world that desperately needs it. [02:15]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to feel genuine love today, and how can you actively show it to them?


Day 2: Selfless Love in Action
The story of a woman in Thailand who risked her life to rescue children from brothels exemplifies the fulfillment that comes from selfless love. This is not just about feeling good but about being alive in Christ, who laid down His life for us. We are called to do the same for others, to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not limited to our families but extends to every child, every person in need. It is a call to action, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs His love. [12:22]

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" (1 John 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one selfless act you can do this week to show Christ's love to someone in need?


Day 3: The Church as a Movement of Action
The church is experiencing a movement where people are eager to be the church, to make a tangible difference in the world. This is a call for all generations to rise up and live out their faith in action, serving others in love. It is not enough to simply attend services; we are called to be active participants in God's work on earth. Our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit but for the common good, to build up the body of Christ and to serve others in love. [19:03]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community to make a tangible difference in the world?


Day 4: Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good
Our spiritual gifts are not for our own benefit but for the common good, to build up the body of Christ and to serve others in love. This is the point of 1 Corinthians 12-14, where love is the greatest gift. We are reminded that our gifts are meant to be used in service to others, reflecting the love of Christ in all that we do. By using our gifts for the benefit of others, we fulfill our calling as followers of Christ. [27:56]

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual gift has God given you, and how can you use it to serve others this week?


Day 5: Communion as a Reminder of Sacrificial Love
As we take communion, let us remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave everything for us. Let this be a reminder to live sacrificially, to love deeply, and to act courageously, reflecting the love of Christ in our lives. Communion is not just a ritual but a call to embody the sacrificial love of Christ in our daily lives. It challenges us to live in a way that honors His sacrifice and to be rescuers in a world that needs hope and healing. [32:06]

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice during communion inspire you to live a life of sacrificial love today?

Quotes

"Last weekend we prayed for the fruit of the spirit in our lives we we begged God remember that said God make me loving that's the first thing love right my question is did it work or did that last slide reflect you where you came in and you're not loving you're just thinking about yourself i mean did it work when we pray and go God make me loving make me loving make me loving because I believe in prayer i'm going okay as you prayed and said 'God make me a loving person my question is did it work did you actually walk in here thinking about someone other than yourself and when you read when you read those statements some some people in here are depressed some people are lost what did that do to you do you go 'Oh well bummer.' Or in your heart did did you just well up with love going 'Man that might be the person next to me so I I love so much and I've got this love coming out of me i'm going to actually ask them how they're doing and and find out i'm actually going to see if there's anything I can pray for them about did that even cross your mind to love someone as you walked into the room today i hope so i hope that our prayers are being answered i hope that all week long you're saying 'God make me loving make me loving make me loving.' And then he answers your prayer so you walk into a room and you actually love you actually care about someone maybe even more than yourself cuz I I get bummed out i get bummed out when I and when I know some of the difficulties that you guys are going through and I get sad for you because I know some of you had some real rough weeks and I get sad for you but honestly I get more sad for those who come in selfishly and only thinking about themselves i'm sad because that's never going to lead you to a life of fulfillment you're never going to be happy and it's like oh gosh I wish you knew how good it is to love i love loving it It's just there's nothing more fulfilling on this earth than to take your mind off of yourself and actually to come in and I mean did you even consider this morning going up to someone and and saying those three words how are you in such a way and and to where you really wanted to know the answer did anyone do that where you you just actually thought okay I'm going to ask someone how they are and I really want to know if there's problems in their lives in fact I want I want to be part of the solution you see cuz God's affected me so much and the spirit is so alive in my life and I've been praying so much this week make me loving make me loving make me loving and he's doing it i'm walking in the room and I'm actually caring about what other people think i'm actually wanting to be part of the solution i'll actually sit down next to one and say 'You know what really how are you doing how can I help what can I do did it happen for you?' See that's what we got to keep praying for because that's what's going to make us come alive as individuals and that's why I get so sad for the people who don't know the joy in loving it feels so good to love last night I I got up here to teach and I was an absolute basket case 9:00 wasn't much different um so you'll be real excited to hear me today i I I just I'm just telling you right now it's it's I don't know what is going on with me i don't know if it's a good thing bad thing but I am just an emotional wreck um and so last night it was just like you know just all this stuff coming out of my mouth it started on Wednesday wednesday I had dinner with some other pastors i'm in Atlanta speaking at a conference and I'm with these other pastors and speakers and the guy on my left is one of the leaders on this planet in the fight against human trafficking okay human trafficking if if you don't aren't aware there are about 27 million slaves right now and many of most of those are kids and when we say slaves we're not just talking about labor we're talking about them being sold and stolen and forced to do things that are so disgusting he's telling me about this stuff and we're having this discussion over dinner um and uh you know then I had some other things to do that night kind of settle down in the hotel room and lay in bed and I just start thinking about it all see that's what love does to you you don't just hear something and it just like oh it stinks to be you i just start I just started crying i started crying i I I cried for hours literal hours in my pillow just sobbing couldn't sleep just put my face in the pillow and just started sobbing sobbing because the Bible says in uh 1 Corinthians 12 that as a body if one part suffers we should all suffer with it the Bible also teaches in in uh in Romans chapter 12 that I should mourn with those who mourn you know how I mourn with those who mourn like like if I'm doing a funeral and I'm I'm counseling a family and and I go gosh Lord I want to mourn with them i try to put myself in their shoes if one of their child's children dies I I think to myself okay what if that was one of my girls what would I be going through right now if it's a spouse that died I try to think 'Oh man if thou release and I get my head that's the only way I know how to mourn with those who mourn is I put myself in their position.' And and so so when I I'm thinking about this child trafficking thing and this human trafficking and I'm laying in bed I'm thinking 'Wow what would I do if it were one of my kids?' Okay I went there i went there and that's why I couldn't stop crying because I'll just tell you right now I I'm crazy about my kids it's ridiculous how much I love my kids you know I'm traveling all the time and I don't know there's ever been a trip where I've been on where I'm not just constantly thinking about my kids my kids I love and that's not because I'm such a good Christian okay that has nothing to do with Christianity okay it's not like unbelievers don't love their kids okay so so don't pat your back oo I'm a good Christian cuz I love my kids no that that means you're human okay it's inhumane not to love your kids okay you love your kids not because you're a good Christian you love your your kids because you're human and so this isn't Oh look Francis loves his kids duh how How do you not you know and and I am crazy i'm nuts about my kids and a lot of you can relate cuz that's what comes naturally to us and so I'm in bed and I'm going there with my kids i mean I've got four kids and one on the way we got number five is on the way so you know and I like kids you know everyone you know people like 'Oh when are you going to stop?' I go 'Man when I have one that I don't like you know maybe you know but they're I'm like gosh I'm just going to let God do his thing you know and so far it's been great i love everyone i can't imagine life without any of them.' And and so I go 'Okay God let me just go there for a moment let me just try to picture someone taking one of my kids okay what would I do what would I do if and I started just one at a time going through each one of my kids what if it were Rachel what if she's somewhere on the earth i don't know where and someone just taking her and they're doing all these things to her what would I do what would I physically do what would I feel what were the emotions and you get all these pictures in my head and and I'm seeing her taken away i go I'm going to I I will find her i will do everything to get to her i will do that i will devote my life to this i'm going to quit everything else i got to find her well what if it was Mercy yeah same thing what if it's Ellie and I'm just picturing each of their personalities and each of their innocence and and and them being forced to do these i'm just going 'Oh this is driving me crazy this is driving me crazy.' I'm just sobbing sobbing sobbing sobbing going 'Gosh what would I do what would I do would I even come to church would I go preach a sermon no and I'd run up here and the only Yeah I probably would show up and I'd probably show up and saying 'Come on you guys they They took one of my kids you Some of you guys are brilliant you've got influence go get them do something do something you got to help me get my kids.' That's what I was doing i'm picturing myself coming up here and getting so angry and for those who are just apathetic sucks to be you i would just be in your face just swearing whatever to get your attention seriously just going 'Man are you kidding me this is my kid we got to get her we got to get him.' That's what I would do and that's what you would do as I as I share that and if you are willing to go there sometime this week and try to picture your kid being abducted and being forced to do things I know you guys i know the way you love your kids you men the things you would do the things you would fight for just that intense attitude of just I I'm going to figure this out if it's the last thing I do I will die finding him finding her and I am just crying crying crying thinking about this and the Lord's saying to me Francis I want you to love these other kids as though they're your own that's the way you ought to act toward these others or as scripture say love your neighbor as yourself and so then now I'm just sobbing for kids i don't even know their faces i'm just picturing kids and just what's going on with them and I'm just going 'Okay I got to do something i got to do something.' And I'm just crying crying crying crying crying and so yeah I'm a little bit of a basket case right now yesterday afternoon I'm sitting in my office 3:00 couple hours before service and I'm just saying 'God the last thing I feel like doing is getting up in front of a group and talking just tired of talking tired of preaching.' Say 'Hey let's look at a few more verses everything in me just wanted to do do something let's just go let's just do something.' thing and I'm trying to figure out i mean I'm seriously looking and seeing is there something we can do cuz I know there's a ton of junk going on in the valley right now the child pornography everything is there a place where I'm just going to get up on stage and say 'Everyone get in your cars let's go to this address and let's just do something you know i don't know but I want to do something i don't want to talk about it i don't want to talk about Jesus i want to be Jesus i want to go and rescue and help those who are helpless just like he did for me and it didn't help that I was reading this story too on the internet of this this this this lady in uh in in uh Thailand this this lady named Krun Nam krun Nam i just you know I was just typing in different things and just researching on my own and I'm I'm reading about this lady Krun Nam she uh she was an artist and she was just talking to different kids and as she talked to them she she was painting things they asked her to paint then she started hearing about their stories realized some of them had been shipped in had been imported sold by their parents others were abducted she started seeing this problem and these kids are sold to these brothel over there and some to these karaoke bars and it just made her sick to her stomach and she began to cry and so she she went through the sadness and everything else so you know what she did you know what she did this woman she She just She'd sneak in to these brothel grab as many kids as she could and run and run and just steal them she'd run in these karaoke bars and find these little kids just grab them and run this lady people started finding out about her and started getting she started getting death threats said I'll find you and I'll find those kids and so then she started running for her life with these kids getting these kids to safety and now she's in northern Thailand with these kids she's rescued 125 of them 125 kids and I'm looking at that and I'm going 'Man that's what I want to do i want to do something can you imagine can you imagine?' See this isn't like this bummer oh we should love people yeah I guess I will i'm going man I bet you that is a woman who is alive i bet you that is a woman who is fulfilled can you imagine just try to picture yourself waking up looking out and seeing 125 kids that you rescued can you imagine how fulfilling your life would be isn't that just in your soul don't just go 'Oh that would be great that would be I would feel so great that would be so much more fulfilling to look at 125 kids in my living room than to see a giant living room i mean what are you after in life see I get sad when when I mean you guys why why all this stuff about caring for the poor and caring for the needy yes I love the needy i love all of them but I love you and I'm going man if you would have this vision to look outside of yourself that's when you're going to come alive that's the way God designed us it's so fulfilling to love you think God's trying to ruin your life he's saying 'No you will love loving the fruit of the spirit of love joy pe you'll love being joyful you'll love having peace and seeing you know just the fruit of your I mean it just it just brings peace i don't mean to embarrass you but I I just heard your story right before service today i know your friend invited you cuz he was at service last week you you got to be so fulfilled that's got to be the killer killer life i'm like I'm like jealous of you i I shared the story last service and and I don't even know your name matt who cares um no I'm kidding matt hears the story he goes 'I can't believe that.' He goes 'My best friend my best friend uh lives in Thailand and she does the same thing but she buys them she buys these kids out of slavery and she's just here raising support for her ministry and she's got like 50 60 kids that she just buys out of there and I go 'Man this is a killer life what else you want to do with your life man?' You know and so I'm just like this wreck man that's all I want to do i want to do something i want to stop talking i just want to I want to do I want to do and that's why every week you guys know me man you know we bring someone from India and the kids are drinking out of the sewer and playing there i'm like 'We got to do something we got to do something.' Talking to my buddy who who just a friend of mine new friend of mine who just he just was back from uh El Salvador el Salvador why because he was helping this whole village get water and he created this whole water system because that's the way his mind works and he he's getting fresh water to these different villages and and getting them through the church to bring glory to the name of Jesus and and he he while he was out there though and he got all this water to this place and one day he's driving you know his wife kids everything else he's that they're down there with her he's driving and he got mistaken for someone else because of his car and a guy came out with a gun bam bam bam bam just hit man to take him out five shots right through the window one went right through his neck he was dying laying on the road bullet through his neck they're like 'Come on you know get back to America we'll rehab him.' He goes 'No no no just do it here because I I don't know if we go back to America it was hard enough to get my family over here they might not come back i'll take my chances rehab me out here we got to stay we got to keep the mission going.' And I'm having lunch with him a few weeks ago big scar across his neck everything was fine he's like 'It's been awesome man just what God's done and we're still out there i'm like right on man what a life what a life man you guys hear that story about that woman and in Shang Mai and and you can't tell me that in your soul you don't think about yourself going I want to do that right don't you didn't when I said that didn't you picture yourself running through there you did why because it's it's it's in us that's it that's that's the very heart of Christ christ who didn't look at the the world and go 'Wow look at all these people they're doomed to hell sucks to be them.' No he goes 'Man I'm going to go rescue them i'm going to empty I I you know I'm not going to consider this equality with God here in heaven something to be held on to but I'll empty myself of everything i'll take the very form of a man the form of a servant i'll be nailed to a cross and I will pay I will pay for all of their crimes i'll suffer for them so that I can set them free i will rescue them as Galatians 1 says that he rescued us from this present darkness i'm going to go down there i'm going to help the helpless i'm going to rescue them and what does he tell us to do he goes 'Now Christians become like who christ you just like I laid down my life for you why don't you consider laying down what you have for someone else who is helpless and I love it because it's starting to happen in churches a movement's going on that's just absolutely nuts right now where people are going you know what i'm done i'm done with just attending church and listening to sermons let's be the church let's go out let's help and it's happening man this next generation that's rising up these college students these 20somes they are so sick of churches that just sit around and talk theology and blog about hey I think this it just it just they're they're sick of it they're going I want to be a part of someone that a body that's actually doing something and it's exciting it's going yeah that's the way it's supposed to be because that's something we've known in our hearts you know what I love i love that there's there's old guys there's old people right now there i I this is new to me i'm learning about uh old people that uh that uh oh there's this there's this movement going on see at first I thought okay I'm working with the the the college students you know I'm working with the 20somes but no there's this generation of people that they're in their their late 50s early 60s there are the people who were saved during the Jesus movement and there's a whole bunch of them that are going 'Man I remember how I used to be.' You got these old people going around I remember how I used to be when I was just so in love with Jesus and I was just going around telling people I didn't care about all this stuff man it was the Jesus movement and all we cared about was Jesus but they're going 'But now look at me i became the very thing I hated i'm all about security safety me me me acquire more and more for me me me and they're all going 'I'm done i I want to go back.' And they're writing books about it you're going 'Let's go get them.' You know it's it's just this no offense I I think it's cute it's just this I just go 'Man that's that's great man.' Cuz they're going 'Look I just wasted my life i just stinking wasted my life building up all this security for myself for what some of them are retiring going 'Well this stinks this isn't what I thought I was going to be so now I just live for myself.' And they're realizing this was all a lie how was I deceived and they're going 'Man I'm going to end my life with a bang.' Going 'Oh that's so cool.' There's this generation young and old that are saying,'I want to do something for the Lord.' And they're going out and they're doing it now the people in between my age there's a little more of a struggle there honestly still stuck in the safety thing and I'm going 'No come on man let's let's listen to their stories.' I uh do you guys remember um you remember when that guy uh again remember I'm basket case this morning so I'm just gonna go all over remember uh that guy that was here Blake who was from Tom Shoes remember you guys a lot of you guys bought Tom's shoes here you know and the whole buy a pair give a pair away when he was here I I told him about Mossyoot you guys remember Mossyoot you know I thought you know what you're a shoe company you're about getting food yeah that's Mossifoot okay those are the people in Ethiopia who uh about 600,000 of them 600,000 of them that have this condition of elephantasis in the feet because of the soils in the ground and these these things getting into their feet and then they get this and then suddenly they can't work suddenly no one wants to be around them it's like little leper colonies with these people with mossy foot and there was a guy whose whose daughter went to our church Nathan Barlo who was a doctor and for 60 years 60 years was in Ethiopia treating these people and then he passed away a couple years ago and his his daughter and son-in-law are keeping the ministry going and I'm I'm going Blake have you heard about this and evidently some other people in the church made that same connection and said Blake have you heard about this but that was it i didn't hear anything from him and then I'm speaking in Atlanta after me a couple other speakers and then this kid gets up there it's Blake blake gets up in front of everyone and he starts talking about Ethiopia i'm going look at my wife that's the Mossy foot thing he's doing something with it and he starts talking about how how he has every worker every worker in his company now has a picture of mossy food on their desk because he wants it in their face and and afterwards you know we come he comes up we give each other a big hug and I'm going 'You're talking Mossy foot i didn't even know you kept thinking about it or whatever he goes he goes 'Oh no no no i'm I'm going to kill this thing i'm going to kill this thing.' He He goes He goes 'We're setting up a base in Ethiopia now we're actually going to start a little little base right there to to get shoes to these people you know all 600,000 of them we're we're starting May and we're we got about 100,000 you know that that we're going to start taking care of we He He's He's just so fired up he can't even contain himself he's just He just talks mile a minute.' And he he goes 'Man man Francis the other night I was having dinner i was explaining this to Bill Clinton.' I'm like 'What?' And then he goes 'I was talking to Nelson Mandela i'm explaining Mossifoot to these people i'm getting the ears of all these people i'm going to kill this thing i'm going to kill this thing.' I go 'I believe you man.' And it's just we're going to do this we're going to do this and and and and it's all about these people now that are saying 'You know what america's not going to do it the United Nations they're not going to fix these problems these were meant for the church these were God-sized problems that David needs to rise up and slay and and and it's this idea that wait through the power of the Holy Spirit I can do this i can do this i can do this and and I just want to be a part of this thing man I get so fired up about people just wanting to do this and I and I know some of you guys going 'Wait a second Francis you it says on the bulletin you're going to teach 1 Corinthians 12 through14 i came here for an exegetical sermon on 1 Corinthians 12-14 well you know what i believe that's what I'm doing right now see in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul was addressing the issue of spiritual gifts people said 'Well you know what about all these spiritual gifts we're supposed to get from the Holy Spirit?' And the Corinthian church was so screwed up so screwed up i mean remember these are the people that are getting drunk at communion it's not a good thing okay he has just gotten done confronting that and so when he gets to spiritual gifts he goes 'Man you guys are such a mess you got people standing up in service tons of you standing up going whoa look I'm speaking in tongues.' He goes 'How does that help anyone how does that help anyone?' And he says in in in verse 7 of 1 Corinthians 12 he says to each one is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good he goes 'Help me out here how does it help anyone for you guys all to stand up and speak in foreign languages how do you get how do you how does that help anyone let's say you do have the gift.' Great how does that help me he goes 'In church I'd rather speak five words in a language that actually helps people.' And he's going 'I'm not denying that you have this gift like an Acts two type of gift.' Remember in Acts two when they were filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly they start speaking in these different languages and then these people from other countries are going 'Wait a second he's talking my language how's he doing that it was an amazing power.' That's why in chapter 14 he says 'Man if you have that gift it was meant to be a sign for unbelievers that's a great gift so go find some unbelievers and display this gift to them man that would help us so much but in the church this isn't doing any good you're just showing off you're just going 'Hey look what I can do.' And everyone's saying 'Hey look what I can do look I think I have the gift of prophecy look I know a lot i'm knowledgeable.' And everyone's just he goes 'That's not what gifts were for.' Gifts were for the common good and that's why I got to ask because okay my question this morning is not would you love to have the Holy Spirit come into your life and give you a supernatural gift wouldn't you love that i don't have to ask that question you'd love it wouldn't you just love to know that you have the power to do something that is so beyond you it's not just a physical natural talent but you got this stinking stinking you've got this uh amazing supernatural Holy Spirit gift that no one else can explain going and everyone's like 'Wow we all want that right who doesn't want that who doesn't want to be supernaturally filled with the spirit to accomplish things?' My question this morning is not 'Do you want it?' My question is why honestly why would you want that gift that's the point of 1 Corinthians 12-14 the point is is do you want a gift because when you walk in this room you are so in love with the people in this room you are so burdened that there are people in here their marriages are falling apart and that just makes me cry at night so God would you give me a supernatural gift that you know because it's killing me and I want to be able to counsel these people do you walk in with so much love that you're going and finding those people and just talking and asking for prayer you're so filled with love that was the point of the spiritual gifts was for the common good not for your good so you'd feel good like 'Wow look at all I'm doing for the kingdom.' No but it came out of a heart of love that's why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 right after that he says 'Look,' he goes 'I don't care i don't really care if you spoke every single language in the world he goes if I spoke every language in the world supernaturally in fact I could even speak to angels but if I didn't love he goes then I'm just a resounding gong or a clanging symbol he goes then I'm just making a lot of noise the word in the Greek there is the word alazison it's anamanopia remember allison and he goes he goes 'If if I if I could speak every language in the world but I didn't really love the people I was speaking to I would just be going la I might as well just do that and annoy the heck out of everyone.' He goes 'That's what you guys are doing you're just walking up going.' He go 'You don't care.' And and he goes on he goes 'I don't care if you have other gifts.' He he he goes he goes 'I don't care if you have the gift of prophecy and you can fathom all mysteries.' He goes 'I don't care if you have all knowledge let's say you know everything let's say man you know this book backwards and forwards Hebrew Greek and you'll come up to me after service and go 'Well Francis it's actually also which later became alizo you know it just he goes I don't care i don't care how much you know show me some love i want to know did you come in and talk to anyone love anyone today that's what I want to know because he says even if you have all knowledge even if you had faith that could move mountains but if you have not love if I have love then I if I don't have love I am nothing hear that you're nothing i don't care how much you know i don't I don't know i don't care how many verses you've memorized if you don't love you're worthless you're pointless you shouldn't even exist please don't call yourself Christian you're meaningless your whole life's meaningless you're an annoyance you just talk talk talk la I I I can't stand it that's what Paul says oh but I know a lot and I blog my friends on the chess club you know and we talk about that's great that's great ah you know so much why don't you try loving someone that was Paul's point man i am preaching 1 Corinthians 12 through14 because they asked about gifts and Paul's answer was love and his answer was 'Okay you want to be supernaturally filled.' Why because if it's not for love's sake then you're wasting time you're just going to annoy everyone in this room he goes 'But if you love oh if you love if you love man love's patient love's kind.' You know everything else is going to pass away these three remain but the greatest of these is love love there's no there's no answer for that you guys this is what the world wants to see this this is what we've got to be pursuing as a church we're going to take communion a little bit here and I love the fact that we're taking communion today because I want to remind you that this is what we're supposed to be about we're going to pass a bread and cup around and when you when you break the bread Jesus says 'I want you to remember my body that was broken for you.' See I I want I want us to reflect Jesus i mean that's what we all want right we want to be like Jesus to the world jesus says 'I my body was broken for you.' He says 'My blood was shed for you.' When you take of that cup you remember that room is the that's the shed blood of Jesus you see you understand why why I want to do so many things for the world and why we're like let's just give half the money away let's just give you know let's let's just let's meet outside rather than build a big building let's just meet outside you know because I think wow that'd be so cool every time I sweat I think I know why I'm sweating so that Jesus could be fed overseas or so we could rescue another kid i I seriously I I find pleasure and joy over the fact of thinking maybe one day I'll be preaching in the rain and you'll be sitting in the rain i go man wouldn't that be a rush just to go wow it's it's because we wanted to give the millions to these other people like I just think see I find joy in that i don't see that as a burden and I go man that's a reflection of Jesus it's people that are willing to lay down their lives for their brothers just like Jesus did for us see I I get I I get emails when when you hear about these ideas of mine and people go 'Well I'm all for caring for the poor.' One specifically said 'I'm all for caring for the poor but not at the expense of my own health not at the expense of my own health.' I don't even know where to start with that one is that what Jesus said i'm all for helping you guys but not at the expense of my own health but secondly what are you going to die by sitting outside for an hour does that happen a lot maybe I maybe I'm missing it you know but it's just this whole But I I it's just it's more than this it's about this heart that just goes man when I go to church it doesn't make sense to me it doesn't make sense to me to go and not love i I I just We're going to be so much more fulfilled if we're constantly thinking about other people man that's just the way God made us i'm just going to I'll be happiest when I'm given the most and thinking about others the most that's just the way he made us to where we just find so much fulfillment and loving i've seen over the years some of you just come alive you've just come alive and I love it some of you are pre Well you're probably not here if you're preaching in the prisons there's a bunch of us that are in the prison systems preaching right now and it's like wow that's awesome they're just coming alive other others you know a couple in our church who just said 'You know what it'd be so cool if um rather than just giving money to these people in Africa why don't we teach them how to farm?' And so they just said 'You know what we don't need you friends we'll just buy a bunch of acres and get some friends of ours we'll buy a bunch of acres in Africa and teach them how to plant and farm.' And now there's all these acres of vegetables and fruit and over there in Africa because just some couple in the church got all fired up about it and what I love is seeing how fired up they are they came alive i I love another couple in our church who just said you know these pastors they have no way to get around the jungle maybe if we just get people to donate bikes and we'll get the bikes over there and they started this company called Jungle Ride you know and now they've got hundreds thousands of bikes going overseas and they're teaching people how to fix them and work on them just they didn't ask me they just started doing it just start doing it just You guys are smart some of you guys are brilliant in your businesses and everything else and I'm just saying gosh is there a way you can leverage those gifts for the kingdom now and let's go and rescue let's love these people let's weep for these people so much so that we can't we can't we can't rest until we do something let's run in let's steal them let's buy them let's do whatever but we can't just leave them hanging we have to love them like our own children it's it's a whole another tangent but we're going to take communion now i'm going to have the worship team come up and uh as they pass the bread and cup around only take this if you have accepted what Jesus Christ did on that cross for you if you are here today and go 'Man I'm still checking this out man I'm so glad you're here.' Then keep checking it out and and hopefully someday you'll walk in here and not just hear about Jesus but you'll see him by the way that we live and hopefully someday you'll believe this message that God loved you so much that rather than you paying for your crimes he had his son pay for your crimes and he rose again and and then you would see a life that's so attractive the life of Christ that you want to live that way and be a rescuer like he was and is and uh maybe today you go you know what I want to follow him you want to get baptized and and you're saying you know what I believe he died on that cross i'm I'm ready to follow then then come forward and we'll baptize you right after these songs but only take of the bread and the cup if you really believe that Jesus died for you otherwise just pass and observe what we do because the Bible says it's also our way of proclaiming to you the death of Christ until he comes it's it's supposed to be for you to see so you get a picture of oh Jesus died for my sins he helped me when I was helpless and then when you're ready and you thank God for pursuing you and you thank him for the blood that was shed for you then take of the bread take of the cup when you're ready in your own time for some of you it's time for you just to reflect on the words of the song some of you you need to sing them some of you you need some prayer you need some counseling you need some love some of you you need to get baptized just do as the Lord has led you to do and uh if you need some help there'll be people up here by the prayer room to pray with" [00:00:09]

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