message 5 (1)

Transcript for Message 5: The Practice Of Charity - Part 3 (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) by Merlin

Let us now open our Bibles once again to the book of 1 Corinthians. And we will again read beginning verse 4 up until verse 7. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 reading verse 4 to verse 7 together in unison. Are we all there? 1 Corinthians 13. We shall read in unison verses 4, 5, 6, and 7. Ready? Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity enviate not. Charity wanteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Lord, once again, we ask that by your grace and by your mercy, thou would bless us as we once again sit still before you to listen to the meditation of your word. Thank you, Lord, for bringing us up until this hour in this YPG camp where we can once again reflect and ponder and thereafter resolve to receive whatever you would speak to us and show us this evening and to put them into rightful application. Asking that you would sanctify this hour and sanctify each and every heart that is joined together with us in the study of your word. Praying also that you would speak to us in a very special way through the meditation and that we would come to a fuller and clearer understanding of what thy word has to teach us this evening. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Completing the three-part message on the practice of charity, tonight, let's consider the remaining characteristics that we will find in verse 6 and verse 7. And as you can see, verse 6 begins, Charity, rejoiceeth not in iniquity, rejoiceeth not in iniquity. Here is something that we all must understand and that we all must be established therein. That in our walk and in our service unto the Lord, even as we relate to one another, we must be mindful of how we would react, of how we would respond, and how we would conduct ourselves in regards to sin and sinfulness and works of evil. And Paul here is saying, charity, rejoiceeth not in iniquity. It does not rejoice over sin. It does not delight to talk and discuss about sin and any acts of sin. Even so, it does not delight to hear of anything pertaining to sin. It does not find pleasure in hearing of anything pertaining to sin. And this is something that we must come to realize, because at times in our day-to-day conversation, even in our fellowship, at times we find ourselves amused, or we find ourselves enjoying talking something about sin. Talking about any sinful activities or discussing among us. For whatever reason, we need to be guarded in this, because it is in this one particular area that we seem to be lowering down our guards. That in our day-to-day conversation with one another, even from among us, within the body of believers, we may not have realized it, that in one of those conversations, we are actually delighting. And we find pleasure in talking, if not hearing others sharing or speaking or talking about any form or act of sin that has been committed. Paul here makes it clear to us that agape love does not rejoice in any of this. Sometimes in our day-to-day life, there is that tendency that we find ourselves more interested to hear of something sensational, to hear of something controversial. more interested to hear of something sensational, to hear of something controversial. We can even engage ourselves in gossiping without realizing that we are bordering into maligning other people or perhaps bearing false witness or perhaps engage in false accusations. Of course, we need not elaborate on this because this is something that we are so familiar as we may be, it's about time to think again and reconsider, realizing that it is not wholesome after all, it is not beneficial after all, and after all it is not edifying and it is not glorifying unto the Lord. As Paul here describes charity as that of rejoicing not in iniquity. Indeed, the person under the influence of charity does not desire to hear of such. And if we are to extend the application, it also includes in the application that we don't desire to hear of a fellow believer falling into sin. Earlier on, we are trying to establish the reality of which we are guilty or perhaps we find it enjoying when we're supposed to abhor such a kind of conversation, such a kind of talk, such a kind of discussion among us. And in addition to it, it can also include rejoicing and not rejoicing and not desiring to hear a fellow believer falling into sin. Bear in mind that we are looking at this in the context of spiritual gifts and in pursuing after the more excellent way, which is charity. And it is just sad as we sometimes hear of fellow believers taking pleasure and delight, even celebrating to hear of somebody's downfall, to hear of somebody falling into sin, to hear of somebody giving in to temptation. Realize that regardless whether he or she is a close friend or not, whether he or she is a friend or a foe, charity does not rejoice in hearing of such a sad situation. It does not rejoice but grieves when somebody fall into sin, when somebody had done wrong and evil. And that is what agape love is. While on one hand, love is kind as we have learned and it bears with other people's shortcomings and faults, charity does not compromise by taking a soft view on sin. It does not condone nor it compromises with sin. That even at that level of our conversation, the subject and the topic that we are talking and conversing and communicating, we need to abstain and guard ourselves in finding delight, in finding pleasure, in talking about sin, even the sin of others. To allow another person to go into sin and enjoy talking about others falling into sin is not characteristic of charity. Regardless, at times we may find ourselves at odds with a particular person. We may find ourselves in conflict with that particular person. Regardless, it is not for us to take pleasure and delight, to hear of their sad situation, of their falling into sin, to allow another person to go into sin. Whether it is known or not, whether it is known or not, it is not for us to take pleasure. It is not for us to find delight, for such an act is not of love. Charity will sensitively confront and correct, does not condone, does not compromise, does not take a soft view on sin. But we need to understand that we are to care for that person. Rejoicing not in their iniquity, we confront. Rejoicing not in their iniquity, we confront them and correct them precisely of their sin because we care for them. And we know how sin can destroy a person. And so Paul here is bringing to our attention this so common trap and snare whereby we would have that tendency and that inclination to enjoy and find delight in all these unwholesome talks. Love rejoices not in iniquity. And looking on the second half of verse 6, it goes on to say, but rejoice it in the truth. This is the flip side of the former. This is the flip side of the first half of the verse. Charity is never glad to talk about anything that is of sin, and it is never glad when others go and fall into sin. But instead, it rejoices when others live their lives in righteousness and truth. Charity, agape love, gets excited when it hears of spiritual victories and triumphs. It even go as far as encouraging others by verbally expressing our joy, rejoicing together with them in their victories, in the triumph, in all that they have achieved and accomplished in the Christian walk. For after all, charity rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in truth. It expresses its joy over the spiritual growth and maturity. I've quoted this verse in last Sunday's message, but tonight I'd like to bring to your attention the same verse. Turn with me to 3 John. 3 John, and look with me at verse 4. 3 John, and look with me at verse 4. It says here, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Sounds like what Paul just said in 1 Corinthians 13, verse 6. Rejoice it not in iniquity, but rejoice it in the truth. Those under the influence of agape love rejoice when good is done, when truth is defended, and when the gospel is advanced. That is how we could put into practice charity as outlined by the Apostle Paul in our text. How are we to rejoice in truth? We rejoice in truth when we see others walking in righteousness and in truth. And when we see the truth being upheld and defended, and when the gospel is advanced. That is what it is like to walk even to cultivate and practice charity. But then again, I see this as a great struggle. Because we rejoice in others triumphs and victories. Remember what we have learned in our previous study? Charity, seek it not her own. Love or charity, rejoice it in the truth. And those that under the influence of this agape love, rejoices in the truth. And in what the truth has accomplished, regardless of who has done it. Rejoice it not in iniquity, rejoice it in truth. Coming down to verse 7, Paul continues, Charity, bear it all things. The word translated bear it here means to protect by covering as in a roof. To protect by covering as in a roof. In other words, you shelter, you shield. as in a roof. In other words, you shelter, you shield. It can also mean to quietly bear and endure or endure silently. Now, what is Paul trying to tell us here? In view of what has been said in verse 6, rejoice it not in iniquity, but rejoice it not in truth. Charity here does not broadcast or anyhow share openly the faults, the wrong, and the problem of others. Of course, this is not to say that we hide or conceal the shortcomings or the sin of others, but it means that we are to avoid and view publicity of one's fault and imperfection. After all, back in verse 6, we are told we should not rejoice in iniquity while we are saddened to hear of somebody's downfall into sin, while we are troubled and disturbed of somebody falling into sin and committing sin. And by all means, we are to confront sin, of course, lovingly, and correct sin, of course, lovingly. Yet we are further exhorted that we must bear all things. Just because our brother or a sister has gone back to fall back into sin, then we are at liberty to expose them publicly. That's the idea behind what Paul is saying here. But rather, charity, bear it all things. To quietly bear and endure silently, coming alongside the person in their shortcomings, in their wrongdoings, and in their sins. And that is the idea behind that word there, covering as in a roof. To avoid and view publicity of one's fault and imperfection, that may expose the person and be subject to embarrassment and shame. Again, lest at times we find ourselves misquoted. While the word here means to cover as in a roof, it does not mean that we are to hide or to cover up or to conceal. But it simply means to avoid and view publicity of one's sin, of one's fault, and of one's imperfection. And that is to avoid embarrassment and shame. Now, we can look at it in the light of what the Lord has taught in Matthew chapter 18. Now turn with me for a while to Matthew chapter 18. This is often a reference to a kind of actions in relation to church members in the form of discipline. Matthew chapter 18. And look with me in verse 15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. And if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. In other words, even if there be any issues, even if you are the ones offended, even if you have been hurt, even so badly, you are to bear all things. It does not give you the freedom and the liberty to tell everyone of what has happened. Instead, what are you supposed to do? Bear with it. And look at verse 15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. And he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Verse 16. But if he'll what hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, referring to witnesses, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. So what I want us to see in here is there has to remain a kind of respect for one another. That in whatever issues you may be having between a fellow believer or a fellow member of the church, that does not give you the freedom or the liberty to expose. To expose. In fact, Paul here is saying, bear it all things. Charity, agape, bear it all things. It does not broadcast nor publicize issues, problems, conflicts. But instead, to cover, meaning to quietly endure, to patiently bear with it, avoiding embarrassment and public humiliation. and public humiliation. We read of some verses in the book of Proverbs that helps us to better understand what Paul here says, love or charity buried all things. Look with me at a book of Proverbs chapter 10 and verse 12. It says here, hatred stirs up strife, but look at the second half, but love covered all things. Love covered all things. They say that we are to conceal and hide the sin, but to simply bear with it, that instead of going towards, inclined towards hatred, it stir up strife, you put on love, you put on charity, and it is that charity, remember what love will accomplish, it buried all things. From Proverbs 10, we move on to Proverbs 17. Look with me at verse 9. The same idea, not hiding and concealing the sin that has been committed, and the offense that has been committed, but simply bearing with it silently and quietly. Look with me in Proverbs 17 verse 9. He that covered a transgression, what? Seeketh love. While indeed it is quite a struggle, especially when the harm is so great and the pain is so, pain, the hurt is indeed so great and painful, yet the Bible reminds us, he that covered a transgression, seeketh love. And look at this, but he that repeated a matter separated very friends. Repeated a matter, separated very friends. It applies both ways, to the offender and the offending. Remember this morning's message? Think it not evil, does not make an account, does not make any event inventory of how many times the person or the brother has offended you, but rather chose to be what? Patient, to be kind, to be forgiving. He that covered a transgression, seeketh love. But he that repeated a matter, what? Separated very friends. To the offender, you repeat it and do it again and again, there will be a time, there will come a time that the offended would also yield to the flesh and perhaps retaliate and avenge. We also have it in a New Testament in 1 Peter chapter 4. Let's turn to 1 Peter chapter 4 and look with me at verse 8. 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 8. It says here, and above all things, have what? Fervent charity among yourselves. Why? For charity shall cover the multitude of sins. It is charity. And what is charity and what charity can accomplish? Does not take inventory of the wrong and of how many times the person had wronged thee. And that is what charity would accomplish. Charity shall cover the multitude of sin. Love does not take on inventory, does not take account how many times the person have offended thee, have wronged thee, and have hurt thee. But rather, it chose to bear, chose to preserve the friendship, chose to preserve the harmony and peace and unity, and it chose to honor the Lord in their lives. At times, we may be able to bring ourselves to conduct ourselves that we bear all things. But somehow, there are those that would retaliate by way of joke, by way of sarcasm, and by way of innuendos. In whatever way you would think of getting even, please know that it is not characteristics, it is not typical of charity. Please know that it is not characteristics, it is not typical of charity. In fact, it is conduct unbecoming a believer. And we have learned just that in our previous messages, how charity does not conduct itself unseemly, how charity does not behave itself unseemly. So charity buried all things and then verse 7 continues, believe it all things. Believe it all things. Now I must say at this point that the all things in these verses does not mean all as in all. We may need to understand that the all things here refers only to anything according to the truth of the scripture and within God's righteous and gracious will. And so when Paul here said charity buried all things, believe it all things, Paul does not mean to say that agape love is gullible, that we can just anyhow believe all things here can only refer to anything according to the truth in scripture and within the confines of God's righteousness and gracious will. It does not mean that love is so naive that when we chose to pursue and practice agape that we can just anyhow believe. When it says here believe all things, it can only refer to the truth as revealed in the scripture. But in its context, it means that we are not to be suspicious or doubting any other person's motive or intent in their exercise of the spiritual gifts. We just have to trust. We just have to believe. It is not for us to question intentions, motives, reasons behind, but instead chose to believe, not doubting, not suspecting of other person's character, of other person's motive, but just simply trusting, believing. Iniquity, but rejoice it in the truth, bear it all things, believe it all things, hope it all things. Hope it all things. It means it does not expect that the one that you loved would fail, but rather hoping and trusting that they will be able to make it trusting in God's enabling grace. Again, let's apply quite the same and similar gift. Like for example, all can play the piano and in that particular gift, everybody can play the piano, but somehow there are times that we seem to think highly of ourselves that I can play better than them. And so when somebody is given the task to play that particular piece, you would have that kind of concern. You may have that kind of thinking, will he be able to do it? Will he be able to perform it? I think I can do better than him. This is one area that we also need to really search our hearts because it is so easy that it can creep into our hearts, but that is not a characteristic of charity. Remember, Paul said to the Philippians, esteem others better than yourself. And so when Paul, he said, hope with all things, it does not expect that the person to whom you extend charity would fail, but you are hopeful that he would make it and succeed. It is the confidence that God would help him, that God would enable him to do and accomplish the task, the work that has been assigned to him. Yes, you may have that kind of concern, wondering if he is able, but you must guard your hearts and watch yourself from falling into temptation. But you must guard your hearts and watch yourself from falling into temptation. I could do better than him. I could play better than him. Instead, you commit the brother or the sister to the Lord in prayer. Lord, somehow I know that he may not be that good in doing this or in playing this, but I trust that you would enable him, you would help him, you would empower him, that he can deliver to the praise and glory of God. That is what charity is and will accomplish in our lives. Bear it, all things. Believe it, all things. Hope it, all things. But when Paul, he said, hope it, all things, it does not mean that we ignore the reality. It does not mean that we ignore the difficulties and the challenges, but rather it means that we put our hope and trust that the Lord would enable, would empower, that brother or sister to accomplish the task that is given to him. This hope it, all things here doesn't mean that we ignore the reality. It doesn't mean that we close our eyes to the problems, the limitations, the challenges. But as it is, it puts and rests the trust of God that all things work together for good. One more thing about hope it, all things, it is not that hope that we can see in the world. I hope it will not rain today or I hope it will not rain tomorrow. It is not that kind of hope, but rather it is that hope in God that is able to help, to empower us to do and accomplish great and mighty things for his honor and for his glory. Now, coming to the last, in verse 7, bear it, all things, believe it, all things, hope it, all things, endure it, all things. The word endure it there is that word that means to stay under, to remain, to undergo patiently the situation that you are in. To stay under, to remain, to undergo patiently the situation you are in. This term is often used in the military to mean to hold the fort, to sustain the assault of the enemy. In other words, you don't give up, you don't yield, you don't surrender. But instead what? You endure, you hang on there. Again, in the area of service, one of the common reasons why Christians quit the ministry, other than the difficulties and the challenges is they cannot endure and they cannot bear having to collaborate and work with people that they dislike. People in which they consider that they can never work with. And so they chose the easy way out. And that is not charity. For if you serve the Lord, exercising the gift that the Lord has given you, and in relation to what Paul said here, I show you a more excellent way. If you are committed to practicing agape love, you should and must endure, able to bear with all the difficulties, difficult situation, difficult people, difficult personalities, difficult character. For perhaps it could be that the Lord is molding you and teaching you that you also would grow and mature, able to deal with different kinds of personalities. Now, in application to the church in general, there is this common habit and practice among Christians that they would bail out in the midst of difficulties and situations that they may be encountering in the church. It is so common even in churches in the Philippines. When they attend in this particular church, and they somehow become unhappy with the preaching, or perhaps they felt that they have been singled out, dealing and rebuke the particular sin in which they are guilty of, rather than enduring and persevering, as being subjected to such reproof and correction and rebuke, they would rather choose to go the easy way out. Leave the church and go and find another way. Leave the church and go and find another church according to their preference. But if you look carefully at such an attitude and a common practice among many, it is not actually helping them. And you should know that it is not a characteristic of agape love, for agape love will accomplish what? Endure it, all things, enable you to endure and persevere. True. We see this in many churches whereby church members would hop in from one church to another, finding the ideal church for their liking when they ought to have stayed and remain and be subjected under patiently. Remember the idea behind the word endure? To stay under, to remain, to undergo patiently. The situation you are in. You're being corrected, you're being reproved, you're being rebuked, endure. And so it is with our service unto the Lord. We are to endure all things, endure our situation, endure our predicament, endure people, endure different personalities. And that is how we are able to practice charity. Having gone through these 15 characteristics of charity, I wonder if we are able to memorize them. And more so, I wonder if we are ready to apply them in our lives. This practice of charity, as outlined to us by Paul, is not just for our head knowledge. It's not just for us to know them. It's not just for us to memorize them. But it is all for us to practice. It is all for us to apply. It is all for us to express and demonstrate to one another. Of course, nobody can perfectly practice such pure and holy acts of charity. But it is something that we must pursue. It is something in which we must practice. It is something in which we are to persevere. For that is what the Lord expects from us. One of the hymns that we sang is that hymn, Oh, to be like thee. Yes, it is never an excuse that since no one can perfectly practice such an expression and demonstration of charity, but we are to pursue it. We are to practice it. We are to persevere in it. Because it's the will of God for each one of us. And it is the purpose of God that we grow therein. That the church will be firmly established and the church and the communion of the body of believers will be strengthened. And more so, in so doing, the name of the Lord be magnified and he be glorified. Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for enabling us to go through the entire 15 characteristics of charity as laid down before us by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. Going through each one of it somehow brings us to a clearer and a fuller understanding of what it is like and of what it takes and of how we have fallen short to meet up such standards. Yet we are mindful to come before you and plead for your mercy to forgive us in many areas where we have failed and that we ask for your grace to enable us to rise up and start to put all these things into practice. Having that resolve that we become more and more like the Lord Jesus. Have mercy upon us and bless us, O Lord, even as we look forward to the remaining messages ahead of us. Continue to bless us with that joy and gladness in our hearts, eager and ready to hear your word. Even so, to receive them with gladness and with that firm resolve of practicing it in our everyday life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.