The 16 Facets Of Love | Part 3
By Warren David Horak
The Proof of Eternal Life
Jesus paid the ultimate price to give us eternal life.
Eternal life is knowing God intimately!
Our highest calling is to know Him.
The proof that we really know God, is the love that we have for the brethren and our enemies.
Walking in love is the only evidence that we have eternal life and know God.
Today we continue to learn how to love as we discover the 16 facets of love.
1 John 4:7–8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.Watch the video below
Introduction
Today, we'll explore the profound importance of love in the Christian life and how it relates to eternal life.
As we delve into the various facets of love, we'll discover that love is not just a nice addition to our faith, but the very essence of knowing God.
This message will challenge and convict us, but ultimately lead us to a deeper understanding of God's heart and our highest calling as believers.
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The Journey of Love: Our Highest Calling
Love is an eternal journey, and God has called us to learn to love deeply.
While spiritual warfare and intercession are important, love must be our main focus. The facets of love encompass truth as well, for Jesus is the truth and God is love.
We need to be balanced between truth and love through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus paid the ultimate price to give us eternal life. John 3:16 reminds us:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Love is the driving force of the universe.
God sent Jesus because He loves us, allowing us to have everlasting life, also known as eternal life.
Defining Eternal Life: Knowing God Intimately
Many Christians misunderstand the biblical definition of eternal life.
It's not just about living forever in heaven. John 17:3 gives us the true definition:
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Eternal life is knowing God intimately.
It begins the moment we are born again, not when we die.
Our highest priority should be knowing God through prayer and intimacy.
This is why developing a consistent prayer life is crucial.
The Proof of Eternal Life: Walking in Love
The evidence that we truly know God is the love we have for our brethren and even our enemies. Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount, teaches us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.
These facets of love are challenging but essential to our Christian walk.
1 John 3:10-15 provides a sobering insight into the importance of love:
"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
This passage makes it clear that loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is not optional – it's a matter of spiritual life and death. The facets of love demonstrated in our relationships reveal whether we truly know God.
-did you learn to love-
This is our greatest purpose and destiny
Love Fulfills the Law
Romans 13:8-10 teaches us that love fulfills the law:
"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
When we walk in love, we automatically fulfill the law.
The various facets of love encompass all the commandments. This is why focusing on love is so crucial – it's the key to living a righteous life.
The Carnal Mind vs. The Spiritual Mind
Romans 8:6-8 contrasts the carnal mind with the spiritual mind:
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
The carnal mind, focused on worry, stress, and fear, is actually at enmity with God.
To walk in love and please God, we must cultivate a spiritual mind that trusts in Him and casts all our cares upon Him.
The Ultimate Test: Loving Our Enemies
One of the most challenging facets of love is loving our enemies.
Jesus commands us to love even those who hate and persecute us.
This love is not just an emotion, but an action.
We are called to bless them, pray for them, and release God's love over them.
When we love our enemies, several powerful things happen:
- We experience healing in our own hearts.
- We release the most potent spiritual weapon – God's love – over them.
- We fulfill our role as intercessors, potentially leading to their salvation.
- We become truly free, no longer bound by hatred or unforgiveness.
The Power of Love in Spiritual Warfare
While many Christians focus on spiritual warfare techniques, love is actually our greatest weapon.
The facets of love, when fully embraced, become a formidable force against the enemy.
When we walk in love, we align ourselves with God's nature and power.
1 John 4:7-8 emphasizes the connection between love and knowing God:
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
This passage clearly states that if we don't love, we don't know God. It's a sobering thought that should drive us to examine our hearts and actions.
-Do you know God?-
Those who do not walk in LOVE do not know GOD!
Repentance and Forgiveness: The Path to Love
To truly walk in love, we must be willing to repent of our failures to love and forgive those who have hurt us.
Unforgiveness builds walls in our hearts, trapping us with negative emotions and even demonic influences.
By forgiving and releasing God's love over others, we tear down these walls and experience true freedom.
The facets of love include patience, kindness, and believing the best about others. When we struggle to love, we should ask God to help us see others through His eyes and release His love through us.
Love as the Foundation of Revival
For true revival to come to the church and the nations, love must be at the forefront. Jesus said in John 13:35:
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
When the world sees Christians genuinely loving each other and their enemies, they will be drawn to the reality of Christ.
The various facets of love, when displayed in the church, become the most powerful evangelistic tool we have.
Practical Steps to Grow in Love
- Study and meditate on the facets of love described in 1 Corinthians 13.
- Practice forgiveness daily, releasing those who have hurt you.
- Bless your enemies and pray for their salvation.
- Ask God to help you see others through His eyes of love.
- Cultivate a prayer life focused on intimacy with God.
- Repent quickly when you fail to walk in love.
- Speak words of love and blessing over others, even when it's difficult.
- Choose to believe the best about others, rather than assuming the worst.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Love
We cannot love as God loves in our own strength.
The Holy Spirit is the one who pours out God's love in our hearts (Romans 5:5).
As we surrender to Him and ask for His help, He will empower us to love in ways we never thought possible.
The facets of love become manifest in our lives as we yield to the Spirit's work.
Conclusion
The journey of love is the highest calling for every believer.
As we've explored the various facets of love, we've seen that it's not just a nice addition to our faith, but the very essence of knowing God and walking in eternal life.
Love fulfills the law, overcomes evil, and provides undeniable proof that we belong to Christ.
Let us commit ourselves to growing in love, allowing God to stretch us beyond our comfort zones.
May we embrace all the facets of love – patience, kindness, forgiveness, blessing our enemies, and believing the best about others.
As we do, we'll not only experience personal transformation but also become powerful witnesses of God's love to a hurting world.
Remember, it's never too late to learn to love as God loves.
Let's pray for one another, that we would be filled afresh with God's love and empowered to walk in it daily.
May the Lord bless you as you pursue Him and grow in the facets of love that reflect His very nature.
FAQ on "16 Facets of Love"
The 16 facets of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 are:
- Longsuffering/Patient
- Kind
- Not Envious
- Not Boastful/Parading Itself
- Not Arrogant/Puffed Up
- Not Rude/Ill-Mannered
- Not Self-Seeking
- Not Easily Angered/Provoked
- Keeping No Record of Wrongs/Thinks No Evil
- Not Rejoicing in Unrighteousness
- Rejoicing in Truth
- Bearing All Things
- Believing All Things
- Hoping All Things
- Enduring All Things
- Unfailing/Never Ending
This passage gives a rich, multi-faceted definition of what true godly love looks like in action.
The facets of love are crucial in Christian life because:
- They reflect God's character: As God is love, these facets show us what His love looks like in action.
- They guide our behavior: These characteristics help us understand how to love others as God loves us.
- They promote spiritual growth: Striving to embody these facets helps us become more like Christ.
- They strengthen relationships: Practicing these aspects of love improves our interactions with others.
- They fulfill God's commandments: Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love others.
By focusing on these facets of love, we align ourselves with God's will and become more effective in our Christian walk.
To practice the facets of love in your daily life:
- Study and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 regularly.
- Pray for God's help to develop these characteristics in your life.
- Be mindful of your thoughts and actions, aligning them with these facets.
- Practice patience and kindness in your interactions with others.
- Choose to forgive and not hold grudges.
- Celebrate others' successes instead of being envious.
- Put others' needs before your own.
- Speak truth in love and avoid gossip or harmful speech.
- Persevere in difficult relationships, believing the best about others.
- Reflect on your behavior daily and ask for forgiveness when you fall short.
Remember, developing these facets of love is a lifelong process that requires God's grace and continuous effort on our part as we trust Him to release His love through us.
