Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Co 13:4) “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”   “Vaunted not itself”: to brag; to boast.  Consider that in doing so the thoughts and desires are upon self’s elevation in the eyes of others. Godly love desires the uplifting of others before self.

(1Co 13:4) “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”   “Envy”: moved with a burning toward another; jealousy. The fact that “burning” is stated reveals there’s a negative emotion involved. On the other hand, God’s love desires the best for others, putting others before self. Therefore they rejoice when others succeed or are lifted up in some way.

(1Co 13:4) “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”   Charity, the true love of God manifest by means of the Holy Spirit through us, is “longsuffering”. In other words, it patiently puts up with the annoyances of others. Not, the sin of others, but the things about them that irk us.

(1Co 13:4) “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”  Our failure by comparison to manifest God’s love (charity) is not meant for you and me to despair, but to seek to produce such a blessed fruit of the Holy Spirit. May it be so with each of us!

(1Co 13:3) “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”  “Charity”: sacrificial love; Source, the Holy Spirit. Example: the Lord Jesus put the desires of God the Father before His Own; the needs of others before His Own. His life demonstrates others first, even one’s enemies; self last. This is Godly love.

(1Co 13:2) “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, and have not charity, I am nothing.”  You that have been saved awhile, ask yourself: “Which would I rather have?” honestly before God. If you didn’t know what this verse said, chances are you would ask for something other than the ability to sacrificially love. We have a long way spiritually to go.

(1Co 13:1) “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”  Paul is not saying he can speak the language of angels, any more than he gave his body to be burned (v.3). He is doing a comparison of these things to Holy Spirit produced sacrificial love. They two do not compare.

(1Co 12:31) “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”  The excellent way referred to here is instruction on what gifts are the “best” gifts. Bottom line: the best gifts are those which are best for the local church, those which hold forth the Word of God.

 (1Co 12:29) “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30)  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?”  The answer is, “No”. The Holy Spirit gave each of us abilities through Himself for us to use for the good of the people (the church), each being every bit as important as the other.

(1Co 12:28) “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”  It is enough to say we do not see these active in churches today. What should be pointed out before looking at the verses to follow is one word that puts aside “the heavenly language” error of today – “diversities” of tongues – languages. Not one “heavenly language”, but each person speaking or interpreting a known language.