LESSON: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:6a

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INTRODUCTION:

Tired Son ⁽¹⁾

A clergyman, walking down a country lane, sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off.

"You look tired, my son," said the cleric. "Why don't you rest a moment, and I'll give you a hand."

"No thanks," said the young man. "My father wouldn't approve."

"Don't be silly," the minister said. "Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water."

Again the young man protested that his father would be upset.

Losing his patience just a little, the clergyman said, "Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and I'll give him a piece of my mind!"

"Well," replied the young farmer, "you can tell him whatever you like just as soon as I get this hay off him."

1. To understand love, we have to get the hay off of it.

1. We need to unpack it.

2. We need to remove all the clutter and debris.

2. This needs to be done so that we may experience the joy of love.

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MAIN BODY:

1. There are two uses of REJOICE in this verse.

1. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing.

÷áßñù, chairoô, khah'ee-ro

A primary verb; to be full of "cheer", that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well:--farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice.

1. Wrongdoing does not create a sense of "cheer," or "happiness."

1. Paul writes about the works of the flesh.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, (Galatians 5:19-21, (NRSVA).

2. This is one understanding of wrongdoing.

2. We are not to rejoice over those who are doing wrong.

3. Actually we are to mourn, to grieve over the wrong that is being done in our world.

1. Jesus said in Matthew 5.4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, (Matthew 5.4).

2. We are not to inflate our own spirituality at the expense3 of another.

2. Love rejoices in the truth.

óõã÷áßñù, sugchairoô, soong-khah'ee-ro

From G4862 and G5463; to sympathize in gladness, congratulate:--rejoice in (with).

1. Truth is a swampy word that needs to be individualized.

1. There are certain commonly held basic truths.

2. The remainder is left to individual conscience enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

2. We do, however, have a guide.

3. It is in a conversation that Jesus had with some Jewish leaders.

³¹Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ³³They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"

³⁴Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. ³⁸I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father."

³⁹They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, ⁴⁰but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ⁴¹You are indeed doing what your father does." They said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself." ⁴²Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. ⁴³Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. ⁴⁴You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God," John 8:31-47 (NRSVA).

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2. To rejoice is to experience and share the joy.

1. It is more than a feeling

1. Author and law professor Stephen Carter writes:

My date book contains cartoons first published in The New Yorker. One shows a young boy in front of his class, doing arithmetic at the blackboard. He has just written "7 x 5 = 75" and says to his astonished teacher, "It may be wrong, but it's how I feel."

There, in a nutshell, is the problem with the post-secular university. Faith is dead, reason is dying, but "how I feel" is going strong.

Stephen Carter, "When 7 x 5 = 75," www.ChristianityToday.com (12-11-06)

2. Joy has feelings, but it is not a feeling.

1. Joy is a state of being.

2. Joy is:

Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries First Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998, Parsons Technology, Inc. Strong, James (1822-1894)

÷áñÜ, charful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

2. We need more than someone to point out the problem

Charlie Brown rests his head in his hands while leaning on the wall. He looks miserable, as usual.

Lucy approaches. "Discouraged again, eh, Charlie Brown?"

Charlie Brown does not even answer.

"You know what you trouble is?" Lucy asks in the second frame. Without waiting for a response, she announces, "The whole trouble with you is that you are you!"

Charlie Brown turns to her, "Well, what in the world can I do about that?"

Lucy replies, "I don't pretend to be able to give advice...I merely point out the trouble!"

3. We are in need of someone to help us with the solutions.

1. There are lots of professions and people who are offering solutions.

2. I recommend Jesus Christ.

3. During the dark night of the soul, where do you find light?

1. During the confusion of disappointment, where do you find encouragement?

2. During the tempest of emotions, where do you find repose?

3. During the tensions of anxiety, where do you find relaxation?

4. In the midst of the deepest sorrow, where do you find joy?

1. I received an email from Steve Foye that reads:

Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles----
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stop lights on your way to work or shop.
I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfection -- little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.
I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.
Have a TERRIFIC day!!!!

2. This may help, but in the end it proves to be inadequate.

4. We need something more.

1. Helga and I went to the Choral Benefit Concert, Saint John's Catholic Church, Spring Green, Wisconsin, April 22, 2007, 2:30 pm.

2. The choir, under the direction of Jan Swensen sang John Rutter's Requeim.

3. I was deeply impressed by the 5. "Agnus Dei", from the Requiem, John Rutter

1. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.

1. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: in thy mercy, grant them rest.

2. Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery.

3. He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow.

4. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.

5. In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour?

6. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.

7. I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

2. The Agnus was in part taken from "Missa pro defunctis & Burial Service, 1662 Book of Common Prayer")

3. I looked it up on the Internet and this is what I found in part it is from the Book of Job:

(When they come to the Grave, while the Corpse is made ready to be laid into the earth, the Priest shall say, or the Priest and Clerks shall sing:)

"MAN that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.

In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?

"Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.

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5. I was reminded in these words of the experience of Mary and Martha in John 11.

1. Brother Lazarus had died.

2. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus.

3. You know the story.

1. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

2. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha found the true joy that lightens the burdens and lifts the spirits.

4. Where did Mary and Martha find Joy?

1. They found joy in Jesus.

2. They found joy in the promise of Jesus.

3. They found joy in the presence of Jesus.

4. They found joy in the love of Jesus.

6. Mary and Martha discovered all that was necessary to experience joy.

1. During the dark night of the soul, where do you find light?

1. The light of the world is Jesus.

The Light of the World is Jesus: Words & Music: Philip P. Bliss

1
The whole world was lost
In the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday,
His glory shone in.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

2
No darkness have we
Who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light
When we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!

3
Ye dwellers in darkness
With sin blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash, at His bidding,
And light will arise.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

4
No need of the sunlight
In Heaven we're told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light
In the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

2. This is based on the declaration in John 1.

2. During the confusion of disappointment, where do you find encouragement?

¹⁷As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again--but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰Yes, you are our glory and joy!.^3:1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; ²and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, ³so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. ⁵For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain. ⁶But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us--just as we long to see you, (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:6, NRSVA).

1. Paul sends personal encouragements through Timothy

2. Paul sends words of encouragement in the Epistle that he has written.

3. During the tempest of emotions, where do you find repose?

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." ³⁶And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" ⁴¹And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41, NRSVA).

1. The disciples can only experience aggravation and fear.

2. Jesus could find repose in the midst of the storm.

4. During the tensions of anxiety, where do you find relaxation?

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:4-7, NRSVA).

1. Both uses of REJOICE are chairoô, khah'ee-ro, to be full of cheer.

2. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,

3. In this state it is possible to truly rejoice.

4. In this condition is possible to know real joy.

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CONCLUSION

1. Do not let anything, no matter how large or small, rob you of your joy.

ROBBED OF JOY BY A SOUR ATTITUDE ⁽²⁾

Pastor Dale E Galloway writes about performing one of the most beautiful wedding celebrations he had ever seen. The bridesmaids looked like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Everything was the finest. The father and mother of the bride had put out big bucks to make this the wedding of all weddings. In the midst of the ceremony, he looked down at the bride's mother and saw she had a big frown on her face. She looked like she was about ready to kill somebody.

Here was this great celebration that she had looked forward to and planned for years--the wedding of her only daughter--and she wasn't enjoying it at all. 

Afterwards he found out what had robbed the mother of her joy. The florist had put the wrong color roses in the mother's corsage, so she sat there in a miserable state of mind and missed the joy of her only daughter's wedding.

2. In the midst of the deepest sorrow, where do you find joy?

1. Mary & Martha found joy in the promise of the resurrection.

2. Where do we discover joy?

3. Do we find it in the same person and promises as did Mary and Martha, and Lazarus?

Amen!

1. Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]

2. Dale E Galloway, CONFIDENCE WITHOUT CONCEIT (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Power Books-Fleming H. Revell, 1989).

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