LOVE - A MORE EXCELLENT WAY
Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 12:31 KJV
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Many times Christians desire to operate in the spectacular realm of God’s manifested power. They hope to see miracles and mighty healings. Seeking to minister a mighty work of God for another. Longing to have a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge about someone else. Although all gifts of God are good and perfect according to James 1:17 we as Christian are admonished to develop our Love walk first. Jesus is the great gift giver and the mighty miracle worker. When we know His heart and are yielded to His More Excellent Way He will show us our part in His Work. We simply choose to have the heart of our Lord Jesus above the outward demonstration of the works from His hands.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthen with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. KJV-Ephesians 3:14-19
Our Lord knows that when we realize that Holy Spirit is always present, performing the supernatural for us and in us, then the visible spectacular works of God will not be more appealing to us than knowing Him by His Word. This state of mind is birthed by revelation and understanding. A mature stable Christian that knows how to be abased or how to abound, how to maintain peace in hunger or fullness, how to handle plenty or do without. Speaking not in consideration of want but rather abiding content in whatever state they are in because they do all things through the Anointing on God’s Holy Word which strengthens them.-Philippians 4:11-13
Ephesians 4:8-11 informs us that God gave gifts unto men for the purpose of maturing the Body of Christ in love. Showing us that the mature saint would be placed into a position of responsibility and honor to train up the children and the younger developing Christians until we all grow-up unto spiritually mature saints. Notice Ephesians 4:12-16
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. KJV
These verses of scripture clearly link spiritual maturity to the edification of love. The gifts given from a Love filled Heavenly Father should be ministered by His Love filled children. I have not read in the Holy Bible where a miracle of healing was ministered through an unbeliever, nor consistent demonstrations of God’s Power wrought through the hands of an unrighteous man. God glorious works are usually wrought through those of His own likeness. Even earthly fathers entrust their own faithful children with more than they would a stranger. How much more will our Heavenly Father give the true riches of Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.-Luke 11:13 Once we have asked and received God’s gift to His children, we must maintain our desire to be full of God’s Holy Spirit and always conscious of His presence.-Ephesians 5:18-20 The fulness of God’s Spirit produces the power we need to sustain us personally first, then the love ones in our family, after that those that are hurting in the world. Esteem the ministry gifts of God placed in the body of Christ highly because they will teach you by word and example how to walk in God’s miraculous love. God’s love will affect your fellowship with God, other believers and your relationships in mankind as a whole. Walking in the pathway of unconditional, unselfish, all forgiving Love is the most excellent way of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus displayed all three of these important character-istics of God (forgiveness, unselfishness, unconditional love) because He is God manifested in the flesh and God is Love.-1 John 4:15,16
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 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. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers or miracles? Have all gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you a more excellent way. KJV - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Notice that the miracles and gifts of healings followed the teaching of God’s Word. The more excellent way is the way of maturity and consistency. It is the walk of Love as explained 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a - KJV
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. 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. And though I bestow all goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemingly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; bearth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:
Verse 11 of that same chapter points out the contrast between childhood and manhood. A child is typically immature whereas a Godly man is further developed in the ways and things of God. The maturity needed for the Love of God described in 1 Corinthians 13 is achieved by developing the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We can plainly see that to be spiritual you have to be developed in the fruit of the spirit. Our love walk is directly related to the maturity of the fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians chapter 5 the prior verses 13 and 14 show the purpose of the fruit of God is to fulfill the law of God by serving one another in love.
For, brethern, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself.
So it is wisdom to seek after perfecting your love walk first, then let the gifts operate as the Lord wills. Set your will to walk in the Love of Christ Jesus because His Love is always willing and obedient to our Just and Wonderful Father. Know that before any miracle of God is released His Word was spoken. It is the faith in God’s Word that produced the miracle. Therefore to know God’s Word is to know about God, but to have God's holiness in your spirit is to be as God. The results of knowing God intimately is the visible manifestations of His Word of Power, this allows God the opportunity to work His works as we partake of His great grace. For if any son is present with his father over a long period of time and watches diligently how his father works with his hands. That son will be able to produce some works like his father by using his hands in the same fashion, but to understand why his father works and when his father works, is operating on a higher level of understanding. To know what his father is thinking about while he works with his hands is better than seeing what is created from his hands. For we have the mind of Christ and it is this mind of a humble servant that empowers us with the grace to work the greater works of Christ.-1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5-8 and John 14:12 God’s word doesn’t promise us a certain operation or manifestation of a gift when we desire it, but our loving Father has already given His children His best gifts of Jesus and Holy Spirit. Now He has placed ministry gifts into the body of Christ to help us develop and grow-up in these two most precious gifts of His Son and His Holy Spirit. How much more should we esteem the transformation into His image and likeness above what we can see with our eyes, touch with our hands or confirm as fact with our intellect. To be like our Father and Lord will be much more fruitful and enduring than to be used by him. Not at all saying that we should consider our service unto our Lord as a light thing, but lesser in comparison to knowing Him. Samson was a man mightily used of God at certain times, but he was not as fruitful for God because the works of his ministry only operated at times in his life here on earth instead of his way of life upon this earth. Lacking God’s character he was not able to endure the temptations of this world. Whereas Daniel was known to have an excellent spirit (the Heart of Love) which sustained him in hard times and also made him very fruitful for God all of his life.
A good name is better to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather then silver and gold. KJV-Proverbs 22:1
Inner strength spiritually is shown to be more valuable than outer strength seen naturally. Samson showed the power of God, but Daniel developed God’s Word which produces the Power of God. For if you continue in God’s Word then are you His disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and that truth you know shall make you free.-John 8:31,32 Once you are free yourself it will be easier for you to help others become free. For to know our Father and Lord Jesus is to love them and to love them is to obey them. We must be sure not to desire the affects of our Lord’s Presence more than the Presence of the Lord Himself. The Presence of the Lord brings refreshment, liberty and fullness of Joy imparting God’s spiritual grace into your inner man whereas the works of the Lord usually change the natural realm to bring it into conformity with God’s will. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.-Ephesians 2:8,9 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.-Romans 11:6 God’s spiritual impartations of grace are everlasting and endure incorruptible, but the natural things on this earth are temporal being subject to time and change. So in the final analysis the Presence of the Lord was, and is, and will be forever, but the works of the Lord done on this earth are but for a time and season. Moses was much more stable and dedicated to God than the children of Israel, because the Children of Israel saw God’s miraculous acts but Moses knew God’s Ways.-Psalms 103:7 If we as Christians choose intimacy with Christ through time spent in the Word of God over the works of God operating through us we will be prepared to minister God’s Glory to anyone in need as Holy Spirit wills. Remember - Not my will be done, Oh, Lord but thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.-Luke 22:42 and Matthew 6:10
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
In His Love, Eric & Angela Foster