Harry Potter

Harry Potter

What Does God Say? 

I am writing this urgent message because I was once a witch. I lived by the stars as an astrologer and numerologist casting horoscopes and spells. I lived in the mysterious and shadowy realm of the occult. By means of spells and magic, I was able to invoke the powers of the "controlling unknown" and fly upon the night winds transcending the astral plane. Halloween was my favorite time of the year and I was intrigued and absorbed in the realm of Wiccan witchcraft. All of this was happening in the decade of the 1960’s when witchcraft was just starting to come out of the broom closet.

It was during that decade of the 1960’s, in the year 1966, that a woman named J.K. Rowling was born. This is the woman who has captivated the world in this year of 2000 with four books known as the "Harry Potter Series." These books are orientational and instructional manuals of witchcraft woven into the format of entertainment. These four books by J.K. Rowling teach witchcraft! I know this because I was once very much a part of that world.

Witchcraft was very different in the 1960’s. There were a lot fewer witches, and the craft was far more secretive. At the end of that spiritually troubled decade, I was miraculously saved by the power of Jesus Christ and His saving blood. I was also delivered from every evil spirit that lived in me and was set free. However, as I began to attend fundamental Christian churches, I realized that even there witchcraft had left its mark. Pagan holidays and sabats were celebrated as "Christian holidays."

As time went on, I watched the so-called "Christian" churches compromising and unifying. I also watched with amazement as teachings from Eastern religions and "New Age" doctrine began to captivate congregations. It was a satanic set-up, and I saw it coming. Illuministic conspirators were bringing forth a one-world religion with a cleverly concealed element of occultism interwoven in its teachings.

In order to succeed in bringing witchcraft to the world and thus complete satanic control, an entire generation would have to be induced and taught to think like witches, talk like witches, dress like witches, and act like witches. The occult songs of the 1960’s launched the Luciferian project of capturing the minds of an entire generation. In the song "Sound Of Silence" by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, we were told of seeds that were left while an entire generation was sleeping, and that the "vision that was planted in my brain still remains."

Now it is the year 2000. All of the foundations for occultism and witchcraft are in place. The Illuminists have to move quickly, because time is running out.

It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who said, "Give me one generation of youth, and I will transform the entire world." Now an entire generation of youth has been given to a woman named J.K. Rowling and her four books on witchcraft, known as the Harry Potter Series.

As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have examined the works of Rowling and that the Harry Potter books are training manuals for the occult. Untold millions of young people are being taught to think, speak, dress and act like witches by filling their heads with the contents of these books. Children are obsessed with the Harry Potter books that they have left television and video games to read these witchcraft manuals.

The first book of the series, entitled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone", finds the orphan, Harry Potter, embarking into a new realm when he is taken to "Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." At this occult school, Harry Potter learns how to obtain and use witchcraft equipment. Harry also learns a new vocabulary, including words such as "Azkaban", "Circe", "Draco", "Erised", "Hermes", and "Slytherin"; all of which are names of real devils or demons. These are not characters of fiction!

How serious is this? By reading these materials, many millions of young people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know them by name. Vast numbers of children professing to be Christians are also filling their hearts and minds, while willingly ignorant parents look the other way.

The titles of the books should be warning enough to make us realize how satanic and anti-christ these books are. The afore mentioned title of the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone", was a real give away. The second book was called "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", while the third book was entitled "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

Sadly enough, this blatant witchcraft has been endorsed by well-known and respected "Christian" leaders, such as Dr. James Dobson and Chuck Colson, who have proven themselves to be modern day Judas Iscariots. Nothing could be more obvious than that Harry Potter books are pure witchcraft and of the devil. The "Christian" leaders, however, defend them by saying that good magic always wins and overcomes evil magic.

This is the oldest con game ever hatched out of hell. As a real witch, I learned about the two sides of "the force." Apparently, so do many "Christian" leaders. When real witches have sabats and esbats and meet as a coven, they greet each other by saying "Blessed be", and when they part, they say "The Force be with you." Both sides of this "Force" are Satan. It is not a good side of the force that overcomes the bad side of the force, but rather it’s the blood of Jesus Christ that destroys both supposed sides of the satanic "Force."

High level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the seventh, which is assigned to Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he is called "the nameless one." In the Harry Potter books, there is a character called "Voldemort." The pronunciation guide says of this being "He who must not be named."

On July 8 at midnight, bookstores everywhere were stormed by millions of children to obtain the latest and fourth book of the series known as "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." These books were taken into homes everywhere with a real evil spirit following each copy to curse those homes. July 8th was also the 18th day (three sixes in numerology) from the witches’ sabat of midsummer. July 8th was also the 13th day from the signing of the United Religions Charter in San Francisco. Now we have learned that the public school system is planning to use the magic of Harry Potter in the classrooms making the public schools centers of witchcraft training.

What does God have to say about such books as the Harry Potter series? In the Bible in the book of Acts, we read the following in the 19th chapter, verses 18 – 20: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed."

As parents, we will answer to God if we allow our children to read witchcraft books. The Word of God will prevail mightily in your life only if such things of Satan are destroyed. This tract has been prayed over, and I hope it has helped you. If we may be of further assistance, please contact us.

Pastor David J. Meyer
Published by:
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916

http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract7.html

Narnia

The Witchcraft of the Narnia Chronicles

I am writing this urgent message because very soon our children here in the United States and elsewhere in the world are going to experience a bewitching and a deceptive occult indoctrination. On December 9th, 2005, a new Disney movie will be released entitled “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The movie is based on the book by C.S. Lewis entitled The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is a sad fact that mainstream “Christianity” esteems C.S. Lewis as a great “Christian” author and his writings as edifying with profound themes of “Christian” teachings. The C.S. Lewis books can be found in “Christian” bookstores everywhere, and even Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family organization is offering and promoting the works of C.S. Lewis. These same books, however, can also be found in occult bookstores everywhere!

As a former witch, astrologer, and occultist who has been saved by the grace of God, I know that the works of C.S. Lewis are required reading by neophyte witches, especially in the United States and England. This includes The Chronicles of Narnia, because it teaches neophyte, or new witches, the basic mindset of the craft. Isn’t it strange, though, that many “Christian” churches and organizations have used The Chronicles of Narnia as Sunday School curriculum?

When I saw the release date of this new movie, I was not surprised. December 9th is the 13th day before the witches’ quarter-sabat of Yule. The full cold moon is midway between the release date and the sabat of Yule. The waxing moon is also directly on the equinox on the release date of the movie. This is far too precisely occultic to be coincidental, and the producers of the movie no doubt consulted upper-level witches regarding the perfect day to have the “Chronicles of Narnia” open.

The author of The Chronicles of Narnia, Clive Staples Lewis, was a professor at Oxford University in England where he was supposedly converted to “Christianity” by another Oxford professor named J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien and Lewis would often sit together at a local pub or tavern and converse about their beliefs in the creatures and the activities of the middle earth, a strange realm of a little people and magical powers. Tolkien often referred to Lewis as a “reluctant Christian.” Tolkien, though, was a Roman Catholic in doctrine and found his religion to be perfectly compatible with magic and the world of hobbits and elves.

The story of the Narnian Chronicle known as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of clandestine occult mysticism and is not Sunday School material unless your Sunday School is a defacto witch coven. The story involves a child from the normal everyday or mundane world. This girl, Lucy, who hides in a wardrobe as she is playing a game, suddenly finds herself transported to another world very unlike her own. It is a world of intelligent, talking animals and strange creatures. The little girl soon finds herself having tea with a faun. In witchcraft and ancient Roman pagan mythology, a faun is any of a group of rural deities, which have the bodies of men and the horns, ears, tails, and legs of a goat. The Roman god Faunus was also the god of nature and fertility and was connected to sexual lust. Here let it be noted that in the Narnian Chronicle Prince Caspian, this same strange land the little girl finds herself in is also populated by gods and goddesses; such as Bacchus, the god of drunken orgies, and the Maenads, who were frenzied women driven to madness in the orgiastic cult of Bacchus.

The main character of the book is a lion named Aslan, which is the Turkish word for lion. Aslan the lion is the character that “Christian” teachers say is the Christ figure, but witches know him to be Lucifer. The lion, Aslan, appears in all seven of the books of The Chronicles of Narnia. The following are quotes regarding Aslan the lion:

“At the name of Aslan, Lucy got the feeling you get when you wake in the morning and realize it is the beginning of spring.”

“When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death; and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

“He’ll be coming and going; one day you’ll see him and another you won’t.”

“It was a lion, huge, shaggy; and bright it stood facing the rising sun.”

“Aslan swings his head around scattering golden gleams of light as he does so.”

Remember, Aslan the lion is esteemed to be the “Christ figure” by so many “Christian” teachers, but with that in mind, consider the following quotes from The Chronicles of Narnia.

“The crowd and dance round Aslan (for it had become a dance once more) grew so thick and rapid that Lucy was confused. She never saw where certain other people came from who were soon capering among the trees. One was a youth, dressed only in a fawn skin, with vine leaves wreathed in his curly hair. His face would have been almost too pretty for a boy’s, if it had not looked so extremely wild. You felt, as Edmund said when he saw him a few days later, ‘There’s a chap who might do anything, absolutely anything.’ He seemed to have a great many names – Bromios, Bassareus, and the Ram were three of them. There were a lot of girls with him, as wild as he. There was even, unexpectedly, someone on a donkey. And everybody was laughing: and everyone was shouting out, ‘EUAN, EUAN, EU-oi-oi-oi.’”

Those strange words EUAN, EUAN, EU-oi-oi-oi are an ancient witches’ chant used to invoke the power and presence of the god of drunkenness and addiction, who is named Bacchus. But wait, as the story goes on, it gets worse as the witchcraft increases and becomes more obvious. Consider the following: “‘What is it Aslan?’ said Lucy, her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to dance. ‘Come children’, said he. ‘Ride on my back today.’ ‘Oh lovely!’ cried Lucy, and both girls climbed on to the warm golden back as they had done no one knew how many years before. Then the whole party moved off – Aslan leading. Bacchus and his Maenads leaping, rushing and turning somersaults, the beasts brushing round them, and Silenus and his donkey bringing up the rear… Then three or four Red Dwarfs came forward with their tinder boxes and set light to the pile, which first crackled, and then blazed, and finally roared as a woodland bonfire on midsummer night ought to do. And every-one sat down in a wide circle around it. Then Bacchus and Silenus and the Maenads began a dance, far wilder than the dance of the trees, not merely a dance for fun and beauty (though it was that too), but a magic dance of plenty, and where their hands touched, and where their feet fell, the feast came into existence. Sides of roasted meat that filled the grove with delicious smell, and wheaten cakes and oaten cakes…”

The above is clearly a description of a witches’ sabat of Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, and it is described as such in perfect detail. Certainly by now enough is known to denounce this work as satanic and antichrist.

Was Clive Staples Lewis a Christian or a blasphemer? In his book The World’s Last Night and Other Essays on pages 98-99, Lewis said, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place… certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible.The one exhibition of error and the one confession of ignorance grow side by side. That they stood thus in the mouth of Jesus himself and were not merely placed thus by the reporter, we surely need not doubt… The facts, then, are these: that Jesus professed himself (in some sense) ignorant, and within a moment showed that he really was so.”

Lewis also said in Reflections on the Psalms, page 129, “… as I believe, Christ… fulfilled both paganism and Judaism.” Lewis was also quoted in a biography as follows: “I had some ado to prevent joy and myself from relapsing into paganism in Attica! At Daphni it was hard not to pray to Apollo the Healer. But somehow one didn’t feel it would have been very wrong – would have only been addressing Christ sub-species Apollinis.”

In closing this urgent message, I pray that our true and dear Lord Jesus Christ will have mercy on the deceived and sleeping remnant, and that they will come fully awake and rise up against this subtle attack of Satan. The apostle Paul warned us in II Corinthians 11:14-15 as follows: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteous-ness; whose end shall be according to their works.” May God help us all, and may he especially protect our children from witch-craft in the churches is my prayer.

Pastor David J. Meyer

Published By:
Last Trumpet Ministries
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
USA
Printable Version (PDF Format - Requires Adobe Reader)
http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

Why Are We Not Converting the World?

Why are we not converting the world?

Why Are We Not Converting The World? Matthew 9:35-38.

View more presentations from Diego McCarthy

killing

Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.”

Most will generally agree that killing is wrong. However, these same ones will also look for loop holes such as “self” defense or killing associated with war. Jesus would later come and condemn all forms of killing by combining this commandment into the two great commandments (canon of love, 1 Jn 3:23-24, 1 Jn 4:9-11, 21): Matthew 22:39, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

One man asked Jesus who his neighbor was, and Christ answered with the story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37). The Jews hated and despised Samaritans and it turns out that they represented the neighbors (fellow man) that this man should love. Now mankind will always justify hatred for their enemies (Lk 6:35). Christ elaborated on the intent of the second commandment: Matthew 5:43-45, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Notice how some tried to bypass (find loophole in) the second commandment through the use of the term “enemy.” Jesus said you are to “love” enemies if you want to be a child of God; and couldn’t have been more specific and clear (Prov 25:21-22, Rm 12:20). As an example: Romans 12:20, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

Can you see how these acts of love are the sacrificing self for the benefit of another (no pride, which is self-exaltation, involved here)? Your act of love diffuses another’s act of hate (which is sacrificing others for the benefit of self – the devil’s nature). If you return retribution, then hate has overcome love (Mt 5:39)! What Jesus is telling us is that we cannot allow the hate of others to overcome our love and also transform (conform) us to have the nature of hate. Luke 6:35-36, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” We must walk in the Lord’s nature – If we become as the evil then we are evil! We must walk in God’s nature and not that of Satan. Leviticus 19:17 , “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”

A profession of Christ does not allow you to walk contrary to Him. This may seem hard because the wicked are aggressive and just “take.” We must die to self and entrust our lives to God. It may seem like you are the loser and the wicked are triumphing over you, but this is strictly a fleshly perspective. You are the victor because you have not yielded your righteousness and allowed the wicked to change and transform you (to corrupt) into that which dishonors God. One who stands for righteousness at the expense of self brings honor to God (consider Job).

Our perspective must be godly and eternal and not fleshly and temporal. We praise God even in our own demise – this is surrender. If we keep Jesus’ Word, we know we are in Him (1 Jn 2:5). Luke 6:27-28, 32-33, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise (the second commandment). For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same (also Rm 12:14 ).” Whenever you talk to someone about enemies and justification for hating them, it always boils down to loving those who love you. What shall we say of our enemies? Job 31:15, “Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?” Therefore, those who “what if” Christ’s clear commandments on this subject or justify alternatives are simply not willing to obey the Lord. This is just the honest truth! These simply “feel” or “reason” that their thoughts on the subject are more valid and this is how they live.

Consider the case of the American Civil War. Brother hated brother in a brutal war. 1 John 4:21, “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” The religious men on both sides were sure that their side’s cause was right and God was on their side. Both sides held religious services and prayed for their troops, yet their very endorsement of such things (the war), violated Christ’s commandment (which they knew) – did that matter? Recompense no man evil for evil (Rm 12:17 ). Modern day Christians “voluntarily” send their sons and daughters off to war to fight for their country (always assuming the other guy’s kid will do the actual fighting and dying).

Jesus said, if you love me (the first commandment), then keep the second commandment – does this matter? What do your actions say? Shall we all hate one another – who will show love (put into practice Christ’s commands)? Would it not be better to suffer the evil (1 Cor 6:7, die)? Shall the whole world be filled with hate and violence? Religious man, you err greatly in furthering such thought. The dying should be to self and the fleshly reluctance (or refusal) to obey the Lord. If you do not keep Christ’s Words then He is not in you and there is no relationship (1 Jn 2:5). 1 John 2:9, 11, “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

Many will say: “But we are defending our nation or ourselves.” Go back and ponder the verses you just read – you’re seeking your way and are blinded by your own darkness. My “sentiment (opinions mixed with strong feelings)” will rise above the most High. God’s way is not nullified with what seems reasonable and justifiable to the flesh (make the Word of God of none effect, Mk 7:13 ). God’s kingdom will not operate in hate and neither will its citizens. No one goes off to war without having hatred and unforgiveness in their heart. How could you kill otherwise? Who kills without emotion – the heartless? 1 John 3:10, 15, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (we are all brothers going back to Noah and ultimately back to Adam, family of man, brotherly love). Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” To be a murderer is to have the nature of your father the devil (Jn 8:44 ). Those who follow Christ must love and overcome evil with good (Rm 12:20-21). We must bless those who persecute and curse not (Rm 12:14). Jesus said we cannot seek revenge either (Mt 5:38-42, Prov 24:29, Rm 12:17, 1 Pt 3:9).

Religious men greatly honor their veterans and have “prayer for the troops” – a mockery of true love. Matthew 26:52, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Some perish in the war, some perish “according to their deeds” at judgment. Does God answer prayers that violate His declared will (Second Commandment)? Does God just understand your violations religious man (bow to your sentiment)? Oh religious man, go and pull out all of your biblical arguments to “justify” your “way.” Continue to justify the hate of war rather than the love of God; you’re only moving away from a truly loving God (Is 41:21). Try and justify your hatred before a God whose Magnificence (splendor, glory, radiance, majesty, brilliance) you cannot even comprehend in your limited human reasoning – a God who does not have hate in His nature (God is love – but will show Himself froward or unsavory to the froward and wicked, Ps 18:26, 2 Sam 22:27).

Try and explain to God why one with a heart of hate should dwell with Him eternally – no doubt many have. Make sure that you understand the difference between killing and judgment, and understand that you do not have such capacity, knowledge or authority to know such things. Sons and daughters should be counseled not to go to war! – These are pivotal (fundamental) concerns that are ignored. There is a time and a season for everything a purpose under heaven. From this day until the coming of the Lord, we have been COMMANDED to abide in Christ’s covenant of “love (Mt 22:37-38, Mk 12:30-31, Lk 10:27, 1 Jn 3:23-24, 4:9-11, 21).” If a man love me (Jesus), he will KEEP my commandments (Jn 14:23). This is the gospel!!! Will you disregard? John 15:12, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (also Jn 12:34-35, 15:17, Rm 12:10, 13:8, Gal 5:13, Eph 4:2, 1 Thess 3:12, 4:9, Heb 10:24, 1 Pt 1:22, 3:8, 1 Jn 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11-12, 2 Jn 1:5).”

Many a religious man will profess, “I love God” while waving their flags and endorsing America’s violent actions around the world. Perhaps they turn on their television and listen to man’s reasoning of why they should hate a certain people. Man is very good at justifying all his evils – his heart is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9). Those in the flesh will find consolation with the world. Consider: 1 John 4:20-21, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” Perhaps your reasoning is a bit self centered: John 12:43 , “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Many religious men will justify many things because they do not want to suffer reproach for Christ (reproach goes against the flesh). Every country that enters into war considers God to be on their side. Man (in the flesh) sees those who go off to war to fight for their nation as heroes. God sees those who refuse to go as heroes. These lay their lives down (and incur the wrath of society, loss of reputation) for another (those who will not perish as a result of them not supporting or participating in the war and its hate). 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” This verse is the counterpart to John 3:16. Love is giving and sacrifice for another.

Love denies the flesh (even the strong desire for self preservation) to fulfill God’s purposes. Your hate will reveal your heart. Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” In conclusion: 1 John 3:23-24, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” Jesus commands that we love one another! Will you rise above the most High in your hatred? OR Will you keep Christ’s commandments and be found in Him?

Jesus (as a man) never fought in wars nor endorsed them. Will you abide in Christ and walk as He walked (1 Jn 2:6) or will you walk your “own way?” Love your enemies and do good, and great shall be your reward (Lk 6:35 ) – forgive and ye shall be forgiven (Lk 6:37). Consider Christ’s desire that will be implemented: Isaiah 2:4, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more (also Micah 4:3).” Do you desire to be rebuked by the Lord Almighty? Live peaceably with all men and overcome evil with good (Rm 12:18, 21). 1 John 4:21, “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” Dear reader, if you only knew how the Lord changed the author’s heart on this issue. The Lord absolutely showed and the author yielded – My God hath triumphed over me. Will God’s love triumph over you?

Most understand the physical act of killing someone, but killing is more inclusive than just that. Jesus said: Matthew 5:21-22, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

You must attempt to reconcile with those you have hard feelings against (Mt 5:23-24). To hate or wish harm to others in your heart is the same as committing a physical act against them. 1 John 3:15 , “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Christ would have us submitting one to another in love. Killing stems from the roots of bitternesses, hatred, and unforgiveness. You cannot harbor such feelings against others.

God has forgiven those who are sincere toward Him of much and we are expected to do the same to others who have transgressed us. Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Your forgiveness from God depends upon your forgiving of others (Mk 11:25-26). We are to be as our Father who art in heaven and not set limits on how many times we are willing to forgive (Mt 18:21-22). Consider the parable Jesus told (read Mt 18:23-35). Murder, hatred and bitterness are the devil’s nature and that of his children (Jn 8:44 ). Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (also Rm 1:25-32).”

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excerpt from, chapter 3 of “Following God Into the Wilderness,” by David Neal.

Luke 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

When the Blind Can See

by David Neal

Matthew 20:30-34, “And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” 

This event was a very real occurrence in Christ’s earthly walk. This incident actually has a double meaning and beautifully lays out the path to salvation which can only be found in Jesus. These blind men were humbled by their physical condition. Similarly, we must be very humbled in our spiritual condition. We have transgressed the will of God (sinned) and are under the condemnation of “thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17).” We are hopelessly lost and separated from our Creator through our own chosen darkness (1 Kgs 8:46, 2 Chr 6:36, Is 59:2, Rm 3:23, 1 Jn 1:10). Man had disobeyed God’s will in Eden in order to seek his own will. This disregard and rejection of God has only brought separation, misery and death to all men.

These blind men had no hope of correcting their situation (physical blindness) in and of themselves. There was not a man on earth that could give them sight. In other words, the hope of these blind men would not be found in “self” or in the ways or abilities of man (i.e. the flesh). These blind men would have to reach beyond “self” and the flesh to find their hope. Faith is a complete bypass of the flesh – its knowledge, abilities and control. Faith disregards that which opposes God (self, the flesh) and surrenders in love and obedience to God. This is a reversal of what man had done in Eden. In Eden, man had died to God to live for self, but now man must die to self and live for God (Mt 10:39, 16:25, Mk 8:35, Lk 9:24, 17:33, Jn 12:25, Rm 8:13, 2 Cor 5:15, Gal 2:20, Eph 4:24, Col 3:2-3). 

Trust in the flesh would surely leave these men hopeless in their infirmity. They had to reject the flesh and look solely to God through Christ – as He past by. The blind men reached out to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Similarly, we are lost in sin, which separates us from our God (Is 59:2). We have no hope of restoring ourselves or correcting our condition through self or the ways of the flesh (Prov 20:9). Our only hope is to bypass the flesh (that which is at enmity with God, Rm 8:7, Eph 2:15-16, Js 4:4) and trusts solely in God, submitting to the Lord’s authority. We must die to “self” and surrender to God in love and obedience. God has deemed such “faith” to be the only way that He can be approached (Heb 11:6). The flesh wants to exalt self (known as pride), but we must deny self (known as humbleness or meekness). The seeking of “self” is what brought about man’s separation from God and most assuredly will not be the mechanism for reconciliation. 

Our only hope of reconciliation with God is through the rejection (forsaking) of self and the things of the flesh and yielding to the will of God (1 Jn 2:15-17). There is only “one way” back to God and that was the very “narrow way” that Jesus was demonstrating by example in His earthly walk. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus was selflessly yielding to the absolute will of the Father in everything He did for all to see. You cannot surrender to and obey another without the loss of “self” will. Jesus died to self in order to obey and perform the will of the Father (Jn 4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 8:28, Heb 10:7).

Jesus was the living example of the two great commandments: Mark 12:30-31, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Now consider carefully just what it means to love (sacrifice of self for the benefit of another) God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. 

How can this possibly be accomplished? There is only one way; you must completely die to your will or “self” and submit to God’s will. In Eden, man had chosen to love “self” with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. In order to implement his will, man had to die to God’s will – to disregard and transgress. We must now do the opposite (through Christ) to be reconciled to God. This is faith, which lives in obedience to God at the loss of the flesh or “self.” Faith is not a one time act, but rather a daily practice. 

Now consider the second great commandment. To love (sacrifice of self for the benefit of another) your neighbor as your “self” requires a further lessening of “self.” Man transgressed God and chose self, so God has set things up whereby to return to Him man must reject or forsake “self.” You must give up what God was rejected for to obtain – your way/will and your fleshly lusts. Therefore, to love God foremost and then your neighbor, there is just no more of you left for “self.” So, to approach God you must be greatly humbled in self. These blind men were very humble with regards to the things of the flesh. When Jesus walked by they immediately cried out to Him. They understood their need, realized their helplessness and found their hope in Christ. Jesus referred to this as being “poor in spirit,” “mourning” and being “meek” (Mt 5:3-5). This is how we all must be if we are going to approach God.

Poor in Spirit

To be poor in spirit would be to recognize your inabilities and limitations and your great need for God. This is to be a beggar crying in need of help displayed as brokenness before God, and pleading for His mercy. Notice in the lead-in verses that these blind men cried out for Jesus’ mercy. They also recognized His authority as Lord. They realized that they were nothing, had nothing and could do nothing. There hope was not in self or man. This was an emptying the heart of self such that Christ may fill it. The crowd told them to be quiet and hold their peace, but they yelled all the more reaching beyond the dictates of flesh. Had these blind men obeyed the will of man, they would still be blind (to be discussed). When we are not absolutely seeking God then we are assuredly seeking our way or man’s way. We must realize that man’s way has only brought death and suffering. Our healing, provision, salvation and reconciliation is only found in God. The flesh does nothing but get in the way - the flesh profiteth nothing (Jn 6:63).

Mourn

To mourn is to see the shame of thy nakedness (sinfulness). You must realize your wickedness and your own inability to correct the condition as evidenced by agony and contrition concerning how you have transgressed God’s will and been displeasing. You realize that your life’s actions are in rebellion to God and that you actually oppose Him just through your day to day disregard and seeking of self. This is to acknowledge how you have brought shame and dishonor upon God. 

Deep heartfelt sorrow for past sins is not sufficient and must be accompanied with a desire to forsake all sin in your life. Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This is to mourn after the sin itself and state of your heart and not just the consequence or penalty such as being caught or the ultimate penalty of eternal hell and damnation. You realize that you must die to yourself and start living a life that conforms to God’s will and that only Jesus Christ can make this happen. You’re no longer self-centered, but God-centered. 

True mourning is always accompanied by a change in one’s life. This is a change that transforms your whole life. It is pronounced (obvious, prominent, evident) and visible in all you do – at home, work, in the car, night, day, whenever and wherever. To mourn is to take full responsibility for your actions (transgressions, rebellion) before God. There is no justifying of sin or shifting blame to others. Prov 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” God can do a work in the one that confesses and repents. Psa 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” No mercy will be shown to one who refuses to acknowledge any guilt. One certainly cannot be forgiven of that which he refuses to see. Mercy and forgiveness require a forsaking of the transgression. You cannot be forgiven to continue to transgress – this makes no sense.

Meek

Meekness prefers others above oneself – God foremost and then your neighbor. Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Meekness is also mildness of temper (gentle spirit, not easily provoked) and forbearance under injuries. We must be able to be reviled without reviling again. We must be able to suffer without threatening. God dwells with him that is of a contrite (remorseful, repentant, penitent, regretful) and humble spirit and He will revive such (Is 57:15). The meek tremble at God’s Word (Is 66:2). 

We must strive day after day against the sin of pride and rebellion. By our fallen nature we are quick to justify self. We tend to be self-centered, but spiritual meekness must be God-centered. Self must die. True meekness submits to God’s sovereignty (as righteous and just) and justifies the Lord even in your own condemnation (Neh 9:33, Job 13:15, Dan Chap 9). Meekness is to be yielded and submissive to God’s divine will – a dying to self.

The meek walk in love, which is the sacrifice of self for the benefit of another. This is a denying of self and a stepping aside for others – giving place. The proud are just the opposite and walk in hate, which is the sacrifice of others for the benefit of self. The proud (self exalting) climb all over others and cast them aside to gain what they want – taking place. Psalms 25:9, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” The meek have put self aside (died to) and do not seek the things of the flesh (1 Jn 2:15-17) or that which opposes God. These will listen to what God has to say and can be taught, because they understand sacrifice and are willing to yield or “change” to conform to God’s image (Rm 8:29, 2 Cor 4:4, Lk 6:40). Psalms 149:4, “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” 

Those that walk in pride (exalt or value self and the lusts thereof) cannot receive the things of God because it goes against their very corrupted nature and shall destroy the “self” they love (Jn 3:19). They go about exalting themselves in all that they do, always seeking their will and lusts (their way). These cannot be taught because they naturally think they are already right in their ways and do not desire “change.”

The crowd told the blind men to be quiet and hold their peace as Jesus walked by. When we follow the “will of man” you can almost be certain that you shall miss the will of God. Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” 

Man’s way seeks the desires of the flesh. Man seeks that which benefits self at the expense of God and others – the opposite of the two great commandments. This is known as hate. Man hates God’s way that he may seek his own way. God’s way requires a man to die to self-will so as to submit in obedience to God’s will. Man hates this because “self” does not benefit. 

The devil’s lie in Eden told man that he could transgress the will of God in seeking his own will so as to become as a god (to be his own authority) – and in so doing, “ye shall not surely die” (Gen 3:4-5). Man sought his own “life” apart from the giver of life. God said the condemnation for transgressing His will would be: “thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17). 

God’s way is that man will surrender in love and obedience to his Creator. God’s way is the “truth,” which is known as the light. The devil said the opposite of God’s truth, which is a lie. So, the way of man is the opposite of God’s way. There is no life apart from God. The devil’s lie to man is the darkness that man now lives within. Jesus said: John 3:19-20, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” Jesus is saying that truth has come into the world, but men love the lie and will not “receive” the truth. 

God’s condemnation of “thou shalt surely die” will fall upon those who love the lie because their deeds are evil. In other words, they go about seeking their own will or way and disregard God’s will. They sacrifice God for the benefit of self, which means they “hate” God. Thus they continually transgress God’s purposes and stand condemned under the original declaration. Another way to say this is that those who love “self” and the things of this world (the lusts of the flesh) will not live by (practice, adhere to, obey, submit to) the two great commandments. They place “self” before God and others. 

Jesus said concerning those who love darkness: John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” 

Those who are in darkness “follow” the lusts of the flesh, which means they also “follow” the devil – he is their father. Those who seek their own will – the devil and his followers, do not abide in the truth. They walk in the darkness or lie.

These men were blind. Blindness represents walking in darkness. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see. However, these men were crying out to Christ for deliverance from their darkness – they wanted to see. 

Jesus represented the “light” or “truth,” which is the way out of the darkness. These men were reaching for the light, which is the truth. The crowd told them to hush and be quiet. The will of man is to stay in the darkness. Jesus said of those who seek self-will: “for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men (Mk 8:33)” – that is a great condemnation. Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” 

Man by and large (vast majority) is in rebellion to God through the seeking of the flesh (Mt 13:22, Mk 4:19, Lk 8:14, Rm 6:12, 13:14, Gal 5:16, 24, Js 1:14-15, 1 Tim 6:9, Ti 2:12, 1 Jn 2:15-17, 1 Pt 1:14, 2:11, 4:2, 2 Pt 1:4, Jude 1:18). This is a fact throughout God’s Word. One only has to consider the world before the flood (in Noah’s days) or Sodom and Gomorrah to understand this. Had these blind men listened to the will of man they would have remained “blind” to the truth of God and would have remained helpless in the darkness. 

Those who seek the flesh become blind to the truth of God. Those who seek the truth of God must become blind to the things of the flesh. There are none are so blind as those who will not see. Those who love the darkness (the lie) refuse to see the light (truth). Those who walk by the flesh will never want to deny it. These blind men caught a glimpse of the light and were not going to miss their opportunity to lay hold. They cried out in faith, going against the flesh and will of man. They were rejecting the darkness with its lies and bondage. 

The interesting thing in this account is that the blind men could see and the crowd were blind – a paradox. The crowd tried to prevent the blind men from meeting Jesus (the answer to their needs) and thus keep them in the darkness. Luke 11:35, “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” The crowd could see Jesus, but not their great personal need for Him. The blind men could not see Jesus, but realized their great personal need for Him.

The blind men wanted a complete “change” in their lives. They did not want to be without sight ever again. In other words they wanted to completely forsake their old life of blindness – never to be sought again (Lk 9:62, Gal 2:18). They cried out to Jesus for healing and “change” – deliverance from their present condition. Similarly, man has sinned against God and walks in darkness. We must cry out to God for deliverance (redemption) from this present darkness in order to come to His light (Jn 3:19-21). 

Jesus offers “light” which is the “truth” - that ye should shew forth the praises of him (Jesus) who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Pt 2:9). We must come out of the darkness which is Satan’s lie (says you can transgress God’s will and ye shall not surely die and you can walk in your will as a god, Gen 3:4-5). You must come out of the darkness or your old life of transgressions against God, which is sustained through seeking the lusts of the flesh. 

The power of darkness is through the lust of the flesh. You must be willing to totally forsake the old life for the new life Christ offers (Rm 6:6, Eph 4:22, Col 3:9). You must be “born again” as a new creature in Christ Jesus – the old is gone and all things are become new (Jn 3:3, 7, 2 Cor 5:17).

The blind men cried unto the Lord. Jesus responded: “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. These men wanted to forsake their blindness by gaining sight. Similarly we must cry out to God that our eyes (understanding) may be opened to God’s truth. We must forsake our darkness, which is found in the devil’s lie in order to obtain. 

The truth can only be received when the lie is first rejected. No lie is of the truth (1 Jn 2:21). Further the truth can only be grasped when one walks therein. Jesus was undeniably walking the truth for all to see. No one could accuse Christ of sin, for He perfectly obeyed God (Jn 8:46). Jesus says, “come, follow Me.” Jesus touched the blind men’s eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” When Christ lifts our blindness and gives understanding to His truth, we must “follow” Him. We receive sight (truth) and then follow. We walk as Jesus walked (1 Jn 2:6)! Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” 

You cannot relate to, receive or “know” the truth any other way. There are no casual observers in Christ’s kingdom – only active participants. Jesus said: John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” AND John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” Christ leads and we just follow. Matthew 10:24, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord…” 

How do we follow? Christ said it like this: Luke 9:23, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (also Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21).” We start by denying “self” to obey the commands of our Lord. We next take up our cross daily. This is the path to dying to the flesh. The things of “self” and the flesh must be nailed to the cross – every high thing in your life that exalteth itself above the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5). 

To walk that path of the cross spells doom to the flesh. This is a very narrow path of no return (Jn 7:14). Jesus took up His cross and gave Himself wholly to the complete will of God. We take up our crosses and give “self” completely to the will of Christ. Jesus further stated: Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” AND Luke 14:27, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is saying that you must be like Him and conform to His image to enter the kingdom of God (Lk 6:40, Rm 8:28-29, 2 Cor 3:18, 4:10-11, Gal 3:27, Eph 4:13, 15, Col 1:20, 3:10, Heb 13:21). 

What is Jesus’ image? God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son: Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Jesus is the exact image of God. Christ said: “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father (Jn 14:9).” Jesus further stated: John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” 

What was God’s original intent for man? Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man fell from God’s image by following the devil in his lie. Man took on the image or nature of the devil and dwelt in darkness. We must now abide in Christ and be conformed to His image and be reconciled back to God. All of this is only accomplished by “following” Jesus in “the way” (Jn 14:6). 

To obey Christ, we must disobey “self” or the flesh. You must follow Christ and conform to His image and not tell Jesus to follow you and conform to your image. One must decrease that the other may increase (Jn 3:30). Who shall prevail in your life?

Jesus did the will of God and to enter into the kingdom of heaven we must also (Mt 7:21). Matthew 10:39, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (also Mt 16:25, Mk 8:35, Lk 9:24, 17:33, Jn 12:24-25).” Finding your life is living for “self” – what you want, desire or lust after. Those who live for self ultimately lose their life to the second death. Losing your life is dying to “self” – dying to the things of the flesh and this world. Those who die to self now for the sake of obedience to Christ will gain eternal life – this God has promised (1 Jn 2:25, Ti 1:2, Js 1:12).

Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight. Compassion is pity or commiseration toward others. Commiseration is sympathetic (corresponding feeling of regret) suffering of pain or sorrow for the afflictions or distresses of another. A further way to define compassion is a mixture of love and sorrow. This is to grieve or be sad at the loss of any good and sacrifice self for another’s benefit. 

Man has greatly dishonored God by disregarding the Lord’s way. Even so, God forbears the injuries of man (for now) and is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pt 3:9). The blind men reached out in repentance toward Jesus crying for mercy. The Lord has compassion on such in their suffering and distress. We forsake our way (the way of self), and return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy on us (Is 55:7). 

Repentance is doing an “about face” and going the other direction – toward God rather than away from Him. Psalms 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” AND Psalms 86:15, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth (also Ps 103:8).” The blind men called upon Christ and He had compassion and mercy toward them. For with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption (Ps 130:7). No one will approach unto God exalted in their flesh (prideful). The Lord will be found by those who deny the flesh and reach beyond it (meekness). 

Redemption is the act of saving one from sin (Mt 1:21, 1 Jn 3:5). Sin is iniquity and unrighteousness, which is transgressing the will of God. Jesus touches our eyes and gives us truth to the intent that we will “follow” Him. Jesus was “doing” the will of God, which is the foundation of truth. Jesus redeems us from sin by leading us in the truth such that we are no longer transgressing the will of God, but obeying and performing the will of God. Christ rescues or salvages us from the darkness of seeking our own will (and thus transgressing God’s will) and leads us into the light (truth) to perform God’s will. 

In other words, Jesus leads us to restoration to be what man was intended to be before the fall in Eden. Man must surrender in love and obedience to the absolute will of God – this is truth. Man must come out of the darkness or lie which has man obeying the lusts of his flesh – his own way (Pv 21:2). Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, which is his great lie (1 Jn 3:8). Christ destroys Satan’s works by leading us out of the darkness (the lie) and into the light (truth). We must become blind to the flesh and things of man that we may see the truth of God.

Conclusion

Jesus made a way where there was no way – a very narrow way (Jn 7:14, 14:6). This way is traveled through self denial as you yield and obey the direction of another. The path is there, who will follow? What is the cost? Yes, we must first count the cost (Lk 14:28-33). Following on the narrow path will cost you your old life and a forsaking of all (Mt 19:21, Lk 14:33, 18:22, 2 Cor 5:15-17). 

The Lord is longsuffering and patient toward you and has plenty of forgiveness and mercy. To receive what the Lord graciously gives, you must forsake the darkness. You must die to self – your way. You must come out of the darkness and into the light. The blind men received Jesus’ truth and followed Him. This is God’s requirement for each of us. We must now reach for that cross and follow in that very narrow way. There are none so blind as those who will not see. May the Lord grant you the ability to see.

1 Corinthians 13

In 1 Corinthians 13, (pasted at end) we find one of the most beautiful and familiar chapters in the Bible. This chapter is typically read at weddings and anniversary celebrations. It has even been set to music. Yet, this was never the original intent. Instead, Paul was writing a rebuke to a dysfunctional church for their abuse of the spiritual gifts. Typically though, this understanding is often ignored. Consequently, I wonder if most Christians have truly pondered the deeper meaning of this passage. Have we heard this Scripture so often that we no longer think about what the words mean? I would suggest that if we ignore the context of this chapter we are in danger of missing its major impact.2

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul will argue that love is an action, not an emotion. The kind of love Paul will talk about is seen, experienced, and demonstrated. This is contrary to our culture that honors personal feelings above almost everything. We do what we want when we want because we “feel” like it. And if we don’t “feel” like it, we don’t do it. But as I study this passage, I am struck by the complete absence of any stress on personal feelings. Hence, if love is an action, not an emotion, we need to study what God has to say about love. We need to know what love is and what it looks like when it is lived out in the church.3 In these thirteen verses, Paul provides three distinctions of love.


I. Love is greater than any spiritual gift (13:1-3). In these three verses, Paul mentions six spiritual gifts: tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving, and martyrdom. The first four gifts are listed in 12:8-10. The gift of giving is among those mentioned in Rom 12:8. Martyrdom does not occur anywhere else as a spiritual gift, but by its association with the other five gifts here, we can add it to the spiritual gifts God gives to His church.4 Paul kicks off 13:1 with the gift of tongues when he writes, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Some Bible students seem to have missed Paul’s point here and have interpreted him as speaking merely of eloquence in human speech, but clearly he is referring to the gift of tongues. After all, the last gifts mentioned in chapter 12 are tongues and the interpretation of tongues. And those same gifts are the main topic of chapter 14. It is quite logical, then, that Paul begins the intervening chapter by discussing tongues. The use of tongues that Paul is speaking of here is the gift of speaking a private prayer language.5 Paul says you can speak in tongues all you want, but if you don’t have love you are merely making a lot of noise.

In 13:2-3, Paul mentions five more spiritual gifts when he writes, “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” Prophecy refers to the ability to declare God’s truth in a powerful, life-changing way. Knowledge involves the deep understanding of the Word of God. Faith is the unique ability to trust God for great things. These three gifts are all from the Holy Spirit, and yet without love the person who has them is “nothing.” Verse 3 poses a problem because it asks us to ponder activities that we automatically consider noble. Giving to the poor is a good thing to do. And dying for your faith in Christ is the ultimate sacrifice. But as good as these things are, without love they do you no good. Paul declares that the greatest expression of spirituality is love. We could summarize these three verses like this: Without love…I say nothing, I am nothing, and I gain nothing.

Clearly, we must have love when we are exercising our spiritual gifts. So stop for just a moment and reflect on your spiritual gifts and your ministry in the local church. Do you do what you do out of genuine love for people? Or do you serve out of a sense of obligation? Do you serve because of the satisfaction you derive from ministry? Do you minister because you like honing your skills? Although no one has perfectly pure motives, we ought to be seeking to grow in our love quotient. Paul says that love is an action, not an emotion; therefore, we need to put feet to our love.

[After talking about the importance of love, Paul now will discuss how love behaves.]

II. Love is expressed by supernatural responses (13:4-7). Love is a word that can only be properly defined in terms of action, attitude, and behavior. Paul has no room for abstract, theoretical definitions; instead, he wants us to know what love looks like when we see it. Thus, he paints fifteen separate portraits of love. Yes, that’s right: in the space of four short verses Paul uses fifteen verbs, all of which have “love” as their subject. Our contemporary definition of love is that it is an emotion or a feeling—we love our jobs, we love football, we love pizza. In the biblical definition of agape, love acts, for love is an action, not an emotion.6 Verse 4 begins by summarizing the unselfish nature of love.

1) Love is patient. The Greek language has several words for “patience.” One signifies patience with circumstances while another is used only in reference to patience with people.7 The Lord knows we need both kinds of patience, but it is this second word that is found here. The KJV renders this word “long-suffering.” I like this! Paul seems to be saying that love doesn’t have a short fuse. It doesn’t lose its temper easily. A person who exercises agape love does not lose patience with people. Love never says, “I’ll give you just one more chance.” Love is patient.

The longer that I am in pastoral ministry, the easier it is for me to be patient with others. With every passing year, I recognize more fully that I sin against God and others. As God humbles me with my own sinful shortcomings, I find it easier to exercise greater patience with others. Loving people are willing to tolerate the shortcomings of others because they know they have faults too. As you mature do you feel more and more patient or do you feel you are growing more and more crotchety? God wants you and me to grow in patient love for those whom we minister to and with.

2) Love is kind.8 Patience must be accompanied by a positive reaction of goodness toward the other person. Kindness, however, is not to be equated with giving everyone what he or she wants. Sometimes love must be tough. In the context of the church, kindness may mean forcing an addict to go through the hell of withdrawal. Kindness may mean saying no to a spoiled child. Kindness may mean reporting a crime committed by a friend. Kindness means to withhold what harms, as well as give what heals. Love is kind, but often tough.9 Paul followed the two positive expressions of love with eight verbs that indicate how it does not behave.10

3) Love is not jealous.11 Jealousy implies being displeased with the success of others. Yet, true love desires the success of others. The best way to cure envy is to pray sincerely for the one of whom you are jealous. To pray for him or her is to demonstrate love, and jealousy and love cannot exist in the same heart.

4) Love does not brag. The root word for “brag” in Greek is very picturesque and is closest to our English word, “wind-bag.”12 Love is not an egotistical blowhard. Love is not big-headed but big-hearted. This means the more loving you become, the less boasting you need to do. The greater your spiritual gifts, the less prone you should be to brag. After all, the gifts you have been graciously given are from God. When you and I brag, we are demonstrating our insecurity and spiritual immaturity. Paul states that bragging is the converse of biblical love. Hence, we should pursue Christ so that we will be humble before Him and others.

5) Love is not arrogant.13 The term “arrogant” refers to a grasping for power. It is more serious than bragging, which is only grasping for praise. Arrogant people push themselves into leadership, using people as stepping-stones, and always consider themselves exempt from the requirements on mere mortals. Arrogance disrespects others and carries a distain for others. God calls us to serve others and be gracious toward them.

6) Love does not act unbecomingly.14 This word is best translated “rude.” There are some Christians who seem to take delight in being blunt, justifying it on the grounds of honesty. They will say, “I’m just telling it like it is.” But love doesn’t always tell it like it is; it doesn’t always verbalize all its thoughts, particularly if those thoughts don’t build others up. There is a graciousness in love which never forgets that courtesy, tact, and politeness are lovely things.

7) Love does not seek its own. Love is the very antithesis of insisting upon one’s own rights. Needless to say, this is a rare quality today. Ours is a society in which self-seeking is not only tolerated, it is even advocated. You can go to any bookstore and pick up titles like, Winning Through Intimidation, Looking Out for Number One, or Creative Aggression. But a self-absorbed narcissistic person cannot act in love. Love is not possessive, demanding, stubborn, or dominating. Love does not talk too much but listens as well. Love does not insist on its own way.15 It is always willing to defer to others.

8) Love is not provoked. Love is not given to emotional outbursts, is not exasperated by petty annoyances, and refuses to let someone else get under one’s skin. But, you say, when someone else provokes me, it’s not my fault. Yes it is. We don’t have to get irritated, and if we were exercising love, we wouldn’t. One English version translates this virtue, “Love is not touchy.” Do you know people who are so quick to take offense that you have to handle them with kid gloves? You try to avoid talking to them and when you can avoid it no longer, you carefully measure every word you say to make sure that you say exactly what you mean. But still the person seizes upon something and twists it to make you look bad. That kind of person knows nothing of agape love, for love is not touchy.

9) Love does not take into account a wrong suffered. Paul uses the normal word here for bookkeeping. Love does not keep a ledger of evil deeds. It doesn’t write down each injury done and keep the account open to be settled someday. I know some people who are accomplished bookkeepers in regard to injuries sustained. Love doesn’t hang on to reminders of wrongs. Who are you keeping a book on? Are there some ledgers you need to go home and toss in the fireplace?

10) Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. One of the reasons I detest watching the news is that the bulk of stories concern people’s misfortunes and misdeeds. There is something in our human nature which causes our attention to be drawn to murder trials, FBI probes, natural disasters, and human tragedies. Love is not like that. Love takes no joy in evil of any kind. It takes no malicious pleasure when it hears about the inadequacies, mistakes, and sins of someone else. Love is righteous. Now, after eight sobering negatives come five glorious positives:

11) Love rejoices with the truth. When I was in seminary, I studied an ethical system Joseph Fletcher labeled Situation Ethics. Fletcher taught that any action—whether lying, adultery, or even murder—can be moral if it is done in love. However, I would argue that if an action does not conform to the truth of God’s Word, it can’t be done in love. Truth and love go together like hand in glove. Truth must make our love discriminating, and love must make our truth compassionate and forgiving. If our actions are in accord with agape love, we will always welcome biblical truth, never resist it.

12) Love bears all things. The phrase “bears all things” comes from a Greek word meaning to cover something. It is related to the word for roof—a covering that offers protection from the hostile elements. 1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a multitude of sins. That is precisely the meaning here. Love protects other people. It doesn’t broadcast bad news. It goes the second mile to protect another person’s reputation.16

There are two very relevant applications: First, love doesn’t nitpick. It doesn’t point out every flaw of the ones you love. Second, love doesn’t criticize in public. This is perhaps Paul’s primary meaning. Love doesn’t do its dirty laundry for the entire world to see. That’s why I cringe whenever I hear a husband humiliating his wife in public or a wife making snide remarks about her husband. I always think, if they do that in public, what do they do in private? As a friend of mine once told me, “There are many times in my life when I’ve been sorry I opened my mouth. But there has never been a time I’ve been sorry I kept silent.” When it comes to needless criticism of other people, that’s excellent advice.

13) Love believes all things. Love is always ready to allow for extenuating circumstances, to give the other person the benefit of the doubt, to believe the best about people. Many of us have developed a certain distrust of people because of negative experiences. We have heard stories about how the person who stopped to help a motorist in distress was robbed or even murdered. We have been warned never to loan money to someone without a legal document guaranteeing repayment, even if the other guy is a Christian. But there are worse things than gullibility–namely suspicion and mistrust. Love always trusts. It is also useful to remember that even in a court of law the accused person is always “innocent until proven guilty.” Love says, “I am willing to wait for the evidence to come in before making my decision. I choose to give you the benefit of the doubt as long as there is reason to do so.” Some of us treat our loved ones in nearly the opposite way: “You are guilty until you prove you are innocent.”

I do not tire of repeating that people tend to become what we believe them to be. They either live up to or down to your expectations. If you treat a man as trustworthy, he will strive to prove himself worthy of your trust. If you tell a child, “Take a big swing. You can hit that ball,” he’ll go to the plate and swing like Babe Ruth. If you treat your wife as if she is the most beautiful woman in the world, she will be transformed before your very eyes. That’s what Jesus did. To vacillating Simon, He said, “You are a rock.” To a prostitute, He said, “Your sins are forgiven.” To a woman caught in adultery, He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” It is the simple power of believing the best and not the worst about people.

14) Love hopes all things. The third phrase in 13:7 tells us that love “hopes all things.” This is simply a step beyond believing. The meaning is something like this: There are times in life when you face situations so difficult that faith is not possible. You would gladly give the benefit of the doubt but there is none to give. You search for the silver lining but the angry clouds overhead have no silver lining. Love has a positive forward look. Paul is not here advocating an unreasoning optimism, which fails to take account of reality. Nor is he just teaching the power of positive thinking. But he is suggesting that love refuses to take failure as final, either in oneself or in someone else. Love never gives up on people. And the reason the believer can take such an attitude is that God is in the business of taking human failures and producing spiritual giants out of them. And He can do it with you or your child or that impossible kid in your S.S. class. Of course, “always hoping” doesn’t mean that we sit back and just watch God do His thing. Rather it means that we get actively involved in the process as He molds the future according to His perfect plan. Love hopes and expects the best. Love never loses faith in other people and gives up on them but remain faithful to them, in spite of their shortcomings.

15) Love endures all things. The word “endures” is a military term that means to hold a position at all costs, even unto death, whatever it takes. The battle may be lost but the soldier keeps on fighting to the very end. The word pictures an army surrounded by superior forces, being attacked and slowly overwhelmed on every side. One by one your comrades fall at your side. Through the noise of battle comes one final command: “Stand your ground, men. And if necessary, die well.” So love holds fast to people it loves. It perseveres. It never gives up on anyone. Love won’t stop loving, even in the face of rejection. Love takes action to shake up an intolerable situation. Love looks beyond the present to the hope of what might be in the future.

No one can have a totally happy conscience after reading through these fifteen expressions of love.17

We are the opposite of 13:4-7 on every point.18 However, this love list defines God’s gift of Himself in Jesus Christ. If you go back through these verses and everywhere you find the word “love” substitute the word “Christ,” all these statements will still be true. The kind of love being described is love that has its source in God, and as we look at each of the phrases it becomes obvious that we’re defining a lifestyle that really is beyond our human reach. It is absolutely impossible unless we abide in Christ and ask Him to live His supernatural love in and through us. If you have never believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior, will you do so today? Not only will He give you the gift of His eternal love, but He will allow you to love the way God intended.

[Love is greater than any spiritual gift and love is expressed by supernatural responses. Now we will see that…]

III. Love is an eternal gift (13:8-13). In these final six verses, Paul will discuss the temporary nature of the spiritual gifts and the eternal nature of love. In 13:8, Paul talks about the temporary nature of gifts when he writes, “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.”19 When Paul says, “Love never fails,” he means love never ends. The synonym for this expression is “love abides” in 13:13. These phrases serve to bookend this final section where Paul argues that the spiritual gifts will be done away with one day.

The reason that spiritual gifts like prophecy and tongues will come to an end is revealed in 13:9-10. Paul writes, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” Paul explains that we are limited in our understanding, but this will not always be the case. A time of perfection is coming! The “perfect” refers to the returning of Christ.20 When we recall that 1:7 pointed out the ongoing role of the gifts until the return of Christ, there can be only one possible interpretation of “perfection”—it is the life in the world to come, after Jesus reappears on earth.

Paul explains himself further in 13:11-12: “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” Paul explains that our understanding of God is indirect in this life. He uses two analogies: childhood and a mirror.21 In using the analogy of childhood, Paul is not suggesting that those who speak in tongues are childish and immature. Rather, he is adopting an eternal perspective and simply saying that there will come a time when the gifts of the Spirit will no longer be necessary.22

The analogy of the mirror implies that our visibility of Christ is indirect. In other words, Paul is comparing the nature of looking in a mirror to the relationship we will enjoy with Jesus when we see Him “face to face.”23 I enjoy looking at pictures of people, but if I had my choice I would prefer to spend time with the people that I am looking at in photo albums.

Paul concludes this chapter in 13:13 with these words: “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”24 For all eternity, we will enjoy these three attributes. We will experience God’s incredible love, we will experience a deep love for God, and we will love one another with a perfect love. We will also continue to have “faith” in the Lord for all eternity. But what about “hope?” What could possibly be the meaning of hope when we are in an eternity that has no pain or tears or sorrow? Will we hope for better days? Obviously not! There is one nuance behind “hope” that is applicable here, namely, a meaning of hope that is synonymous with “trust.”25 In eternity, we will continue to trust in God’s goodness in our lives and in His provisions for us. Hope in this sense “abides” or “remains,” as do faith and love. But the greatest of these is love, for love covers not only what we experience in our relations to others and to God, but what we experience from God Himself.

Today, how will you grow in your love for others? First, I would suggest that you cannot become the loving person you desire to be apart from a loving and vibrant relationship with God. This love relationship must be cultivated first and foremost. You strive to love your family, neighbors and coworkers. Once you have accomplished this, you will be able to better love the world around you. God has called us to love people. Jesus said that all people will know we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another (John 13:34-35).

1 Corinthians 13:

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

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.
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.
⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Scripture Reference

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Galatians 5:22-23

Ephesians 4:26, 32

Colossians 3:12-17

1 Peter 3:8; 4:8

Luke 7:36-50

Luke 10:30-37

² “To some extent the chapter can stand on its own, but its full richness comes out only when we interpret it in its biblical context.” Verlyn D. Verbrugge, “1 Corinthians” in the Revised Expositors Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming).

³ Ray Pritchard, “Why Love Has a Bad Memory” (1 Cor 13:4-6): http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermons/read_sermon.asp?id=14.

⁴ Verbrugge, “1 Corinthians.”

⁵ In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost the gift of tongues was obviously the ability to speak in a human language which the speaker had never learned, and I believe that was true each time the gift of tongues was used in the book of Acts. But 1 Corinthians seems to be talking about an ecstatic prayer language. Look, for example, at 14:2: “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.” We will be addressing that passage in more detail in January, but for now please note how perfectly 13:1 fits into this interpretation. If chapter 12 refers to the gift of speaking human languages one has never learned, and if chapter 14 refers to the gift of a heavenly language, then it only makes sense that right in the middle of those two chapters the Apostle would say, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

⁶ Certainly every expression in the Bible that refers to God’s love shows God in action; in love He sent His Son to be our Savior and our Redeemer (e.g., Rom 5:8).

⁷ The words are hupomone and makrothumeo respectively.

⁸ In Rom 2:4 Paul said it was the kindness of God exercised toward us that led us to salvation, and our love toward people will act just as purposefully and consistently.

⁹ Michael P. Andrus “What Is Greater than the Greatest of Spiritual Gifts?” (1 Cor 13:1-4): unpublished sermon.

¹⁰ The first five of these marked the Corinthians, as we have seen. They were envious (cf. 3:3; 4:18), boastful (ostentatious; 3:18; 8:2; 14:37), proud (4:6, 18-19; 5:2; 8:1), rude (7:36; 11:2-16) and self-seeking (10:24, 33). Thomas L. Constable: Notes on 1 Corinthians: 2007 edition: http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/1corinthians.pdf, 144.

¹¹ The verb zeloo was used in a positive sense in 12:31a (“desire”), but it can also have a negative sense of being jealous and envious.

¹² This is the only location in the NT for the Greek word “brag” (perpereuomai).

¹³ The verb for “arrogant” (phusioo) has been used several times in this letter as Paul chided the Corinthians for their arrogance (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1).

¹⁴ The word group reflected in aschemoneo is used elsewhere in the NT with sexual overtones (Rom 1:27; 1Cor 7:36; 12:23; Rev 16:15). In 1 Cor 14:40, Paul used an adjective derived from the same Greek root to appeal for proper behavior in the worship service.

¹⁵ Michael P. Andrus, “Love Never Fails” (1 Cor 13:6-13): unpublished sermon notes.

¹⁶ See BDAG s.v. stego 2 “to keep confidential, cover, pass over in silence.”

¹⁷ After writing a commentary on this incomparable chapter, Leon Morris observed that he sensed that “clumsy hands have touched a thing of exquisite beauty and holiness.” Leon Morris, The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, [1958] 1990), 90.

¹⁸ Michael Eaton, Preaching Through the Bible: 1 Corinthians 10-16 (Kent, England, 2000), 71.

¹⁹ The fact that 12:8 begins a new subsection within the paragraph, and does not go strictly speaking with 12:4-7, is indicated by the repetition of he agape (cf. he agape in 12:4).

²⁰ Paul uses teleios to refer to this period (cf. 1 Cor 1:8; 15:24). Perhaps one problem with this view is the fact that the gifts of prophecy and knowledge do seem to continue into the millennium after Christ returns (cf. Isa 11:9). But, the “partial” is a focus on what the gifts produce, not the gifts themselves. In the Millennium, they probably function in a complete way, not partial, with the result that such an objection poses no real problem.

²¹ Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987), 648.

²² See also David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 623.

²³ The NET Study notes suggest, “The word ‘indirectly’ translates the Greek phrase en ainigmati (“in an obscure image”) which itself may reflect an allusion to Num 12:8 (LXX ou di ainigmaton), where God says that he speaks to Moses ‘mouth to mouth [= face to face]…and not in dark figures [of speech].’ Though this allusion to the OT is not explicitly developed here, it probably did not go unnoticed by the Corinthians who were apparently familiar with OT traditions about Moses (cf. 1 Cor 10:2). Indeed, in 2 Cor 3:13-18 Paul had recourse with the Corinthians to contrast Moses’ ministry under the old covenant with the hope afforded through apostolic ministry and the new covenant. Further, it is in this context, specifically in 2 Cor 3:18, that the apostle invokes the use of the mirror analogy again in order to unfold the nature of the Christian’s progressive transformation by the Spirit.”

²⁴ These three eternal elements: faith, hope and love are superior to all other desirable things, and they are very often linked together in the NT (Rom 5:2-5; Gal 5:5-6; Eph 4:2-5; Col 1:3-5; 1 Thess 1:3; cf. Heb 6:10-12; 1 Pet 1:21-22).

²⁵ Verbrugge writes, “ For example, when Paul says in Acts 23:6, ‘I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead,’ he is speaking of a doctrine that he firmly adheres to and trusts in—that God is the sort of God who can raise the dead. Moreover, in Romans 5:5, ‘hope’ is the last element in a chain of developing Christian character, about which Paul concludes, ‘And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.’ The background to this verse is Psalm 22:5, where the psalmist David, in intense pain, is looking back at the history of Israel and remembering that ‘they [their fathers] cried to you [God] and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.’ The verb the NIV translates as “trusted” is elpizom (GK 1827) in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT; this verb is related to the noun elpis. There are, in fact, many references in the psalms that call believers to ‘hope in God’—a call that is synonymous with ‘trusting’ in God—and the verb normally used is elpizom (see, e.g., Pss 42:5, 11; 43:5; 119:114; 130:5; 131:3). The noun elpis itself is used in the sense of ‘trust’ in Psalm 146:5. Verbrugge, “1 Corinthians.”

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