Characteristics Of Love

The Holy Spirit does many things for believers. One of the greatest is that He makes it possible for them to love. If giving or receiving love is missing from your experience, I doubt if the Holy Spirit of God is really in you.

Galatians 5:22a: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, (agape) . . .

1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, (agape) these three; but the greatest of these is charity (agape).

Romans 5:5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love (agape) of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

He makes it possible for us to love God and others, to fulfill His command to love.

Luke 10:27: And he answering said, Thou shalt love (agapao) the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

1 John 3:14: We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love (agapao) the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

He gives us a love for Christians that we never had before.

John 13:35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love (agape) one to another.

Because He gives us love it will be apparent to all men.

Matthew 5:43-44: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 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;

He makes it possible for us to love our enemies. How many (if any) of the characteristics of love are in you and in your manner of life?

1 Corinthians 13:1-8: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, (agape) 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.

Love is the greatest evidence that we have received Jesus and have been given the Holy Spirit. Have you received Jesus and have you been given the Holy Spirit? Are you filled with the Spirit or are you quenching and grieving Him? When we love others as God wants us to and as the Holy Spirit enables us to, one of our strong desires for others will be for them to be saved, to avoid Hell and get to Heaven.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.

Care to discuss Characteristics Of Love with Ron?

He'd also like to hear your prayer requests