Speaker: Bro. Bobby Rodriguez, Elder, The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

" AGAPE LOVE "

God Is Love!

The Holy Bible reveals that God in his very nature and essence is love. (1 John 4:8, 16). God not only loves; He is love. He shares this eternal love with his only Son, Jesus Christ and with all of us, his creation.

God loves the world as a whole . “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

God loves us as his children, as sinners, and as believers in Christ. “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).

Love is given to us by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22). It is the greatest of Christian charisms (1 Corinthians 13:13).

God's love is divine love given to us as children of God. It is a power that flows to us to be shared with others. It is an inexhaustible source that allows us to focus on others, rather than on ourselves. As a power of love within us, it is also a power to love others. It is a power to will the good of others.

Agape Love Is Divine Love

“Agape” is the Greek word for “love” in the

New Testament. Agape love is divine love; it is brotherly love that is shared with others. God's agape love starts to flow through us to other people when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and remains in us (John 14:16-17). Our life changes and we walk in the freedom that only agape love can provide.

With agape love, we become fountains of God's love overflowing to others who may be hurting around us. The more agape love is shared with others, the more it is replenished.

Agape Love Enables Us To Forgive

The power of agape love within us enables us to forgive others who have wronged us. With his supreme sacrifice on the cross, Jesus redeemed us so that we could be forgiven for our sins. He asked for his executioners at Calvary : “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Jesus asks us to forgive “seventy seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).

The Bible is All About Love

The Holy Bible is a revelation about God and about his love. It abounds with truths and examples about his love for Jesus and for all of us.

There are thousands of accounts in the Bible not only about love of God and love of Jesus but about love of people for God, love of people for Jesus, love of persons for other persons, etc.

1 Corinthians 13 - A Chapter on Love

One of the most notable teachings about love was written by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter whose rhetoric is truly striking.

A. Spiritual Gifts Are Nothing Without Love

Paul wrote that love is an essential companion of the different spiritual gifts in order that they may have any value. [Please read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

These first three verses is “An inventory of gifts, arranged in careful gradation: neither than tongues nor prophecy, knowledge or faith, nor even self-sacrifice has value unless informed by love.” [footnote from The Catholic Bible].

B. Love: What It Does or Does Not Do

Paul wrote about love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) by defining and enumerating what it does or does not do. The original Greek version employed 15 verbs (many were translated into English by using adjectives).

Let us elaborate on these love verses verb by verb:

1. “Love is patient.” Divine love or agape love enables the people to be patient in knowing God's will and purpose. It provides the power and courage to wait for God's timing and answers to prayers.

2. “Love is kind.” With God's love flowing to us, we feel and show kindness toward others. Even when we are subjected to criticisms, false accusations and mistreatment, we do not react with any vengeance. We are ready to extend our hands of kindness to those who are desperate, disillusioned and discouraged.

3 . “Love is not jealous.” When we have agape love, we are not over-protective of someone's faithfulness. We are not jealous when someone receives rewards or recognition. We are also unselfish; we are ready to share with others.

4 . “Love is not pompous, it is not inflated.” Persons in agape love are not arrogant and full of pride. They are humble people who feel no necessity to prove anything. They are content sitting and listening quietly. They need not brag because of their satisfying relationship with God. Their ego is never inflated.

5. “Love is not rude.” With agape love in our heart, we are always polite, never rude, when interacting with other people. We do not act unbecomingly; we demonstrate godly character and attitudes. We are always well-mannered, publicly and privately

6. “Love does not seek its own interests.” With agape love, the persons' interests and rights are not important. We are not concerned with our rights; in fact, we surrender our rights. We put our interests way behind us and instead will the good and the interests of others. This is true agape love that is brotherly and altruistic!

7 . “Love is not quick-tempered.” With God's supernatural love flowing to us, we acquire a quiet spirit that is not easily provoked. We are never quick-tempered and ready to explode at the slightest misdeed. We live on a higher spiritual level – always serene, always composed no matter what the circumstances are or who the people around us are.

8. “Love does not brood over injury.” Divine love gives us the power to forgive those who wronged us – regardless of circumstances. We do not brood over injuries that we suffered from others. We do not keep track of wrongdoings that others inflicted on us. We forgive the wrongdoers and forget the offenses.

9. “Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” When agape love is within our heart and soul, we are able to see the wrongdoings of others. We do not rejoice because we are better that the evildoers, or more blessed than the wretched, or happier than the miserable. We thankfully rejoice because we believe in God, we follow God's word which is the truth (John 17:17). We rejoice always (Philippians 4:4).

10. “Love bears all things.” Divine love enables us to bear all things: to bear with one another (Colossians 3:13), to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), to bear sufferings and trials (1 Peter 1:6). With love, we can even face and bear trials with joy (James 1:2).

11. “Love believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Paul did not mean that we should be gullible in believing all things: everything we see, read, and hear. He meant all things that the Holy Spirit allows; believing all things that are true, and all things according to his will and wisdom.

With our believing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He also gives us the desire for the good and the hope of obtaining it. With God's love, we hope all things – peace and joy, good health and prosperity, favors and blessings, and foremost of all – eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. With divine love, we have hope and optimism despite difficulties and God's tests in our life.

“God's love endures forever.” (Psalms 118:1-4). Those who possess God's agape love will endure all things – life's hardships, emotional and physical pains, God's tests, and even criticisms and persecutions from other people. They will emerge victorious followers of Jesus.

C. Love Never Fails!

Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love is permanent unlike other charisms such as prophesies, tongues, and knowledge. Love as a charism is superior even over faith and hope . “So faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

With agape love within our heart and soul, we will not fail. We remain free from hatred and depression. We are not imprisoned by anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. Our life will remain abundant, highly favored, and truly blessed.