The recent plane crashes in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia were both tragic events with a large loss of life.  Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in the two crashes.  We all know that our family and friends are precious to us and their loss can be crushing and we want comfort from someone who understands the pain from this loss. The Bible gives us an example of someone who suffered such a loss and how they dealt with the loss.  The prophet Job lost his entire family in a wind storm (Job 1:18-19), yet he remained faithful to God (verse 21) because he knew that God had the power to resurrect his family.  In Job 14:14 he states “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my release should come.”  Job knew that eventually they would be resurrected and that he would see them again.  The prophet Isaiah stated, “Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise, O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for Joy!” (Isaiah 26:19).  Furthermore, Jesus gave us a beautiful promise that soon “…the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28, 29). This hope of resurrection is something we can all look forward to.

Finally, the promise from God is that “He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8) which means that death will eventually end.  This is the hope that God gives to all of us.

New English Bible of verses 4-7:

Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one.  Love is never boastful, nor conceited nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense.  Love keeps no score of wrongs;  does not gloat over other men’s sins but delights in the truth.  There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope and its endurance.

The Weymouth translation of verses 4 – 7:

“Agape is patient and kind. (It) knows neither envy nor jealousy. (It) is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited. (It) does not behave unbecomingly, nor seek to aggrandize itself, nor blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs. (It) finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth. (It) knows how to be silent. (It) is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance. Agape never fails.”

The Moffatt translation of verses 4 – 7:

Agape is very patient, very kind. (It) knows no jealousy; makes no parade, gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful. (It) is never glad when others go wrong, (it) is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient. Agape never disappears.”

The Phillips translation of verses 4 – 7:

“This agape of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. (It) has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Agape knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.”\

I Corinthians 13

DO’S	DONT’S	BIG TAKEAWAYS
Love is patient	Love is not jealous	Love never fails
Love is kind	Love does not delight in evil	The Greatest of these is love
Love always protects	Love does not boast and is not proud	I Cor. Love Test—Replace “Love” with your name
Love always trusts	Love does not
Love always hopes	Love is not rude
Love always perseveres	Love is not self-seeking
Love rejoices in truth	Love is not easily angered
	Love keeps no record of wrongs

Love is giving with no thought of getting.  It is tenderness enfolding with strength to protect.  It is forgiveness without further thought of the thing forgiven.  It is understanding   of human weakness, with knowledge of the true man shining through. It is quiet in the midst of turmoil. It is trust in God with no thought of self. It is the one altogether lovely, the light in the mother’s eyes, the glory in the sacrifice, the quiet assurance of protection.

It is in the expectation of our Father’s promise coming true.  It is the refusal to see anything but good in our fellowman.  It is the glory that comes with selflessness and the power that comes with assurance of the Father’s love for His Children.  It’s the voice that says “no” to our brother, though “yes” might be more easily said.  It is resistance to the world’s lust and greed, thus becoming a positive law of annihilations to error.

Love….the one thing no one can take from us…the one thing we can give constantly and become increasingly rich in the giving. Love can take no offense, for it cannot know that which it does not of itself conceive.  It cannot hurt or be hurt, for it is the purest reflection of God, Good.. It is the one eternal, indestructible force for Good.  It is the will of God, preparing, planning, proposing always what is best for His universe.

SOMETHING REALLY WORTH HAVING

I Corinthians 13:4-8 paraphrased and explained

“Love is patient and kind…”

Yes, even after having said something again and again and again, love doesn’t explode, stamp its feet, or toot its horn. It accepts that all humans stumble and fall. Instead of accusing: “Yes always…”or “You never…”  it avoids judgment and searches for opportunity to be constructive.  It is cheerfully interruptible, and never too busy to just listen.

“Love is never jealous or envious….”

It doesn’t have to compete, control others, or be defensive.  It is not petty or insecure or afraid to let go.  It doesn’t suffocate or smother, clutch or cling.  It trusts others and gives them the right to be different and free.

“Love is never boastful or proud….”

It doesn’t parade, over-dress, leave big notes or drop big names.  It is in no hurry to say “I did it” or “Where would you be without me?” Love doesn’t demand a pat on the head or a round of applause.  It’s not afraid of losing face, and is quick to say “I’m sorry—my mistake” or “I blew it—please forgive me.”

“Love is never haughty or selfish or rude…”

It is courteous, never pushy, able to give way, happy to say “Thanks!” It doesn’t need to be first, in front; it isn’t blunt, doesn’t butt in or shoot off its mouth.  It accepts and cares about itself in a healthy, responsible way and treats others with the same respect.

“Love does not demand its own way….”

It doesn’t pout, bully or blackmail other.  It doesn’t threaten “ I won’t be your friend,”  “I won’t pay with you anymore,”  or “I’ll take my ball and go home.”  Not seeking control, it says “Let’s do this together!” It seeks to encourage others without shoving or shouting, leaving them room to grow.

“Love is not irritable or touchy….”

It does not snap or snarl, or give others the silent treatment.  When it climbs out of bed on the wrong side, it tries not to spread its mood over neighbors. It knows and accepts its own limits, and makes others feel better about theirs.

“Love does not hold grudges….”

It doesn’t compile statistics, keep the score, or chalk up words of anger.  It isn’t easy to offend, forgets hurts, doesn’t seek revenge, and refuses to build walls that shut people off from each other.  It chooses to forgive, presenting it to others the gift of a new start.

“Love is never glad about injustice…”

It never cheers when someone is found lacking or gloats when someone goes down.  It won’t paint over the cracks, sell the truth, or water it down for some personal advantage.  It doesn’t stand passive while someone gets a rotten deal, but goes out of a limb to see that right is done.

“There is nothing that love cannot face…”

It can cope with the unwanted, the unplanned, the unpleasant, the unchangeable, or the unending.  It never shouts:  “This is the last time…! Or “If you do that again…!” or “I’m not going any further…!”

“Love never stops believing, never gives up hope, always endures…”

Love persists and doesn’t quit no matter how dark the issue or bleak the outlook.  It says what it means, means what it says, and outlasts, outruns, and outlives anyone or anything anywhere.

“Love will never come to an end…”

It really is the answer.  It’s the only thing that works when nothing else will. After other remedies have withered away, wound down, or worn out, love with wisdom will still be manifest.

“God is love…”

And this kind of love is God’s.  Maybe He can help us become the lovers he wishes us to be.

Faithbuilders Fellowship

From A Most Excellent Way of Love July-Aug 2022

1 Corinthians 13 is the Apostle Paul’s wonderfully thorough description of agape love—how it is manifested through actions, endurance, tolerance, and restraint.

He says, first, that love is patient. We are all uniquely different and even those who we are close to, such as our family, spouse, coworkers, and Christian brethren, say things or behave in ways that can surprise or irritate us. Love should direct us to be patient and accepting of these differences.

When these differences or irritations stress our patience to the limit and we feel we must say something, love should operate to restrain us from speaking sharply. Thus, love is kind in its expression.

Love is not jealous. It does not envy what others have or enjoy. Agape love at its core is about seeking and doing what is good for and what will bless others even at personal expense or loss. In providing the Ransom, both God and Jesus demonstrated this. Jealousy and envy are the opposite of agape. We should be on high alert to notice any tendency to be envious of the relationships, possessions, or opportunities of others.

Love does not brag and is not arrogant. Love should prevent us from flaunting the special deeds we have done or successes we have. Sometimes, this is very hard to do when you have done something special for another person or you have a personal success, and the other person seems not to notice or appreciate it.

Love is not ill-mannered. It is not rude. Love directs us to act and speak appropriately and discreetly in all situations regardless of the actions or words of others.

Love is not selfish. It is so easy in our stressful lives to think first of “what I need.” But if love is controlling our heart, it will direct us to look out for the interests of others first.

Love is not easily angered. Love will not assume that the occasional unpleasant mood or comment of another is a personal attack or criticism. With love fully in control, such occasions will not turn into arguments or sharp exchanges.

Love does not keep a record of wrongs others do. It will not “keep score.” Love will forgive a wrong suffered and reject the temptation to bring it up at a later time.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love should prevent us from gloating over the wrong or failing of others. Love will remind us that “I also have faults,” and direct us to notice the good in others and rejoice in it.

Love endures all things. It will endure through the misunderstandings and hurts that occur in any and every relationship. It will cover over these things in the hope that a resolution to problems can be found, at least eventually. The important thing is to never let your heart become hardened toward another.

Love always trusts. It takes the statements and actions of others at face value. It does not read hidden motives into what others say or do.

Love’s hope never fades. It always hopes for the very best. Love’s hope for positive outcomes or the resolution of problems continues on even when evidence for it is scarce.

Love always perseveres. Love can outlast every possible difficulty.

Paul’s final statement about love is that it never fails. Just like God’s word never fails to accomplish what He desires (Isaiah 55:11), agape, which comes from God, never fails. God’s love outlasts the waywardness of humanity. His love will succeed in rescuing mankind from the brink of utter failure.

Bible Subjects

Adam Angels Antichrist Apostles Armageddon Atonement Baptism Bible Bible Symbols Bible Weights and Measures Bride of Christ Bottomless Pit Christ Christianity Christendom Chronology Church Church-State Creation Death Demons Destruction Divine Divine Plan Chart of the Ages Earth Eternal Torment Evil Evolution Faith Fear Fire Flood Gifts of Spirit God Grave Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Immortality Israel Israel’s Captivity Parallels Jehovah Jesus Jesus Last Week Jerusalem

Jews Judgement Kingdom Last Supper Life Man Man of Sin Millennium Miracles New Creation Nominal Church Prayer Prophecy Purgatory Ransom Rapture Redeemed Resurrection Revelation Sabbath Salvation Satan Science Second Coming Second Death Sin Soul Spirit Spiritism Spurious Passages The True God Test There is no god Tabernacle Tribulation Trinity Unity vs. Trinity Woman World

https://biblestudents.com/topics/Antichrist.html

http://www.mostholyfaith.com/Beta/bible/Topics/Index.asp

https://www.bibletoday.com/bible_topics.htm

ISRAEL

The rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948 was a miracle of history. Never before has a nation been destroyed, its people dispersed to the ends of the earth and then—nearly 2000 years later—regathered to its homeland and re-established as a nation.

The re-establishment of Israel in the land of their ancient fathers is one of the events to be expected in this end time—the time in which the Lord returns. (Matthew 24:32) The Jews of faith are to be planted upon “their land,” the land which God says He had given them, the land which He had promised to Abraham saying, “Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art…for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Genesis 13:15; Amos 9:15

Israel in the News and Prophecy

ISRAEL: FULFILLING BIBLE PROPHECY (Video)

ISRAEL A NATION OF MIRACLES (Booklet)

ISRAELI – ARAB PEACE PROCESS and GOD’S PLAN:
An Open Letter from Christians to Christians (Booklet)

THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION HAS COME! (Booklet)

WILL ISRAEL SURVIVE THE END TIMES? (Booklet)

ISRAEL: FULFILLING BIBLE PROPHECY (Article)

JERUSALEM CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE (Article)

THIS LAND IS MINE (Booklet)

God’s providential overrulings are many but here are a few of them:

1) Acts 5:18,19–an angel of the Lord let them out the prison–it shows that the preaching work will not be stopped and an angel will be used to spread the Gospel.

2) Acts 5:34-39 that the Lord used Gamaliel to prevent the Pharisees from stopping the spread of the Gospel

3) Stephen (Act 7:57-60) was not spared as the others as his faithfulness to death would be used to bring Paul into Christ.

3) There is a pattern of Christian growth of the church at the beginning and unhindered and then at Stephen’s death it brought persecution and further spread the gospel into Samaria and toward Gaza.  There would be peace after Paul left for Tarsus(Acts 9:31) 

4)  Jesus chose the right place and moment and circumstance to reveal himself to Paul that would change his life–it was perfectly timed. Damascus was away from Jerusalem and these activities were away from Jerusalem and the apostles.

5) The Lord prepared the heart of Ananias and prepared him for the news of Saul’s conversion and knew he would be obedient after his concerns were addressed about Paul. 

6) A thought from Br. Shallieu:  the Lord overruled that one of brethren lived near the wall in Damascus when he was lowered down from the wall (he gives the example of Rahab living near the wall to be let down and they would go to Rahab’s house for refuge.(Acts 9:25)

6) The Lord provided peace in Judea and throughout all Israel(Acts 9:31).so Peter could heal and resurrect and help in the conversion of the Cornelius.   Peter traveled throughout the country and went in the direction of Mediterranean Sea.  The Lord clearly overruled that he decision to go in that direction as the Lord overruled that he goes in this direction as he would demonstrate God’s power through the healing of Aeneas from his palsy, raising Dorcas from the dead.  Because he was at Lydda,  he was not far from Joppa to awaken Dorcas and he was not far (2 days journey) from Caesarea). He was not far so he could be there to open up the key to the Gentiles.

7) Acts 9:43—Simon the tanner—tanning was considered unclean so the Lord was preparing Peter by staying with a brother who was done unclean work.

8) Acts 10: 1-4 Cornelius was praying and giving alms so his contact with Jews must have caused him to compare the Roman gods to the God of Israel and he saw how they worshiped Him and tried to do the same. He probably knew about angels as he was recognized it was an angel immediately (Acts 10: 3,4)  Cornelius was realizing that God was rewarding him providentially, but prayer were to know the way  and the truth.

9) Acts 10:4-6 alms and prayers as a memorial is the same word as meal offering(Lev. 2.1,2)

10) Acts. 10:5—angel told him to send his servants and a devoted soldier to Joppa so he could tell his family and friends to come to his house when Peter arrives and will receive the Holy Spirit. He had great influence on his family

11) Acts. 10:6–double witness and confirmation—two Simons—Simon Peter and Simon the tanner

12) Acts 10:7,8—Cornelius sent his servant and a devout soldier—shows how strong his influences was on his family. He conveyed to them the importance of the mission explained it with conviction and zeal to Peter to come back and to come speedily , came to Peter with great zeal, knew he should be respected 

13) Acts 10:9—When they were approaching the city, Peter was on the housetop praying and it says he was hungry   and saw a vision of clean and unclean animals

14) Acts 10:15,16–Peter puzzled why God said Rise and eat.  The sheet of animals was repeated three times, three witnesses.  All creature are provided by God—all creatures are good (I Tim. 4.4) The sheet is called the vessel—Noah’s ark is called a vessel. Bothe contain clean and unclean animals. In both, animals represent human beings clean and unclean.

15)  Acts 10:17-18—Peter is in doubt about the vision, when the men arrived.

16)  Acts 10:19-20—spirit tells Peter to go down and go with the men as He had sent them

17) Acts. 10:21-22 Men lodged and they with 6 Jewish brethren (Acts 11:12) went with him to Caesarea—important to have Jewish witnesses.

18) Acts. 10:24—morning after (Day 4 of their journey) they entered Caesarea (40  miles one way) He gathered his family and friends and showed his faith.  He fasted.

19) Acts. 10:28-29—Peter showed his obedience and submission by going quickly and without verbal rebellion or questioning even though he was perplexed

20) Acts 10:30—wanted to know why Cornelius asked for him (repeated for a 2^nd or 3^rd witness (man in bright clothing—angel)).

21) Acts 10:36—God is no respecter of persons, has 1) reverence for God, 2) worked righteousness—right heart condition.

22)  Acts 11: 22-26—when the Gentiles were coming in Antioch in the gospel, the Lord overruled that Barnabas be selected and he teamed up with Paul in the work.

23) Acts 11:27-30 Agabus prophesying was overruled so the disciples could help provide for the brethren in Jerusalem before the famine struck possibly wiping out the church in Jerusalem.

24) Acts 12: 7-11   Miraculous Escape from Prison by an Angel—Peter escaped and left the city Peter needed more experiences.

25) Acts 12:20-23 Herod’s Death and increasing and spreading the word

26) Act.13:2—while fasting and praying the Holy Spirit indicated that Barnabas and Saul be use for further service to the Gentiles and other lands.  

27) Acts 13: 6-12—the Jewish sorcerer tried to stop the work but Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and causes him to be blind for a time which was a great witness to Sergius Paulus, the proconsul.  The Adversary was trying to stop the work but the Lord wanted it to go on.

28) Acts 13:15   Paul’s sermon was similar to Stephen’s sermon.

29)  Acts 13: 48 Gentiles received it and Barnabas and Paul left as they did not put the believers in more difficulty

30) Acts14:1,5—In Iconium  Jews and Gentiles believed and left when they were going to stone them and so again not cause difficulty for the new believers.  It also causes them to witness to the surrounding areas and Lystra and Derbe

31) Acts 14:6—10 In Lystra the lame man had faith to believe that he will be healed and this is a great witness to all and many believed.