You're supposed to be growing.
I'm supposed to be growing. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 says, Instead we will speak the truth in love. Speaking the truth in love. If you can't speak the truth in love, don't speak the truth, because it'll come off as hard-hearted and harsh and can actually drive people from God. Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.
Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David McGee. David is the Senior Pastor of the Bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As a believer, we should let our love be our highest goal. Pastor discusses this important topic today as he continues in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Before we join Pastor David, we want to let you know about an outreach opportunity that could bring hope to countless prisoners. This month, Cross the Bridge is teaming with men and women like yourself in order to provide Pastor David's devotional book, Cross the Bridge Every Day, to inmates. When you call today and help support the ministry with a gift of $25 or more, we'll send you a book and also provide one to a prisoner in need. To take part in this important outreach, call 877-458-5508.
That's 877-458-5508, or go online to crossthebridge.com. Now here's David McGee with part three of his teaching, Love Looks Around. Chapter 13 is talking about love. It's probably one of the more well-known chapters in the Bible. And even people who don't believe in God or believe that the Bible is God's word recognize the literary value of this chapter, which I find very interesting since it's inspired by God himself.
Today we're going to pick it up. Verse 13. What an incredible verse. And now abide faith, hope, love.
These three. But the greatest of these is love. Faith, hope, and love.
These things are great. They're part of our spiritual heritage. And let's understand, when we talk about faith, we're talking about belief, and we'll look at the definition in Hebrews in just a minute. We're talking about hope. We're not talking about, we define hope as, gee, I hope it works out. That's not Biblical hope.
Hope is the assurance that it will work out. You're just not sure when. I'm hoping Jesus is coming back. Not in a sense of, well, maybe he will, maybe he won't. No, no.
I know he's coming back. But that's where my hope lies. Not that all of a sudden all the governments in the world will begin to get it right.
If that's your hope, your hopes will be dashed. And again, it's interesting. All these things are great, but love is the greatest. Then we have the greatest of the great.
In the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verse 13. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. See, these three things are great. Faith, hope, love. Love is the greatest of those three. Then the greatest love is that a person would lay down their life for their friends.
It's the greatest of the great. Now, you and I will probably not be called upon to be crucified in the physical sense, to have our hands and our feet nailed to a cross. But we will be asked to lay down our lives for one another in small fashions. Being able to serve one another, give to one another, pray for one another, prefer one another.
We went through all those one anothers, which was an interesting study. And that shows the greatest love. And again, this is the ultimate sign of somebody being a real follower of Jesus Christ.
Not that they're hollering and pointing fingers and that they're loving. Again, faith and hope are great. Faith, it's a strong thing.
We all need it. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us the hall of fame of faith. It's a great chapter to learn about faith.
Gives us a definition. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. It gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Now again, this isn't just about heaven.
This is walking in this life to be able to see things in the supernatural you can't see in the physical. This facility here is a great example. When we came over here the first time, and this place had been for sale for a while. The price was higher than what I wanted to pay, and I just didn't think it was the time. So I waited. The price came down, and I came over here. And honestly, from the moment I walked in here, I saw us having church in here. Now, I don't mean the first time I came in here, y'all are already in here singing worship. That's not what I mean.
Physically, you couldn't see that. But then later on, as we made movements towards the facility, even before we'd closed the deal, we came over here in this area. Some of you were here singing worship songs. And again, I saw us having church in this place.
It's interesting because the real estate agents got real nervous. They were like, it's not a done deal now. You guys are coming. It is a done deal. It's done in the spiritual.
It's gonna come down to the physical. Amen. So faith, and there's one definition, and yes, some people go way too far with this definition.
But there's a place where calling those things is not as though they were. It's faith. You can look at some things, man, they don't know any Jesus, but I can just see them knowing Jesus.
I can just see them worshiping God. You look at some situation in your life, I don't know how God's gonna come through, but I know he's gonna come through. That's faith. It's powerful.
It's powerful. It's always good in Bible study to look at different versions of the Bible. Now, you want to be careful when you do this because some versions, I believe, are more accurate than others.
But in the New Living Translation, which is one I go to, and I understand if you read the New Living Translation, those little notes, footnotes at the bottom, those are not without error because there's some stuff in those footnotes that are very questionable. But New Living Translation says, three things will last forever, faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these are the love.
I like that. Three things will last forever. Faith will last forever. Hope will last forever.
Love will last forever. And then the amplified, this verse says, and so faith, hope, love abide. Faith, conviction, and belief, respecting man's relationship to God and divine things. Hope, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. Love, true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us, these three, but the greatest of these is love. Now you know why they call it the amplified.
But it's a great version to go to sometimes. So your love is greater than your faith, or should be. Your love is greater than your hope. Your love is greater than your discernment. Your love is greater than your righteousness. Your love is greater than your sanctification.
Sanctification is, and in the Hebrew, it's something being cleaned up, set apart for special use. Now we define that as becoming more and more like Christ, and it is, and we should be on that journey. But see, you can actually become selfish about your sanctification.
You can think, well, I want to quit doing that so people think better of me. That's the wrong motivation. You understand that in the true sense, your sanctification being set apart, you becoming more and more like Jesus isn't even for you. Oh, you get the benefit, you get the blessing, but you know what it's really for? To draw others to Jesus, that you might be alike to the world. And these three things aren't in competition in this sense.
If you're competitive, that's what you get. Well, faith, hope, and love are in a race, and love won, you know. Well, no. In the greatest spiritual sense, these things are, these three things are working together. Because if you're full of love, full of faith, full of hope, you will be a spiritual dynamo that will change the world and build a kingdom. Now let your faith, your hope, and your love help change the world. You know, we got faith, we got hope, we got love. These are three powerful things. And don't sit there and go, well, okay, I don't want faith and hope. I need love.
No, you need all three. And one leads to the other. Now, let me ask you a question. How do we build these things? How do we build faith and hope and love? We sit here and go, yes, those are good to have.
We should have those, and yes, we should even have more of those than I presently have. But how do you get more of these things? How do you get more faith? How do you achieve more faith? Can you just come forward and let's put a little Holy Spirit pixie dust on you so you have more faith? Well, it'd be great if it worked like that.
No. What happens is you face situations and people that require you to walk in more faith. You face situations and people that require you to walk in more faith, more challenges, more trials. I think we should all pray that God builds our faith, but let's understand how God plans to do that.
He plans to do it with trials and challenges. You know, in time, I moved out of the house. I believed God for the rent. It was like $900 a month, and I took faith. But as God blessed the ministry and the ministry expanded, now I believe God for a lot more. I believe God for the mortgage on this place, the needs of the staff to support the missionaries, the evangelism to keep us on the air. There's faith. God gives me more faith and gives me situations where I can exercise more faith.
He's doing the same with you. So there's challenges that come down the way. Don't think about challenges. It's an opportunity to build your faith. It changes the way you look at life. My faith is growing through challenges. Your faith is doing the same, growing through challenges. And remember, faith isn't just, okay, well, it's in this 24-hour period we call a day. No, faith is looking ahead. Faith is, okay, I'm in this situation. I don't know how I got into it. I don't know how I'm getting out of it, but I know one day I will be out of it. I know whatever God brings me to, God will bring me through, and this too will come to pass.
Amen? So have that faith that says, oh, I don't know what's gonna happen. But you know, this will come to pass.
It's amazing what we get excited about, that in a couple years won't matter at all. And then hope. How is your hope built? Again, I wish it was the Holy Spirit pixie dust, but you face situations and people that seem hopeless. You face situations and people that seem hopeless. And then God comes through. And what happens?
Your hope is built. You see God do something. When I traveled years ago, and it was glorious, I got to travel with the three kids, we were on the motor home, we were gone from our home in Greensboro, 10 and a half months out of the year. I was home for six weeks. We'd leave in January, we'd come back for a weekend in March, we'd leave in March, we'd be back in September, we'd leave again in September, come back in December.
Six weeks I was home, I was going out to North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. One of the things I saw over and over was situations occur where I wasn't sure how the ministry was gonna make it through these situations. And every time God would come through. And then I would feel silly for not thinking God was gonna come through. And to be honest, it wasn't that I just wanted to be some big faith crusader. To be brutally honest, I just got tired of feeling so stupid about not believing God was gonna come through.
I don't like feeling like this. So I started just believing, God I know you're gonna come through, you know. And then instead, I thought you were gonna come through, I was hoping you were gonna.
Then it was like, oh God, I knew you were gonna come through and you did. God is a God of hope. And if God is a God of hope, what does that mean to the hopeless?
It means he'll give them hope. Well how's he gonna do that? Oh probably through the pixie dust. No, through you.
Through you. He's gonna give them hope through you. Agents of hope. You'll walk in the situations where people are hurting. Maybe somebody just passed away and you'll walk in and speak and say things that will give them hope. My hope is growing through challenges. Faith looks ahead. Hope looks up. Hope looks up.
You're listening to Cross the Bridge with David McGee. We'll be back to the teaching in just a moment. This month we're focusing on prison ministry and I have the chance to sit down with Pastor David. Pastor, we know that sharing the Word of God is always important to you. And why is it so important to get God's Word into the prisons as well? Our prison system is built around trying to change the lives of people who've made bad decisions. And yet you can't change a life without changing the heart. And that's where God's Word and God's Spirit are so powerful. They can change a life.
They can change your heart. We can share the Word of God with somebody. You can help send us into the prisons to share the plan of salvation, see that prisoner get saved, and then begin to disciple him and teach him the Word of God so that when he gets out, he is different than when he came in.
Thank you for sharing, Pastor. If you're listening and agree with David about our need to help those in prison, we would love to hear from you. You can call 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508. And when you give $25 or more, we'll send you a copy of Cross the Bridge every day. Not only that, but we'll match your gift by sending another copy of David's devotional to an inmate in need. Also, your gift of $200 or more will provide a case of 10 books that will be used to help change lives for eternity. Again, that number is 877-458-5508.
Or go online to crossthebridge.com. Now let's return to Pastor David's teaching. Since love is a fruit of the Spirit, we can ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, and He will fill us with love. I think that's something that we forget when we talk about being filled with God's Spirit is that part of that is being filled with God's love. But how does our love grow? Well, you face situations and people that require you to walk in more love. You face situations and people that require you to walk in more love. In the Hebrew Scriptures, they say we love your neighbor. Okay, well that's not hard.
Got the guy on my left guy, got the guy on my right. That's not too hard. But then Jesus brings us to the next thing in the New Testament. It says, love your enemies. Love those who despitefully use you. How will you know if you can do that?
I know. God will send people to you that will be your enemies, people that you've been good to, people that you've been nice to. Those people will spitefully use you. They'll speak against you. And it will be an awesome opportunity for you to walk in love. It'll be a glorious example of the love of Jesus.
Remember that next time somebody's unloving to you. Wait, this is an opportunity to walk in the love of God instead of going, you're such a jerk. That's what your flesh wants to do. That's what your flesh wants to say. You're a jerk. What the Spirit wants to say is walk in love.
And there is something that, you know, when somebody is mean and ugly and angry to you and you respond in love, a side benefit is it just rubs all over them when you walk in love. Love you, man. Why you say that? Love you, man.
God loves you. Don't say that. It's true. So will your faith be tested? Yeah. Will your hope be tested? Yeah. Will your love be tested?
Absolutely. And while faith looks forward, hope looks up, love looks around. Love looks around. Love looks for an opportunity to express itself. Love in the home expresses itself in providing for one another and serving one another and cooking for one another or cleaning for one another. Love looks for ways to express itself.
Love in this church looks for a way to express itself to people outside of this place in the community and around the world. You'll be tested. Understand that. That's part of it. It's part of your spiritual journey to be tested in faith, hope, and love. Don't be surprised.
Don't be shocked by that. Often reflect back. And one of the things when you study the Bible, put yourself in a position of being in that situation at that time. The Bible is so intriguing when you do that, especially, you know, when you read the Gospels like that. Think, well, if I was there, what would I be thinking? And one of the occurrences is when Jesus sits with Peter.
And we're so familiar with this, we just kind of gloss over it. But think if it was you. Luke chapter 22, verse 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon. Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. Imagine if Jesus asked you that. If you just sat down with your face and say, hey, well, if Satan asks for you, he wants to sift you like wheat.
Well, you told him no, didn't you? I mean, Jesus, what did you say? But I've prayed for you that your faith should not fail.
And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brother. Wow. So these are areas that we're growing in, areas that will be tested in. Let me ask you a question. All of us are growing in these three areas at different rates. Are you growing at the same rate as the people around you in all three areas? No. Do you expect them to be growing in the same area as you are? Yes. Is that realistic?
No. They may be growing in love and you're growing in faith. And you can't believe they don't have more faith. You may be growing in hope and they're growing in faith and you're wondering where their hope is. Or maybe you're growing in love and they're growing in faith and you're wondering where their love is. We're all growing, gang.
We're supposed to be. We're going towards God or we're going away from him. But we're all growing at different rates in different areas and love people enough to know that and know that one day it'll be done. Revelation, I love this verse. Revelation chapter 21 verse 4 says, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there shall be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
All these things are gone forever. See, we're supposed to be growing. You're supposed to be growing. I'm supposed to be growing. Taking bigger steps of love, bigger steps of hope, bigger steps of faith. That's what's supposed to be happening.
Living things grow. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 says, instead we will speak the truth in love. Doesn't say just speaking the truth. Speaking the truth in love. If you can't speak the truth in love, don't speak the truth because it'll come off as hard-hearted and harsh and can actually drive people from God.
Speak the truth in love. Growing in every way more and more like Christ who is the head of his body, the church. As a matter of fact, we're warned in Matthew chapter 24 when Jesus is talking about end time events, he gives us a warning, gang. In Matthew chapter 24 verse 12, he says, sin will be rampant everywhere and the love of many will grow cold. Don't let that be you.
Don't let that be you. Second Peter chapter 3 verse 18 talks about rather you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You're supposed to be growing in grace too. Let me ask you a question. Do you think you're growing and applying grace to your life?
No. The moment you get saved, you're applying grace to your life. How can you be growing in grace? You're growing in grace towards others and being more gracious to them. The fruit of the Spirit is love.
We should love each other in word and indeed by what we say and what we do. And remember that in Romans chapter 5 verse 8, we're reminded about the love of God. That God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were yet still sinners. I've had people say, well, does God really love sinners?
They're messing up. Some people have asked, well, as believers, do we really need to love unbelievers? But God commended his love towards us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That's what Jesus did for you and now the world is waiting to hear about that love and to hear about that hope. And if we're warned that our love can grow cold, it can. If we, you and I, can become lukewarm, if we're warned about that, we can be that. Jesus says, don't be lukewarm. Be hot or be cold. Don't be lukewarm. Every person in here has to decide, are you growing in love, hope, and faith?
And are you growing in these areas that are so easily measured? Or are you moving away from God? If you're moving away, stop, turn around, and come back towards him. Let's pray. Thank you for your love that you gave us while we were still sinners. God, while we were still rejecting you, you expressed your love towards us and offering forgiveness. And that love cries out from the act of 2,000 years ago of you giving your life for us.
And God, it doesn't stop there. We now give our lives for others. You gave us your love. Now we get to express our love towards others. But first, God, may we express our love towards you. May we receive your forgiveness.
Because, God, without it, we're nowhere. But, God, you offer us all these things when we come to you. Friend, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?
You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short, simple prayer, simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please, pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven. And I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life. And I've done wrong things. I have sinned.
And I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you all of my days. In Jesus' name.
Amen. Friend, if you prayed that prayer, according to the Bible, you've been forgiven. You've been born again. So congratulations, friend.
You just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time, we would love to hear from you. You can call us toll-free at 877-458-5508 to receive our First Steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. God is using Cross the Bridge to impact lives across our country, including the lives of those currently serving time in our nation's prisons. While materials provided by Muslim organizations continue to increase within our prisons, our distribution of Pastor David's book Cross the Bridge Every Day has been making a significant impact for Jesus with prisoners. And you can help continue that outreach by calling today. When you call today with a gift of $25 or more, we will send you David McGee's devotional book and then match your gift by sending a copy to a prisoner in need. And if you're able to give a gift of $200 or more, we will send a case of 10 books to inmates who are without hope. Help us reach those in prison. Call today at 877-458-5508.
That's 877-458-5508. Or go online to crossthebridge.com. Also, if you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday, why not join us for our live stream at 9 and 1130 Eastern. Just visit crossthebridge.com and click on our live stream link. There you can watch Pastor David teach from his home church, The Bridge, in Kernersville, North Carolina. Again, that website is crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening. We hope you'll join us next time as we continue to cross the bridge.
