Are you a bankrupt, creaking, rusty gate?

Explore the essence of Advent through hope, peace, joy, and love. Discover how love is the foundation of our faith and the key to true fulfillment.

Transcript

Hi everybody. We've just returned from Israel about a week ago and uh I wanted to share some things with you because we're smack dab in the middle of Advent. Uh we had a great time in Israel. Of course, it's wonderful to be in the Holy Land and see all the the the sites. We actually went to the city of David, you know, for unto you was born this day in the city of David. We were actually there, which is very, very exciting. But I wanted to talk to you today about Advent and the four seasons. We because we've been away, we decided we'd compile everything into one. So, it's the the hope, joy, hope, peace, joy, love. That those are the four weeks of Advent. But

the main thing I want to talk to you about is love. And uh because of course we know we know the hope the you know if you've been tracking with us this year you understand that I've been speaking a lot from Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you all with uh hope and joy. And uh those are all been some of the main things in Advent. And if you know joy in his presence is fullness of joy and his right hands are pleasures forever more. Of course we love that. And peace. The peace that your heart would be ruled by the peace that passes understanding which is so so important. The the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy. But I want to talk to you today

about love. And I'm going to read to you from the message um the love chapter. I think it's just such a a great reminder and a great I just love the I I I I so appreciate this what the Apostle Paul wrote and I love how it reads in the in the message to tell you the truth. So let me read it to you and let it sink in. If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy, but don't love, I'm nothing but a creaking old rusty gate. If I speak God's word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day. And if I have faith that says to a mountain, jump, and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor

and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt. I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut. Doesn't have a swelled head. doesn't force itself on others. Isn't always me first. Doesn't fly off the handle. Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. Doesn't revel when others gravel. Takes pleasure in the flowing of truth. Puts up with anything. Trusts God always. always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Aren't those powerful words? Very

different than the NIV or the ESV. I really love this. It doesn't strut. So in this Christmas season, the season of Advent, let's not forget to put on love, to live in love. The NIV says this, "Love hopes all things." And in this season, let's live in hoping all things. I'm Chris Byberg, the director of the National House of Prayer, and we'll see you next time. Bye for now.