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What does it mean to be a witness of the Spirit-filled life?
PART 6 ASPIRING TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST
CHAPTER 7
BEING A WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
What we are going to talk about next should form the basis for our motives, thoughts, words, and actions. This pertains to our spiritual walk. When we have learned how to grow spiritually and gradually advance to spiritual maturity, our old ways of responding to people and circumstances will be unrecognizable from the way we used to respond to them. Our expression will witness or be clear evidence of the manifestation of the Spirit’s fruit (love, joy, peace, etc.) operating upon the soul. No longer will others recognize the same patterns of response from when we were an unbeliever but they will recognize that somehow our life has been changed. Hopefully, they will approach us and ask what has happened that has changed our character, speech, and actions. With these thoughts in mind, let’s take a look at a Christian’s manner of life generated from the new nature that they are operating in.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
SUFFERETH LONG
Is patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others.
Has a long mind.17
KIND
Gentle in behavior.
ENVIETH NOT
Neither jealous.
Not grieved because another possesses a greater portion of earthly, intellectual, or spiritual blessings.18
VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF
Does not desire to be noticed or applauded.
NOT PUFFED UP
Is not inflated with a sense of one’s own importance.
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY
It gives reverence and respect to superiors.
SEEKETH NOT HER OWN
It does not seek one’s own happiness to the injury of another.
NOT EASILY PROVOKED
Though he may be injured, yet he governs his passions, restrains his temper, subdues his feelings.19
THINKETH NO EVIL
It will not think evil of someone’s motives, opinions, or conduct until we are compelled to do so by the most unbreakable evidence.
1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY
It does not find pleasure in the report that someone has done something wrong, and in the following up of that report, find it to be true .
REJOICETH IN THE TRUTH
It desires others happiness.
This is everything that is opposite to falsehood and irreligion.
Those who are filled with the love of God and man rejoice in the propagation and extension of divine truth - in the spread of true religion, by which alone peace and [goodwill] can be diffused throughout the earth.20
1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
BEARETH ALL THINGS
Bears up under, sustains, and does not complain.
Never gives up.
Does not make the sins of others, if alone privy to them, the subject of conversation or censure.
Seeks to hide the sins of [others] and then help them make things right.21
It endures without divulging to the world its distress.
Literally holding fast, like a water-tight vessel.22
Holding its ground when it can no longer believe nor hope.23
BELIEVETH ALL THINGS
It never loses faith.
It never stops believing.
HOPETH ALL THINGS
It is always confident.
Hope is averse to sourness and gloom.
It takes sunny and cheerful views of man, of the world, and of God, because it is a sister of love.24
Sees the bright side of things, does not despair.25
When there is no place left for believing good of a person, … anticipates the repentance of the transgressor, and his restoration to the good opinion of society and his place in the church of God, from which he had fallen.26
ENDURETH ALL THINGS
It endures persecutions in a patient and loving spirit from enemies and friends.
It never says of any trial, affliction, or insult, this cannot be endured.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth:
NEVER FAILETH
It never falls powerless, never will be without effect.
Survives everything.
It will be adapted to all of the situations of life.
As we can see, spiritual growth expresses spiritual life. This new life has no basis in what a believer does or does not do. We can’t earn it. It has its source from the Holy Spirit. Do you want to be a witness for Christ, manifesting the spiritual qualities of character to others? Then put off the old man and put on the new person who God has made you be so that the Spirit will co-labor with us providing us with His presence, His power, and guidance.
Endnotes
17Thayer’s Greek Lexicon Pc Study Bible version 5, 2006, 10 Nov 2017 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
18Adam Clarke.
19Barnes.
20Adam Clarke.
21The Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989, 12 Nov 2017 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
22Jamieson, Faucet, and Brown.
23Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005, 14 Nov 2017˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
24The Pulpit Commentary.
25Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005, 20 Nov 2017 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
26Adam Clarke.
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New Covenant Ministries - Ministerios NuevoPacto - Harbor Church, Block Island
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