I'll turn to Galatians chapter
five. I should have told you this before
it went on the tape, but I feel like I'm starting to possibly
have one of my spells, so. And the light just, in this light,
makes you feel like you're back in a hole and it makes you feel
very uncomfortable. No, no. I can't see with the
lights off either. Galatians chapter 5 I will read
one verse this morning verse 13 For Brethren Ye have
been called unto liberty Only use not liberty for an occasion
to the flesh and but by love serve one another. I thought about this verse for
some time now. And it wasn't as though I wasn't
waiting to preach on it once I felt I was capable. But I mean
a long time. I thought about this verse even
back when there were some with us who are no longer with us
anymore. And a part of my flesh said to
me, I wish someone would have taught me that years ago. The
Spirit of God said, they did. They did. You just didn't hear
it. Let's read it one more time.
It's a short verse. We don't have to take too much time reading
it. Look up the word for Brethren now the four lets us know there's
a lot preceding and I'll talk about some of that but for brethren
No further And I will not say I'm about to do it don't care
about our modern-day Sensibilities. Well, that's brethren. What about
the sisters? I will say this don't be silly Get off your little
emotional kick For Brethren, that's important. If it wasn't
important, the Spirit of God wouldn't have moved Paul to put
it there. It doesn't say, for you've been called unto liberty,
because there may have been some here who weren't. As a matter
of fact, there were some there who hadn't been. And Paul says,
whoever they are, they'll bear their judgment, whoever they
be. For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty. But then
there is this stipulation, only use not liberty for an occasion
to the flesh, but by love serve one another. God's people, those
who have been, those who were, back before even the foundation
of the world. Those that were predestinated
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Those who were
redeemed were, not are being, but those who were redeemed by
Christ's blood. They are being called. And Paul here is writing to those
who have been called. He's not writing to those who
are yet to be called. They're not brethren. Oh, they
may be elect, but they're not brethren. Therefore, quit saying,
well, that person may be elect. They may be reprobate, too. But
also, they may be unregenerate and unconverted. For brethren,
ye have been called unto liberty. Do you see that? Do you remember
what one man said? Brother Saul. I bet you he wasn't
saying that about two weeks before. Do you remember when Paul went
down? He said, Brother Saul. He wasn't calling him brother
two weeks before. You know why? Because he wasn't
a brother two weeks before. Was he chosen then? Oh yes, he
was still chosen. But he may not even have been
regenerate. But he wasn't even converted
then. For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty. Do you see
that? Let us note that. There is no
word from God in Scripture that is irrelevant. Everything matters. Called by God. This is the way
the Scripture describes His people who have been, as we say today,
saved. So I said, well, are you saved? I mean, have you been
converted? That's what most people are talking
about. Scripture often calls us called. The called of God. Called. The called of Christ Jesus. Called
by the gospel, the scripture puts it. Called unto the fellowship
of the saints, the scripture puts it, doesn't it? Most people
today in so-called Christianity, when they talk about calling,
they're talking about being called to some specific ministry in
the church or in religion or in Christianity. The scripture,
when it talks about being called, it's talking about salvation. Salvation. You're not saved and
then God calls you into something. God Almighty saves an individual
when He calls them. Calling is one of the hallmarks
of the elect. Right? We know that all things
work together for good to them that love God. But who is it
really that loves God? To them that are the called according
to His purpose. That's who really loves God.
Now the depth of their love may vary, but that's who loves God.
Those who are the called according to His purpose. And we know that
He predestinated them, but He also what? Called. Called. Called. Being called is a hallmark
of being one of the elect. While election precedes calling,
you've got no right to suppose you're elect until God Almighty
calls you. Exactly. Got no right to claim
it. Got no right to suppose it. That's
it. Men and women, elect or not,
must be dealt with where they are by nature. Corrupt, dead
in trespasses and sins, not, they might be one of the elect. The called and the called only
have right to the family of God. That's right. You talked about
the family, Joe. That's who eats the manna. The
family eats the manna. Only the called. They've been
called out of Egypt. Called. Called out. Called saints. called of Christ Jesus. The called
and the called only have right to the family of God. For brethren,
that's the family. That's the family. For brethren
ye, and you only, because look up a few verses. He did run well,
verse 7. Who did hinder you that you should
not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of
him that calleth you, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will be none
otherwise minded. In other words, I am persuaded
if you're one of his, God will change your mind in this matter.
You've gone off course, God will change you. He'll put you back
on course. We might say, it's a matter. But he that troubleth
you, he doesn't say he will receive mercy. He shall bear his judgment
whosoever he be. Now, brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then as the offense
of the cross ceased, I would they were even cut off, which
trouble you. Yes, sir. For brethren ye. Now you see the context? For brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty. Liberty is our spiritual birthright. It's a birthright. The family. For brethren, ye. The family. The family is not offered liberty. That's what a lot of people think.
You ought to have it, but a lot of people don't. Now, if you're
part of the family, you've been called unto liberty. The family
is not offered liberty. The family is not merely given
liberty, though given liberty we are, but here it's not just
given. The family is not called for
liberty. The family has been, past tense,
called unto liberty. Liberty is yours, if you're a
part of the family. Liberty is our lot. Liberty is
our portion. Liberty is our blessing wrought
for us by Christ himself. Liberty expresses freedom, but
liberty was not free. Freed us? Yes, but not free to
Christ. having been called unto liberty
presupposes a prior bondage. Doesn't it? It presupposes. The very fact that we're called
unto liberty presupposes the fact that I was in bondage before. And that bondage is as far as
you want to take it. under bondage to the law, under
bondage to self, under bondage to sin, under bondage to the
demonic forces of this world, under bondage to influence from
others around us who are in bondage. It's all bondage, bondage, slavery. But we've been called, the brethren,
ye have been called unto liberty. Having been called unto liberty,
as I said, presupposes this prior bondage. Bondage to the law,
as I said. Bondage to sin. Bondage to self.
Bondage to false religion. Even bondage to false Christianity. There is a false Christianity. There is another Jesus. There is another gospel, which
Paul says is not really another, but it's a perversion of the
gospel of Christ. There are false Christs. And
as there are false Christs, there are false Christians. But, having
been called unto liberty demands deliverance from these. Right? And that deliverance was wrought
by Christ. And we are called unto that liberty. Do you see? We are not called
to get it. He wrought it. And we are called
unto it. You see the difference in the
wording. We're not just called for liberty. We're not called
just to it, but unto liberty. Liberty has been established
by Christ. What does liberty mean? It means
exactly what it sounds like it means. Freed from bondage. Freed
from law. Only, only use not your liberty
for an occasion to the flesh. The true character of this liberty
has no union with licentiousness. It is license, but it's not licentiousness. Paul says, and let me read it,
I know I'll misquote it. Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter
6. Verse 12, all things are lawful
unto me, but all things are not expedient. Do you see it? All things are lawful for me,
but I will not be brought under the power of any. Six. Verse 12. This is what God's Word says.
Paul's saying the same thing there as he's saying in Galatians
5. Brethren, you've been called unto liberty. But here is my
stipulation. Only use not your liberty for
an occasion to the flesh. Let me give you four facts about
this liberty. And there's a whole lot more.
But I'm only going to give you four and time is running short
already. There's number one. We have been,
that is the brethren, those who have been called. If you've been
called of Christ Jesus, you've been called unto liberty. If
you've been called unto the fellowship of the saints, you've been called
unto liberty. It's not a separate calling from the other callings.
It's all the calling of God. It's all the same calling. I
want to point that out. First of all, those who are so
called are liberated from the yoke of bondage. The bondage
of the law. That's right here in the context.
Chapter 5. Stand fast, therefore, in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. And be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage. What is he talking about? The
law itself. Look at what it says. Behold. He said, take a good look at
this. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,
circumcised for what reason? Trying in some way to gain justification
before God. Trying in some way to find honor
or acceptance before God. If ye be circumcised, Christ
shall profit you nothing. It is either Christ, no, it is
Christ and nothing else. For I testify again to every
man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to the whole. Christ is become of no effect
unto you, whosoever you are justified by the law, you are fallen from
grace. Years ago, I was taught that
to fall from grace means you backslide. It ain't the same
thing. That is, here's a believer who gets caught up in some sin. No, these were people who were
going back to circumcision. What is wrong with circumcision?
Nothing unless you're seeking God's favor by it. And if you're
seeking God's favor by anything you do, then it must be by everything
you do. You can't pick and choose what
parts you want. Because first of all, circumcision
preceded the law. Secondly, circumcision was included
into the law. Therefore, you try to find justification
before God by one act of your own, then every action of your
own must count toward the same goal. Liberty, this liberty that we've
been called unto has liberated us from the yoke of bondage,
but it also liberated us to faith and love, not from faith and
love. Do you see it? 4, verse 5, now
let's read on. For we through the Spirit wait
for the hope of righteousness, how? By faith. You see, liberty
didn't free me from faith, it freed me to faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth anything, and you can put down tithing, you can put
down loving God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Loving
God with all your heart and mind. God doesn't call upon his people
now to love him with all your heart, mind and soul. Because
you've got an old heart with which you're supposed to have
loved him with to start with, which never will love God. You
understand? See, the law was not toward us
spiritually. The law was toward us as fallen
human beings. It says love your neighbor as
yourself. I don't even love myself like I ought to be loved. I don't
treat my own body like it ought to be treated. Huh? I fancy most of us think we love
ourselves so we're supposed to love our neighbor. We don't even
love ourselves. We don't honor God that we're such a magnificent
created being. Do we? No. You're right. The law doesn't say just love
one another. It says love your neighbor as yourself. Even Paul
points that out right here. Sir. No. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh, or is
energized by love. Now there's two things about
saving faith as men call it. It's a faith that is incorporated
in with love. You don't just accept the facts.
You don't just accept the truth. You love it or you don't believe
it. And you can't love it and not
believe it. Well, I love everything about
God. No, you don't. Neither do I. So first of all,
we're liberated from the yoke of bondage, but we're liberated
to faith and love. We're not liberated from faith
and love. Secondly, we are liberated from legal constraints. We are
liberated from superior entities and we are liberated from legal
religious practices. Turn to Colossians and I will
show you that. Now let me say it again, number
two. We are liberated from legal constraints, we are liberated
from superior entities, and we are liberated from legal religious
practices. Colossians 2 verse 13, and you,
being dead in your sins. So when is the scene that Paul's
setting for us here? What's the time, even when you
were dead in sins? Mason, before we were saved, if you want to
put it that way. before we were regenerated and converted. And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with Christ, not by him here,
but with him. This is representation. This
is speaking of Christ as our representative head. Now look
at our state, but look at what he did for us when we was in
that state. Hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven
you all trespasses. blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us took
it out of the way and Nailed it to his cross You see it. We've been liberated from legal
constraints, but also I said from superior entities and having
spoiled Principalities and powers notice spoiled Spoiled not wiped
them out. They're still there and Having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. The forces of this world, the
forces that govern this ungodly, unbelieving world, we've been
liberated from them. They can still influence us in
our flesh. in the old man, in the Adamic
nature, but in Christ. In Christ, we are what? Liberated
from them too. Do you see it? And I said also
this, liberated, that those principalities and powers, they're far above,
they're far superior to you and I in ability. You remember that
even the one angel, was it one angel, said he didn't argue with
the devil about the body of Moses, did he? He said the Lord will
rebuke you. But I also said this, we're liberated
from legal constraints, we're liberated from superior entities,
we're also liberated from legal religious practices. And, verse
15, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of,
oh, I haven't read that. Verse 16, I'm sorry. Let no man
therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a holy
day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath days. They're all
shadows, he says. which are all shadows of things
to come, but the body is of Christ." In other words, the person says,
but you don't do this, you don't do that. Get off my back. I've
been liberated. Take your bondage to someone
else who wants it. I've been liberated. Right? which are a shadow of things
to come, but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your
reward." What is the reward? This liberty. That's the whole
thing. That's the whole context here.
Don't let somebody trick you out of your liberty. That's what
happened to the Galatians, right? He said they bewitched you. They
put the old shell game on you. Now you see your liberty, now
you don't. If you can pick the right shell, I'll let you have
your liberty back. That's what they were saying.
They constrain you to be circumcised so they can glory in your flesh.
They're telling you, you do this and then we'll give you a checkmark.
You're one step closer. Look, let no man beguile you
of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of messenger. This is not just talking about
angelic creatures. Any kind of messenger. You don't
worship the messenger. You worship the one who sent
the messenger. You pay great respect to the
messenger, fine, but you worship the person who sent the messenger. intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and what
is it when they do trick you that cause you not to hold on
to Christ? And not holding the head from
whom all that, there's your gathering, Joe. There's your gathering of
the manna. And not holding the head from
which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment
minister together, there's your other gathering he's talking
about, and knit together increases with the increase of God. So we're liberated from legal
constraints, we're liberated from superior entities, we're
liberated from religious practices, but we're not liberated from
Christ. Are we? We're liberated by Christ, to
Christ, so that we might lay hold of Christ and rest in Him. Do you see it? I hope you see
it. For brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty. But here's one stipulation. Only
use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh. Number three. We're liberated from the law's
dominion that we might bring forth fruit unto God. Turn to Romans chapter 7. Now as I said, there's going to be
a whole lot more to liberty than what I'm going to be able to
give you this morning. But we are liberated from the law's
dominion to bring forth fruit unto God. We're not liberated
from the law just so we can go out and do whatever we want to
do. Whatever feels good. No sir. You misunderstand liberty. The
liberty that was wrought by Christ and the liberty unto which God's
people are being called. You either misunderstand it or
you're misusing it. One or the other. Either you
don't got it and you think you do or you got it and you're playing
games with it. Does that make sense? Do you
understand what I'm saying here? Look at it, Romans 7. Know ye
not, brethren, for I speak to them that know the law, how that
the law hath dominion over a man as long as he lives. Now he is
talking here about the law of God. for the woman which hath
a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he
liveth. But if the husband be dead, she
is loose from the law of her husband. So then if while her
husband liveth, that's the first one she married, she shall be
married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress. And
let me tell you something, man or woman, if you have been remarried,
the law says you're an adulterer or an adulteress. I don't care
which one of us it is here. If you've been married to another,
and I didn't say it, the other, the first one's still alive.
I didn't say all that. The first one's still alive,
and you're married to another, what does the law call you? If
you're a man, it calls you an adulterer. If you're a woman,
it calls you an adulteress. That ain't changed. Christ didn't
come to change the law. Did he? The Antichrist is the
one that's gonna try to do all that, change laws and times.
Oh look, here it is. Look. Wherefore, my brethren,
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ. There has been a death here.
Don't you see? That ye should be what? Just
free to then marry whoever you want. No. That ye should be married
to another even to him who is raised from the dead. that we
should bring forth fruit unto God. You see? We have been legally divorced
from the law by the death of Christ. What's that? Liberated! from the law's dominion,
but liberated that we might bring forth fruit unto God. Look, for
when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins which were by
the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death,
but now we are delivered." There's the liberty, you see it? But
now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein
we were held, that we should serve. But how? In newness of
spirit, and not oldness of the letter. God didn't liberate us
so we could keep the law. He liberated us so we could serve
God. And look at it, if you go on down, liberated so I can serve
God, even in spite of my flesh being there and constantly doing
things that I ought not be doing, even then, there is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. There it is. Liberty. Number four. Stay at
Romans. We are liberated from sin's legal,
sin's, we're liberated from the law. That's what Romans 7, first
few verses says. But we're also this, we have
been liberated from sin's legal dominion and liberated to serve
God. Look at chapter 6, and he's gonna
bring us right up to chapter 7. This actually could have been
given first, but I'm working my way back now. Chapter 6, verse
11, look. Likewise reckon. In other words,
Christ did something for you. Go read the context. Chapter
6 verses 1 through 10. Christ Almighty did something
for you as your substitute and your representative. Now, likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. Now
are you in reality dead indeed unto sin? No. But God says reckon
it to be so. Why? You've got a right to do
that because of your substitute. Yes, sir. Reckon it to be so. Now look, but alive unto God,
even then though it is hell, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Look, let not sin therefore reign
in your mortal body. It's going to be there until
the day you die or until the day you awaken His likeness,
but don't let it reign in your mortal body. that ye should obey
it in the lust thereof, neither yield ye your members as instruments
of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God
as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God." And you could go on
and go on to look at what he says. It doesn't free us to licentiousness. For brethren, you've been called
unto liberty only, here's the one stipulation, only use not
your liberty for occasion to the flesh. Now before I go any
further, before I sum this up, what is the flesh? It is everything
of the flesh. Circumcision is of the flesh. If you do it for justification
before God, it's a sin. Right? Circumcision itself is
not a sin. It was the command of God given
to Abraham. Was it not? But if you use that,
trying to gain favor with God, it is a sin. So it's not just
fornication is a sin, it is. But so is circumcision for justification
before God. Go back to, this is what he says,
Galatians chapter 5, Let me find it. Behold, I say unto you, that
if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For
I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he
is a debtor to the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you. Whosoever of you are justified
by the law, you're falling from grace. You've abandoned the truth
of God by getting circumcised. Now what's wrong with circumcision?
Nothing unless you're seeking justification. So we're not talking
about just immoral stuff. The flesh is not just immoral
stuff. The flesh may be very moral things. Very good things. Very righteous
among men things. But things which God holds in
utter contempt when men try to do it to please Him. Somebody
says, that don't make sense to me. Because you've never been
in bondage, you've been liberated. That's why it don't make sense
to you. If God's ever showed you your bondage and then liberated
you from it, you say, thank God for that. Now let me give you
three things here in summary of this liberty remember flesh
is a lot of things Flesh is budding up to this world Even if you mean their spiritual
good for it You hear me well, but Christ was a friend of publicans
and sinners you ain't the Christ of God You can't handle it You
can't do it! He was the only one that could
be a friend of publicans and sinners, and yet the writer of
Hebrews still says, separate from sinners. He's the only one. Because when you compromise,
even if you got in your mind, I'm trying to help them out.
You know what you'll do? You will, you are compromising. And a little leaven, right in
the context, leavens. It won't stop with that. I know. I'm telling you this by experience. I know. I've tried it. It don't
work. All it does is dishonor our Lord. I've been there. I had to learn
it the hard way. Brethren, you've been called
unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.
I had to learn that lesson, David, the hard way. You cannot conquer
in your flesh. The enemies of God will overwhelm
you in your flesh. They will. You will compromise
eventually. You will. Not me. Yes, you will. And when it happens to you and
God lays you flat on your face, you'll come to me and say, Walter,
I wish to God I didn't listen to you. You might even for a while say,
I wish somebody had told you that. And Earl's been telling
us that, and I've been telling you for years. Right? Here's the three things. It says,
we'll summarize. Self-righteousness, I'm not talking
about, for brethren, ye have been called unto liberty. Only
you, this message is for us here. I'm preaching to me and you.
I'm not talking about them out there. I didn't say thee self-righteous,
I said self-righteousness even if it's in here. Even when it's
in here. Self-righteousness despises liberty
because liberty rejects man's boast. Liberty says I've been
liberated. I have no boast in myself. I've
been liberated. I've been called unto liberty.
I didn't gain it. I didn't work it up. I didn't
work it out. I didn't conquer for it. I was
under bondage and I was liberated. Self-righteousness despises liberty
because liberty rejects man's boast before God. In other words,
acknowledge self-righteousness for what it is, sin, and reject
it. Reject it. If it takes doing
that every day, just keep doing it. You understand what I'm saying?
I don't think you'll be able to do it in a way that you'll
be done. That's why you got to get the manna every day. Every day.
It ain't just about hoarding, Joe. It's about being lazy and
sitting on your sorry backside and think, well, God started
it all. I'm just going to sit here and wait for everything to happen.
It don't work that way. Let not see and reign in your
mortal body. Put forth an effort in it. You
see it? That's the positive. Now, for
brethren, you be called unto liberty only. Use not your liberty
for an occasion to the flesh. Second thing, legalism. I'm going
to talk about legalism out yonder. I'm going to talk about legalism
for them so-called churches down the road here somewhere. Talk
about that legalism that resides right in here in the old Adabic
me. The old me heart. Legalism despises liberty because
liberty rests in Christ's Spirit only. Therefore, when I find legalism
in me, acknowledge it for what it is. Sin. And reject it. Even though you might have to
reject it every day. Just keep rejecting it. Keep acknowledging
it for what it is. Liberty didn't free you to be
legal. to have legalism. Liberty freed you from legalism.
Liberty didn't free us so we could be self-righteous. It freed
us from self-righteousness. Therefore, every time you see
it again in yourself, acknowledge it for what it is. Number three,
hypocrisy. Right down in here. Hypocrisy abuses liberty. by excusing or even justifying
sin. I'm not talking about the hypocrisy
out yonder in them. I'm talking about the hypocrisy
right down deep in here in me. See, most people think, well,
I can't say anything bad about that person doing that because
I've done it too. Paul was a blasphemer. You think
I can't preach against blasphemy because I used to do that? Ain't
that stupid? Ain't that asinine? Because you're
not called to preach yourself, you're called to preach Christ.
And blasphemy, David McCollum, dishonors Christ. So if I see blasphemy in here,
acknowledge it for what it is. Sin. And reject it. Reject it. For my brothers and
sisters, we have been called unto liberty. But there is this
one stipulation, only use not your liberty for an occasion
to the flesh. Because if you do, you're going
to find out the sad consequences of it. Look, let's read it and
I'll close. For brethren, you've been called
unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion
to the flesh, but by love do what serve one another. Now,
will we do it perfectly? No, you're going to find sin
spotted all throughout that, but you can still do it in love
without the fear of the rod of God coming down and just mashing
you into nothing and sending you off into hell. You can engage
in love without the fear of condemnation. When you slip up, Mason, When
you fail, look, for all the law is fulfilled in one word, even
in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But, but, here's the key, but
if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed
one of another. Do you see the two sides? The
one is love. Now you have a perfect example
of it. And you'll never attain into it in this life. But faith
is still energized by what? Love. It's real love. It's a
love that's wrought. No, it's a love that is the Spirit
of God. Have you ever noticed when he
says the fruit of the Spirit is, you notice he doesn't mention
repentance? Have you ever read that? Ever thought about that?
You know why? Because repentance is not a fruit
of the Spirit. Repentance is wrought upon a person by the
Spirit. But these things Paul mentions
here that are a fruit of the Spirit, they are the character
of God Himself. And faith and love are two of
those things. God didn't work faith in me. He gave me the gift
of faith. It already existed. Where? In
Him. He gave me the gift of love. It already existed. Where? In
Him. And then when I got to repent,
He doesn't have to give me. He ain't never had to repent.
I am the Lord. I change not. I don't repent.
If He don't give me a little bit, He makes me repent. Do you
see the difference? But look. Take it, but if you
bite, here's what, brethren, you've been called into liberty,
but if you lose your liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
what's it gonna do? It's gonna consume you, and it's gonna consume
others around you. There's the danger. And that's
God's word on it, not my opinion. I thought one time, at one time
I thought I could handle this. I've been called into liberty.
Yeah, and I've seen things being consumed all around me. Why? Because hypocrisy will take
the very liberty of God Almighty and will use it for an occasion
to itself. Itself. That's solemn words,
is it not? And I don't mean, I mean some
of y'all, you look pretty dang old solemn. Y'all ought to be
happy! You've been called into liberty.
Well, shoot, I can't use it for an occasion in my flesh. You
forgot what your bondage was. The flesh was your bondage. As
Earl said, don't crawl up in the corner and pet yourself and
say, poor pussy. Poor thing. Thank God I've been
liberated. Those things don't even have
to dominate my life anymore. They're still a part of my life,
Mason, but they don't have to dominate anymore. See, that's a joyous message. I mean, if we really comprehended
that the way it ought to be comprehended, y'all would have started shouting,
I'd have had to quit and sit down, and then you'd have shouted
until we got tired and we'd eat. I'm serious. If we really knew
it, it is real truth. We couldn't have contained ourselves.
But it's that stipulation that gives us the little stick. If he just said, I'll call it
the liberty and left it there carte blanche, that would have
been great. But when he says only use not
liberty, neither do I condemn thee. Oh, don't you think that
woman thought that? What? What? But then he said,
go and sin no more. And I do like what Tim James
said. You know what he was basically telling her? Now quit that whoring.
You got caught whoring, now stop it. Right? That's tough. No, that's the truth. That's
what he was talking about. You got caught whoring, now stop
it. Why? Not so you don't have to be condemned.
He ain't condemned you. Put forth effort to stop it.
Apply yourselves to it. Cry out unto God for it. Why? Because He don't condemn you.
You argue, but what if you are already guilty? Well, what if
I do this? You've already done it. You're
already guilty of it. That's a good message. Not my
preaching, but that's a good message. Isn't it? That's not
something that will make us sad, that's something that will make
us rejoice. Father, as we continue, may it be that we rejoice in
these things. We're so dull, so prone to the flesh. Forgive
us, first of all, Lord, forgive us. Another thing, Lord, lead
us, guide us, and direct us. Another thing, Lord, work in
us both the will to do of your good pleasure. And Lord, lastly,
make us to rejoice in it. Give us some sense of the reality
of the glory of our liberty we have in Christ Jesus. I thank
you, Christ. Amen.