Love Energized Faith Only Availeth

Okay, I have two verses for a text this morning and I am continuing Galatians chapter 5 And of course as I said Paul is Continuing and he writes these words in Galatians 5 verse 5 and 6 for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith and For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. If I were to give this a title, it would be this, and it's kind of taken from verse six mainly.

Love, energized faith only, availeth. Now, that is a very important phrase that Paul makes. is what does avail, he says. Circumcision doesn't avail. But uncircumcision, it doesn't avail either. What does avail? Faith, which worketh or is energized by love. So again, love, energized faith, only availeth.

Now the legalist, and I'm not gonna try to go back again and explain that. I will try to, I hope the explanation will kind of be in the statement, the legalist. can be recognized by their constant insistence upon recognizing righteous acts, righteous deeds, righteous works, especially their own. They have no problem with touting their own righteousness, and they demand righteous acts from others. You see, most of so-called Christian religion is about seeing men do righteous, right? It's about seeing it. Think about this.

The spirit born gospel called believer, and I keep emphasizing this because there There's a lot of people think that they're saved because they had some change in life. Maybe they were a drunk and they quit drinking and they started believing in Jesus, but unless you've ever been called by the preaching of the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are not saved.

God does not use error. He does not use lies to convert his people. The spirit-born gospel called believer insists, insists upon confessing this. I'll just give you just four things. Again, the spirit-born gospel called believer insists because it wells within their soul by the Spirit of God. They insist on confessing this.

I am unprofitable even when I do what I should. Luke 17, 10. Our Lord told us to actually say this. that when we've done all that's our duty to do, we are still to say, I am an unprofitable servant. Here's another thing, and I just, I know, because I know that many people don't really get what Isaiah's saying, and what every spirit-born gospel called believer insists upon confessing, that even my righteousnesses Do we hear it? Not my self-righteousnesses, that's not what it says. That even my righteousnesses, my best efforts are menses, cloths in God's sight, Isaiah 64, six.

Think of that. My best acts. Why? Even when God is working in me, both to will and to do of his good pleasure, there is my flesh involved in that situation. Here's a third thing that every spirit born gospel called believer insists upon confessing. In my flesh dwells what? You know it. No, no good thing. Here's another one. According to Psalms, according to David in Psalm 29 in verse five, at my best state, I am altogether what? Vanity, complete emptiness.

When they, that is these spirit born gospel called believers, confess that. When they confess any act of obedience, they are forced by the Spirit of God to always demand a disclaimer. You hear what I said? Turn back just a page or so, it's probably that way in your Bible, to Galatians chapter two. Now remember what I said. These spirit-born, gospel-called believers, they insist upon confessing something.

When they confess any act of obedience, and they feel awkward even in doing that, okay? When they confess any act of obedience, they are forced by the Spirit of God to demand a disclaimer. And we see that in the scriptures, Galatians chapter two and verse 20 in our text letter.

Verse 20, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Now here's the disclaimer, yet not I. Do you see that? Now, Ellen in plain English, just in plain English, in religious words, that's a contradiction. Is it not? But the believer is forced, even when they know they're living for Christ. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I'm reminded of that book that Tommy gave me, and I probably still have it, and have it finished and given it back to him, by John Newton. It's a lot of letters that John Newton did a lot of corresponding. Of course, back then, that's the only way you had to have radio, TV, all of that stuff. But, and Tommy can vouch for this, and some of you may have read the very book with all of these letters from John Newton to various people, other preachers, other believers throughout his ministry in the Gospel of Grace, and it is amazing how constantly, how often he continually confesses and declares these things.

I am unprofitable. My righteousnesses are as menses cloths in God's sight. In my flesh dwells, he'll be going along talking about the ministry and how well things may have been going or may not have been going and all of a sudden confess, in my flesh dwells no good thing. Somebody wrote him a letter and was thanking God for his ministry and how he'd helped him, and still, he would confess things like this, at my best state, I'm altogether vanity. So again, I say when they, that is these spirit-born, gospel-called believers, when they confess any act of obedience, and you remember one time, Paul, I don't have this in my notes, You remember one time Paul was talking about his ministry as compared to all these other men that were putting Paul down, and he said, I speak as a fool.

You remember that? I speak as a fool. Why? Because he knew it wasn't him. He knew it wasn't him. Look at Romans chapter eight. Here we'll see it. Romans chapter eight and verse 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors. Now that's saying something, is it not? We are more than conquerors, but see the disclaimer? through him that loved us. See, it's not, even, Mack, when we're doing, and I want to use the language, and I know it could probably be said better, but even when we're doing something for the Lord, it's only because the Lord is doing something for us. It's never we couldn't be saved until God saved us and now we have the ability to serve the Lord on our own. It never works that way.

Listen to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, turn there if you're following along. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, here's another one. And verse 10, and I know this will be familiar to you. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. You see that? You say, but by the grace of God, I am what I am. But that is in light of, look at verse nine.

For I, for I am the least of the apostles that am not meet to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. Now think of it. Jack, God gave this man, Paul the apostle, apostleship over all Gentile churches. And there were 11 other apostles who were over Jewish churches, we might say.

And here's this man given all this great responsibility, but he says, but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I. Do you see that? He can't help it. He can't help it. Paul, this man, Paul, our brother Paul, went through far more than what any of us have went through of being persecuted because of the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet he makes it, I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Philippians chapter two, listen to that one. Philippians chapter two. Listen how it's put there, Philippians chapter two, and I mentioned this one a moment ago, but look at what it says in verse 12, Philippians two, wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, that's a pretty big statement, is it not? As ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Now not work for it, but work it out.

May it come to the head, may it come to the forefront, we might say. But look, for here's the disclaimer, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is difficult for the believer, but nevertheless the believer loves to confess it to the glory of God that my best actions are nothing in God's sight. because I'm involved in it. Because I'm involved in it. Isn't it amazing how sometimes we can do something and it's the Lord working in us, both the will to do of his good pleasure and God fulfills his design and good pleasure in it and we had the wrong attitude about it all along. We did it for maybe a little bit of feel good, you know? Make us feel a little better about ourselves, maybe helping someone else out, whatever it might be.

You see, all true gospel called believers. Now here we're getting to our text. Now listen. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The legalist wants to see that righteousness now. Don't they? Now I ask you a question. When you look at yourself, don't answer it out loud. When you look at yourself, do you see righteousness? I think we can be, if we're honest, we can say we can answer that two ways. Yes, I think I do. And then sometimes we say, no, I know it's not there. Now don't we?

But our flesh, false religion, legalism needs, it is duty-bound to see righteous acts, right? They even demand it of one another in their churches, do they not? They will have what is called bylaws and constitutions. that set the precedent for what you can and cannot do at the fright or the warning of being maybe even cast out if you don't do this.

But all true gospel called believers, they see, I'm talking about this, they see no righteousness in themselves and from themselves. because everything they do, they know it has sin mixed with it to some degree or another. We don't see this righteousness. We do not see it in ourselves, for sin is mixed with all of our best efforts. You see, now we're all, maybe not all the time, but we're all under this trap. that we, I'm gonna try to use a illustration, but I will not get real pointed because some of the things that are behind this word are not things you wanna talk about openly in public, but when we think of lust, what do you think of? Bad sexual things, right? But James says that the word, and it's not even a direct quote. James has given the preponderant testimony of scripture. James says that the spirit in us, not you, not unbelievers, the spirit in us lusteth to envy.

That may be a very moral act. but we do it to consume it of our own lust just like we do in our prayer. What's wrong with praying to God and asking for things? It's evil if we pray to have it so that we could consume it of our own lust. God help us to see this, that our best efforts are menses claus in God's sight. We are not helping God out. All we do are angering God. trying to take a little bit of his glory.

Well, I don't mean it that way. God sees it that way. Do you see what I'm saying? God sees it that way, whether I do or not. And as we go on, we will look at a list, and I know in our text letter, Paul mentions certain things, but I probably will go through the scripture to some degree or another, and I'm going to just read a list of things, okay? And you know what I'm talking about. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. We all relate those things to what? L-U-S-T, right? Lust, right? But what about heresies? What about heresies? It's lust. It's lust, it's envy, it's wanting, at least, wanting a little piece of God's glory for myself. That's what it's all about.

You see, again, all true gospel called believers, they see no righteousness in themselves, and when, let me add this, and when we begin to, you know what God's going to cause to happen? down we will go. He'll make sure of it. When we think that we're actually doing something that God must look down upon and smile upon, he will soon take off that finger of restraint and we will start in that downward spiral. But we don't have to.

It says if we walk in the spirit, We will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Is that what the book says or not? You know what our problem is? We don't walk in the spirit. That's it. It's that simple and yet that profound. And what does it mean to walk in the spirit? It means, as Paul said, but if ye be led of the spirit, what is it? When we don't walk in the spirit, we're not following his lead.

So again I say, all true gospel called believers, they see no righteousness in themselves for sin is mixed with all of even their best efforts. And when we do, God will soon remind us of what we really are. We believe God who says we are righteous in Christ. Now doesn't he say that? That we're righteous in Christ. But I don't see it. Do you? Do you see that? Even when the apostles came along and a group of people had heard the gospel, it doesn't say the apostles saw their good deeds. It said they seen the grace of God in them. Do you see that?

Mac, even there they gave God all the glory and no glory to the people which they seen the grace of God in. Modern day religion refuses to do this. Think about it. We believe God who says we are righteous in Christ, but we do not see it. but we do wait with confident expectation in God to see it one day. Didn't he say it? Right after you're fallen from grace. Why? Not because they'd started living corrupt lives, but because they'd started trying to keep the law, trying to do good, trying to make sure their works were seen, trying to make sure that somehow they were all out there in the open.

And he says, for we through the spirit Wait for the hope of righteousness by faith Now let me give you a passage that will help us on that turn to Romans chapter 8 and when I begin to read it You'll if you don't already know you'll say aha. Yeah, that's it Romans chapter 8 verse 19 is where I will begin Well let me I have to I don't want to go back let me start in verse 18 and For I reckon, now you know what that means, I just take an inventory of it as so. I count it to be so.

As he will say, it's not that we see it to be so, we believe God concerning it. Look, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. But when will that take place? not until God begins to wind all this up. Look, for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

What's he talking about? He's going to describe it. For the creature was made subject to what? That includes me, that includes you, that includes this whole earth. For the creature was made subject to what? Vanity, emptiness, nothingness. I look at her on these mountains, and Tommy, I think, how beautiful. I see that stream. I go down to Tennessee and go to Smoky Mountains where Tim James and our brothers and sisters, and I see that trout stream flowing. I think, this is so wonderful. It's under the curse of God. You know, it may look wonderful, but it ain't. Death flows through that creek, Jack. Death flows through that creek.

Look, for the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly. God didn't ask us our permission for him to curse us in the fall, did he? Look, not willingly, but by reason of him who has, but here it is, who has subjected the same in what? Hope. This is not the end of it. Okay, go on. But the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty. Isn't that what we've been reading about in Galatians? Liberty, liberty, liberty. Into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

But we don't see it yet. All of this is about, we don't see it yet, look, for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Let me add that we're stuck here until God takes us home or he returns for us. We're stuck here. Look, and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit, or that is to say, the redemption of our what?

Body. The thing about it is, the longer we live, the harder it gets. I cannot read and study my Bible, Jack, like I used to. I sit and start to study and read and make a few notes now. And it happened some when I was younger, but not like it does now.

And I'm doing this, and you know what happens? You know what? And you know what? You can't stop it. You can't just say, Tommy, I'm gonna be a better person. You sit there, start reading, be praying to God. And you know what you do? You fall asleep while you're doing it. Why?

Because we're under the curse. We don't see righteousness. When we think we do, we're not really seeing righteousness. Look, let's go on. Not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves, grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body, for we are saved by what? hope, but hope that is seen is not hope."

Somebody says this, but why can't it be better with me? Because God ain't purposed it so. Now the religionist, the legalist tries to make it so, but all he does is anger God even the more by offering up his benches close to God. And again, Isaiah, our brother, did not say our self-righteousnesses.

He said our righteousnesses are as menses cloths in God's sight. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. And I'll paraphrase, we don't even know how to pray like we should.

Isn't that what he goes on to say? I don't even, because sin is so mixed with my prayers. All too often when I pray for the good of someone else's soul, it's because I want to see it happen. Huh? I want to see God save them. He can save them and don't have to let me know anything about it because it's all for his glory. It's not about me. So you see how even evil, even our best intents can be?

When we're praying for God to even save a soul, it's usually because we want to see it happen. But how many people, how many believers have went through this life praying for a loved one, praying for a loved one, and God takes them on to glory while that loved one's still lost? And then God saves that loved one after they're done gone and quit praying, Jack. Why? Because God saves when he pleases.

He don't save people so that we can feel good about ourselves, or about him, or about anybody else. Look, likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. Because when we pray, sin's there somewhere. The problem is I usually don't see it. I usually don't see it.

Look, we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. He does the real praying. You know what that just said? All we do is what? Groan, knowing that there's a need, but we don't even know the best way for it to take place.

You know, sometimes the best thing for God to do, and I said that in the wrong way because it's like I'm putting a rule upon God. I don't mean it that way. But sometimes why God does what he does is because it is best. The best thing that God can do for an individual to start with is not lift them up out of the mire, but open their eyes to see what the mire is and to see how corrupt and evil and wicked they are in here.

And we look at it and we think, well, God's given them over. And it may be Jack God doing the work in their soul. Uh-huh. We think, well, that person doesn't give up. He doesn't quit. No. Maybe God's taking them to the low road. Maybe God's dealing with them, showing them what they really are.

And you know what? We usually wouldn't do it that way, would we? We just have God come down like a bolt of lightning out of heaven while Walter or Joe or Paul's preaching and all of a sudden they start to believe Jesus. No, usually they start going like this. Going like this until they hit the rock bottom God has designed for them and then only, who does he lift up and seat among princes and kings?

Men and women on the dung hill. Isn't that what Hannah prayed? So it's good to be on the dung hill if God brought me there. Now you hear what I'm saying? Now we live on a dung hill, don't get me wrong, but it's good to be on the dung hill and have your eyes open to the dung hill and realize there's not much difference between me and the dung hill. Right? I'm just, and I don't mean to be uncouth, but I'm just another pile of dung on the dung hill. And didn't Paul say, even all of these things, all of these things he had in his background, I do count them, but what? Dumb. Dumb. So again, we believe God who says we are righteous in Christ, but we do not see it. Again, I say, I know at times we think we might see a little spurt of it, and isn't it amazing?

And I don't have time, I'm not gonna stop and go into it today, but just note, I'll give you this, when he talks about the works of the flesh, he makes this statement. Now the works of the flesh are manifest. You can see them. But now when it talks about but the fruit of the Spirit is, notice he doesn't say manifest. It's there. but we usually don't see it for what it really is. I'll try to use words to make this more understandable later. The flesh will manifest itself. The fruit of the spirit is there, but we often don't see it. But it's there.

Look, the fruit of the spirit is love, and that don't mean you're a nice person. You understand love doesn't mean you're a nice person. Some of the nicest people in the world will stab you in the back. All you gotta do is just get on their wrong side. The works of the flesh are manifest. The fruit of the spirit is. Do you see how much difference that is? It just is.

How often do I think, do I see something? And let me just say, how often do I think, Tim James once said it, and I wish I had the exact quote, but I'll give it my best paraphrase. How often is it that we do something and we think, well, that was a good thing, that was God working in me, and then we find out after it was over that it was shot full of self and hell? And then how often is it we think we just miserably failed, and somebody come along and say, I appreciate you did that.

I thank God for you. You see, because we don't see things like they really are. That's the whole point of our text. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the, well, we believe God that we're righteous in Christ now, but we do not see it. And all you gotta do is follow each other around for a while, and the flesh will manifest itself. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, for in, here it is, for in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, and some of us old Calvinist free grace people, we like that part.

But what else does it say? Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision. Well, at least I ain't no legalist. At least I ain't no legalist. Like Henry Mahan said, we have pride of face, pride of place, and we can even have pride of grace. Pride of grace. Now let me move on. We do not see it, but we do wait with confident expectation in God to see righteousness as it really is one day. And it says that we shall be what? Like him, for we shall what? Then we're gonna see him as he is. And this mortal will put on what? immortality. This corruptible will put on what? Incorruption. And then, and I want to add this, and then only, and then only will be brought to pass, brought to pass the saying, death is swallowed up in victory.

If only I could And see, my mind wants to, if only I could see it, right? That's the hope, but we can't see it. We can't see it. But we do not see it. We wait with that confident expectation. God's called out ones, listen to me, do not disclaim out of feigned humility, but because of the reality of their ever-present flesh. We don't describe it, well, that's the right thing to say. That's the doctrinally sound thing to say. That's all true, but we say it. That is, in my flesh dwells no good thing. Why? Because we know in my flesh dwells no good thing.

We know that when we've done all, we've done, and how many of us, and I'm gonna raise my hand, but not because I'm saying I have, how many of us can raise our hand and say, I've done all that's my duty to do? Huh, now come on, anybody here? I have to put my hand down, Tommy. I've not done all that's my duty to do, but even if I do what did Christ tell me to do, you say you're unprofitable. You get no credit, I get no credit, no merit whatsoever.

Do we understand that? I think we do at times, at times. And then we turn right back to our life and we just start trying to help God out again. We know how God ought to do things, now don't we? Yeah, we do. We just know. We know how things ought to be. You remember, I've read this over and over, chapter six, verses 12.

As many as desire to make a fair, what? Show in the flesh. Remember, we're not talking about turning to immorality. We're talking about turning to try to be a good law keeper. a good person, but it's got to be seen before it could ever really be good, right? And that's the whole point of the law. It's the whole point of working As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law, but desire to have you to be circumcised, that they may glory, there it is out there in the open, they may glory in your flesh.

See what I've got them to do? I've got them to straighten up and live right. I've got them to straighten up and fly right. And after all, I'm doing the same too. Paul says none of us are keeping the law. And let me tell you, that's the only place it applies. God help us.

You're here today and you're a believer and you run back to Romans 7 and say, well, I do what I hate and I don't do what I love. He's talking about the law. He's not talking about the fruit of the spirit. Do you understand what I'm saying here? We use it as an excuse, and you know what that is? That is blaming God's grace. Well, I do what I hate, and I don't do what I love.

Uh-uh. He's talking about keeping the law. The will's present with me. To what? Keep God's law. I want to keep God's law, but I know I cannot. But if I apply that to the fruit of the Spirit, all I'm doing is blaming God when I fall flat on my face. And it don't have to be, like I said, it don't have to be some kind of ungodly, immoral thing. It can be our what?

Righteousnesses. That makes us feel about how tall when we begin to see that. No tallness at all. Worms of the dust. Maggots before God. Somebody says, well, but can't we preacher rise above that at some time? Yeah, when we awaken his likeness. When we awaken his likeness.

Listen to the warning Paul gave the Corinthians. This is vital. 2 Corinthians chapter 10, listen to how he puts it. Now here's a man that's just talked about in chapter 10 about the power, the weapons of God that can do what? Cast down imaginations, every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. That's the power of God. But now look at what he goes on to say in verse 12.

For we, what's that word? Dare not. You see it? Verse 12, 2 Corinthians 10. For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. Do you see it? Well, because we like to see that. The flesh has to be seen. It's manifest. And we're trying to say, but this righteousness has to be out here in the open. It has to be seen. You do not see true righteousness. Have we ever seen Christ with these eyes? But what did our Lord say we are if we just believe him and never have seen true righteousness? Blessed are they which have never seen and believe. This is why Paul is quite clear. quite, quite clear that we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith through the Spirit of God, because circumcision doesn't avail anything, but neither does uncircumcision either.

Well, I'm not a law keeper, but I'm also not a law breaker either. Now go figure that one out. Just go figure it out, huh? Where am I? What is it that avails? being in Christ, and have a faith that is energized by love. Isn't that what he says in the veils? That's our context, right? Let's read it again. God help us, we read these things, me, Paul, and Joe stand up here and preach these things, and we still don't get it, and I don't even get it sometimes when I'm preaching it. Look at it.

For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus, There's where it matters, okay? For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but what does avail? Faith, which is energized by love. You see that? Now what is one of the characteristics of love? You hate iniquity. So when I don't hate iniquity, That is not love. I don't care how sweet and nice I'm being. Huh? Like, you know, Don Fortner gave the illustration.

Most people think of humility as seen with Mahatma Gandhi and he's in that robe and he's just real meek and quiet. The meekest, the Bible says the meekest man on the face of the earth ever, outside of Jesus Christ now, who was the meekest man on the face of the earth? Who was? Moses. Go back and look in the book. The meekest man that ever walked on the earth. And that man walked right into the throne room of Pharaoh and said, let my people go. You see it, yeah? And that's it, he couldn't even speak well. He said, I can't do this, Lord. I'm impaired. God said, I made your tongue.

Listen listen We do it here, too. We want to see righteousness And true righteousness can't be seen it can just be believed and loved and it's all bound up in one single Individual that's Jesus Christ the Lord and if we're following him we're doing okay, so And when we veer, we are not doing okay. I don't care how moral and righteous we are being. Now let me go on. I gotta move through this. This is how it is. It is in Jesus Christ because for in Christ Jesus circumcision availeth nothing nor uncircumcision.

Four things. It is not because we're law keepers now Nor is it because we try to give the law our best shot. We don't. We don't. But here's the second thought. This does not free us to be lawbreakers either. Some people believe that. They believe that's what, since my works don't save me, I'll just live how I want. I'll do what I want. Everything's gonna be okay.

No, it won't, ask David. Ask King David. The sword never left his house when he did what he did with Bathsheba. Do you hear me? Do you hear what this book says? The sword never, never! He couldn't, Mac, he couldn't pray himself out of it. He couldn't cry for forgiveness enough to get out of it. God said the sword's coming to this house and it'll stay, and most all of his family died and went to hell. Hmm? You know, men go to hell because of rebellion.

Don't you ever forget that. May I never forget that. Know your works can't save you, but I will say this. You go figure out what this is. Your works can't save you, but your works still condemn you. Because you either stand in perfect works before God, or you will not stand before God. Now where are you going to find that? Where? Where are you going to see that at? You're not.

You can only believe it and love it in the person of Jesus Christ. Number three, listen, it is a God-given faith which is energized by love that avails. And sometimes love means telling someone the truth even if it makes them feel so bad they hate you for it. Did you know that?

Mm-hmm. See, again, love is not this sweet, nice kind. That's called trash. Earl used to call it ice cream love. You know, I love ice cream. And when somebody tells you, I love ice cream, and they turn around and they tell you, I love you, that ain't much love. Now is it? They love you like they love ice cream? What happens when that ice cream melts?

They pour it out, don't they? Come on now. We get this junk, we get the odd ideas about what love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. We get the wrong ideas about what these things really are. And what are these things? They are the fruit of the spirit. They're not the fruit of me and you. They're the fruit of the Spirit. And I wish I had better language that all of a sudden I could look on your faces. But again, that's me wanting to what? See it. Where I can look on your faces and know they get this.

If I've ever had any love, Jackie, it wasn't me, it's the Spirit of God. If I've ever had any patience, it wasn't me. My patience is shot full of self. I wait only because I know I must to get what I want at the end. But if it's the fruit of the spirit, it's a kind of patience that matters. It's a kind of patience that will, when you see somebody else fall flat on their face, it makes you think, it makes you think before doing this.

Because you look in here and you know I've done the same thing. Now here's the fourth thing, I'm winding this up. This, that is this faith which is energized by love, this only availeth. Ellen, it's so simple. A faith that is energized by love, that's what avails. Not being a law keeper, but it's not being a law breaker either. It's a faith that's energized by love, right? Hmm. How simple and yet how far is that beyond our ability to grasp hold of? Isn't it amazing?

God has to put it in us. Tell me if he left it out there for me to grab hold of, I'd never get it. I'd never find it. I never see the results of it in the end. Does not our Lord, some of the most frightening words of scripture is when people say, Lord, I've preached in your name, okay? I've done many wonderful works in your name. I've cast out devils in your name. And the Lord never refutes that they did this. He just says, depart from me, you workers of iniquity.

And then the next phrase we're given is the illustration of a wise man and a foolish man. And a wise man builds his house where? On a rock. A foolish one builds his house on the sand. They both seemed fit for the need for a house, did they not? What was the problem? The foundation.

So what avails? Jesus Christ avails. A God-given faith that is energized by love. This only, listen to me, this only is enough. It is what is essential because that's what God has ordained is essential because a faith that's energized by love gives God all the glory.

It's what benefits, nothing else does. And I am bold enough to say that. It is what helps, nothing else does. It is what profits, nothing else does. It is what is of value, nothing else does. It is what is of great inestimable worth, that is a faith that is energized by love.

If God has given me these two intertwined graces, and that's what it is, faith that worketh by love. It's not, Mac, it's not, okay, I need to work on my love, and once my love's strong enough, then I can work. No, these things are gifts of God, and they're like this. They're together. They can never be separated. Faith, that is what worketh by love. If God has given me these two intertwined graces of love and faith, then the other graces will be there as well. And what are they? Look at it.

Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. None of those are bad things, are they? There's not even a law against those things, is there? And these things are not our fruit for God, they are the fruit of the Spirit of God. You see it?

Basically, God says we don't get credit for anything. You know how hard that is to remember all the time? You know how hard that is to walk in that faith and love? Because there's a part of me that wants some credit, I don't care how little it is, I want some credit. Let's go back, let me read it and I'll close, we'll have a song. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness. You don't see it in me, that's just the way it is. And I'm not gonna try to produce it for you, okay? I'm not gonna do it. And I don't see it in you, that's just the way it is. Don't try to produce it for me, hmm? Remember, don't we dare not be like those that compare themselves among themselves. They're trying to be like one another.

Who is it we gotta be like to be accepted of Him? God. Now where you gonna find that? It's gotta be somewhere outside myself. It's gotta be in the person and work of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love. That's where it's all at. That's what avails. Heavenly Father, this broken stick, clay pot up here speaking, but Lord, use your word by the power of your spirit to apply these things to our soul, Lord, to give us some comfort, Lord. Some assurance.

Because when we look at ourself, we see nothing but corruption and evil and sin. We thank you for the blessed person and work of your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our all. He's everything to us, even when we sometimes forget it. Lord, we thank you for your grace and your mercy in Christ. Amen.

Love Energized Faith Only Availeth

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Love Energized Faith Only Availeth

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