Faith Works By Love
By: Pastor Jim Jarman

Our Christian life is to be a life of victory in all things that pertain unto life and Godliness. Even though there are many obstacles and trials that come our way that try to prevent us from walking in victory, we can experience the victory that God has ordained for us. Here are two scriptures that will help to encourage you.

(Romans 8:37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(John 10:10) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

This is where faith comes in. We must walk by faith to experience the fullness of victory in all of the areas that pertain unto our life.

(I John 5:4) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.

Through faith we have access to the spiritual inheritance God wants us to walk in for our marriages, our families, our job and everything else that pertains to our lives.

" Through faith we have rest and peace of mind in the midst of facing giants, trials and tribulations, mountains that stand in our way and the storms of life.
" Through faith we have the power to overcome the chains of bondages and run the race of life with endurance and with excellence.
" Through faith we are able to release our gifting in God and pursue the very ministry that He has ordained for our lives.
" Through faith we release God's provisions for our lives and families.
" Through faith we are able to receive the healing and health that is necessary for our physical bodies.
" Through faith we receive the answers to all of our prayers.

No wonder the Word of God says in (Hebrews 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I. Faith Works By Love.

I want to share with you one of the most important principles in the releasing of our faith. Without this principle working in our lives we will never know what it is to have our faith released totally and effectively. This principle is found in the Book of Galatians and is called LOVE. Faith works and operates by love. Let's take a look at what the Word of God says about it.

(Galatians 5:6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

A. There is a Relationship between Faith & Love.

For Paul, the greatest principle of life is faith that is expressed in love, as in the life of Jesus. The very essence of Christianity is not found in legalism, but rather in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which is characterized by faith and love. We see this time and time again in the Word of God, so let's take a close look at a few of those scriptures.

(Ephesians 1:15) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints...

(Ephesians 3:17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love...

(Colossians 1:4)....since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

(I Thessalonians 1:3)...remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father...

(I Thessalonians 5:8) But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

(I Corinthians 13:2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

I want to ask you a question, when you think of love, what comes to your mind? The marks of love are found here in (I Corinthians 13). These are the characteristics that release the faith in our lives so that we are able to receive what God has for us. Let's take a look at some of them that are listed below:

" longsuffering
" kindness
" lack of envy
" is not provoked

" self sacrifice
" humility
" Self abasement
" kindness

" good behavior
" unselfishness
" hope
" believes all things

" patience
" rejoicing
" forgiveness
" endurance

These are the qualities that faith must pass through if it is to be released effectively in our lives. Hey don't blame me; I had nothing to do with writing the Bible!!!

B. Jesus Feeding the 5000 - (John 14:1-21).

Jesus performed many miracles while He ministered in the fullness of power and authority here on the earth for 3 1/2 years. He always walked and talked by faith that was motivated by a genuine love for the people He had been sent to minister to. In the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000 we see how perfect love was the motivation behind the miracle. This was a great victory for Jesus and for the people. In fact they were ready to make Him King following this miracle.

" Let me share some background here for you- The pressure of circumstances over the death of John the Baptist -- a foreshadow of His own death in the following year -- forced Him to retire privately for rest, not only for Himself, but for His disciples, who had returned from their first mission.

Now with them were the disciples of John the Baptist who had brought the bad news of him being killed. Every one of them had great need of some great bodily and spiritual rest.

(Matthew 14:13-14) When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Though He was denied the rest He needed and sought, Jesus was moved with great compassion and embraced the opportunity of teaching the multitude and healing the sick. His faith was being released through the love He was exhibiting to these people.

The heart of Jesus was always ready to meet all the many needs of man. Compassion prevailed over the quest for solitude. Even though others showed very little consideration to Him, Jesus was ready to show full consideration and great compassion to them. Jesus is our example of how faith works by love.

We see kindness, self sacrifice, humility, unselfishness, a lack of provocation and longsuffering -- all marks of love being exhibited by Jesus as His faith was released for this great miracle. The same can and should happen in our lives everyday.

C. Faith & Love that Operates In Our Lives.

Now another question that I have here is, how does this apply to us in every day life?

" Are you praying in faith for your marriage? Are you showing acts of kindness and unselfish deeds even when your mate acts like they don't care. This act of love will release your faith and God's hand in their life.
" What about the grumpy boss you're praying for to get saved? Do you respond in love when you feel you are being taken advantage of?
" Are you praying in faith for financial provision? What's your motivation? Is it for your own selfish gain or is it to better meet your family's needs and the needs of others.
" What about your gifting in God? What's your motive? Is it to stir and build others up or is it to puff-up yourself?
When the phone rings at an inconvenient time do you get all bent out of shape or do you respond in love? Even though others may be inconsiderate, you can respond in love by being considerate to them. Take the time to listen and draw them out, even when you are not feeling like it. Your gifting will come out as you take the time to respond and act in love. This will also cause your faith to grow to a higher level.

Remember this, my brothers and sisters that faith and love are inseparable. Practicing love from day to day in all of these areas will help to keep you in a place where your faith will be released in a positive way from day to day. And you will walk in victory after victory. Amen, Praise God forever more. Hey Joyce and I sure love you and your family, we believe in you and we call you blessed today.

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Our mission at Agape Life Family Church is to take back the family, evangelize the lost and awaken the saved so they can live empowered lives by the Word of God and through the power of the great Holy Spirit. At Agape Life Family Church we're making a difference for the Kingdom of God by preaching, teaching and training believers, who they are in Christ Jesus and how to study and grab hold of God's Word, and how to walk by faith and not by sight. Agape Life Family Church, we're touching our community one heart at a time. ALFC we're moving, Forever Forward!
ALFC, we're more than a church, we're family!!!