Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Do you understand the "works" of love and how love works in God's Kingdom? Did you know that any good work without love as its motive is considered as filthy rags by God? Listen to pastor Jonnathan’s latest message and dive deeper into understanding "love" and "motivation."
Although faith without works is dead. Works without love are worthless.
If I feed the homeless, and announce my works on social media seeking the applause of man, my deeds are filthy rags and the reward I reap isn't a heavenly reward but a worldly reward.
Works done in love is never self seeking.
In contrast, if I share that I fed the homeless honestly to solely share the gospel and honestly to inspire others to demonstrate their faith with works, and I receive some applause from men, God credits the works done as righteousness.
See: Matthew 6:1 NASB
If I preach the gospel with boldness, passion, and perfect theology, but my motivation is to gain followers or build a ministry, the words I spoke are like clanging cymbals to the Lord's ears, no matter the impact.
See: 1 Corinthians 13:1-11 NASB
I encountered a cessationist recently who used the last part of what I read to justify the end of spiritual gifts. However, the true meaning is revealing that any gifts and works demonstrated without perfect love will be done away.
When perfect love is not the motive, we are not credited in heaven for those works.
See: Proverbs 16:2 NASB
Everything we do will be tested with fire.
See: 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB
See: 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NASB
When we stand before the judgment seat, God will harvest all the good works we've done and examine them all with fire, to reveal the motives that inspired each deed, burning into ash the works done without love, while revealing the works done with it.
See: Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB
Our flesh, which is our mind, will, and emotions, is the single greatest hindrance to walking by the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh is the part of us that the devil appeals to and tempts.
If perfect love truly cast out all fear, the perfect love is the antidote to every works of the author of fear, the devil.
God teaches us that our flesh is always warring against the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh is where everything that rebels against God festers, like thorns, each thing that resists the Lord thrives within the uncrucified flesh.
See: Romans 8:6-8 NASB
Our flesh craves the spotlight.
Our flesh covets applause.
Our flesh pursues position.
Our flesh chases power.
And, our flesh births pride, entitlement, jealousy, unforgiveness, and the root of bitterness.
See: James 4:3 NASB
What defiles a believer isn't found externally but internally. And what is internal will always manifest itself externally.
See: Matthew 15:10-11 NASB
See: Luke 6:45 NASB
In regards to serving, many serve for love rather than from love.
Where Jesus came to serve and not be served, many serve to receive than to give.
When receiving from others, we must be able to judge each person's motive through both the written and spoken word of God.
See: Hebrews 4:12 NASB
In doing good works, when fear, pride, or ambition replaces love, the pure gospel we are called to live and preach is tainted.
See: 1 Timothy 1:5 NASB
Do you understand the "works" of love and how love works in God's Kingdom? Did you know that any good work without love as its motive is considered as filthy rags by God? Listen to pastor Jonnathan’s latest message and dive deeper into understanding "love" and "motivation."
Although faith without works is dead. Works without love are worthless.
If I feed the homeless, and announce my works on social media seeking the applause of man, my deeds are filthy rags and the reward I reap isn't a heavenly reward but a worldly reward.
Works done in love is never self seeking.
In contrast, if I share that I fed the homeless honestly to solely share the gospel and honestly to inspire others to demonstrate their faith with works, and I receive some applause from men, God credits the works done as righteousness.
See: Matthew 6:1 NASB
If I preach the gospel with boldness, passion, and perfect theology, but my motivation is to gain followers or build a ministry, the words I spoke are like clanging cymbals to the Lord's ears, no matter the impact.
See: 1 Corinthians 13:1-11 NASB
I encountered a cessationist recently who used the last part of what I read to justify the end of spiritual gifts. However, the true meaning is revealing that any gifts and works demonstrated without perfect love will be done away.
When perfect love is not the motive, we are not credited in heaven for those works.
See: Proverbs 16:2 NASB
Everything we do will be tested with fire.
See: 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB
See: 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NASB
When we stand before the judgment seat, God will harvest all the good works we've done and examine them all with fire, to reveal the motives that inspired each deed, burning into ash the works done without love, while revealing the works done with it.
See: Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB
Our flesh, which is our mind, will, and emotions, is the single greatest hindrance to walking by the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh is the part of us that the devil appeals to and tempts.
If perfect love truly cast out all fear, the perfect love is the antidote to every works of the author of fear, the devil.
God teaches us that our flesh is always warring against the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh is where everything that rebels against God festers, like thorns, each thing that resists the Lord thrives within the uncrucified flesh.
See: Romans 8:6-8 NASB
Our flesh craves the spotlight.
Our flesh covets applause.
Our flesh pursues position.
Our flesh chases power.
And, our flesh births pride, entitlement, jealousy, unforgiveness, and the root of bitterness.
See: James 4:3 NASB
What defiles a believer isn't found externally but internally. And what is internal will always manifest itself externally.
See: Matthew 15:10-11 NASB
See: Luke 6:45 NASB
In regards to serving, many serve for love rather than from love.
Where Jesus came to serve and not be served, many serve to receive than to give.
When receiving from others, we must be able to judge each person's motive through both the written and spoken word of God.
See: Hebrews 4:12 NASB
In doing good works, when fear, pride, or ambition replaces love, the pure gospel we are called to live and preach is tainted.
See: 1 Timothy 1:5 NASB
