Faith In Daily Living

8-6-04

Title: Faith in Daily Living

Text: “Someone might say, “You have faith, but I have deeds.” Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. “(James 2:18)

Bible Reading: James 2:14-26

Introduction:

There seems to be something mystical about faith. It exists in every child of God in various amounts. In some, it is as small as a grain of mustard seed, while others have chosen to die rather than relinquish their faith. And, it’s in the nature of faith that it gives God’s people the ability to recognize the reality of that which is not yet seen, and to make that reality the object of hope.

The saints of the Old Testament give remarkable examples of that faith. Hebrews 11 is called the faith chapter and there we have what some call a roll call of those with great faith. One after another, great men and women are honored for what they accomplished by faith. D. L. Moody said, “Faith makes all things possible; love makes all things easy.” Hebrews 11:1states that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Folks, the only way to come to God is to come by faith. But, faith has to rest upon something or someone. So what is it that Christian faith rests on? It is the Word of God! If your faith does not rest upon the Word of God, it is not biblical faith at all. It has to rest upon what God says. Actually, faith means to believe God. But true faith must be supported by evidence. The Old Testament saints had plenty of evidence to base their faith on, and we do to.

God wants us today, not only to be saved by faith, but to walk by faith. While this may clarify what is meant by biblical faith, it doesn’t help us to understand totally how faith applies to our daily lives. Folks, for the Christian man or woman, their faith is what motivates their life. People with faith do things for God, and God does things for them. For a Christian, faith is not a luxury; it is a necessity. We need faith for worshiping, as well as for working, walking, waiting, and even making war. In any area of life where you ignore faith, you will sin. Paul said, “But he who doubts is condemned…for whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23).

Today, we are going to combine the text with Hebrews 11 to get a practical understanding of faith. For our purpose we will define faith as an outward action that demonstrates an inner belief.

A little girl was asked what faith means. She replied, “Well faith is believing what you know ain’t so. That’s what faith means to many. They think it’s a leap in the dark, an uncertainty or some sort of a gamble. If that’s what it means to you, then you do not have faith, because “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” And so faith rests on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and God’s Word. Faith is the expression of what we say we believe in our physical lives. One preacher said, “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

Now is a good time to read our text, James 2:14-26.

14 My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?

15 A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food.

16 If you say to that person, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing.

17 In the same way, faith that is alone—that does nothing—is dead.

18 Someone might say, “You have faith, but I have deeds.” Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19 You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.

20 You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing?

21 Abraham, our ancestor, was made right with God by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.

22 So you see that Abraham’s faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did.

23 This shows the full meaning of the Scripture that says: “Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.” And Abraham was called God’s friend.