It Takes Two Wings To Fly Lesson 4 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. It takes two wings to fly. Faith and human effort/prayer and programs/power of God and practical method.

2. Only faith in Christ saves us. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

a. Faith turns to God from idols. (I Thess. 1:9), which is repentance.

You can’t be saved by repentance alone.

You can’t be saved without repentance.

b. Peter preached “repent” (Acts 2:38), Paul preached “repent” (Acts 17:20; 26:20).

3. The division of labor. God does what only God can do; we do what only man can do. “We are workmen together with God” (I Cor. 3:9; II Cor. 6:1).

4. Review. Faith is relationship with God. “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” (Heb. 11:6).

B. JAMES 2:14-20, 26 EXPANDED AND APPLIED

14 “How effective can the Christian fly who has the wings of faith, but not the natural wings of human effort? Can his faith-wing make him fly? 15 If the [one-wing believer] sees a needy Christian and only blesses him in faith, has he done any good? 16 No, his Christian friend is still needy. So a believer with only a faith-wing without a practical wing can’t fly. 17 A believer can’t say, ‘I have [faith Christianity] but you only have [practical Christianity]. 18 If they first tried to show faith without practical actions, they will not get off the ground. If the second demonstrates his faith by the things he does, he can fly. 19 If you have a faith only wing and believe in God, what good is that; the devils also believes in one God, but they do something about it; they tremble. You are dumb if you think faith without being practical will work. 20 As the body without the spirit is dead, so your faith is dead if it doesn’t practice practical application.”

Conclusion: A bird with one wing will never fly off the ground, and if it loses a wing while flying; it will crash.

1. Your works are empty without faith. “Faith without works is dead” (v. 17).

2. Your faith won’t fly without works (v. 20).

3. Both needs both. It takes your works to manifest your faith (v. 26).

4. Faith that flies must have God’s life, God’s presence and God’s blessing.

5. Practical works make your faith flyable. Your faith won’t fly until your actions back up your desires.

6. Application:

a. You pray best for money when you work hard for a raise, promotion, or commission. The Old Testament Jews didn’t only pray for financial prosperity, they worked hard.

b. You pray best for conversions when you share the gospel, invite people to hear the gospel, and evangelistic visitation.

c. You pray best for church growth when you visit, invite, advertise, plan for visitors, and work for new members.

d. You can’t pray for the church to grow if you don’t have parking, pews, space, prayers, etc.

C. HOW FAITH AND WORKS COME TOGETHER

1. Sometimes it appears I only do the practical. Wrong.

2. Sometimes it appears I must take a leap of faith to let God do it all. Wrong.

3. Sometimes I begin and God finishes. Wrong.

4. Sometimes I work 50% and God works 50%. Wrong.

Remember The Division of Labor: You work as through it all depends on you. You trust God as though it all depends on Him.

5. Sometimes it appears God and I work in leap frog sequences. Maybe.

6. God and I work together from beginning to end.

7. By faith I follow a burden God gives me.

8. By faith I follow the dream God gives me.

9. By faith I saturate myself in the Bible.

a. Bible command.

b. Bible principles.

c. Bible life.

d. God speaks to me through Scriptures.

10. By faith I saturate the process with prayer.

a. Seek His presence.

b. Seek His will/plan.

c. Seek His priorities.

d. Intercession.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.