It’s Never Too Late To Try Again
Text: James 2:17-26
Vs. 17, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
(So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
Vs. 18, Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
(But someone will say (to you then), you (say you) have faith, and I have (good) works. Now show me your (alleged) faith apart from any (good) works (If you can) and I by good works (of obedience) will show you my faith)
Vs 19, Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder (in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin!)
Vs 20, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(Are you willing to be shown (proof), you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from (good) works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?)
Vs. 21, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
(Was not our forefather Abraham (shown to be) justified (made acceptable to God) by (his) works when he brought to the altar as an offering his (own) son Isaac? Gen. 22:1-14)
Vs . 22, Seeest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
(You see that (his) faith was cooperating with his works, and (his) faith was completed and reached its supreme expression (when he implemented it) by (good) works.)
Vs. 23, And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
(And ( so) the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed), and he was called God’s friends. (Gen. 15:6; II Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah41:8).
Vs. 24, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
(You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith (through works of obedience as well as by what he believes).
Vs. 25, Likewise also was not Rahab, the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
(So also with Rehab the harlot --- was she not shown to be justified (pronounced righteous before God) by (good) deeds when she took in the (spies) and sent them away by a different route? (Joshua 2:1-21.)
Vs. 26, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from (its) works of obedience is also dead.)
Pray:
Tonight, I bring this message to you of what God has been speaking to me over the past four months. I truly believe that you will be blessed as what God has for me in my life can be something for you in your
life if only you choose to receive it tonight.
Just to summarize the scriptures I just read to you, James (who is the brother of Jesus) then moves to evaluate Christian faith itself. As we learn from the scriptures in James 2 vs. 14-26., It is right to be concerned with speech and actions, for a “faith” that exists as mere intellectual assent is no faith at all! Only a faith which produces works, as Abraham’s and Rahab’s faith produced works, is a real faith. Surely the actions of these two demonstrated that God was justified in declaring Abraham righteous. And Abraham’s justification was demonstrated and completed by his works of faith.
In James 2:14-17 we find that there were Good Intentions. James compares faith without works to expressions of sympathy without giving any help. The latter is totally useless. In the same way a “faith” that exists without works has no value at all. James is not comparing faith and works, but two different kinds of “faith”.
In James 2:18 we learn that Works prove a person has faith. The verse is better rendered “one person has faith; another has deeds.” Neither is right, for faith cannot be demonstrated apart from deeds.
In James 2:19 we learn that Intellectual acceptance is not faith. Demons believe God exists. And they shudder. So that kind of faith is not saving faith.
In James 2:20-24 we learn that Abraham exemplifies saving faith. What do we learn about saving faith from Abraham? Abraham’s obedience demonstrated that his faith was a dynamic, active nature. It produced an obedience and a trust so great he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22). This action pointed back to and demonstrated the validity of God’s earlier statement that Abraham’s faith was accepted in place of righteousness (Gen. 15:6.) Thus by its very nature Abraham’s faith produced righteous works, so that works were an expression of his faith. In that sense Abraham was justified by works: God’s claim that he was righteous and any claim Abraham might have made to having faith were indicated by Abraham’s acts.
Thus the kind of faith that justifies a person before God is a faith that expresses itself in works. Any “faith” which is not accompanied by works is not a saving kind of faith.
I like what Dr. V. Raymond Edman says about faith. Faith is dead to doubts, dumb to discouragements, blind to impossibilities, knows nothing but success. Faith lifts its hand up through the threatening clouds, lays hold of Him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable, and the future glorious.
Alan Redpath says, Why is it that we believe so much and experience so little? Why is it that our heads are so full and our hearts so empty?
Faith never stands around with its hands in its pockets.
Augustine says, Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
If you will be kind to bear with me, I will now minister the message based on the scriptures I just read to you, “It’s never too late to try again”.
If you don’t like what’s happening in your life, change it. When will you dare to live a life that at least occasionally puts your faith on the spot? Take time to do one thing at a time. You must take the time to deal with your issues of life one thing at a time. The faith walk is a threat to our feelings. We need to realize that feelings and faith, are not the best traveling companions. I ask you which of the two will you choose to lead your life? How about your spiritual life? I ask you again, When will you dare to live a life that at least occasionally puts your faith on the spot? God is waiting for you to step into that spot. If you don’t deal with your spiritual life it will never change. Are you hearing me folks? When will your faith become something that is desired and not dreaded? If you got issues do something about it. If you really met Jesus you’ll change. If you are the same you have never met Jesus. Stop worrying about everyone else. But worry about yourself. You cannot be a victim the rest of your life. God is waiting for you to step into that spot. When will you begin to set a faithful and courageous example for those who follow you? Your children, your church, or the entrepreneurs and leaders of the next generation? When will your faith become something that is desired and not dreaded? What you believe is what you will leave. Your faith becomes the foundation for those who follow you to build a legacy upon. (*give an example*: such as if you are always buying things you don’t need and always broke and in debt that’s the foundation that you are leaving your children and grandchildren.) Belief is what changes behavior. Faith gives you the expectation & courage to dream and to live up to the disciples of that dream. Faith expresses itself with works and is not just a passing thought. Faith endures through the testing that will inevitably come. Faith that is based upon the word of God can be explained with conviction. Faith expands each time it is practiced. Faith can begin small, like a mustard seed, and become the huge tree under which the birds gather. You’d think that the miraculous results of a walk of faith would attract a huge following. Not so! Many people shun a life of faith. It is simply too risky!
If you are going to be used by God there’s a price that must be paid.
You ask, Sister Pam, What price has to be paid? Good Question, glad you asked. There is an answer, you may not like it or you may just ignore it, hoping it will go away. Trust me you do not want this price that has to be paid to go away. If you are going to be used by God there’s a price to be paid. You ask Sister Pam what is that price? I tell you today it is The price of the anointing that had to be paid. Jesus was the anointing and the price was paid. God wants to take you to the next level. You cannot stay in the past. Do not stay in the past. What is God doing in your life right now? What are you doing to change and follow God in your life? We must learn to take our limits off of God. When you go into your ministry take your limits off your expectations. You can’t take people where they do not want to go. When God wants you to go higher there is a cutting away. With the anointing – yokes will be destroyed. You cannot make excuses you can’t change. Push yourself to learn what you don’t know. Encourage yourself. Push yourself into your destiny. P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens) Put your faith in Action. If you got faith then start to stepping. Step into it. Are you waiting for someone else to put you in the water?
*Go back and read the scriptures in italics*
I encourage you today, to ask God to hide you behind the cross so others can see His glory infused with His power and for it to be revealed hidden in you behind the cross so the world sees only Jesus through you.
Sermon by Rev. Pamela Tidwell
