The Faith Way.
James 2:14-19NKJV
The book of James is one of the earliest books of the NT. James points out that true faith believes while serving others. (Real faith do).
I Pastored an African-American lady in Cartersville, she was a sweet saint, her name, Ruby B. I would tell her something interesting about God, or maybe the Church, and Ruby would always respond, “It do, it do, it really do.”
Listen, Faith do! - Faith gets the job done.
James 2:14-19NKJV What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James continues the warning against having a lifeless, dead faith by reminding us that even the adversary and his legion believe in God, but, do not obey Him in proper action.
I want you to think about this point with me. You ready? “True faith, believes/sees. Yes, Faith sees.”
That’s what God demonstrated. In Genesis, God spoke, and whatever He saw in His minds-eye, it was.
Think with me, Let’s just say, God pictured a tree, and it was so. First, God pictured it. Then He spoke.
God created every animal, but before He spoke, He pictured it.
I think you agree that God has quite an imagination!
The apostle James was saying, “If you have faith, you will display fruit. Faith and fruitfulness are synonymous.”
Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help.
Listen to Jesus’ words in, John 6:29NKJV Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
First, Jesus states, “This is God’s work.”
The Protestant Reformation emphasized a difference of opinion between Catholics and Protestants on this issue. Yet, if we look closely, there may not be as much difference as we assume.
The Catholic Encyclopedia states, “Faith shown by works has ever been the doctrine of the Catholic Church.”
Calvin wrote, “It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone.” Martin Luther wrote, “We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith.”
Remember first Jesus states this is God’s work,
However now, Jesus states, this is man’s work. Matthew 16:27NKJV For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Again, Jesus states, this is man’s work.
Godly faith not only believes, but it sees, and takes action. It works. “If you're going to make a difference you’ll obtain, seeing faith.”
“Life as God knows it, is inside of you. If you can picture it, you can.” P.H
Faith isn’t just a way of living; Faith is also a way of seeing.
The old adage is true: Seeing is believing. But the opposite is even truer: believing is seeing.
This I’ve learned, “If you really have faith for a certain matter to come to pass, I believe you begin to picture the matter resolved.” PH
Hebrews 11:1-2TPT “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. 2 This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for.”
In, Hebrews 11:3-5, we proceed to read of Cain and Abel, Enoch who was, and was not, for God took him.
And then we read in, Hebrews 11:6KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This I know, “If you choose to operate your life another way, other than the faith way, you won’t please God.” P.H
Then you’ll read about Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Moses etc.
Hebrews 11:10KJV For he (Abraham), looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
What foundation do you feed upon?
Do you personally know the Builder and Maker of the foundation?
Maybe, “I remember when, foundation?”
How about, “A self-pity, foundation?”
For many, A regret, foundation?
According to, Hebrews 11:10, The people of God should always look and feed upon the faith foundation?
Is faith the easy way? Let’s read farther and see:
Hebrews 11:32-35TPT “And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. Although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power. Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured, and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection!”
Faith isn’t always the safe-way, Sometimes faith can even get you killed. However, the Godly benefits of faith is out of this world. -Mark Batterson
Let me tell you more about these, “Faith Hero’s!”
Hebrews 11:36-38TPT “Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were.”
Suppose I hear through the grapevine you have a brain tumor, and I tell you I am a brain surgeon. You may ask, “Where is your office?” I answer, “Well, I do not have an office. I work out of the trunk of my car to keep my overhead low.” For some reason you immediately become suspicious. You ask, “Where did you go to medical school?” And, I say to you, “Well, I never have been to medical school. I read how to do this operation in a Reader’s Digest so now I can do it!” “If I had no evidence or proof, to support who I claim to be, you would not recognize me to be a brain surgeon."
You see, I have come to realize that many people profess to be Christians, but there is no evidence in their lives to prove it. P.H
This I know, When you begin to believe, you will see!
On an average day, What do you see? What are you seeing?
I wanna give you, Five necessary tools to possess while living the faith way!
Picture God working for you.
Romans 8:28KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2. Picture your dream in your minds-eye.
Romans 12:2ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Again, Picture your dream in your minds-eye.
“Have you given this dream over to God, to make it God proof – I call it?”
Have you?
3. Begin to get excited about what you see!
“If what you see doesn’t excite you, it probably won't excite me.” P.H
That’s why John on the Island of Patmos shared what he saw. Hear his excitement.
Revelation 1:9-11KJV I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;
Think about this, John on the island Patmos wrote what he saw in Revelation, because he saw it, believed it, and was excited about it, praying all along for others to receive it!
4. Talk about your dream. (Share it with those who care about you; Who have your best interest).
When you talk of your dreams, you convince yourself.
Hear me, “Giants will come.”
Number 13:33KJV And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Again, your confession convinces you- Talk your dream.
5. Last but far from least, talk to Jesus about your dream.
Jude 20KJV But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Never discount those Jesus talks!
Tell Him too bless it, anointed it, and to place His hands on it!
-The faith way is interesting. Just you wait and see. P.H
Benediction. “If you choose this day the faith way, then let's worship and serve the Lord like never before.” Secondly, I’m here for you, along with hundreds more! Come let’s agree. Let’s believe. Let’s pray.
