The Faith Way.

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?