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Tuesday, August
12, 2008
Faith Works
James 2:20-22 But wilt thou know, O vain
man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified
by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou
how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
(KJV)
Abraham was justified before God because
he was willing to act on what he heard from the Lord, even to the point of
offering up his own son, the one that had been promised to him for so many
years. We have been promised a Son also, and God has delivered on that
promise, now the question is, ‘are you following through on your end, you
know with that commitment you made to Him’? Are you acting on what you hear
from the Lord, even if it totally contradicts what you see or think?
Abraham did, and thus was used of the Lord to deliver His message of faith
being an example of a true believer, not only in word, but in deed as well.
James 2:17-19 Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee
my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest
well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (KJV)
Oh but they believe in God, doesn’t that
make them good people? Well the devils believe also, in fact they were
actually a part of the heavenly realm at one time only to end up dead,
separated from God for eternity, and so will all those that just hear the
word of God but don’t act on it and follow through with the plan God had
for them before the foundation of the world.
Luke 12:16-18 And he spake a parable unto
them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
(17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have
no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will
pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my
fruits and my goods. (KJV)
Isn’t it interesting that what may have
started out in the Spirit someone decided they could perfect it by the
flesh. Many Christians start out rich in faith bringing forth the fruit of
the Spirit plentifully, but somewhere along the line what began with God
has now become their own works. Oh but they preach from the Bible, yeah but
so does the devil; he has been around a lot longer than you have and has
twisted and perverted the word of God so that rather than living by faith
many have created their own organizations thinking bigger is better, and
what was once God’s creation is now their own, or so they think.
Luke 12:19-21 And I will say to my soul,
Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat,
drink, and be merry. (20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy
soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which
thou hast provided? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and
is not rich toward God. (KJV)
God chose us so that we could be rich in
faith and heirs of His kingdom. Many would rather find an easier path to
follow, looking to kick back a bit. These works man claims are of God are
nothing more than their own creations, legends in their own minds which
will end abruptly when they find out the real difference between God’s work
and their own conceited carnal concoctions.
Isaiah 1:19-20 If ye be willing and
obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (20) But if ye refuse and
rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath
spoken it. (KJV)
Willing and obedient; like faith and
works, following through with what you hear so that you can get the results
our Lord intended for you. The spirit is willing, now you need to get the
body in subjection to it so that you can walk in the Spirit and not be in
bondage to the desires of the flesh and its fallen nature. The Lord is not
going to force you or beg you into His kingdom, but rather He would love to
have you be a partaker of His divine nature; in fact it is His good
pleasure to give you of His kingdom, now will you take it?
James 2:22-24 Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (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.
(24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only. (KJV)
Do you think you are always going to like
what you hear from the Lord, or what He is asking you to do, or walk away
from? I am sure Abraham had to wonder what was going on, especially after
waiting so long for the promise of a son to be fulfilled only to be asked
to give him up at the altar. What if God asked you to give something or
someone up for His kingdom’s sake, would you follow through with His works
and act on what you heard, or would you call it quits? Heck I wonder how
many would squeal and complain if the Lord asked them to give up sports center
for a day? Do you think Peter, Paul, and the rest of the people God used
throughout the Bible enjoyed being mistreated they way they were for the
kingdom’s sake; yet aren’t you glad they endured and were able to deliver a
message of encouragement that is still being read by the Church today?
Hebrews 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him; (KJV)
Abraham’s faith was made perfect by
works; being a doer of the word of God and not just a hearer only. Our Lord
Himself was obedient, even to the point of death on the cross, choosing the
Spirit over the flesh. You know, you can sit out in a field all day but it
won’t make you a farmer. Many people sit in religious buildings and
organizations year after year hearing a message but never acting on it,
which won’t make them a Christian either.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (KJV)
And so are the people that never act and
follow through with what they hear from the Lord; many sit idly by waiting
for God to do something before they act rather than stepping out in faith
and allowing God to confirm His word with signs following. Similar to
driving, you need to get out on the road and then you will see the mile
markers and signs that confirm you are heading in the right direction
instead of sitting home waiting for someone else to drive you. Faith works.
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