Welcome to Friday. I’ve got a big fry-up for you today so I hope you’re hungry.
Faith works
If we want to function in faith correctly we need to add to Hebrews 11 the thoughts of the apostle James where he writes of adding to our faith, works. Let’s look at this together.
James 2:14 (NKJV)
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
This actually makes a lot more sense when we read it from the NIV translation.
James 2:14-20 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless
Faith is all about trusting God to create what is needed but as the NIV says so well, faith should be accompanied by actions.
We should always be found acting in accordance to what we say we believe. We need to be living it out. Walking the walk and not just talking the talk.
When we say we believe in something the actions of our life should live in the direction of, or in harmony with, that said belief. If a man says he believes he will fall off of a cliff if he walks too close does he then balance on the edge of it? No, he would be a hypocrite. One who says he believes one thing then has unaccompanied actions.
When God gives us a promise for us to place our faith in, there is normally always instruction that accompanies it. When we walk in what God says to do we release what He promises will happen.
· God said to Noah to build an ark and He would save his family. Noah then built the ark according to God’s instructions. Would his household have been saved if he had sat upon the promise without accompanying actions --“building the boat”?
· Abraham was promised that the world would be blessed through His life when he left what he knew. Would anything have happened if he had waited in Haran for the promise to be delivered? No it was his walking in what God had said that released what God had promised.
- Get the promise for your situation and then act or live in accordance to what you say you believe. Add accompanying action.
A great closing example would be to look at one of the classic promises of divine provision which is, “Give and it will be given to you, pressed down shaken together”.
1. You can wait for the ‘given back to you pressed down’ bit and have a long wait.
2. You can live out the accompanying action which is to give and then you will release the potential of the promise which is God giving back to you, pressed down shaken together.
Add James 2 to Hebrews 11 and you will have a very exciting life!
Andy
Watch this if you want to be stirred concerning the need for us to use our Faith to change the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU
A devotional by Pastor Andy Elmes to inspire you with a godly thought to start your day well. God’s word is indeed the breakfast of champions.
Great Big Life
Empowering People
Andy Elmes
Pastor & Leadership Coach
UK Office:
PO BOX 240
Southsea
PO2 7YE.
+ 44 (0) 2392 342592
