dead faith

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being head yet speaketh.

Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6
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.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

As you have already read and if you continue to read you will realize that by every ACTION of faith God had a reACTION. When these men of God stepped out by faith, he was there to lead and guide them. So you need to realize that if God is asking you to do something that you don't see anyway of it happening, take a leap of faith. His hand will be right there to catch you and show you the way.

But as carnal man this is a hard principal to follow. Although God has never failed us and we have been taught faith all of our lives there is still that small voice in our heads saying "there's a chance you could fail, everyone will see."

Believing more in the voices of the enemy rather than the almighty God is definitely not faith. But it is not good enough to have faith alone.



James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:15
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

James 2:16
And one of you say unto the, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?.

James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me they faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.

James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

What do you do with your faith? Do you simply hide it way in a little box? Hiding it from the world? Or do you let it shine? For all the world to see. Faith is an amazing thing, it can change the atmosphere of a situation. Faith can ignite a flame inside of a group of people that nothing can put out.

Now imagine if he combined that kind of faith with works. The result would be an absolute explosion! James said that you can not have faith without works. So I ask you the question. What are you doing with you faith? Is it dead? If there are no works then you might as well not even have faith.

belief

I recently just finished reading a book by Donald Miller entitled "Blue Like Jazz." The author had many many points that challenged me greatly which is always good, but there is one part that I absolutely can not shake. He is referring to a friend of his Andrew who is a simple person that is takes things really literal. Jesus said to feed the poor so every Saturday Andrew feeds the homeless on the sidewalk out of a make shift kitchen. 

Andrew made a quote to Donald Miller that I would like to share. He said "what I believe is not what I say, what I believe is what I do."

So like any normal human being that is searching to be better in life I began to examine myself, extremely harsh I might add. And after my examination I came to realize that there aren't as many things that I believe that I thought believed. 

I say that I trust God, but yet I find myself doubting the way things will turn out quite often. I say that he is my healer, but yet I take a doctors word over a promise. I say that I'm delivered, but yet I'm constantly afraid that I will fall into the same mess before. And to some of you reading this it may sound a little extreme or over the top, but if what I believe is not what I say, but what I believe is what I do then I'm really going to have to alter the things that I do. I will have to alter the things I say, the way I think, the way I act, the way my attitude may come off, everything!

I have decided that I do not want to known as just another christian that doesn't live any differently than the rest. I want my light to shine above the rest. Not for my own glory because that is not what I believe. I believe that God deserves everything that I have and I will give him nothing less than what he deserves.

//marcus s. beecham

//change your world