TRUE FAITH?

TRUE FAITH?


James 2:17-20 (Amplified Bible)

17So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).


18But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.
19You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as [a]make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!


20Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?



Would you say you have true faith in God? Is your faith weak or strong? Not sure? Let's examine this....


True faith is believing in that which cannot be seen with the natural eye. (Hebrews 11:1) Believing in that which is supposed to happen..or promised by God to happen, but hasn't 'manifested' in the natural yet. Romans 12:3- tells us that God has given each man a measure of faith. I believe we can increase that 'measure' by acting upon what we have been given. True faith is saving faith! It saves your soul...literally! If you don't believe (have faith in) Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are lost! You end up in hell! Everyone believes in something or someone, but you had better have TRUE faith in JESUS ALONE to save your soul, or you are believing in the wrong things!

True faith PRODUCES good works. (James 2:18-25) ~How can it not when we true believers have the very Spirit of Christ living on the inside of us?~ The bible says that the way we can tell if a prophet or teacher is real or not, is by their fruit (good works). You can also tell TRUE Christians from those who are just professing to be Christians, by their lifestyles... Watch and listen long enough and you'll see! (Matthew 7:15-20) We will ACT ON what we believe! Which means will either be OBEDIENT to the Word of God or we'll obey Satan! No in between! (Matthew 6:24, Matthew 7:21)

Let me ask you a few more questions: How do you respond to difficulties? Do you praise God in the midst of them, or do you turn your back on Him questioning WHY such a loving and caring God would allow this into your life? Do the hard times make you angry with God and draw you away from Him? Or do you draw closer to Him through hard times, believing that no matter how bad things appear to be, He will see you through; and that there is always a purpose for the pain? Do you believe everything is going to work out according to His wonderful plan for your life- even when you don't SEE a clear passage in sight? (Romans 8:28)

See, true faith believes God BECAUSE OF Who He is.. BECAUSE OF what His Word says! True faith, never gives up hope! Sure, we all have moments of weakness and times where we just feel like giving up; but we draw closer to Him during those times and stand on the promise that His Strength is made perfect in our weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9) We spend more time in His Presence and refuse to leave until we are refreshed and blessed! (Genesis 32:24-30)

True faith is noticed the most in the difficult seasons of life- In the midst of the storms! (Mark 4:35-40) Just as when Jesus was asleep on the boat while the storm was raging all around, and the disciples were all freaking out! They could not understand how Jesus could be asleep when their lives were in such danger! Well I'll tell you how! Jesus knew Who His Father was and He trusted Him! He knew the authority He possessed within Him (the same authority He has given to us, by the way), and He was not moved by what He saw! Instead, He exercised His authority over the winds and the waves, and spoke to the storm: "PEACE, BE STILL!" And the storm had no choice but to obey Him! Hallelujah!

Let us follow our Example (Jesus) and exercise our authority over the negative circumstances that arise in our lives, because in so doing, we are showing that we indeed have TRUE FAITH! Be blessed!

~Father, please increase our faith in every single area of our lives! Enable us to completely trust you with all that we have, and all that we are! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!

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