JUST DO IT: FAITH THAT WORKS
You can litsen to this sermon by clicking here or you can read the notes below. Doing good works is not a way to earn salvation. We are not saved by works but by faith alone in Jesus, but once we are saved, our lives are to show our salvation through our works. Jesus didn’t save us by our good works but Jesus did save us to do good works. Therefore faith and works go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. The sinner is saved by faith, and the believer must walk by faith.
Faith that works perseveres through trials with joy
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
Trials are the testing of our faith- and how we respond to the trial determines if our faith works or not.
We should not ignore the facts of our trials, but we should not dwell on them either. Rather, we should allow faith in what God says about our situation guide our lives.
Supernatural joy understands that God has a purpose behind whatever we go through. This joy knows that God is in control. It cannot be taken away, because we are promised the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. This joy helps us face any trials even though the external circumstances are far from ideal.
Nothing produces results in our faith walk like being under pressure! When we face trials, we need to remember that God is teaching us perseverance and maturing us in the faith.
We can never become what God wants us to be if it requires no effort on our part. “God will take you where you wouldn’t go to produce in you what you couldn’t accomplish.” Paul Tripp.
Faith that works responds to those in need
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2: 14-19
Profession of faith does not equal possession of faith.
Faith is not just words and speech and knowledge; it is action.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
Faith that works through love for those in need always requires tangible expression. It needs hands and feet. It’s acting on what we believe about God. It’s walking with Jesus as He gets involved in the lives of the needy, the rejected, the helpless and the hopeless.
Ways in which we can apply faith that works to our day to day lives:
Don’t just talk about your faith. Live it out everyday. Make sure that your walk matches your talk. If your faith is real and alive, people will know just by watching you, and observing your joy as you go through trials. They will see your faith that God will bring something good out of what you are going through. They will know your faith is real and therefore your God is real.
Ask God to use you this week right where you are. Put your faith into action by sharing the love of Jesus with people who are in desperate need of Him. Make sure that your works match your words.