Faith without works | SermonIndex

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denem7 Jun 16, 2005

first of all, i understand that we are "saved by grace" and not by works.but the bible DOES say that faith without works is dead. what do you suppose it is that keeps (some) of us from becoming men and women of "action"? why do you suppose peter got out of the boat while the others simply watched? in that instance ,peter was a man of action while the others were not.i ,like many christians, have a super head-knowledge of God and His Word (that I've applied to my own life) but i'm not sharing the good news with anyone else....it's possible that i'm not a man of action because of one of the following reasons:1- either i'm too lazy or apathetic2- or i'm too fearful3- or i'm not in complete understanding of God's will (although i thought i knew it)4- or all of the above5- or none of the abovei desire to glorify God in a BIG way but i'm not quite sure how....does anyone else here struggle with this?dennis

sermonindex Jun 16, 2005

denem7 wrote:but the bible DOES say that faith without works is dead. I believe the church dwells on 'faith alone' too much and kills the idea of ACTION, and i believe thats why we are so lazy, cause 'faith alone' too much, not enough preaching on 'repentance' or 'LIVING out your faith.'what do you suppose it is that keeps (some) of us from becoming men and women of "action"? Doubt. I think thats the main reason. We doubt 'God can use us' in any way. We (Strongly the American church) think we must be "Billy Graham" but many people don't realize Billy Graham just one man and doesn't have a 'sound' background, and also he even said that 'Souls are won, with a smaller crowd not such a large one'

sermonindex Jun 16, 2005

Continued **If you can see ONE person get saved, truly saved, you are ahead of probly 75-85 % of today's christians.does anyone else here struggle with this?Yes, i think many of us, if not all of us struggle with some of your problems. "Fear" yes we probly all do.But what do we fear more God or man? Or better yet (for me) where is our concern for other's future.You can witness to people with ACTIONS (serving others) or by words. I encourage BOTH. Christ showed the natural to people BEFORE He preached to them. Then He showed them the spiritual and their need for the Father.There are many sites for help. Here are a few.Livingwaters.com Ray Comfort's ministryonfirechristian.com (video area...go to the bottom with Ray Comfort's preaching)servantevangelism.com ACTIONS to help 'how to serve.Simply put, just do something random, to a friend or something and just say 'Cause Jesus Loves You'.

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preacher_ish Jun 16, 2005

I wonder if it is we are unwilling to die daily?It tis a hard thing to do.preacher_ish

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ravin Jun 16, 2005

Yes even Paul of old wrote of shaking before speaking God's word.today I work while I can as we don't know how much time we have. In a thread,"A new Martyr in Heaven" my brother was looking forward to working this summer with his people,when he was taken from us here. It is all down in an update in the post from Brother Ron Hutchcraft.My Brother who was taken will be missed.Let us work as in today for we don't know what tomorrow holds

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preacher_ish Jun 17, 2005

"Let us work as in today for we don't know what tomarrow holds"Hope you don't mind... consider this "Let us work as in today for there is NO tomorrow".If you stop and think about it, there is NO tomorrow in the Lord's work... only today.... for today is the day of salvation.preacher_ish

sermonindex Jun 17, 2005

If you stop and think about it, there is NO tomorrow in the Lord's work... only today.... for today is the day of salvation.This is a very good point. I remember a time when I could not function in the 'present tense' - I always had to be planning, to give me a sense of security about 'the future'! Gradually, God put me in circumstances which removed that level of control I could exert on my own future and I remember it being trimmed down to about 3 days. This, is still TOO LONG.Today is the day of salvation because He is I AM. As we connect with Him in prayer through the Spirit, we interface with the great I AM's eternal qualities. This is what gives us vision and strength to put into action what He directs, as Jesus did. At least, that's the way I see it now.John 518 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.I'd say there the opposition to Godliness, is pretty rampant, in the world. It's a good plan to come to terms with that (counting the cost before going to war, so to speak) and becoming unafraid of our own inabilities, so we can get used to depending on the Lord for everything. This is a process, but it ties in with what happened to the ten lepers.Luke 1712 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.This undermines most of the excuses we may think we have - again, this is only my take - it still takes faith to walk in obedience, trusting we are clean and use-able by God.

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ravin Jun 17, 2005

Old Native phrase," Today is a GOOD day to die."It works for me being a Christian and a native, to die daily to self, seeking him first.I've found if we are doing Gods will the devil has a way of finding us, so it makes sence, the Spirits words "that having done all stand"I have been blessed to meet some people who are strong prayer warriors. knowing the word has to say that we all don't have the same gifts. we must listen to the spirit and give an answer to all who ask us of are hope. so stay in the fight, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and him only."I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12: 1,2

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Spitfire Jun 17, 2005

Hi Dennis. Your post says exactly how I felt one year ago. I joined SI in August, 04. Over the course of this year, I have listened to probably 300-400 available downloads. I bought an mp3 player to do it. As I have listened to men who are impassioned for the gospel, I've understood what is wrong with me. I did not know God. You can't tell someone about something if you don't know it yourself. So many of us have been trying to describe a priceless thing that we haven't ever even seen ourselves. We've heard about it, but we haven't come to know about it.Spend time in fasting and just tell God you want to really know him. Tell him you are willing to pay the full price, because it will cost you everything to really know God. That's why only a few really do.I told a friend of mine just the other day. I can count on one hand the people that I believe really know God right here around me. Most of us say we want to know God, but we still want to retain our life. We still have our own agenda. Until we've given up our own agenda, we haven't even begun to know God. Love, Dian.

sermonindex Jun 17, 2005

Old Native phrase," Today is a GOOD day to die."I like it! Thank you for sharing this. It comes at an appropriate time for me to retain for personal use :-D

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Nellie Jun 17, 2005

I really enjoyed your Article on the two Conenants.Could you plmk the web-site, as I want to print off some more of your writings.I agree with you.We need to know Him better, and until we get where we just do His bidding, we will fail.I will His Will, in my life, and in all circumsyances.God Bless you.Nell

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AsliEren Jun 19, 2005

Works is Faith and Faith is Works.Self-Righteousness is Works without Faith.

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Servus Jun 20, 2005

Yes it is true that faith without works is dead, but let us not forget love, for without love those works are nothing as well, as spoken in 1Corinthians 13:1 - 3 "1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing."It all starts with love.Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. We are commanded to love God first and foremost, and then to love others. Those are the two greatest commandments. Let us remember, they are commandments and not just suggestions. If we have a problem with loving others, if we find it hard or nearly impossible, then it is up to us to ask God to help us to love them. For without God's love working in us, then it is truely impossible to love others the way that God would have us to. If God gives us a burdon for others and works it in us to love them, then the works that are required to keep our faith alive will come automatically. If you love someone with the love of God then it would be nearly impossible to just let them slip away into hellfire without wittnessing to them first in one way or another. But remember, not everyone is called to be an evangelist, or a pastor, or even a teacher. We can effectively wittness to people if we show that we are truely set apart by Christ, and live our lives as we are called to live. Just living a Godly life and making sure everyone knows you are different because of Jesus Christ, is wittness enough. Those who preach and "win souls" are not the only important people where wittnessing is concerned. They are merely those who are reaping, but there are others who are sent out into the world to plant the seeds, and still others to water the seeds. Going out and preaching to people is the method of reaping, but the problem is that there are too many labourers out there who are trying to be the reapers, and not enough people sowing and watering. With things working that way, it will make for a really lousy harvest. If one does not feel comfortable with, or does not know how to go about preaching, then it is possible that they were not called to do so. We need to make sure what we're doing for God is what God wants us to be doing for Him, and not just something we think we should be doing for Him.

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dohzman Jun 20, 2005

The book of James concerns itself with body of Christ or the local church. Us preachers have a tredency to lift passages out of the word of God and make sermons to prove a point or move an assembly this way or that.(I'm also guilty here). This passage is really showing that we as christians cannot see needs in our local fellowships (especially) and not respond. I love the way we don't need to ask what the Father's will is, its plain and clear. I once heard a brother explain that he didn't feel lead of the Spirit to help a family in desprite need(this family was known to be faithful and had just fallen on hard times), and he used the voice or leading of the Holy Spirit to justify his inaction. That persons faith is what James would call dead.In the sight of God we are more intimately connected than most would be willing to accept or want to accept. The early church fathers believed that the Lord placed thoughs with needs in the body to test the faith of the more priviliaged in any given area, money is an easy example and quick to relate to and understand, but the field is pretty wide if you spend the time to consider gifts and talents and all that we individually have and can contribute.

sermonindex Jun 21, 2005

I once heard a brother explain that he didn't feel lead of the Spirit to help a family in desprite need(this family was known to be faithful and had just fallen on hard times), and he used the voice or leading of the Holy Spirit to justify his inaction. That persons faith is what James would call dead.In the sight of God we are more intimately connected than most would be willing to accept or want to accept. This is very challenging. What if the family had not been faithful, would it have been the voice of the Spirit then? That is a rhetorical question, I hope.