Faith Demands the Right Action in Order to Work
A lot of people claim they have faith. They say they believe God. They confess His Word is true. They say, “Amen” during the services, but when it comes to actually putting the word into practice, they don’t. Then they wonder why their prayers are not answered when they say they believe God. So let’s explore this issue and see what the Word tells us we need to do in order to make our faith work, and get our prayers answered.
Scriptures:
James 1: 2-8: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [endurance, perseverance] patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [mature] perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. NKJ emphasis added
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. NKJ
-Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. Contemporary English
-Now faith is the conviction concerning those things that are in hope, as if it were these things in action, and the revelation of those things that are unseen; Aramaic
James 1: 19-21: 19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. Berean
Ephesians 5: 25-27: 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. Berean
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. NAS
Matthew 6: 22, 23: 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! NKJ
Matthew 6: 9-15: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJ
James 1: 22-25: 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. ESV
Romans 8: 1, 2: 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. Berean
James 2: 14-17: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ESV
Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. NKJ
Mark 11: 25: Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]. Amp