King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Faith By My Works
Date: Monday October 03, 2011
Chapters: Matthew 7-9, Proverbs 3, Psalm 108
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-3

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?..Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” -James 2:14,18-24.

The word faith means convincing yourself into believing that what God has revealed is true and acting upon that belief. It is more than a simple belief of the Scriptures that gives us faith in God, it is acting upon that belief and seeing a result. Anyone can believe what the Bible says is true, but seldom do people act upon that belief, therefore, they are unprofitable, laboring without seeing any results. Many people believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, but very few do what is needed to receive Him. It is more than believing that Jesus died on the cross that saves us, it is acting upon that belief that saves us and that is what produces faith by my works. While our works cannot save us, it is making the effort to receive Christ as our Savior that saves us. “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 11:6.

The second a person receives Christ as their Savior their lives begin to change, if they continue to follow Him their faith in Him increases as they diligently seek Him, but if they never act upon that belief they will have the opposite effect. Jesus shows us that it is not be enough to know Him as our Savior, only in word and tongue. It is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, and that we love one another, it's what He commands and what is profitable. Jesus tells His disciples that God will give them anything they want if they just ask Him, that means making the effort to pray. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” - Matthew 7:11-14.

We have a choice, do what we need to do by faith and let God handle the rest of it or try to do everything on our own and dig ourselves into a hole that we cannot get out of. We have to accept that whether we allow Christ in our lives or not that we are still going to suffer from time to time. Christ suffered as well, no one suffered more than He did, but He got through it and lived to tell about it. If we allow Christ to live in and through us He will give us the strength to endure our trials, then we also will live to tell about them as our faith increases by our works. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

You see, while Satan does try to play God, even he is under authority of God. When God tells him tells him to back off he must obey. As Jesus was sailing by boat to Gergesenes he was confronted by two men possessed by evil spirits.

“And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.” - Matthew 8:28-32.

Can I tell you that anyone can believe in the Scriptures, even Satan believes in the Scriptures, he believes and knows his fate. Does that stop him from being an evil, wicked, deceiver? No. He will continue sending many people to hell with him until the day Jesus returns and is cast into the lake of fire, never to bother anyone else again. Sadly, many people will be cast into the lake of fire with him because they never acted upon their belief.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever...And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:10,14,15.

Jesus gave His life for each and every one of us, it is not by our works that we can get saved, it is not by our believing in Him that we are saved, It is by having faith in Him that we are saved. However, unless we make the effort to ask Him to come into our lives and save us He will not save us. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13. Jesus is with all who call upon Him to save them, no matter how long it has been since they got saved, even if they walked away from Him. The amazing thing is that He does not get mad or take away anyone's salvation, but patiently waits for them to put their faith in Him to help them, but unless we make an effort we will remain unprofitable. Those who truly want to see what faith can produce, must let go of their pride, humbly stand before God, and seek forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, I know that You are the rewarder of those who diligently seek You. As I diligently seek You, by faith, I know that I will endure all my hardships. You have gone before me and cleared the way so that I might follow in Your footsteps and the steps of other righteous, godly saints. I am comforted in knowing that I don’t walk alone, but I walk hand in hand with You as my Guide. Through eyes of faith I see a great cloud of witnesses, those spoken of in the Bible and those I’ve known in my lifetime, who’ve already finished the race cheering me on as I persevere in this path of righteousness. May I endure hardship as a form of discipline and may I wholeheartedly seek You above everything else. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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