Faith
DEAD OR ALIVE
(WHICH ARE YOU?)
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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, Oh 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 now how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:17-26 KJV.
To Work: is to labor, toil, undertake, to accomplish a deed, to slave, sweat, run, manage, control, handle, use, execute, effect, bring about, do. We as believers live by faith, not by sight. To live is our work and to live by faith the word of God is what brings the manifestation of God's principles to existence in our lives.
Are you living is a question that came to me in a self examination of myself. I have a hunger and desire to grow more in the Lord in the way of knowledge and wisdom and understanding. I want to accomplish what he did when he walked the earth himself. He set the example himself that it can be done, if we follow his guidelines by living out his written word. (Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God - KJV). I noticed some things in my life that just hasn't happened even though I believe and keep and do the word. I know it's not in any way a fault on the Lord’s part because he is not a man that he should lie. (Numbers 23:19 God Is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? KJV).
I believe him to be the truth just as he says, I believe he can do just as he says, and I believe I can do what he says I can. (Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12 KJV).
To live the word of God is to maintain oneself in the word, to keep it, guard and observe to do it. To live the word is to occupy; to take possession of it, to reside in it as an owner. Living the word is to enact the word, by establishing or instituting it.
To live also is to practice. Practice is to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient. To train by repeated exercise, to carry out, apply, to do or perform often, ready to carry out in what he advocated in principle or doctrine; I am speaking of God's word. Practicing is a systematic exercise for proficiency, (practice makes perfect). (Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect) KJV, Matthew 5:48. This word perfect means to be complete, sound, upright, or blameless and mature. Christians are not perfect, but they are urged strongly to be perfect or whole by steadfast faith.
To live the word of God also is to abound with life, exerting force or containing energy as afire, and glowing, and afire is being on fire, an intensely burning fire, intense direct light often accompanied by heat. No wonder he often speaks of his people as a light. Being afire is to shine with or as if with an intense heat, to show exuberance or elation, the state of glowing with heat or light, light such as is emitted by a solid body heated to luminosity. (Psalms 119:105 KJV Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path); (Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. KJV Matthew 5:16).
Conclusion: All of this is given that you might see and understand that when you actually live the word of God, things will begin to happen because of God's word instituting it in saying seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, (which is God's way of doing things), and that's by living his word and when you do that, all other things (the things you want, need, desire) will be added unto you. You don't have to make them happen or go looking for them, by God's established law, they can't help but happen. If you believe in the word of God, and are living what you believe, the word of God is so powerful, it is already established to carry out that principle when enacted. Though you don't see it now, to continue to live it is continuing to practice it, and practice makes perfect. Blessed be to all of those who love the Lord. Amen.
Written by:
Alfreda J. Byars
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