(Action,Deeds)
Just
as faith without works is dead, prayer without works is dead.
Works
alone will not get us into Heaven.
We
must follow up prayer with action.
James
2;26
26 For
just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead.
It’s
one thing to pray for someone who is sick but it’s another thing to take action
and go to that individual and lay hands on them and pray. In addition, It’s
another action to ask others to pray for that person.
God
doesn’t call us to simply pray over someone for healing and move on with our
day, Prayers are the beginning of a task.
We
must be bold and follow up. We can’t just pray then sit back wait for God to answer
or heal.
We
must remember the enemy will move on us and the person we pray over so subtly
we won’t even realize it. If doubt (the enemy’s favorite word) creeps in satan
becomes happy.
We
are to pray and follow up, for example; when we pray for healing of someone, we
can’t just move on to our daily life, we must act, we must go to that person
and lay are hands on them, we must follow up day after day and encourage, pray
again, love, comfort, and counsel them.
If
we pray for healing of someone with little faith they can be healed but if we
don’t follow up with them, their faith can weaken, the enemy works on them, and
the healing can dissipate.
The
enemy hates what we are doing and he will intervene.
If
we pray for healing of someone that is a Christian with strong faith they can
stay healed because they have the strength to fight sin but we must continue to
follow up and pray with them.
In
the underlying scriptures James is not saying that our works make us righteous
before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are
not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in
Christ always results in good works.
James 2;14-26
Faith and Works
Together
14 What
good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not
have works? Can this kind of faith save him? 15 If a
brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 16 and
one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you
do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 So
also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. 18 But
someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without
works and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that
God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear.
20 But
would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not
Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the
altar? 22 You see that his faith was working together with his
works and his faith was perfected by works. 23 And the scripture
was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to
him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You
see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And
similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she
welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For
just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead.
Numbers
16;28
Then
Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all
these works, for I have not done them of my own will.
Ephesians
2;10
For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ecclesiastes
9;1
[ Everyone
Will Die ] So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I
concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works,
are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated— no one knows
what lies ahead.
Psalm
77;11
I
will remember the works of the Lord. Yes, I will remember the
amazing things you did long ago!
Psalm
78;7
Then
they will place their confidence in God. They will not forget the works
of God, and they will obey his commands.
Proverbs
16;3-4
3
Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be
established. 4 The Lord works everything for its own ends— even
the wicked for the day of disaster.
Proverbs
28;19
The
one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever
chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.
Titus
1;16
They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Romans
2;7
eternal
life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and
honor and immortality.
Romans
3;20
For
no one is declared righteous before him by the works
of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
timothy skon, Chaplain
serving others, guided by Jesus.
5/3/16