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Action in Faith

Action in Faith

Words of Faith 5-6-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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James 2:20-24

   You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.  You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

 

        Faith is an amazing thing.  It really does exist free and clear of any action, but James observes that we don't really know that until the action is there.  For Abram, saying "I surrender all" did not really take form until he really did surrender all.  That is the story of faith. 

       Remember how Peter tottered at the edge of the boat?  Jesus was calling him out onto the water.  One foot was in the boat while the other hovered over the foam.  There was that split second when weight was shifted from the boat-side foot to the water-side foot, and the one behind no longer carried the weight.  It was then and only then that Peter knew for sure that God was indeed the Master of the waves. We see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

        Have you ever been there? Henry Blackaby calls it a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.  It is that moment when God has spoken, and we stop talking about faith and start walking faith.  

        It happened to me one day as I drove down the road in rather a serious confusion about where God wanted me in ministry.  "If you just provide a way, I will go"... I prayed.    But God responded in clarity to my heart: "That is not faith."  I suddenly realized that while I had taught and preached faith, actually trusting God was another matter altogether.  

        Remember that Greek word for "believe" or "faith"?   It means "to cast your whole weight.”  Faith is more than believing God CAN hold you.  It is casting your whole weight upon Him.  It is this faith that justifies, faith that evidences trust in the fruit of actions. 

       This is the faith that caused Levi to walk away from a good-paying job at a well-located tax stand.  This is the faith that motivated several fishermen to leave their nets.  This is the faith that compelled the Apostle Paul to make the best-known career change in ecclesiastical history.  It is the faith that empowered Mary and Martha to have the tomb of their brother Lazarus opened after four days of decay.  It is the faith that caused a sick woman to reach out of the crowd at all cost to touch the hem of His garment.  It is faith that makes a difference.

       How is your faith quotient?  Is your faith more on the passive side?  We usually raise that quotient one step at a time.  What is God calling you to trust Him for today?

 

     Lord, I desire to cast my whole weight upon You.  Show me where You want me to go and how You want me to trust You today.  Show me the one step You desire for me to take, be it ever so simple.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2009, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.