Latest / The Daily Word / July 18 – Faith That Lives
Transcript
- Brandon: Well, welcome once again to the Daily Word podcast. My name is Brandon, and I am one of the pastors at our church. And today, on behalf of all of our pastors, leaders, church family, welcome again to another episode. I hope you're doing well and I hope that you have been encouraged by these episodes. Hey, I do want to just give you a quick reminder. if these are blessing you, if these are helping you. Then share them. Help us to help you and other people by getting the word out. Every time you like, subscribe, share, help us get more listeners. We're gaining more traction in reaching people. And so every day when you listen, can I just ask you, would you take time every day that you listen to just share the link of this podcast with a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, whoever it might be, post it on your social. Help us to get the word out. That being said, today it is July the 18th, and our New Testament reading for the day is James chapter 2. James chapter 2. And like we do every day, I want to share with you my journal entry, Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer, or Response. And today it comes out of James chapter 2. starting in verse 14. there like there's so much. That I don't know how many scriptures to read, so I'm just gonna start in 14, and we might make it through like maybe 20. It's kind of that's kind of a lot, six verses for a less than 10 minute podcast. But I believe we can do it. Here's what it says What does it profit, my brethren? If someone says he has faith but does not have works, can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and be filled. But you don't give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, Well, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe that and tremble. But do you want to know, foolish man, that faith without works is dead? I'll just stop right there. Faith without works is dead. And here in this passage in James, the author of James is helping us to see that it's it's not that faith and works are contradicting each other. It's just that they go hand in hand. and here's the here's the only way that I know how to describe it. If someone were to walk into your house and Let's just say that they that they knock on the door. They're not walking in, but they knock on the door and you answer the door and they were to say, hey, I hate to interrupt you, but you and your family have to leave immediately. And you're like, wait, what what I I know we never met. I'm I'm I'm one of the neighbors down the street. You have to leave there is a very, very dangerous chemical leak that just happened somewhere, and if you don't leave. The the gases from the chemical leak they're going to spread. And if you or your family, if you ingest them, you're all going to suffer illness or die. If that if that happened, the test, the test, the the the proof that is in the pudding of whether or not you believed what they were saying is is not in you saying. Crazy, man. Yeah, like I I guess I met a new neighbor and you know I totally trust them. That that wouldn't be the test would be whether or not you would gather your family, get in the car, and leave as soon as possible. That's the test. The test of whether or not you really believe them is whether or not you act upon what they are saying. In the same way, hear me, the Bible teaches the test of whether or not you really have faith in Christ. It's not you saying you have faith, it's your obedience. Well, you know, I I believe that he exists. And the Bible goes, Yeah, that's what James says. Yeah, even the demons believe. Congratulations. The test is not whether or not you say, the test is your life. James says in this passage, he says, Well, you can say you have faith, but I'll just show you what I believe by the way that I live. My works, my life will prove to you what I believe. Observation today is. Is that our faith is proved, demonstrated, not in what we say, not in what we think, but in how we live. Yeah, man. I think church is so important. Are you there consistently? Planted in the house of God? Yeah, man. I really believe that we're all a part of the body of Christ. Are are are you involved, serving, doing your part? Man, I I believe that Jesus He is the Lord. Are you obeying His commandments and letting Him lead your life? Or are you still being the boss applesauce? Our our faith, what we believe, it's proved and demonstrated in how we how we live. The application or the what do I do now? Well, I would say it would be first and foremost to really take an Honest account of your life. Just taking an honest account. I say I believe these things. I say these are my convictions. I say this is really important. I say that Jesus is the Lord. I say that I'll do anything He asks me to do. Well, are you living it? Are you doing it? It's funny how we can be like, man, I I'd do anything if God spoke to me and and God told me that I needed to go to Africa, I would do it, man. I I move across the world. And yet God tells you to reconcile with your neighbor and you won't do it. Yet God tells you to stop watching that TV show because you're convicted and you won't do it. The test of what I believe, it's how I how I live. And I gotta stop and take an honest account of my life and say the things that I'm saying I believe. The things the by the things the scripture teaches, do I live those? Second application is I gotta start asking the Holy Spirit to help me. See, sometimes the reason we're not living is because we're not inviting the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's the one who reminds us of all things, teaches us all things, and empowers us to apply all things. Let's say that again: the Holy Spirit's the one who reminds us of all things. Teaches us all things and empowers us to live out and apply all things. We got to ask the Holy Spirit for his help. So today, I want to remind you that faith without works is dead. That what you believe is seen in how you live, not in what you say. Another way to say it is that your life is proving to you and everyone around you what you actually believe. And so today, take an account of your life and say, God, help me to see where there's a disconnect. And ask the Holy Spirit to teach you, lead you, and guide you into all truth, to remind you of the things you need to be reminded of and to empower you to live in obedience. God, today we respond to your word by saying, Holy Spirit, search our hearts, search us, know us, see if there is any disconnect, any dots that aren't connecting, any areas where we say we believe, but we're not living, and help us to bring our faith. and our life into alignment that we might live out the things you're teaching us. Holy Spirit, empower us to do so. We need your help. We thank you for it today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Well thank you once again, and we'll see you tomorrow on another episode of the Daily Word Podcast.