The past few Sunday’s my Pastor has been on a series called, “The Keys to Pleasing God”. Our focus Scripture is Hebrews 11:6, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (NLT) Pastor has been showing us steps to real revival in several sermons he’s done this year, and this is also part of it.
Real revival is not just a series of meetings we call a revival, but it is a complete change in us. Part of that revival is knowing what pleases God, and the prime key is REAL FAITH. The keys to real faith are as follows:
1. Real faith is not just something you say. Pastor referenced James 2:14, “What is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” (NLT) When we go around talking like a King James Bible or quoting Scripture all the time but don’t show our faith in the things we do, then it’s a lot of being all talk and no action.
2. Real faith is not just something you feel. Feelings can be deceiving, they’re fickle. If we are depending our faith on how we feel, we will be full of faith when we are up and lacking in faith when we are down. Real faith is strong regardless how we feel.
3. Real faith is not just something you think. Real faith shows itself in our everyday lives. We can not be all holy and sanctified within the church walls and then go out into the world and act just like the world with no inkling that we are even Christians. Do those who see you KNOW you are a Believer just by watching you? James 2:18 says, “Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds,’” (NLT) We cannot hide God and the effect He has on our lives, we must show Him to the world in our everyday lives. What we believe should show up in our lives and in our actions.
4. Real faith is not just something that you believe. Real faith is something that you live! James 2:19 says, “If you say you have faith, for you believe there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” (NLT) Satan knows full well that God is real, but just because he believes this, doesn’t make him a Christian. The Bible says he is a liar, a deceiver, and there is no truth in him. He will not submit to the leadership of God. Just because we believe there is a God doesn’t make us a Christian, it is our total heart surrender to Him and the evidence of that is our faith and how we live it out in our everyday lives. We are to be committed to Him, not to be just a Christian, but a CHRIST FOLLOWER! Many say they are Christians just because they believe there is a God, but they never open a Bible, go to church or act in a way that reflects that belief. To be a Christ follower requires a relationship with Him.
5. Real faith is something you do. Real faith is about our lifestyle! James 2:20 says, “How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (NLT) Real faith requires us to be Christ-like! Our actions prove that we are living for God. Works are not a requirement for salvation, rather they are a proof of salvation, they are a fruit of salvation. My Pastor pointed out that works don’t make us a Christian, but they show that we are one. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through grace, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” (KJV)
The important thing to remember is that the basis or our salvation is God’s grace! Pastor said that the proof of our salvation is our ministry, and that ministry is to serve God by serving others.
For me, I feel God has given me the ministry of music mainly, and more recently He has given me this blog as an avenue to also minister to those who read it. That avenue can be just by what He lays upon my heart and I put on paper, or through my Bible Journaling. My hope is that when people read my blog that it will always point them to Jesus as the answer for everything.
donnasmusings 