Be Bold, Be Persistant, Don’t Give Up and Stay the Course!

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15- If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16- and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17- Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18- But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19- You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ” -James 1:14-19 (NKJV)

We have some awesome examples of faith in the Bible, today I will present just two. These should rock your faith (and mine) to be resemble them at all times. Mere belief in God is only half the answer – see Scripture above. 

Jesus says in His word that our faith must have works. Now He’s not talking about salvation by works for salvation is a free gift, He is talking about our faith once we are saved and walking in that salvation. Did you read what James wrote above, the demons believe in God and tremble so faith by itself is missing the action found in putting feet to your faith.

Let me explain this with Scripture. Turn to Matt 15 and take a few moments to read it. “And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”” -Matt 15:22 (NASB). We read further that she persisted in her asking in faith until He seeing her bold, persistent faith, granted her request saying she had “great faith”. He was reluctant at first be she continued to follow and ask Him and I’m sure she believed He could heal her daughter. And the most intriguing thing here is she wasn’t even a Jew but a Gentile. Kinda reminds me of the Centurion’s great faith in Matt 8. Now what does this account tell of her faith? Did she put her faith into action? Did she get results even though she had to follow Jesus around for who knows how long?

Are you getting what I’m trying to relate here? Just faith in a solitude belief form only does not make it. We must put action into the equation as well. i.e. remember the thief on the cross in the moments before he died? He believed and confessed his belief – that’s an example of action – he spoke it and believed it!

Ok, now for the second example of faith that results in action or moving God’s hand in your direction.

Turn to Luke 8:45-48 (NLT).

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

46- But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47- When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48- “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Now His disciples were telling Him you’re in a crowd and lot’s of people are touching you. What’s up? But examine His reply …. (truly awesome!). He knew someone with faith touched Him. In a throng of folks bumping Him, pressed against Him, He took notice of just one person that believed enough that His healing touched her. Truly amazing! Someone who knew beyond a shadow of doubt He could heal them and meet their need right where they were. Her belief was realized in her faith which manifested in action and then tremendous humility. Who does this today? Who is like this today? Who believes like this? Who would be recognized like this, in a crowd of people  touching Jesus garments, by the Son of the Living God? Who?

Our faith is most of the time is lazy and just waits for someone to ring the doorbell with the requested answer. Nope! In most cases this will not happen. Many times our prayers are based on our needs to justify our pride or for our greed. Wrong song here friends! Can we not be bold and persistent in our sincere and real faith and take the action from touching His garment to speaking it to continually asking and believing until He answers? Don’t give up after a certain period of time. Stay the course until He answers you for however long it takes (1 John 5:14-15). But continue to show the Lord that you believe and have God-moving faith. This is what Jesus desires of us in our faith with works of action. 

If you’ve been praying for God’s hand to move in your situation and it hasn’t so far then KEEP PRAYING! Keep believing, speak your faith out loud, anoint your need in action faith. Be bold in asking as the Canaanite woman above. Don’t give up until He turns your way, recognizes your faith and provides the answer. Too many of Western Christians are soft, weak and sickly in this area, hence, their prayers remain unanswered for their lack of action-based faith. Walk in your faith, believing and speaking it. Don’t give up for the enemy of your soul would then get the victory. Stand firm in the power and the might of the Lord! Put “feet” to your faith.

Be bold, and be persistent to move God’s hand in your life. Read His word, seek His face. Pray without ceasing! And never give up.

Amen.

 ““Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” -Luke 8:48 (NLT)

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” -2 Peter 3:11-12

GLORY TO GOD!