When it comes to living a life of faith how does it work, this thing called faith. What does it feel like? How does it act? What does it do? How do you know the difference between somebody who’s living a life of faith and someone who is not?
BE CONFIDENT THAT JESUS CARES
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrew 4:16, NIV.
Faith is a word so big it’s hard to get your arms around it. It’s a word that’s so big, you can define it in so many different ways it’s hard to get a grasp sometimes on what it means. I can say to you “You need faith every day of your life.” What does that mean? Depending on your background, your experience and perspective at the moment it could mean vastly different things.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
There are a lot of phony religions out there — people who think they are Christians and really aren’t. In this passage James talks about the difference between real and counterfeit Christians, authentic believers and fake believers. He talks about how you have a real faith.
HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOUR PRAYERS ARE BEING HEARD
There is a story of a church that was located close to a nightclub. the church decided to have a prayer meeting asking God to burn down the club. That very night lightning struck the club and it burnt to the ground. The owner found out about the church’s prayer and sued the church, saying it was responsible for the fire. The church denied it had any wrong doing. the judge said regardless of who is at fault it seems the nightclub owner believed more in prayer than the church did.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” Verse 5 HCSB
BELIEVE COMPLETELY THAT YOUR PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED
We are double minded- “But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Verse 6-7 HCSB
I am a why person. I love to ask questions. “Why, God? Why this? Why that?” It’s good to ask questions. If you have questions to ask, the Bible is ready to answer your questions. There are many great books written about it, skeptics asking questions. This book has been picked apart for thousands of years and it is still the number one best seller.
Real faith is not just saying "I believe". There is so much easy believism in America. If it’s not just something you say or think or feel or believe, what is real faith?
Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do.
In a very real sense that’s what God says to you. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. "I believe in Jesus!" Prove it. Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words. Our behavior shows what we really believe.
If you do not take that risk of faith, what are you going to be giving up? If you don’t take that risk of faith, what love from God are you giving up? What security and peace in your heart are you giving up? What adventure that God wants to take you on, satisfaction in life, are you giving up? If you don’t take that risk of faith, what joy are you giving up in your life?
I’m certainly not a perfect person. I struggle to have faith each day just like you struggle. But as I look back over my life I think if I hadn’t taken even those small risks of faith that God challenged in my life, what could I have given up? I wouldn’t have the wife that I have, the family that I have – the relationship we have. It’s not perfect but I wouldn’t have the joy that is there. I wouldn’t have the growth, the changes that I see in my life. They’re not perfect but there has been some growth.