by Robert Searles

Created on: October 15, 2008

EFFORT DEMANDED BEFORE A BLESSING CAN BE GIVEN

Faith without works is dead,. We are told that we are justified by faith, and we are to live by faith. Faith is believing in something even though the object of our faith remains unseen. We are told that if we have faith, even as small as a grain of mustard seed, we can say to the mountains in our lives to move, and they shall move and be cast into the depth of the sea.

We all have mountains in our lives that we wish that we could remove and we are told to ask our Father in heaven to move them for us , and he says that he will, according to his purposes for us if we believe and have faith. We read in Hebrews chapter 11:1, that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Yes, we believe in eternal God who is high above in the heavens, having all power and authority, who can do all things because nothing is too hard for him. Nothing is impossible with God; but God often tests our faith by requiring some sort of effort and action on our part to show that our faith is genuine. Many times God accomplishes his purpose by miraculous, supernatural means, but more often he requires some kind of action on our part. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" James 2:14. We may believe and have faith that the bible says that Christ was the divine son of God, and that he was crucified and died, and was even resurrected, but just by simply believing this fact of history alone will not save us. We must act on what we believe, and receive the free gift of God with gratitude , and rest upon the promises of God for our salvation.

James gives us an example of how faith and works must work together to be effective. "Seest thou how faith wrought with works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God." James 2: 22,23. Abraham believed God and took action as to that which God had told him to do and God blessed him for it.

We might also use the illustration of how faith and works go together by considering the story of a man caught in a flood, and taking refuge on the roof of his house. He was a godly man and believed in the power of God, and he kept praying that God would save him from his difficult situation. Soon a helicopter flew over and called to him with their loudspeaker, telling him that they

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