Beloved, we have been speaking about faith lately; and one of the key things I am assigned to do by this message is to tell you that faith without works is dead. I am also assigned to show you how to find and add the right works to your faith.
[James 2:17-26 KJV] “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
I always say that it is not enough to know that God said, it is important to find out how to get there and map out a strategy to get there. Faith must have works to stay alive. Faith is not for lazy people. What you believe will place a demand on you. Faith will require that you keep pushing till you get there.
Faith must always have works to deliver. Abraham had works and Rahab had works.
We know that faith is a substance and an evidence. I must also say that the walk of faith is for a lifetime and not for just a season. Those who can see the full benefits of believing are those who walk in the full assurance of hope to the end. You cannot judge the impact of my faith on my life and generation by a portion of my life. By age 99, it still appeared ad though God had failed in His promise to Abraham, through patience by age 100 years the story was different. Things may look bleak now but it is only a matter of time. We may not look anything near what God promised but today is only a part of the full story.
You may be down today, but tomorrow, you can be soaring. Let us walk in the full assurance of hope to the end. We must resolve to remain faithful to the end. God is on top of His game. In Hebrews 6, the writer said he was “persuaded of better things” concerning the church because they were still faithfully pressing on.
The simple truth, however, is that laziness or slothful is the greatest enemy of faith. Faith will deliver the promise through patience, and patience is the art of enduring in hope even under pressure. The Bible teaches us to be hardworking. In fact, faith without works is dead.
From the text, we see that following is a master key to success and laying hold on the promises of God by faith.
There are certain key persons you must follow if you want to lay hold on the promises. In a digital age, there are many things that are vying for your attention; but the Bible declares that if you want to finish your course safely, then there are certain key personalities that you must follow. These are the categories of people who must serve as role models for you.
1. Those who through faith and patience inherited the promise:
Mostly, these are brethren who have come to the end of their lives. The truth is, you never really know the full story till the end. There are people who we thought will amount to nothing who ended up making it big, there are also people we thought were making it big till they were busted. There are people who disclosed the source of their success but later on were found to be lying. It is important to always wait to the end of the day.
The Bible says “don’t be lazy but be ye followings of those who through faith and patience inherited the promise.” You must be a diligent follower. Learning from those who inherited the promise. When you know how they got it, then you can know how to get it yourself.
[Hebrews 6:10-12 KJV] “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.
2. Those who gave birth to you by their gospel:
We know that in life, we may have ten thousand instructors but one father. The truth is many of the instructors are not sons but are servants or hirelings. They are instructing for a wage. They are not working for an inheritance. Many people will leave your life or despise you when the money is finished. Many people are in your life to use you as a stepping stone to the future. The Bible, therefore, teaches that you should follow fathers and those who are following the fathers. So you see how sheep walk, they walk following the shepherd and those following the shepherd.
In a flock, they follow leadership. When you rebel, you are on your own. Sheep will always follow the one following the voice of the shepherd. Apostle Paul said it again and again, and to every church that they should follow him.
[1 Corinthians 4:14-21 KJV] “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”
Sometimes, pride gets in the way and begin to fight our ability to follow; but let us continue to be sons and follow; the dividends of following are good. We benefit and not the pastor.
In the letter to the church in the Philippians, Apostle Paul told the church to follow him and mark them that have them for an example. He said so because they are many walking about in the church who made enemies of the cross. They are here and with us but they know why they are here.
[Philippians 3:17-19 KJV] “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
3. God:
We should not blindly follow fathers; we should follow fathers who are following God and His Christ. You have no business following me if you sincerely believe I am not following Christ.
[1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 KJV] “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”
When we learn to follow God and Christ; we then become great examples for others. That is how we inherit the promise.
[Ephesians 5:1-2 KJV] “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
4. That which is good:
The fourth category of personalities to follow is that which is good. We should emulate good examples. You should never follow a bad example. You should always find that which is good and follow.
[1 Peter 3:13-17 KJV] “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
Even as a church, we should emulate great examples not bad ones.
[1 Thessalonians 2:14 KJV] “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:”
So in summary, if you really want to lay hold on the promises, if you really want your faith to deliver promises you can inherit, then learn to follow;
- Those who through faith and patience inherited the promise
- Those who begat you by their gospel; fathers and those who follow the fathers indeed and not only in words.
- God
- That which is good.
These are the four. I have no doubt that each of us will do well by faith. The only thing that can stop you is laziness. Don’t be lazy, just follow through hard work.
Stay blessed, I love you!
Pastor Noah Simpe Bediako
