The Power of the Tongue, James 3:1-12

From works to words.

James just told us about the power of works (faith without works is dead, James 2:14-26).

Now he talks about the power of words.

We all hold a powerful tool. A mighty weapon. With it we can bring health or hurt. Delight or destruction. Life or death.

The power of our tongue.  

Words are powerful. There’s much more depth and power to the noise that flows (sometimes spews) from our mouths.

James half-brother to, the Word became flesh (Jesus), writes the most detailed description of the power of the word.

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 

Those who use words to influence others are held to greater accountability. So, there should be no dishonest politicians. Or, critical race theory, agenda driven, teachers, or professors.

Our once prestigious colleges were created to study the foundational Biblical Truths of the Word of God that founded our nation.

Dear Church, don’t be discouraged, but take courage, consider the Truth about how far we have fallen and pray for justice and demand stricter judgement and accountability on all pastors and teachers and leaders, and selves.

² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

One’s character can be determined by how well they bridle this little powerful thing called the tongue.

³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 

Before blabbering it, put a bit in it.

⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things...

Like when my dad was in the navy. His job was to repeat the captain’s orders over the intercom system.

Once as they were coming into a port the captain gave an order regarding the speed of the ship. It was wrong, it was too fast, dad knew it, so he corrected the order, and they docked at the pier with no problem.

Until the captain came unglued and reprimanded dad, telling him to never change a word of his command.

So, the next time they were headed into port, the captain gave his command, it was wrong, again, only this time dad repeated exactly what the captain said.

The big ship crashed into the pier causing all kinds of destruction.

Words are powerful.  

⁵...See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Words are powerful.

Words start and stop wars.

And fights at school.

A couple days ago one of our grandkids got in trouble, over words.

You know how it goes. Somebody says something. It escalates. The next thing you know, the principal is on the phone with the mom and dad.

When the young man got home, mom and dad used works and words. The rest of the afternoon, dad and lad, worked it out (extra chores) and talked it out.

Yesterday, at our Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) meeting, our guest speaker was Vikki Brown, the local librarian. Her entire career revolves around the power of words.    

It seems Divinely timed that this week we land on this powerful passage about the power of words, while also this week, the most powerful nation is reading the most powerful Word ever written from cover to cover. President Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22. Which includes the most powerful words ever written to a nation:

Words are powerful.

By words the world was made. God said, “Let there be...” and there was.

Psalm 33:6
By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Words are powerful.

Don’t swing words around flippantly, irresponsibly, but handle like a loaded gun, respectfully, thoughtfully, cautiously.

Don’t pull the trigger without considering the trajectory.

The words said in jest, or in gossip, may wound and maim many beyond the immediate intended target.

Words are powerful.

 

God’s Word calls Jesus, the Word.

John 1:1-3, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... ¹⁴ and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...

The word, “word”, has much greater depth than just noise that flows, sometimes spews, from the mouths of humans.

Words are powerful.

The Word (Jesus) is All Powerful.

The reason we know these things is because God wants us to.

Because He loves us, He had scribes document His Word meticulously, every jot, every tittle.

And He miraculously, kept His written Word alive, for us to read.

And continues to add to the mountain of archeologically, geographically, medically, prophetically, undeniably, documentable, proofs, as to the authenticity and accuracy and power of His living, life giving, Word. HIStory told in advance.

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Matthew 24:35, Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the LORD endures forever.

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word (logos-written word) of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We read the Word, but deeper still is that the Word reads us. Discerns the thoughts and intents, the motives, of our heart.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (rhema-spoken word) of God (Christos).

In Matthew 4:1-11 we witness the Word (Jesus), skillfully wielding the two-edged sword of the Spirit with logos and rhema (written and spoken) words.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to a foolish test.

GET BEHIND ME YOU SLIMY SNAKE. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve!

Matthew 4:1-11.

Jesus defeated the devil’s temptations by speaking (rhema) the Word (logos).

Words are powerful.

The Word (Jesus) is All Powerful.

The Word, (logos and rhema), is our most powerful weapon.

 Our words are powerful—IF—they align with God’s.

Did you know that folks speak an average of five million words per year.

Divide that by 80,000, (the average word count of a book) and you speak enough words each year to fill over 60 full size books.

What kind of books are you writing?

What are people reading when they’re hearing your words?

The Lord, the Author and Finisher, is listening.

Are your words worth remembering?

Are they book worthy?

Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.

You may never write a book on earth but in heaven there may be a library full written in your name.

Pause and think about the words you’ve been speaking.

Okay, now imagine you’re standing before the Lord and He’s playing a recording of your words.

Do your words justify or condemn your presence in heaven?

Jesus says it like this:  

Matthew 12:35-37
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Your words are powerful.

Are they bringing healing or hurting?

 

Proverbs 12:18
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

 

Your words are powerful.

Are they bringing life or death?

 

Proverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

We all hold a powerful tool.

A mighty weapon.

With it we can bring health or hurt. Delight or destruction. Life or death.

The power of our tongue.

What should we do if we’re starting more fires than quenching?

What if we’re spewing more salt water than fresh? 

The answer is always, the Word.

Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

Whatever is in the well, comes out in the water.

Psalm 119:11
Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Lord help us fall in love with Your Word.

Psalm 119:105
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

A lamp to my feet, illuminates one step at a time.  

It’s a process, a journey.

Not a one night stand. Not a quick fix.

It’s Seed planting and harvest.

That means there will be sunshine and rain. Cold and heat.

But His Word will not return void. It will prosper.

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Know that.

Pray this:

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Hear the Word of the Lord, Ezekiel 13:1-16

¹ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man...

Son of man. God’s nickname for Ezekiel.

Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet of God.

So, the Word of the Lord came to him, to speak to the people.

That’s how it worked 2,618 years ago.

Hebrews 11:1-2a
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...

²...prophesy against

Just to be clear, God doesn’t agree with everybody all the time.

He’s not a big teddy bear, I’m okay, you’re okay, let’s just hug and coexist.

But make no mistake. God is good. All the time.

As is His Word, every jot, every tittle. Even when it goes against the grain of the hearers.

God always speaks Truth in Love. Even when it hurts.

As children of God, we must strive to do the same.

We must get comfortable being uncomfortable, willing and able to have loving, peaceable, yet hard, Truthful, conversations.

To do that we must be disciples of His Word so we can rightly divide, wisely apply and articulate the Word of Truth.   

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

² ...the prophets of Israel who prophesy,
 and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart,
‘Hear the word of the Lord!;”

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the dueling prophets.

In the right corner we have Ezekiel, the prophet of God, and in the left corner we have the prophets of man (Israel).

One is God anointed the other self-appointed.

The motive of one is obedience, the other is arrogance.

NLT ² “Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies.
Say to them, ‘Listen to the Word of the Lord”

For Ezekiel to speak the Word of the Lord, he must hear the Word of the Lord.

SIDENOTE: Hearing the Word of the Lord comes with a bonus. Faith.

Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.

So, as we receive this Word, listen for Christ. Ask Him, “Lord help me to hear You.”

NOW A WORD OF CAUTION: Be wary of anyone, pastor, teacher, preacher, mentor, anyone, who claims to be speaking for the Lord, but they say all too often: “Well, I think...”

We don’t care what you think.

We care what God thinks. We want to hear what God says. We would see Jesus. John 12:21.

God told Ezekiel to tell them (and us): “Listen to the Word of—”

Ezekiel? No!

“Listen to the Word of the Lord.”

Whoever speaks FOR the Lord must speak Words OF the Lord.

For everything we’ll ever need is found in the Word of the Lord.

Therein we find Him and come to know Him.

 2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue

So therefore, dear Saints...

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

That is key.

Diligently pay attention, listen, hear the Word of the Lord, so when others speak superstitions of their own inventions, like foolish false prophets, we can say like Ezekiel, the prophet of God: “Hear the Word of the Lord...” And then, appropriately apply the Word of the Lord.

Do not say, “I cannot speak.”

Moses tried that. I-I c-c-cannot s-speak, I’m slow of tongue.

God said: Who made man’s tongue? I’ll be with you. Go! Ex. 4:10-12.

Jeremiah said: I’m just a kid. I don’t know what to say.

God basically told him, to stop making excuses. Get up and go. Speak to all I send you. Do not fear, I AM with you. Jer. 1:6-8.

Even Jesus said, I only say and do what I see and hear from My Father. John 5:19-20, 7:16, 12:49-50, 14:10, 24, 17:8. 

So don’t say, I can’t speak, God can’t use me, I’m too weak, slow, broken.

It’s not about your ability—God’s got that covered—it’s about your availability. Are you willing to say, “Lord, send me. Use me. Speak to and through, me.”

Since the first Pentecost after Jesus resurrection, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is available to all born again believers who will receive Him.

He reminds us and teaches us and empowers us. Luke 12:12, John 14:6, 16:3.

He’s available. Are you?  

The Word of God is more available and more alive today than ever.

Every tribe, tongue and nation has at their fingertips, the living, breathing Word of God, as near as their smart phone.

Two free websites that have more translations, commentary, Bible studies, more access to the original Hebrew and Greek, than you will ever use in a lifetime.

 https://biblehub.com/

https://www.biblegateway.com/

The Word of God is literally available instantly around the world.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

America Reads the Bible

Starting today, for the next seven days, April 19-25, various national leaders from all spheres of influence, from the most powerful nation on the planet, will read publicly and online, from our nation’s capital, the most powerful Book on the planet, from cover to cover, the entire Word of God, for the entire world to hear.

The most powerful man on the planet will read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 on Tuesday, April 21 between 6 pm-7 pm ET from the Oval Office.

That text includes powerful nation changing verse 14 which reads:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

If there ever was a day since the world began to raise your hand and say, “Lord send me, use me, speak to and through me—it’s today.”

³ Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

Rather than following the Spirit of God, they follow their own selfish desires, selling their soul to the highest bidder.

James 1:13-15. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

 ⁴ O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. ⁵ You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. 

NLT: ⁴ “O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins. ⁵ They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord.

These false prophets are scavengers, jackals, among the ruins searching for what they can steal for themselves.

They do not go up to stand in the gap, to pray, to intercede, to hear from the Lord for the people, like a prophet of God should.

They do not help to build broken walls or secure open borders.

In battle they do stand for Truth. They are doubleminded, ever changing, swaying whichever way will feed their greed and lust for power and money.

Are we talking about 2,600 years ago or today?

The Word is timeless, thus, ever timely.  

⁶ They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. ⁷ Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.”

They pile lie upon lie and overcompensate with walls of flowery words claiming the Lord is endorsing their behavior, when all the while they are listening to the devil.

They are those who say: “Lord, Lord,  have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then Jesus will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matt. 7:21-23.

Many false prophets are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Matt. 7:15.

Test the spirits to see if they are from God. 1 John 4:1.

Do they line up with the Word of God? (This is why we must be disciples of His Word so we’re not deceived).

Do they draw people to themselves or the Lord?

What’s their motive? Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.

What’s their focus? Selfish, or selfless? Do they think godliness is a means of gain 1 Tim. 6:5. Do they focus on getting stuff from God for this life, or dying to self to prepare for Eternal Life?

⁸ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. ⁹ “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.

You have reached the point of no return.

I am indeed against you.

1.    You shall never be among My people.

2.    Your name will not be found written with those who enter My house.

3.    You shall never set foot in the Promise Land I have prepared for My people.

Then, you shall know that I am the Lord God.

But, for you foolish prophets, it will be too late.

¹⁰ “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, (false wall) and they plaster it with untempered mortar (whitewash)— ¹¹ say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. ¹² Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ ”

¹³ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. ¹⁴ So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

¹⁵ “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, ¹⁶ that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ ” says the Lord God.

These silver-tongued devils wax eloquent in their deceptions, hiding their wickedness behind a whitewashed façade of integrity and strength.

But the Lord knows the walls are a house of cards, built on lies, and He will bring them all crumbling down.

Within about six years, the wind and hail and flood came in the form of  Nebuchadnezzar besieging and destroying Jerusalem, her walls, her temple, almost all of her people.  

 

Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Many false walls have been built by false prophets against foundational principles of God’s Word.

Following are a few areas where many have been brainwashed by whitewashed walls. We the people of God must stand against them by building our lives on God’s Word.

Gender: male & female.

Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

Marriage: man & woman.

Genesis 1:28, 31, 2:21-25
²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ...31 and it was very good

2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

²³ And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

²⁵ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

 

Sanctity of Life. Prolife.

Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...

Psalm 139:13
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

Ezekiel 33:11
As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus Christ: Only Way.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

On Christ the Solid Rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word that lives and abides forever. You know, our lives are the only Bible some people read. We pray for Your wisdom to understand and live Your Word, in such a way that our life is a simple read, that leads straight to You. So that, of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Faith Without Works is Dead, James 2:14-26

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! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith without works is dumbbells.

I have dumbbells. Appropriate name. Dumb bells. They are dumb.

Because, going by the pictures in the ads dumbbells give me big abs and biceps.   

Maybe mine are broke.

They’re dead. 

They’re dumb.

Or, is it I whose dumb?

What profit is it for me to say, “I have weights,” but not have works?

Can weights alone strengthen me?

Of course not.  

Likewise, faith without works, is worthless.

Because “faith” without works is not really faith at all, it’s just intellectual acknowledgement. The devils do as much and tremble.

Without faith it’s impossible to please Him... Hebrews 11:6.

Faith, like love, is an action word, a verb.  

For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16

Because God is love He got up and did...  

He came willingly, went about doing good, working the works of His Father. He lived sinlessly, died blamelessly, rose victoriously. Has gone purposefully to prepare a place for those who intentionally make Him Lord of their lives. He’s coming again to destroy the works of evil and set up a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells forever and ever. Amen.

Until then, His children must be up and doing the works of our Father. No slothful sons and daughters are permitted in the Father's house.

James said, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”

Saying I have faith is as profitable as saying I have weights.

Saying I have faith means nothing, it is shown by my works.

Faith comes to life by works.

The body of Adam was dead weight until receiving God’s breath of life.

(Note: breath and spirit are one word in Hebrew (ruach) and one word in Greek (pneuma).

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Works is the breath of life to faith.

Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac. (James 2:21).

Genesis 22:16-17
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— ¹⁷ blessing I will bless you...

Faith worked together with his works and by works faith was made perfect. (James 2:22).

Perfect, Teleioó. Four times in James we've seen this word already. It means: to complete, to perfect, to accomplish, to bring to an end. Like a pirate’s telescope extending step by step, stage by stage, strength by strength, until full capacity, full extension, full strength, completeness, clarity. ...Perfect.

This blessed work isn’t only for faith heroes like Abraham, but everyone, even folks like, especially folks like, Rahab the harlot who was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way.

All God’s children must be like Rahab the harlot, receive His message and send it out. Do not just take it in like the Dead Sea, but allow it to have its perfect work, flowing in and out of you.

This faithful work is what made the Samaritan, the Good Samaritan.

This life-giving work is how they described Jesus in Acts 10:38, “He went about doing good...”

This joyful work is offered to anyone willing to take up their cross, set hand to plow, roll up sleeves, say Lord send me.

The harvest is plenteous the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:2.

WAIT. Hold on a cotton pickin’ minute!

Doug, you’re getting too carried away with all this works stuff. Aren’t you forgetting something? Remember, Paul said:

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Yes. You’re right. He did. It’s true.

Faith without works is dead.

AND

Works without faith is dead.

Going through the motions of the Law, or any other motion or works, to gain salvation, is worthless.

Salvation is a Gift because God loves you and wants you to be part of His great big, noisy, messy, happy, loving, family. Period.

You can’t work for it or earn it. It’s a Gift.

The Gift is offered to everyone. Forced upon no one.

You do not receive the Gift just because you were born.

You must be born again.

That means willingly, purposefully, receiving, accepting, the Gift by faith.

Faith does not mean, “believe,” as in intellectual acknowledgement. The devils do that.

The kind of faith required is the kind of faith James is describing. Faith that works. Faith that commits.

Faith that doesn’t work, isn’t faith. It’s fake. It’s religion. It’s hypocrisy. It’s saying I have weights but never lifting a finger. It’s dumb bells.

The faith that works receives a call from an old friend.

It listens more, speaks less, while he pours out his heart. It’s been four years, but he’s still not right.

Ever since Genny, his best friend, the love of his life...passed from this life. Only 46, way too soon.

Faith without works would say, “I’m so sorry, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, I’ll pray for you” and hang up the phone.

But faith with works, stays on the line for as long as it takes, heart breaking and praying and listening some more.

Until finally, he gets up the nerve to share what’s on his mind.

For months on end, he’s been thinking that God’s been speaking about him packing up and moving, here. To be a part of this Church family.  

“I think, if I can do that, my life will be fulfilled.”

The last few days, I’ve witnessed Love, roll up her sleeves.

Faith in action. Faith with works. Investing hours scrubbing and cleaning and furnishing the cottage to make it look and feel like home.

Hanging new blinds, putting together a brand-new bed. Making a homemade banner that read, “Welcome Home Tex,”

Digging down deep and coming up with two month’s rent.

All for a man you don’t even know.

That’s how faith with works, works.

Working not for man, but for the Lord.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven

Faith with works is dusty and sweaty, exhausting and heavy.

It’s the closest thing to heaven on earth, the greatest joy and fulfillment in the world. It’s a glimpse of our Divine Eternal Destiny. Making heaven on earth.

Dear Saint, your faith with works is working, making an eternal difference. Well done.

It was a long ten hour drive, but our old friend Tex made it here last night, so as soon as I finish writing this, we’re going to go have breakfast and talk about faith that works.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the Gift of salvation, and the life giving honor of investing the rest of our days working it out, serving others, glorifying You. So, one day, we, and all those you’ve given us, will hear You say, “Well done.” Until then, we pray You find us faithful workers.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.