Faith without works is dead

We all know that God can do anything but I would like to talk about those times when we keep praying and do not get results. We teach all people about the cross because Paul said that the fact that he is persecuted proves that he preaches the cross. When we have crucified a person or a problem, we have done all we can. Yes, we speak the Word and give God praise for a favorable outcome. But the fact remains that some people will not change because they have a free will.

I have been in a situation where we were praying for a person in depression and when I anointed that person with oil, I saw Jesus was there inside that person. I am saying that Jesus, the author of life was inside that person, for he did give his heart to Jesus, yet that person just sat in deep depression. It is a hard lesson to learn. One person said that he would take the depressed person to a Pastor who has great authority over oppressed people. He phoned the Pastor and asked if he would be willing to drive the depressed demon out, and the Pastor answered. “Only if that person is willing can the depression be cast out.” God created man with a free will.

We will of course not stop praying, God’s will be done. In the meantime, we will look at things that are not, as though they are, as we are taught in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. It takes a lot of patience to bring things to pass by faith. Noah is mentioned as a faith hero in this chapter who saved his family by building the ark. As I have worked with my hands all my life I have a lot of admiration for Noah.  I have never built a boat and I am sure nor did he. It must have been an enormous undertaking and his only motivation was his faith that he was doing God’s will. Abel is also mentioned as a faith hero. He sacrificed to God because he believed that God was real. Cain also sacrificed, the only difference was that he obviously did not truly believe God was real.  The very least requirement faith has is that we must believe that God is real. It is impossible to please God without faith. It is not even difficult to do, even a child can do it. I have the gift of seeing in the hearts of people when I pray for them. In some cases I have seen the most wonderful things, I will never forget. When I see these people years later, I ask them if those wonderful things came to pass and the answer is mostly negative.  I am sure that God put inner thoughts of great things in them but you see it will never come into the physical if we do not use faith to bring it about. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” But now we must step out and do it!  It is like stepping off a cloud-covered mountain and hoping there will be firm rocks to walk on even if you can’t see them. It is not a case of some people having more faith than others because we all have the same portion of faith. (Rom 12:3)

We have the same faith Jesus had. Whenever I was completely sure the plan I had was from God it was never difficult to take that step.  I have been building all my life and never had the money for the project. The trick is to be sure that it is God’s plan, we have to know that God is in it, then we just keep working until it is completed. In this way, the glory belongs to God.  I never got up one morning and found the angels had brought the stone out of the mountain, I had to do the work. This is why so many projects never come into the physical, we must do the work, and God will not do it for us. Even if we are only believing in a change in someone’s heart, we are still the ones who must do the believing. We must steadfastly look at the things we want to happen. We must never stop believing and acting as if it has already happened.

James 2:17: So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].  (Amplified Bible)

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