Faith Without Works Is Dead

Do you have a big dream that you’re not walking in yet? If so, I want to encourage you today to step out and act like you’re walking in it. Why? Because faith without works is dead.

Whenever you want God to open a door for you, you often have to put your toes in the water by faith before you get those open doors.

What do I mean by “putting your toes in the water by faith”? I mean simply doing exactly what you would be doing if you were right in the middle of your answered prayer.

For example:

• If you wanted to move to a new city and God were answering your prayer, you would be packing your house right now. So, begin packing your house up on faith.
• If you want to move to a new house, you would begin decluttering and arranging your current house for sale. So, you would begin repainting and getting the house ready for sale now.
• If you want to get married, you would get your budget in order and begin saving for your wedding.

God honors faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. As it says in Hebrews 11:6:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).

And demonstrated, visible faith is often the prerequisite for a miracle.

God expects us to demonstrate our faith because faith without works is dead.

Read this passage from James 2:

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

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 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? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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. 

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 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. 

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:14-24 NKJV).

Faith without works is dead.

This principle is true in every area of life. The passage above specifically mentions demonstrating your faith in God by acting your faith toward the poor. (Incidentally, that is exactly why we began the Paid-For Parsonages for Pastors Project!) But the principle holds true in every area of life.

And today, this Scripture has really been on my mind regarding seeing you manifest your miracle.

I’ve been praying for my personal friends and friends of this ministry who need miracles in their lives. And I just really felt the burden of the Lord for all of us this morning that faith without works is dead.

If you want a miracle, friend, it’s time to act like you already have it.

It’s time to act like your miracle is already in process–because it is. It’s time to act like you believe, because you’re a believing believer. After all, did Jesus not teach us that God says His “yes” at the moment we pray? Indeed, He did. Read Mark 11:22-24:

“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:22-24 NKJV).

Jesus said that we are to believe when we pray–and that we will have the things we ask for.

He didn’t say to wait until we see the manifestation to start believing. No; He said to believe at the very moment that we pray.

That means, if you’ve been praying to move to a new city, you have to believe the Lord said “yes” at the very moment you prayed. The first time you prayed that prayer, that’s the moment He said “yes.”

Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just pointing out the obvious: that God answers prayer and that He meant it when He said He would give you the desire of your heart. 🙂

So if you prayed and God said yes, what would you do if you really believed? Why, you’d act on it, of course!

No matter what you pray for, you have to act on your faith.

Faith without works is dead. If you pray, you have to believe that God said yes at the very moment you prayed. And if you believe that, you then have to step out and do something in order to demonstrate your faith.

What have you been asking God for? And what do you need to do to demonstrate your faith today?

Only you and God know what has been in your heart, but you have to know today that God’s promises apply to you. When God said that He’ll give you the desires of your heart, He meant it. As His Word says in Psalm 37:

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3-4 NKJV).

And when He said, “What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them,” He meant it. He meant it for you, and He meant it for your family, and He meant it forever.

You don’t have to worry about your desire not being God’s will.

If you are in Christ, you are the righteousness of God in Christ. He has sanctified your desires and has given you the mind of Christ. As long as the thing for which you are praying lines up with His Word, YES! It’s in your heart because it was in His heart first.

God cares about what matters to you.

And He has placed eternity in your heart. He has placed His eternal plans in your heart, too. And your holy dreams are only in you because God Himself placed them there.

So what do you desire from God today? And what do you need to do to demonstrate your faith?

Do you need to start packing your house? Do you need to begin applying for jobs in a new city or with a new company? Do you need to shop for your bridal trousseau?

Whatever the Lord puts on your heart, do it today. Don’t do anything presumptuous or foolish, but you can start taking steps today and acting like you believe God has answered your prayer.

Because He has … God HAS answered your prayer.

And He answered it with a big, fat “YES.”

Do you believe it today? If so, leave a comment below and tell us what you’re going to do to demonstrate your faith! Remember, faith without works is dead … but faith activated by works brings miracles!