That is Faith in Deed!

Most of us know that good deeds don’t get us into Heaven but it is by faith in Jesus Christ that we can enter into Heaven for eternity. Good deeds and actions however show our faith to others. People can tell what "kind" of people we are by our actions, words and deeds. You and I can say we are Christians all we want but we prove it to the "world" by your actions.

James 2 says this “what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food and clothing and you say, “Well, good-by and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” –but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all- it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.” Do you still think it’s just enough to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?”

Example of useless faith: You see a woman with children at a gas station. Her car is stuffed with all of their remaining possessions. You can tell they are seeing hard times and it is evident that she is down to her last few dollars when her children cry out from an open window, "I'm hungry mom." She quietly tells them, "We'll be able to get something when they get to grandma's" but you can tell by her voice and the way she is looking at the numbers on the gas pump that they may not even be able to get to grandma's house as she reluctantly let's go of the gas pump handle. You have the ability to fill up the rest of her tank with gas and purchase a couple happy meals for the kids but you don't.

Other example of useless faith: You see an elderly woman trying to reach for a high item on top of a shelf but you walk past her instead of helping her. A homeless man sits on a curb. He is obviously thirsty. You have a bottle of water but you don't give it to him. You go to work, the guys are cursing this word and that word and to fit in you curse right along with them.

People believe you are a person of faith by your good deeds.

Some refer to Hebrews 11 as the “Hall of Faith” All those people listed in Hebrews 11 proved their faith by action. God told them to do something and they did it. Hebrews 11:6 says, “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” How did those people sincerely seek him? By doing what God had asked of them.

There is a fine line however between doing good deeds to make yourself look good and doing good deeds for God’s glory and it is an easy trap to fall into if you aren’t careful.

Jesus says this in Matthew 6, "Take Care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do- blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you."

Along the lines, Isaiah 58 says, “They love to make a show of coming to me and asking me to take action on their behalf. We have fasted before you!” they say. “Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it.” I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like a blade of grass in the wind. You dress in sackcloth and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? No, the kind of fasting I want calls for you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. “Yes I am here,” he will quickly reply. Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you be as bright as day. The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”

Jesus, also talking about fasting, says the same thing, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you, but if you refuse to forgive others your Father will not forgive your sins. And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you”. (Matthew 6)

When you are resentful and have unforgiviness toward others, you are not only oppressing others for something God has forgiven you for but you are imprisoning yourself. And when you make a show of your good deeds to others, who gets the glory, you or God? Do you think human opinion and praise are greater then God’s rewards?

Proverbs 19:17 “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD- and he will repay you!”

Besides, is what you have really yours? Think about it?

Jesus said, “Wisdom is shown to be right by the results from it.” (Matthew 11:19) What kind of results come from selfish ambition and/or not sharing what God has given us?

Consider this in closing, “when the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on the right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then the righteous ones will reply, “Lord when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! Then the King will turn to those on his left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer ‘I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

Sorry we can't be the pirates that don't do anything or the world won't know the difference between us and it.

Micheal Youssef is also being shown the same things God is showing me.
Click on this link if you want to see "Using the Power of Example"
http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/leading_the_way/20080403/