James 2:17-18

James 2:17-18

Thoughts from Jack Affeldt

Dive Deeper

Armor of God- Swipe
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James 2:17-18,
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” (NLT)

Armor of God- Behind the Scenes
Slide

If you were with ACF when we went through the James series last year, you know that James doesn’t pull any punches. He hits, and he hits hard. In our passage today, James is calling out those whose faith isn’t evidenced in their actions.

Slide

In the passages leading up to our verse, James is calling out those who favor some people over others, specifically giving special treatment to those who are rich while dishonoring the poor. James also points out in verse seven that the rich are the ones who slander the name of Jesus, the name by which these believers were called. Basically saying, “Guys, you claim to be Christ followers, but you are giving special treatment and favors to those who slander the very person who pulled you out of your pit and saved you.” I love how James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Armor of God- Make it Real
Slide

To relate this to our current series of the Armor of God, we are called to pick up our Shield of Faith. The Roman shield was held by the soldier, and it protected the entire length of their bodies. When held correctly, it could ward off the enemy’s fiery arrows and even protect their fallen comrades. However, if they didn’t keep it firmly held in front of them or over those they were protecting, it did no good. In the onslaught of arrows from the enemy, something would get through. The same is true of our faith. If we have faith in word only, it’s like having no faith at all.

Slide

The enemy’s tactics are clever but not new. He’s not very creative in the way he attacks us, he's just sneaky. See, when you serve others, it increases your faith. You have the opportunity to see how God works through you for others. It’s really a beautiful thing. The more you see Him work through you, the stronger your faith gets. However, if you do good only for those who can return the favor with the expectation that they will, you’re doing the same as what the enemy would do. You are using people for your advantage – and that is sin. Plain and simple.

Slide

Have you ever watched the show Leverage? It’s kind of a modern-day Robin Hood story. An honest, law-abiding man assembles a team of crooks – thieves, con men, hit men – and they work together to right the wrongs the law is unable to touch. At first, they are reluctant to just “do good”. They want to take advantage and profit for themselves. But they get to meet the people they help -- those who are good people who just ended up on the wrong side of a bad person – and they get hooked on doing good. They see how they have helped others who could not help themselves, and it feels good. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not advocating breaking the law to take revenge on those who do wrong. What I want you to see is the character development of these thieves. The more good deeds they did, the more good deeds they wanted to do.

Slide

Our faith is like that. The more we see the overflow of what Christ did for us, how He saved and blessed us, we want that for others. The more we see the blessings that follow for those God puts in our paths, the more we want those blessings for others. And on and on it goes…but faith without works is dead. It won’t grow. It won’t benefit. It won’t save.

Slide

I’ve seen this work so many times in my life. God calls me to do something that I either don’t want to do or don’t think I’m capable of doing. After countless hours arguing with Him about it, (He can handle our struggles with His calling, but we have to fight it out with HIM, not our inner voices or our unbelieving friends) I step out in faith knowing that He has always taken care of me in the past. And oh the blessings that follow – which grows my faith even more. But here’s the key – I don’t get to pick and choose. I don’t get to say yes to some and no to others based on whether they will directly benefit me. My faith (my works) needs to be unconditional and nonpartial. If God tells me to go talk to the homeless man on the corner or the CEO of a fortune 500 company, I must say yes. That is real faith. That is what He calls us to.

Slide

Where do you see your faith growing stagnant? Are you showing partiality in your serving? How could you serve today that will help you grow your faith?

Armor of God- End in Prayer
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Father God,
I want to continue to grow closer and closer to You. Grow my faith through my obedience in serving. Show me who You want me to serve and propel my feet to go. God we love You and thank You for all You do and are!! In the faith-building name of Jesus!
AMEN.

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James 2:17-18, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” (NLT) 

Behind the Scenes

If you were with ACF when we went through the James series last year, you know that James doesn’t pull any punches. He hits, and he hits hard. In our passage today, James is calling out those whose faith isn’t evidenced in their actions.   

In the passages leading up to our verse, James is calling out those who favor some people over others, specifically giving special treatment to those who are rich while dishonoring the poor. James also points out in verse seven that the rich are the ones who slander the name of Jesus, the name by which these believers were called. Basically saying, “Guys, you claim to be Christ followers, but you are giving special treatment and favors to those who slander the very person who pulled you out of your pit and saved you.” I love how James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” 

Make It Real

To relate this to our current series of the Armor of God, we are called to pick up our Shield of Faith. The Roman shield was held by the soldier, and it protected the entire length of their bodies. When held correctly, it could ward off the enemy’s fiery arrows and even protect their fallen comrades. However, if they didn’t keep it firmly held in front of them or over those they were protecting, it did no good. In the onslaught of arrows from the enemy, something would get through. The same is true of our faith. If we have faith in word only, it’s like having no faith at all.   

The enemy’s tactics are clever but not new. He’s not very creative in the way he attacks us, he’s just sneaky. See, when you serve others, it increases your faith. You have the opportunity to see how God works through you for others. It’s really a beautiful thing. The more you see Him work through you, the stronger your faith gets. However, if you do good only for those who can return the favor with the expectation that they will, you’re doing the same as what the enemy would do. You are using people for your advantage – and that is sin. Plain and simple.   

Have you ever watched the show Leverage? It’s kind of a modern-day Robin Hood story. An honest, law-abiding man assembles a team of crooks – thieves, con men, hit men – and they work together to right the wrongs the law is unable to touch. At first, they are reluctant to just “do good”. They want to take advantage and profit for themselves. But they get to meet the people they help — those who are good people who just ended up on the wrong side of a bad person – and they get hooked on doing good. They see how they have helped others who could not help themselves, and it feels good. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not advocating breaking the law to take revenge on those who do wrong. What I want you to see is the character development of these thieves. The more good deeds they did, the more good deeds they wanted to do.   

Our faith is like that. The more we see the overflow of what Christ did for us, how He saved and blessed us, we want that for others. The more we see the blessings that follow for those God puts in our paths, the more we want those blessings for others. And on and on it goes…but faith without works is dead. It won’t grow. It won’t benefit. It won’t save.   

I’ve seen this work so many times in my life. God calls me to do something that I either don’t want to do or don’t think I’m capable of doing. After countless hours arguing with Him about it, (He can handle our struggles with His calling, but we have to fight it out with HIM, not our inner voices or our unbelieving friends) I step out in faith knowing that He has always taken care of me in the past. And oh the blessings that follow – which grows my faith even more. But here’s the key – I don’t get to pick and choose. I don’t get to say yes to some and no to others based on whether they will directly benefit me. My faith (my works) needs to be unconditional and nonpartial. If God tells me to go talk to the homeless man on the corner or the CEO of a fortune 500 company, I must say yes. That is real faith. That is what He calls us to.   

Where do you see your faith growing stagnant? Are you showing partiality in your serving? How could you serve today that will help you grow your faith?

End in Prayer

Colleen McGeorge

Colleen McGeorge

ACF First Impressions

Father God, I want to continue to grow closer and closer to You. Grow my faith through my obedience in serving. Show me who You want me to serve and propel my feet to go. God we love You and thank You for all You do and are!! In the faith-building name of Jesus! AMEN.  

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