Real Faith

Real Faith

• Life is filled with good and wonderful days of joy and fun but also trials and tribulations. Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4. 
• Life has highs and lows, ups and downs as taught in the wisdom literature in the book of Job and Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. 
• Everyone stumbles and falls in life, including the rich and poor.

• The Holy Bible instructs us to be patient, persevere, and endure hardships and difficulties, knowing that patience and continual faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God, like Job, lead to the Sovereign LORD God’s blessings. Matthew 5:10-12; Job 42:1-17; James 5:7-11.

• One God 
  • One God existing as God the Father, God the Son - Jesus, and God the Spirit. Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:2-13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Titus 3:4-6. 
  • Living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth, who is the Holy Father of Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 6:4-6; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6.
  • One with Son - Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God. John 10:30, 36-38.
  • Love and worship the true and living God of heaven and earth. Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 22:37.  
• Repentance
  • Repentance brings healing and life. Ezekiel 18:23, 32. 
  • Jesus, all the Old Testament prophets, and Jesus’s apostles taught repentance. (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17).
• Count your blessings and each joy.
  • We can always count on the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth when we need wisdom and guidance by seeking Him and looking up to heaven in prayer and wholehearted faith. Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:23-24; James 1:5-6.
  • Sovereign LORD God is filled with blessings and goodness from heaven as we humbly and faithfully follow Him. John 3:27; James 1:17.
• Crown of Life. 
  • Sovereign LORD God promises His blessings, grace, crown of life, and glory if we faithfully and humbly walk with Him daily. Matthew 6:1-21, 33; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4.
  • Sovereign LORD God gives His abundant grace to those who are humble and trust in Him by faith and obedience. James 4:6, 10.
  • Draw near the Sovereign LORD God, and He will come to you with His goodness and light. Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8.
  • Sovereign LORD God is good and gracious to everyone - the least and the greatest of these who come to Him by faith and obedience. Matthew 20:1-16.
• Flee Evildoing
  • Walking and following Satan’s evil and dark ways lead to death and destruction. Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; James 1:12-15.
  • Flee the evils and temptations of Satan. Isaiah 1:16. 
  • Lay aside and turn away from all Satan’s wickedness and darkness. James 1:21; James 4:7. 
  • Satan’s selfishness and greed lead to wars, fights, murder, and quarrels. James 4:1-4.
  • Riches and fame are only temporary and can lead to misery and despair if obtained by lying, cheating, and hurting others. James 5:1-6.
• Obedience as Doers of God’s Word
  • Christ Jesus has commanded everyone to obey Him and His Holy Father’s teaching and words. Matthew 7:15-23; Luke 8:21; John 14:15-17.
  • Good deeds towards others with kindness lead to God’s blessings from heaven. James 1:22-27.
  • Our daily conduct, actions, and behavior matter in the eyes of the Sovereign LORD God because He wants everyone to live and produce the righteous fruit of His Kingdom - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control and not the evil deeds of Satan’s evil and dark kingdom of division, selfishness, and hatred. Romans 12:1-15:33; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Galatians 5:19-23; Colossians 3:12-15. 
  • Christ Jesus has called everyone to good and faithful service as Kingdom citizens for His Holy Father’s glory. Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27.
  • Loving others equally and never hating or discriminating against others, whether rich or poor, black or white. James 2:1-8
  • Mercy and fairness toward others are what Jesus demands of all people. Matthew 5:8; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; James 2:13; cf. Leviticus 19:18.
  • Caring and sharing for others. James 2:12-26; 1 John 3:17-18.
  • Our goodness towards others shines God’s light in the world for His glory. Matthew 5:14-16.
  • Everyone is justified and declared right or righteous before the Sovereign LORD God by our good deeds and works. James 2:24-26. 
  • According to the New Testament book of James, faith without good works and good deeds is dead faith. James 2:26. 
  • Our good deeds and good works done in humble service reveal our divine wisdom. Galatians 6:7-10; James 3:13.
  • Let us all aim to do good deeds towards others for God’s glory and praise. Proverbs 3:27; Romans 12:9-14, 21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 3:8, 14.
  • True wisdom comes from goodness and helping others, not selfishness, envy, self-indulgence, and greed. James 3:13-16.
  • Fruits of righteousness…. Peace, love, mercy, truth, and humility. James 3:17-18.
• Our Words 
  • Use your words and tongues wisely to encourage and uplift others and yourself, not speak evil of one another. James 4:11.
  • Our words can bring poison, death, life, hope, blessing, and curses. Matthew 12:36-37; Matthew 15:11, 18; James 3:6-10.
• Continual Prayer
  • We must pray daily and seek the Sovereign LORD God as our loving Heavenly Father for all our daily needs, good health, and life’s enjoyment. Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-13; James 5:13-18.
  • Pray with persistence. James 5:17-18.
  • Pray without ceasing. Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
  • In our daily prayers, we must continually lean upon and trust in the Sovereign LORD God. 
  • Our loving and good Heavenly Father knows what we need, so we can always trust and depend on Him for all our needs. Matthew 6:8, 32.
  • When praying, confess your sins, always forgive, and not have hate and unforgiveness in your hearts. Matthew 6:14-15; James 5:16.
  • We must also pray for one another. James 5:16.
• Love One Another
  • Above all, we should continue to love the Sovereign LORD God and one another as Christ Jesus commanded. Matthew 22:34-40; John 15:12, 17; 1 Peter 4:8.
  • Our love for one another reveals we are Jesus’s disciples - true Christians. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, 19-21.