Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:17.
The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. In its great need the soul cries out for a power out of and above itself; and through the operation of the Holy Spirit the nobler powers of the mind are imbued with strength to break away from the bondage of sin.
When man surrenders to Christ, the mind is brought under the control of the law, but it is the royal law, which proclaims liberty to every captive. Only by becoming one with Christ can men be made free. Subjection to the will of Christ means restoration to perfect manhood. Sin can triumph only by … destroying the liberty of the soul.
Do you realize your sinfulness? Do you despise sin? Then remember that the righteousness of Christ is yours if you will grasp it. Can you not see what a strong foundation is placed beneath your feet when you accept Christ? God has accepted the offering of His Son as a complete atonement for the sins of the world.
True faith, which relies wholly upon Christ, will be manifested by obedience to all the requirements of God…. In all ages there have been those who claimed a right to the favor of God even while they were disregarding some of His commands. But the Scriptures declare that by works is “faith made perfect”; and that, without the works of obedience, faith “is dead.”
Satan believes and trembles. He works. He knows his time is short, and he has come down in great power to do his evil works according to his faith. But God’s professed people do not support their faith by their works. They believe in the shortness of time, yet grasp just as eagerly after this world’s goods as though the world were to stand a thousand years as it now is.
Do you believe that the end of all things is at hand, that the scenes of this earth’s history are fast closing? If so, show your faith by your works. A man will show all the faith he has.
The Faith I Live By p. 91
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Pray for my dad Chuck. He has metastasized bone cancer. He’s 90 and such a dear dad. Not much pain. God is near. Myrna
—-praise report the interviews went well!!! Ann
—-My husband Carlos had surgery 15 days ago. He went today to have his check up & his stitches had blown out. He’s not healing correctly. He’s not diabetic but, has to go back in for exploratory surgery and re-stitched! Lord have mercy on him. Connie
—-Please pray for my brother-in-law Roy and sister Rosalie for courage and healing.
—-We are requesting prayer for my husband John. He was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and will be having surgery on March 8. Gayle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
I used to work with a lady named Helen who loved to go to yard sales. If she passed a yard sale sign on her way to work, she would go to it on her lunch hour. One day when she came back from lunch, she brought a bouquet of silk flowers in a vase. They were not real, but they looked very real.
Helen died of cancer a few years later, but for several years we kept those flowers sitting on a bookcase in our office. They reminded us of her. Often someone seeing those flowers for the first time, would go over to them and smell them thinking they are real. They were always a little embarrassed when they realized that they have been fooled by fake flowers.
One day, an attorney stopped what he was doing to examine those flowers. He had to touch them in order to realize that they were not real. He laughed a little and told us that he was fooled by them. He said that he raises flowers for a hobby and marveled at how closely they resembled the real thing.
Just as those flowers appeared to be real, so truth and falsehood appear very close to the same. Jesus warns us, “Take heed lest any man deceive you.” Mark 13:5 The evil one has so carefully studied the true that he is able to twist it in order to deceive all. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” 1 Pet 5:8,9
Only those whose minds are fortified with the Word of God will be able to discern his lies. Paul admonishes, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph 6:11-17
Then he warns, “be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. “ Eph 4:14;5:6 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom 16:17,18 Here we have a key to the deception of the enemy.
Just as the serpent beguiled Eve in the garden of Eden by telling her, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Gen 3:4) so he beguiles us today. He told her the very thing she wanted to hear, but it was still a lie. Paul prophesied of the devil’s deceptions in our day. He foresaw that we would want to hear smooth things. He said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim 4:3,4
Isaiah also speaks of “a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Isa 30:9,10 Those smooth things that we love to hear, may not be God’s message to us. Our Great Redeemer loves us far too much to allow us to be lulled to sleep by the enemy. He desires us to discern his deceptions. But how will we be able to do that unless we know the truths of God’s word? “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 David asks, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word….Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11 Jesus tells us, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb 4:12
Let us compare all the we hear, all that we read with God’s Holy Word. Let us daily meditate upon its truths. Let us turn from those who would lull us to sleep and listen to those who cry aloud and spare not to lift up their voice like a trumpet, and show us our transgressions and sins that we may “bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.” (Isa 58:1; Luke 3:8)
Rose