 Hey guys, if I'm honest, I mean, truly honest, there are a couple of people that I won't say upset me or bother me, but just kind of leaves me scratching my head and wondering something about them. But these are the people who I don't think that really understand or get what faith actually is. We don't mean just a generic faith, a temporary faith, but I mean a faith where we have just kind of anchored ourselves in it, meaning we trust it, whatever it is that the basis of our faith is we live our lives because of it. For example, if I know it's going to be 110 degrees outside, and I really do trust that I trust what the words of the weatherman said, I trust the words of the thermostat or what have you. Then I'm going to live my life at least as long as 110 degrees outside. I'm going to live my life accordingly. I'm going to set the house at a certain temperature. I might keep the curtains drawn in and keep the house a little cooler. And when I go outside, I'm not wearing a coat. I'm not wearing something thick and heavy. I'm not wearing a sweater. Why? Because I really do trust what they said. And oh, by the way, I'm going to live that way. Why? Because I don't want the after effects. I want to be comfortable. But I might have some work to do out there as well. The same holds true with us as believers. As believers, if we say we got faith, if I say I have faith, do you know what the world should see? If I say that I have faith, what should the world see? I mean, let's think about this for a second. They shouldn't see a person who doesn't look like they don't have faith. Remember, Jesus is in the boat with these guys. In the boat. This is important. In the boat, there's a storm. They see the storm. They're experiencing the storm. The waves are moving. The boat is moving. The rain is coming down. The wind, they hear it. They may see the lightning, hear the thunder. But a couple of things that we need to understand about this. One, the storm really wasn't affecting them. It was just around them, but it wasn't affecting them. They hadn't been tossed overboard. They hadn't been hurt or harmed while inside the boat. And then most importantly, they literally have their eyes to look at the feast on Jesus. Look at Jesus. He's there. He's in the boat with them. That wasn't enough. What was more disheartening to them or more concerned to them wasn't who was with them, but who was on the outside, the storm. And so when Jesus rebukes the storms, the wind and waves, and then he speaks to them, what does he say to them? It's as though you have no faith. Oh, ye of little faith. So when someone sees us as Christians and we say that we are Christians, why? Because of faith. Because of faith alone. Faith alone is all that's required. Well, if that faith is true faith, shouldn't somebody see it? Shouldn't at least, shouldn't it be obvious? Shouldn't it be evident if we're going to be separate? If people are going to see our light, as Jesus says, let our light so shine that people will see our good works and then do what glorify God. Well, they see our light. That light is a byproduct of our faith. The reason why our light is shining. The reason why Jesus says, let them see our good works, these good works come as a result of our faith. It is ridiculous. The amount of people who even on YouTube or Facebook that will be upset at the moment at the hint of you saying anything about some sort of works. It's a back loaded salvation. It's a workspace salvation. No, it's not you unfaithful Christian. No, it's not. Now it's time that we start questioning people who are saying that if someone desires to live for Christ. When I say live, this is an action, some movement. When people say that, then you get attacked for having a workspace salvation. No, we have a salvation based work. And that's the way it is. As a matter of fact, before I go to some other passages, and by the way, there's another group that I want to talk about as well. But I want to, I want to go to a passage. I want to go to a famous passage. This is the Hebrews. This Hebrews 11, the great hall of faith as we call it. I want to, I don't want to start in verse one. I met, you know what? Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Let's go to Hebrews chapter 11. I'm in verse 30. But before I go to verse 30, let me go to verse one and then I'll come back to verse 30. Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Faith. Now, this faith is the belief, the trust, this trust that we have, this value system, this proof of it is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. So what that really means is faith, what is faith? This is us living our lives based on this set of proof, this bedrock of things. Then what Christ has done. And so faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the things that I have not seen. There's some evidence for that. Or as they say in this passage, the conviction of things not seen. You'll see my convictions. You'll see my evidence in that faith. Though I can't see it or you can't see it, you'll see it where? In me. Now I want to go back to it. I want to go to verse 30. And let me just type it in. So I want to show you something. We know about some of the people in this Hall of Faith. Now some of these people saw some things and then their faith increased or heard some things. I want to focus on a few of the people who heard some things. Not so much saw some things but heard some things. These folks in Jericho, by faith these people walked around. The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab hadn't seen a thing but she heard what has happened. She has heard what has happened from God or by God with his people. We didn't see one resurrection. We didn't see anyone any blind being given sight. We didn't see someone raised from the dead. We didn't see Jesus on the cross. We didn't see Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. We didn't see Noah. We didn't see getting. We didn't see Jeremiah. We didn't see any of those things. But we heard. We heard the word. And by faith we trusted. Just like he says earlier, by faith we believe the earth was created. None of us were there but we were told this by his word. And so because we live our lives. Rahab hadn't seen a thing but she had heard. So the Bible says by faith. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient after she had welcomed the spies in peace. What does that mean? Well what that means is by faith, her faith, her trust in what God has done, she did something. Her faith caused action. Are you with me? It is a faith based work. Not a work based faith but a faith based work. That's what's required. That's what's important. The Bible says the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Well the reason why no one's going out there to be laborers because maybe it's because too few of us actually have that kind of faith. You know the kind of faith that says the world is on fire. It's yet to end. We need to get people off this sinking ship. That kind of faith that really takes it true. It takes the heart what the word says. Let's keep reading verse 32. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell you of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. There are so many people in the Bible we can point to who because of their faith they moved. It shouldn't be that there are people that are more committed who have faith in absolutely nothing. We've got Muslims who are more committed to this demonic cause that they're in than us as believers who have the true and living God supposedly living in us. That's a huge problem. Those people who remember the Bible says this. The life that I live, Galatians 2.20. I have been crucified with Christ and is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh. So the things I'm doing, the life that I'm living in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God for if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died needlessly. So they're saying I'm not trying to do certain words to gain righteousness. I'm not trying to do certain things to gain anything from heaven. But because I have gained something namely Christ who lives in me now that's how you judge me. Not just me trying to get righteous because of my works but because I am righteous now I work. The life that I live is because Christ is in me and people should be able to see it. I think we've got this thing misunderstood where we act as though faith is something that we keep internally. No, no, because if that were the case it would do no good for anyone else. We will become as Jesus said useless or good for nothing worthless to be trampled underfoot by men. Salt that loses season, season then or loses saltiness. That's what we would be the kind of people like that who we're just out here on our own. We don't really care about because if you really did really had faith in what the word says you would also. And by the way, if you actually are believers you would actually have some sort of compassion sort of faith in what God has said is going to happen. And the compassion left for other people believing what God is going to do for those who aren't his and all you have to do is share the gospel or at least try. Obviously their salvation is not dependent upon you but their salvation is dependent upon them hearing it. Why won't you be the person that they hear it from or at least see it? Makes you wonder about some people's level of faith. Remember the Bible says this one thing says that we were created. Let's go to Ephesians 2 10. You all know the passage and I want to break it down a little bit more. In Ephesians 2 10 says for we that's us believers are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand. What is the antecedent excuse me of this word prepared beforehand? What was prepared beforehand? These good works. These works that we should so that we should walk in them. We know that is because it's so that we should walk in them. Walk in what? These works that were created beforehand. But even if you want to fight me on that these works were the ones created by him. It doesn't really matter. The fact is we should walk in them. Walk in what? In these works. God desires for us to be used on this planet. Remember Bible says that David after he fulfilled his purpose then he rested. Some of us got a purpose to fulfill but we never reached it because... And it makes you wonder. Let's be honest. It makes you wonder. Can we just be honest? It makes people wonder. Are you really what you say you are? It's like I never forget there was a guy who this was when I was in the choir. And there was a guy that came in who said that he could play the guitar. And he had one little riff one little guitar riff that he could play. But then everything else was like wait a second. You said that you can play the guitar. Can we see it? We can't. So why would you say it? Let us know about the hope that you have in you. And so it just makes you... It boggles the mind. It boggles... What did James say? I know this passage for some reason for some is offensive. And they think that people don't understand it. It's pretty clear. He says what uses it? What uses it my brother? If someone says he has faith but has no works. Meaning there's nothing that is produced by that sort of faith. There's nothing that anyone in many cases that person can see. Well the Lord knows my heart really. Can that faith save him? The point is what kind of faith is that? Again. And let me just say it clearly. No one is saying that you are saved by your works. You don't do things to be saved. Nor do you do anything to stay saved. But once you are saved you will do something. If you think that once you get saved that there is nothing that you're going to do then I question your salvation. Matter of fact even more so if there's nothing that you want to do. Are you going to tell me that the Holy Spirit resides in you? According to Jesus the Holy Spirit wants to testify of Jesus. And you don't do that. Then is that because the Holy Spirit isn't in you? That's a question that the person is going to have to answer themselves. Now we're not out here being fruit inspectors trying to figure out who's doing the most work. This person did the most work compared to this person. And so we can tell that this person is saved or more saved than this person. You know because the person with the most works he himself or she or herself may not actually even be saved. The point is we're talking about those that actually are saved and you know who you are. If you are indeed then the Lord should be working in you. When the Bible says work out your soul, work out your salvation the point is it is because of or in view of your salvation work. In view of your salvation get to move and get to doing something. And so there are these folks who just absolutely just aggravate me to some degree. Not a lot, but to some degree maybe it requires some patience but who resist the mere notion of someone doing something based on their faith because in life apply this to everything. Tell me something outside of the Bible that you have faith in, that you trust in, that doesn't cause you to move accordingly. Name something. Tell me you love your wife, tell me you love your husband and you don't show it. Then that spouse is going to question it. Tell me you appreciate, you appreciate the fact that you need money and that robbing the bank will get you in jail or get you killed then you don't go rob the bank. Now if you think that you can make it well then now you got faith in yourself. People with faith in themselves they tend to show it as well. Name something that you have faith in that it does not cause you to do something in life based on that. Not something biblical. I'm just talking about faith in something else. Again, faith in what the weatherman said. Faith in you if you work this many hours then they're going to pay you. If you work overtime they're going to pay you more. Faith in that. Faith enough to know that if you touch a hot flame that it's going to burn you. How many times did it take you to do that? One time for me. One time that I had more than enough faith. Faith to last me for the rest of my life to know that if I touch that fire it's going to burn. So what do I avoid touching fires? Faith to know that if I stick a fork in an outlet that'll be the last time I stick a fork in an outlet. I've got that kind of faith. So I think we need to move on and stop fighting other Christians because they want to see us. Because if there should be anybody on the planet that should be working for the Lord it should be Christians. If there should be anybody out there that's showing some tangible, godly works it should be those folks who say they have faith, who have trusted in Christ. So if you have a problem with that, fine. Send me an email. Send me a comment. Make a video so I can come see you because we have a problem. The problem is the world is going in the wrong directions and you'd rather folks be silent. And when you want to say that it's a back loaded works based salvation. Okay fine. Again send me the email. Send me the comment. Send me a link to that conversation so I can carry you on and then look at your life. Because the issue is, by the way it didn't funny that the very some the very same people who say that it's not about the having any works and they're not saved by works. And then we asked well do you do any work? Do you pray? Do you read? Do you ever share your testimony? Well yeah. Okay, so your works are okay but someone else's are not. And no one's highlighting that. No one is saying that that's what made you saved. So let's let's say it again. Let's slow it down. No one is saying that your works made you saved. What we are saying is you being saved internally having the Holy Spirit would cause you to want to testify. Was that slow enough? Did you did you catch that? Now there's another group that also bothers me. This this group probably bothers me just a little bit more. These are the people who would say that their level of faith is greater than let's say somebody like mine who have the same level of beliefs meaning this. I don't look to nor do I need to have someone else do something in order for me to move in order for me to have faith. I don't need to see someone fall out. I don't need someone to speak in tongues. I don't need to see a miracle in order for me to believe anything. My faith is not dependent upon what someone did or let's be honest what someone said they did. I don't care what you felt. I don't care what you thought you felt. I don't care what you heard someone say happened and there'd be no evidence to it. I don't bother me. They don't do anything for me at all. I don't care. You know how I can tell your level of faith. See if your faith in the word into nothing you don't have faith. Let me say it again. If your faith in the word isn't enough you my friend don't have faith guy was telling me the other day that he has to he goes down and he speaks in tongues and his prayer life and it just gives him more energy. It grows him and it it causes him to have a deeper walk with Christ. Well then I question your faith. I question your faith in the word. I question your fidelity or your love to the word. I do because let's just be honest there are some Muslims some Hindus who do the same thing who speak in these tongues now. You've got more and more people you've got more people in cults who are speaking in these tongues. By the way when we first saw these kind of tongues we see today it was some time ago with these cults but they all said the same thing that they feel closer to God when they speak in tongues. Fine. But that's how you're edified. Well the word edifies me. I have faith in the word. If the word isn't enough then you're not saved. If the word isn't enough there's a reason why you're not saved. How was that reason? Jesus says an evil and adulterous generation seeks after signs. Now you get a sign you will get a sign the sign of Jonah that is that he will be buried in the tomb in the grave and then three days later rise. You don't want to believe that sign though. That's that's not enough. Show me something do something for me. Do y'all know that what's kind of interesting and I don't know how many of you guys watch pro basketball but of late I think three or four recent coaches who had recently won the NBA championship I've talked about a year ago two years ago three years ago I mean recently were fired why because it was one of those what have you done for me lately kind of things well you can't win the championship every year and so people today have that same sort of spiritual mentality because I didn't I've got to see something spiritual something wonderful every every day every week otherwise I might lose it I've got to I've got to see something why don't you see the words why don't you open the book and see your head down in it and read those words place some faith in what you do realize there's a reason why he gave us the bible there is a reason why we have the bible and we can use that bible to validate what someone else is doing but then someone's gonna come back and say no you're putting a guy in the box who are you to say who are you or how dare you as I was said something by somebody how dare you judge what this person's tongues are this person's casting out of demons or this person's movement how dare you who are you I'm just a boy with a bible that's what I am just just a man with the word I can go and look at that how dare I how dare you not want to be judged by the word what kind of Christian who says they have faith don't want to have what they what they're saying they're doing what kind of Christian wouldn't want to stand up or what they say this happened be judged to be scrutinized in light of the word of God again you can say what you want to say about about me not having faith but I'll put my walk and I'm not trying to be braggadoce I really am not but I get this all I mean when I say all the time I'm constantly getting bombarded you don't know the Lord you don't trust the Lord you don't have faith you don't have the Holy Spirit well who was with me for those 13 years who grew me how was my faith and when I take my faith will sustain mere the mere fact that I'm here and God has just been blessed me is a testimony not to me I had nothing to do with it but a testimony to him a testimony to him the mere fact that I'm out early early is a mere testimony to him my faith in him I trust in him I will put my faith up against anyone else's faith not that it's greater but it's in the same God and so I don't need to see anything there are a lot of people let me just tell you guys this this is the truth there are a lot of people in prison who were demoralized because they prayed and didn't get what they wanted and they were demoralized because they thought they had to see something to validate God God didn't do this and so therefore I'm not with God well first of all that tells what the person never really was never had a relationship with Christ in the first place and your relationship is dependent upon seeing some things him doing some things well again I contend you don't know him because knowing him would be enough how bad would it be how how how crazy would it be if your wife or your husband your spouse said I need to see more in order for me to be with you would that would that be would that be problematic I need to see you I need to see you earn some more money I need to see you uh I don't know make your face a better I need to see you cook better I need to see you do the yard I need I need to see some stuff I need to see more money but I need to see a better car yeah that's what I need to see I need to see all these things in order for me to know that you're with me you know so you mean tell me just being with you isn't enough nope nope not enough believe it or not some of us some of you some of us all we do that with God just being with you isn't enough Paul makes a statement he's listen I've been up I've I've abounded in many ways and I've been down I've been in base I've been lowered but whatever state of man I have learned to be content that's faith that's faith like Joe shall we take the good and not the bad he's God I'll take whatever you got because whatever you got came from you and you're doing something in me as long as I'm with you I'm good and so it makes me wonder we've got to again everybody that calls himself a christian isn't a christian we know we know that how do we know they're a christian how do we know do we need to know does the world need to know and does the word and know who christians are does the world need to see who christians are how do they see who how do you tell me anyone that how does a world how does the world see that you are christian how does the world get to witness what christian looks like I can promise you it's not the person who's not doing anything I can promise you that the world can't know that way and I can also promise you the world doesn't know if you're falling out speaking in in in in gibberatic I made that word up if you're speaking in gibberatic gibberish tongues the world doesn't believe that I can promise you the world doesn't see it if you are claiming some sort of fake demon being tossed I can promise that but what the world can see and respect I've seen it over and over and over again genuine faith is when people who do have human faith and love of Christ share him and do so in a compassion fashion fashion being merciful understanding that it won't happen at this moment some folks get upset and frustrated with the person when you go and preach the gospel they don't get saved at that moment they get frustrated we just go on a hill anyway y'all see that some of the some and I'm not knocking them I guess I am to some degree some of the street preachers who it's almost so they want to have a fight with the people they're preaching to did you expect for everyone did you expect for everyone to hear you and to understand you and to accept what you're saying you're going to hell friend you're gonna burn well there's a way to say it now that's if that's your approach well then hey god bless you if that's your approach uh someone may have a different approach but whoever it is whatever your approach is if you think that you're going to bat a thousand well then that's not about Jesus didn't do so and he could have but he didn't do so John didn't do so Paul didn't peter did and so we get frustrated and angry because people don't come to Christ when I say they should or how I say they should that no no uh faith based on what we read will tell us that some people plant some water god gives you increase in every every every seed that that that you put on the ground every every word that's sown in the ground it's dependent upon it being sown on good soil what's the good soil as Jesus says it's the heart well I can't control the heart so I don't know if the person's going to take and receive what I said um what they take it for the moment and and then the cares of the world choke it um compassion comes what have you my job is do my job all you can do is all you can do and all you need is what you have which is the word again the word the word so compels me so feels me that I have I like telling somebody about something I will tell a stranger I'll when a person's having a bad day or going through something brother can I tell you how I have not had a bad day in four years what do you mean you haven't had a bad day in four years well some things have happened some things that I didn't like have happened some things that may have upset me but my day still keeps moving why because the life that I live is no longer I who live it but it's Christ who lived the one who died for me and I've seen him um show up in my life not to do things but just to show up and be with me this peace and then well tell me more some say some say hey I don't care about that I don't hear about that mess okay and I keep it moving but what's in me should want to come out the holy spirit should want to come out and some folks don't want matter of fact what's funny is some people only want only want to show the goodness of the Lord in the confines of other people who also the goodness of the Lord or what does that do we are literally preaching or in some case you guys speaking tongues to the choir that part we need to fix guys we need to develop or have a sort of faith a conviction and I'm and I'm using this word a conviction that is so rooted in the love of the Lord as well as the terror of the Lord as Paul says uses both of those to preach to people to compel people to even show love and mercy to people that guy the point of seeing and witnessing if some are or hearing about the power of the Lord is to cause you to get to him and even if you are in him to grow in him and so that's what true faith looks like true faith looks like I have decided to base my life off of what I believe and what I believe is rooted in grounded in these words if these words aren't enough that you're not safe and if these words aren't enough to cause you to want to move James is that the kind of faith that saves you now he may not necessarily be questioning if they're saved or he might be might be saying listen you might want to get up off your duff and do something but I challenge you if you are a believer if you are the redeemed say so matter of fact not only say so show so amen