Works of Faith

Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. (James 1:3-5) Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly]. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take the place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you. (Mark 11:22-24) The ability to be whatever we need, when we need and how we need at any given time. He is God alone not needing anyone to do Him, when He does Him and how He does Him. He is the source of all existence.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM." (Exodus 3:14) Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!" (Mark 9:23)

And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive. (Matthew 21:22) What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works. (James 2:14) Confidence, rooted in faith, is crucial for enduring and ultimately receiving what God has spoken.

Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. (Hebrews 10:35)

But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.

But I say, did they not hear? Indeed they have;

“THEIR VOICE [that of creation bearing God’s message] HAS GONE OUT TO ALL THE EARTH,

AND THEIR WORDS TO THE [farthest] ENDS OF THE WORLD.” But I say, did Israel fail to understand [that the gospel was to go also to the Gentiles]? First Moses says,

“I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION (Gentiles);

WITH A NATION THAT LACKS UNDERSTANDING I WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY.” Then Isaiah is very bold and says,

“I HAVE BEEN FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME;

I HAVE SHOWN MYSELF TO THOSE WHO DID NOT [consciously] ASK FOR ME." (Romans 10:14-20) And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] powerful [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)