Tag: active

29. w. “Faith was completed by his works”

 

Matthew 1:20  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. 

Genesis 6:22     Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

 Genesis 22:2-3   So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

 Exodus 40:16    This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.

 John 15:14   You are my friends if you do what I command you.

 Hebrews 11:7-8   By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

 Hebrews 11:24-31   By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,  choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.  By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

 James 2:21-26    Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

Joseph had made up his mind to divorce Mary in a just way, quietly. Do you wonder how hard it was for Joseph to fall asleep that night?  He made up his mind, and I have to think it was a disappointing time for Him. He did not go to bed mad or angered but rather wanted to do what was right and God-honoring. Then when his mind was made up an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.  

Joseph had a heart, mind, and soul wanting to do what was right before God. It does not say He pondered over this visitation in a dream and what was said.  He made the decision to obey immediately.  He was immediately obedient. Do you ever wonder how many times the Holy Spirit is speaking into our lives each day and we are not listening or even wanting to hear those quiet whispers of leading?  If our hearts and minds are not being consumed with things of God and desiring to do what honors and glorifies Jesus Christ, then those quiet whispers of leading from the Holy Spirit will not be heard and obedience will not happen and our lives will be void of the hope and joy that comes from obedience and trusting in Jesus Christ.

1.q. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword

2 Chronicles 1:7  In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

1 Samuel 16:7   But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Kings 8:18     But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

1 Chronicles 28:2    Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.

1 Chronicles 29:17-18   I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.  O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.

Hebrews 4:12     For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What would God see in your heart that no one else can see or know?  What do you think is hidden and only yours to ponder and think about?  What occupies your thoughts that you think no one knows about?  God for certain knows everything in your heart.  He not only knows the thought but the intent behind the thought.  We get tested by God. Deuteronomy 8:2 “You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”  Ecclesiastes 3:18  “I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”

God alone tests us so that we will see the error in our ways, how we talk, how we think, how we act. It is because of His love for us that He does this.  He wants us to grow, understand, and gain knowledge of Him through the grace and mercy demonstrated in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  In this gaining knowledge and understanding, we must be shown (tested) what is truly in our heart and mind so that we can freely repent from it and freely choose to turn away from it to honor, serve, follow and obey our Lord and Savior.  If we are not tested I fear our growth will become stagnate and we will become complacent and neglectful.

Oh God, give us ears to see and a mind to understand the greatness and awesomeness of Your grace and mercy.  Speak loud and clear to our heart so that we know Your testing and see clearly that from which we need to confess, repent and turn away from.  Strengthen our understanding of scripture as we intentionally choose to each day to be in Your word for Your honor and glory.

God’s word

Psalms 119:140  Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

Psalms 119:128    Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Psalms 12:6     The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalms 18:30     This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 19:8     the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Proverbs 30:5    Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Romans 7:22     For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,

1 Peter 2:2   Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

2 Peter 1:21     For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16    All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Note scripture with references to God’s word:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless;  he shields all who take refuge in him.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.

Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed 

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

“In the word of God there is no error or sin. It is pure in its sense, pure in its language, pure in its spirit, pure in its influence, and all this to the very highest degree – ‘very pure’.” (Spurgeon)

God’s word is living, active, convicting, judging, saving, empowering, encouraging, pure, true, Holy, knowledge, wisdom, training, correcting, enlightening, giving purpose, equipping, food for the soul, perfect, flawless, giving hope, promise, peace, refuge, blessings, shielding, forgiving, accomplishing, never passing away, enduring, spoken by God, given by God,  and inspired by God.

Neglect and complacency to His word rejects the full purpose and plans of God for our life.