Faith is Action

Introduction

The more confidence we have of the promises in God’s Word and how good God is, the more we are inspired to obey, trust, and have faith in Him. When we realize that God is on our side and that He is always working even when we cannot see Him, we will trust Him more. The same is true of our faith. Noah prepared an ark. Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going. Sarah confidently expected the son God promised. Joseph interpreted dreams. Rahab hid the spies before the conquest of Canaan and ended up saving herself and her family. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho by following God’s instruction to circle around the city once for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. These believers have one thing in common. All of them acted in faith. We as believers, should do so also.

Program Ideas

Acts of Kindness:  Bible Verses on a Cross and Care Basket

Invite the women to cut out bible verses about acting in faith, healing, courage, and strength. Use verses that are meaningful to them and to the person who is going to receive the care basket. Glue the verses on the cross and add a small flower. The cross represents the action Jesus took on our behalf. The care baskets can be get-well, stress, physical and emotional abuse, sickness, laundry, or groceries baskets.

Material (verses on cross): crosses, scissors, glue, flowers

Scripture reading: Hebrews 11

Faith is the Victory – YouTube

https://youtu.be/nP8-7Trvno0?si=w2s6fQdr534Q0xyk

Discussion – Have women share the meaning of the bible verses they chose. How have these verses helped them in acting out their faith? What specific actions did they take to overcome their fear, worry, anxiety

Faith is Action

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Faith is the ability to believe, but that ability must be used to work and flourish. It should produce actions. James 2:17 tells us that faith without corresponding actions is lifeless and dead. That means having faith without action is not enough. Actions are needed to bring faith to life.

To the paralytic man in John 5:8, Jesus said “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Jesus put His faith in the Father into action by telling the man to get up and take his mat and go home. The man having little faith in Jesus put it into action by doing what Jesus instructed to do.

We read in Luke 8:43-48, how the woman who was suffering from the issue of blood for twelve years, “came up behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” The woman put her faith into action by pressing to the crowd and touched the edge of Jesus clothes and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Because she put her faith into action, she received healing and deliverance. Finally, Jesus rewarded her for putting her faith to action by saying “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Esther was a gorgeous woman who was raised by her cousin. She saved a generation through her courage. This story demonstrates how God can use anyone who is not afraid to act in faith. The story of Esther demonstrates how when we overcome our fears and act in faith, we can help our community, and bring glory to God. Esther acted by ordering a fast for three days and three nights. At the end of those three days, she put her faith into action and approached the king with her request. Just like in the case of the woman with the issue of blood, God delivered and rewarded her and her people because she put her faith in action.

I accepted Christ at the age of 10 years through the ministry of the Salvation Army in Port au Prince, Haiti. Life became harder for me because my father was not a Christian.  He did not want any of his five children who were living with him to attend church services. He used to physically and emotionally abuse me each time I went to church. Despite the hitting and punishments, I never stopped going to church because I had faith in God, even at a young age. Sometimes, the punishment, such as forcing me to kneel on a fruit grater and not allowing me to eat for days, was so severe my knees bled and my whole body was sore. He showed no mercy even after I pleaded with him. Through it all I kept my faith and continue to follow God. My faith caused me to believe that one day the physical and emotional abuse will come to an end. My corps officers did not know what I was going through. But God knew and saw my pain. God knew that despite the emotional issues that resulted from the physical abuse, I kept my faith and continue to follow Him. Days before my father died, he said to me “Daughter, one day you will be God’s voice to preach the gospel and to win souls for Him.” Today I can testify that God is faithful and rewards those who seek Him earnestly. I am a full-time minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to not let fear drive your life. Put fear in the trunk of your car. Act in faith to overcome all the problems of your life.

Closing prayer

Pray for the people who are weak in faith. Pray so that God would increase their faith and give them the courage to act. Physical and spiritual health doesn’t come without us taking actions. Pray so we may take steps to achieve both physical and spiritual health.

Benediction

Ephesians 3:17-19 – (May) Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also dead.