Faith and Works

Open your bibles to James chapter 2 verses 14 – 26. 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Many times throughout the scriptures there is this constant reference to “deeds” or “works”. As we read in the above referenced scripture it clearly says that we must DO good deeds not simply believe. In last Sunday’s sermon you heard mention that Noah was not saved simply by faith, but through his obedience and his DEEDS. He worked for 80 years to build an ark that would save not only his family but all the creatures that walked and crawled and slithered over the surface of the Earth. His deeds saved him. There must be a clear distinction between Faith and deeds. One does not need faith to believe in God when there is so much abundant proof of his existence all around us if people are bothering themselves to pay attention. No, faith is in not knowing the outcome of a situation but believing with all your heart that if you truly work at a goal that you have FAITH that all will turn out ok. A homeless person on the streets doesn’t always know when he will get his next meal or bath, but he is not about to sit around hoping it just comes to him, no he works towards it and God blesses him

through his deeds and faith that if he continues to persevere he will be taken care of. Far too often I hear the phrase “God knows my heart”, well yes he does, however, He sees everything about you and he also notes your lack of obedience to his ways. When you come to stand before the judgement throne of the Messiah, are you going to rely on “He knows my heart” as justification for your own salvation? Do you think he will smile upon you if you have done NOTHING to bring about the change you so desire to see in the world? Recently, I saw a meme that was so true It merits sharing with the congregation. It was an announcer standing in front of a crowd and he called and asked “Who is ready for change?” and of course the entire crowd was raising their hand. They were tired of how things were and they wanted things to change. Then a curious thing happened. The announcer asked another question, he asked “Who is ready TOO change?”. Now of course there was angry faces in the crowd now, some were questioning and others had scowls as if to say “How dare he even ask me this question, its everyone else that needs to change why would I possibly need to do anything different?” The world is ready for change right now, they are tired of the governments, the lies, the corruption, the high prices, the mismanaged streets, bridges and other infrastructure…. But they are unwilling to DO anything about it. “Its someone else’s problem not mine” they say to themselves. But it IS their problem and their responsibility to ACT and BE the change they want to see in the world around them. People want to have free public transportation, free education, free medical care, nice roads, beautiful parks and so much more but then turn right around and complain about having to pay taxes. But where do the people think that the money to pay for all this comes from? Thin air? A genie in a bottle? No, it comes from everyone collectively contributing to the benefit of the whole society. Through this act of contributing equally then and only then can they get what they want to see. Today, however, we see governments mismanaging these funds to produce war instead of paradise. In the New Kingdom, the flat tax rate will be the same as it has always been, 10%. The biblically commanded tithing. It is through this 10% now that the saints are able to have food, water, electricity, internet and money left over to put towards the great mission…. But how many actually DO this biblically commanded tithing? Maybe a dozen or just over… maybe that much. When you sit there, staring at your screens watching all the evil happening in the world, watching greedy politicians spend money on war and genocide but you do nothing to change it, you don’t speak up or take steps to empower the people that God has chosen to turn this planet into a paradise…. Your faith is dead. Because you will not act, you have faith in us, but you do nothing about it. You are too greedy to give up your late or even sacrifice eating out in order to give. You are unwilling to sacrifice anything in order to empower the people chosen to save you. Yet you will sit there and say “Well God know’s my heart”…. Yes that you are greedy, selfish, ungrateful people who would rather spend money on fruitless things or little trinkets that sit and collect dust over giving just 10% to the Lord and his clergy so we can accomplish the great mission.

In effect you are sealing your judgement now. It does not matter if you are called a good person if you do no works to prove it! You want paradise but you are unwilling to contribute towards it. Even putting that aside, you want freedom, liberation and a happy life but you sit their lukewarm and idle doing nothing to earn it. You believe in Lord RayEl, you’re here in the congregation, but what do 99% of you do? Nothing…. Absolutely…. Nothing. We watch as the world goes about their lives, not spreading the teachings because you are too afraid that one of your family or friends might disagree with you. That you might lose someone you care about. You do nothing to try to get them to realize the error of their ways and to turn around and do good deeds. “That’s someone else’s job.” How can you have faith in the Messiah and God, believe the codes, believe the signs, believe what we say but then do nothing about it? No sharing the teachings, no contributing to getting the Messiah on the throne, or to spreading the word. You just sit there idly watching. Today, is the day of atonement, also known as Yom Kippur…. But has the world made atonement for its sins? Have the Jews repented for killing the Messiah 2,000 years ago and made a public recognition and apology for it, which is a form of works? Have you changed your ways of thinking and acting? Have you obeyed the 10 commandments? Have you treated others the way you want to be treated? Have you done ANYTHING to deserve the paradise offered? No, only a handful have done anything to show their worth to the crown. No if we were to allow you admittance into the New Kingdom you would corrupt it instantly. You would carry on in your ways, continuing in your greed and selfishness. Is this what the Lord wanted? Of course not. So what is required to enter the Kingdom? Obedience to the Laws of God and the Messiah, and obedience is shown through works not faith. Putting off bad habits, and humbling one’s self to admit when we have wronged and work actively to change that negative attribute. Contributing equally both monetarily and through our deeds to actively work together to create the paradise we so want to have. This means no shaming others of their sexual orientation, preference or who their partner is because as long as it is responsible and consensual there is nothing to worry about. Treating others with respect and dignity and thus leading by example to effect change in that person. When you see someone doing something wrong you do not sit by and watch them do it, you actively partake in the correction process so that person is not allowed to get away with doing wrong. Speaking up for the truth to everyone no matter if they are a co-worker, friend, or family or a complete stranger. Start to do these things instead of sitting idly by as the world falls into chaos and you can start to see God’s paradise. It takes work to bring paradise, our thoughts and actions bring it into fruition….. not simply have faith that someone else will bring it about, YOU must bring in into existence, otherwise your beliefs, and faith is for nothing. It is worthless.

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for allowing me to speak your words to the world today. I pray that it moves the hearts and minds of the masses into action so they can bring about the paradise we want to see in the world. That paradise may no longer be just a concept but can become a reality. I thank you for all the miracles and blessings poured out on the faithful. I ask that you guide the flock and move their hearts to do your will, in Lord RayEl’s Name, Amen.