FAITH WITHOUT WORK IS DEAD

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.." James 2:17a

Many have so many great, noble dreams but they wonder why those dreams have not become realities. They have great, exciting dreams but live like they would be glad to have whatever the world offers them. An old adage says, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." They have dreams of living as kings on earth but would, in reality live as paupers all

Great men do not become great only by the quality of their dreams. It is the quality of work they apply to the quality of their dreams that produce quality accomplishment. Dr. Schuller says you must never allow anybody tell you to take care. They may be good intentioned but good intentions have never brought dreams to reality. To take care, to take it easy is not an appropriate attitude for those that have dreams to fulfill. Frankly, those who take it easy never go anywhere. They never affect their generation. To take it easy robs life of a sense of urgency without which visions and dreams cannot be realized. For the achiever, life must have a sense of urgency - can't wait to touch lives, can't wait to give to the world something of value, can't wait for barriers to be broken, new territories to be taken, new areas to be developed.

Take a chance! Take a risk! The greatest inventions in human history were made by men who took chances as well as risks. The risk of failure is the test of the validity of a vision. If a dream does not have a risk of failure, it will never be a blessing to humanity. If it can't fail, then, it can't succeed.

Many are living on the low land of mediocrity because they feel safe. They will not venture into 'high risk' areas so that they do not fail. It is better to fail in attempting to do something great than to succeed at doing little or r nothing.
We have computers today because somebody took a chance. We have aeroplanes today because somebody took a risk. We ride cars today because somebody took a chance. People go to the moon today because somebody took a chance. We enjoy electricity today because somebody took a chance. We use the phone because somebody took a chance. Every facility we enjoy today is because somebody took a chance.

You too, take a chance and win. Take a risk and became a hero.

Take charge and take control. Many people wait for a lucky turn of fortune. Luck has produced more failures than anything else. Have you not heard many people excuse their empty lives by the refrain, "I just happen to be unlucky." Those who rely on luck will never do anything meaningful with their lives.

Am believing God for you this week. There is a miracle with your name on it in Jesus name.

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

overcoming temptation

Good morning, this morning i would like to share with you overcoming temptation please can we turn in our bibles to Matthew 26:36-40

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

This is where we see what the human heart is really like, the Lord has asked them to watch while he prays

The Lord returns to them asleep and his words Keep watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation.

This is the problem the Spirit is willing but the body is weak

I say that again the spirit is willing but the Body is weak⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away^[g] unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

See the picture appearing here three times he has asked them to be watch and not to fall into temptation but all they can do is sleep.

Jesus word be careful that you do not fall into temptation

So what does the dictionary say about temptation?

Oxford dictionary says this

the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wrong

a thing that makes somebody want to do or have something that they know is bad or wrong

This has a ring in every mans/ womans ear from the king of Kings , do not fall into temptation

Sow a temptation– reap an thought

Sow a thought – reap a habit

Sow a habit – reap a lifestyle

Sow a lifestyle – reap a bondage

Don’t think it is easy to break a bondage

When temptation comes knocking at the door we need to say NO

There are four key fact about temptation

Key 1

1 John 2:15-17

¹⁵ Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ¹⁶ For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.¹⁷ And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

We bog ourselves down with the things of the world we want a big house a nice car, we want that gives a nice outward appearance but these things are only temporal and fade away concentrate on the things of God and all else will fall into place, from this we learn the fact that Temptation is triggered by the lust of life and for the lust of the things of this world. And i can verify that i once had this draw, “all i once held dear built my life upon that this world reveres and longs to own” these lines from a song sum it up the world is drawn to me me me but knowing Jesus is the only incentive for each one of us, don’t get drawn into lusts that are temporal and will fade away.

Hugh hefner was interviewed the owner of playboy who walked around every day in his pyjamas and girls off his arms, some may say he must have been the luckiest man alive, but listen to his words when asked are you happy. “No i want the words of the songs”. So he had everything and was filling his life with every vain thing but he still wasn’t happy.

Key 2

Know your enemy

James 1:13-15

¹³ And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. ¹⁴ Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Temptation is rooted deep in our inward desires, when we look back to the garden of Eden, Eve looked at the apple and desired it, David looked from his balcony when he should have been at war and looked at Bathsheba and desired her.

It starts off in our mind as a thought then turns to an action then to a sin,

Don’t be drawn in

Remember the eye is the gate to the heart

We need to switch our filter on and remove the sin while it is still a thought.

So easy to look round and desire the things this life offers

Key 3

Know your enemy

1 Corinthians 7:5

⁵ Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

We are tempted by our own lack of self control and the great tempter and accuser is always there ready to tempt you and make you stumble.

Look how he does it throws subtle thoughts into your head Just the same as he did to Eve, he tempted her with the fruit it was attractive, it could be to drugs for the rich gain, it could be you are addicted to sex, alcohol, you might be addicted to stealing, lying.

Dont give satan a foothold in your life give him an inch he will take the mile and it will be like him coming through tissue paper after he has tempted.

He becomes the accuser saying you have overstepped the mark, you have fallen short, God won’t want you now, your sin has distanced you and before you know it you are believing the lie and falling away from church and it is hard to get back into fellowship.

Know your enemy

Isaiah 14

¹² “How you are fallen from heaven,
O shining star, son of the morning!
You have been thrown down to the earth,
you who destroyed the nations of the world.
¹³ For you said to yourself,
‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.
I will preside on the mountain of the gods
far away in the north.^[e]
14 I will climb to the highest heavens
and be like the Most High.’
¹⁵ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead,
down to its lowest depths.
¹⁶ Everyone there will stare at you and ask,
‘Can this be the one who shook the earth
and made the kingdoms of the world tremble?
¹⁷ Is this the one who destroyed the world
and made it into a wasteland?
Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities
and had no mercy on his prisoners?’

Ezekiel 28 gives us more understanding

“You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.
¹³ You were in Eden,
the garden of God.
Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone^[b]—
red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,
blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,
blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—
all beautifully crafted for you
and set in the finest gold.
They were given to you
on the day you were created.
¹⁴ I ordained and anointed you
as the mighty angelic guardian.^[c]
You had access to the holy mountain of God
and walked among the stones of fire.

¹⁵ “You were blameless in all you did
from the day you were created
until the day evil was found in you.
¹⁶ Your rich commerce led you to violence,
and you sinned.
So I banished you in disgrace
from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
from your place among the stones of fire.
¹⁷ Your heart was filled with pride
because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
by your love of splendor.
So I threw you to the ground
and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
¹⁸ You defiled your sanctuaries
with your many sins and your dishonest trade.
So I brought fire out from within you,
and it consumed you.
I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.

Satans downfall was pride and thinking he could be like God and his question to Eve, “Did God really say that you would die, you will have just the same knowledge as God has”

Don’t be deceived by your enemy. Stay true to Jesus all times and when temptation comes knocking cast it away.

The last Key, Key 4

Galatians 6:7-8

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

You reap what you sow, if you harvest a sinful nature you inherit decay and death, if you please the spirit you inherit eternal life.

We get peaks and troughs

The Christian walk will always be up and down if you have a life that is all plain sailing, i would say you are not being effective for the kingdom and are stuck at Key 3.

The best place to look is the Lord at overcoming temptation after being in the desert for forty days and nights he fasted and hungry the tempter came and said if you are the Son of God tell these stones to turn to bread and Jesus replied man shall not live on bread alone but every word that procede from the mouth of God.

Amazing Jesus counteracts with word of God and you need to know your word you need to plant it on your hearts, as the accuser knows the word inside out, and if we don’t read the scripture we will be tempted.

Then Jesus is taken to the top of the temple and told to throw himself off and he will be caught by angels, Jesus replies, “You shall not test the Lord”, then the third temptation written Jesus is whisked to a high mountain so he can see everything and Satan says worship me and all this is yours, Jesus replies Man shall worship God alone.

When the devil comes knocking, Use the scriptures you have put on your heart,

Know the Lord Jesus has been through every temptation we have and was sinless, and pure

Paul sums it up I beat my flesh up daily to keep my spirit on top of my flesh and folks while you are alive you will encounter temptation its the case of making sure you are walking in the right footsteps, those of the Lamb who was slain to take away the sin of the world.

Just remember Christ still has the Nail marks in the hands and feet after his resurrection, so he still holds the signs of the earthly struggles and it is a sign for us to follow by picking up our cross daily

Remember those words

Let them echo in your mind

“WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER INTO TEMPTATION”

"Is There Any Difference Between Believers and Those in the World in 2010?"

" . . . That ye may know how that THE LORD DOTH PUT A DIFFERENCE (separation; distinction; setting apart) BETWEEN THE EGYPTIANS and ISRAEL". Exodus 11:7b KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis)

ONE GROUP LIVED IN DARKNESS, WHILE THE OTHER ONE RADIATED LIGHT

There was a distinct difference in the book of Exodus between the people in the world system and the people of God. Those who served the true and living God stood out in stark contrast from those who served other gods. They did not have to advertise by wearing a sign board or passing out gospel tracts in the main plaza of the Egyptian capital. One group lived in darkness, while the other one radiated light. Anybody who had any kind of discernment could tell there was a difference.

AS A COMPLETE STRANGER, I COULD JUST WALK UP TO THEM, AND SAY, "HI. HALLELUJAH. I KNOW THE SAME JESUS YOU DO", AND THERE WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC, SPONTANEOUS AND POSITIVE RESPONSE

I remember the first time I ever went to Mombasa, Kenya. Most of the people in that ancient city walking the streets looked depressed, with no purpose in life, and had absolutely no joy. In the midst of the crowd, it was easy to spot born again, Spirit filled, victorious believers in Christ. They did not have to say a word. No introduction was necessary. There was a certain dynamic which automatically, without any special effort, emitted from them. As a complete stranger, I could just walk up to them, and say, "Hi. Hallelujah. I know the same Jesus you do", and there would be an automatic, spontaneous and positive response. We were "one in Christ".

EVEN OUR LEADERS, WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR RIGHTEOUS EXAMPLES, CANNOT GET THEIR PERSONAL LIVES STRAIGHTENED OUT

Today, sadly, I seriously wonder if there is that much difference in our world between believers in Christ and those in the world. Unfortunately, there are as many or more divorces among those in the church than among unbelievers. Hardly anybody thinks much about it anymore when internationally-known evangelists announce that they are getting divorced. Even our leaders, who are supposed to be our righteous examples, cannot get their personal lives straightened out. Divorce among servants and handmaidens of the Lord has reached epidemic proportions. Why is there no difference?

WHY IS THERE NO DIFFERENCE?

Statistics of unmarried teen pregnancies in the church are no different from those in the world. Corrupt government officials in many countries do not grant necessary business permits unless they receive bribes on the side. Likewise, the heads of some religious organizations only open doors of opportunity for visiting ministers if they promise to give them their tithes and offerings from any speaking engagements which are arranged. If they do not, then the door for ministry is closed. Why is there no difference?

THESE SAME PEOPLE "ACT HOLY-HOLY" IN CHURCH ON SUNDAYS, WITH THEIR PLASTIC SMILES AND EMPTY RELIGIOUS PLATITUDES

Foul language and conversations laced with profanities are often common place in the business world during the week, then these same people "act holy-holy" in church on Sundays, with their plastic smiles and empty religious platitudes. Then they wonder why people do not want to go to their churches which are full of hypocrites and phonies. Why is there no difference?

WHERE ARE THE CRUSADES WHERE SINNERS "PRAY THROUGH" UNTIL THEY TOUCH THE THRONE OF GOD?

Today we have "easy believism". When one repeats "the sinner's prayer", and is given some literature for a new convert to read, that person is told he is born again. I know that it is faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ which counts, and it is not emotion that will get one into the kingdom. But what has happened to "old-fashioned repentance", when church altars were known as "mourner's benches"? Where are the crusades where sinners "pray through" until they touch the throne of God? How can churches call themselves "Pentecostal", when a majority of the congregation has never been baptized into the Holy Spirit? Are these some of the reasons why there is no difference between believers and the world today?

THERE HAS TO BE "A DESIRE NOT TO FIT IN", AND ALLOW THE WORLD "TO SQUEEZE US INTO ITS MOLD"

Thank God for those who are "different". There is "a price to pay of consecration" to be different. It involves "dying to self". There has to be "a desire not to fit in", and allow the world "to squeeze us into its mold". If one talks and walks like the world, and there is nothing about us which is different, then perhaps we are not any different, and need to examine our hearts to see if our lives are pleasing to the Lord.