Faith Without Works

I have seen many things in my life, hardship, death, hunger, and despair. But in all these things I have retained Hope, and Faith, in God.
I look out my window and see the green grass, trees, the yellow flowers, and the red birds. I see the white clouds, and the eagle soaring, I am at rest among the land of opportunity, but downhearted by the actions of the unbeliever.
I feel uneasy, over what I know to be the truth, faith without works is dead, being alone.
Countries, such as Africa, India, and others, are feeling the pain of, hunger and homelessness. This action, which is upon many, is the result of Idol worship, and ungodliness.

I can say this because it is the truth.
Remember the verse, Give us this day our daily bread.?
What about; Ask and it shall be given.?
When you turn aside, and go after the devils of this world, lust, greed, pride, and selfishness, you have sown to the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind.
For we see in Deu 15:11; For the poor shall never cease out of the land:. We cannot eliminate poverty in this world, for the Lord has spoken it.
In Mark 14:7; Jesus speaks of the nature of this life, rich and poor, but He emphasizes that, these conditions are not the main thought of life, but rather His presence or absence. For In Him all things are possible, if it is the Lords will. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

No matter where you are, who you are, what ideology you have, without Jesus being, Lord, and Christ in your life, there is no promise of substance.
And what about the rich countries, theirs is also lands of hunger, nakedness and despair. The Bible tells us so;
Here is the before, and after, of the nations that once trusted in the Lord and turned their back on Him;
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:.
Do you envy the rich nations, do you see great things among the towers of steel and glass, do you desire to be among the prominent and wealthy?
Ask yourself this question; Is God also among them? Is not the future of these nations, a prophecy of great destruction? For many within these nations have turned wealth into their god. They lust after ungodly things, ungodly imaginations that seek evil always.

The consuming fire, that God holds in His hands, has been turned against many in these end days. Hunger, Petulance, Homelessness, Nakedness, Drought, and all manner of sickness.
Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Why has all these things come to so many?
For generation after generation, God has asked all to come to Him, and be held within His hand of refuge, but nations have rejected Him, desiring to go their own way.
It is not the fault of the generations of the past, but rather, each generation has brought these things upon themselves, and the only way out, is to turn back to the Lord.
Each generation of man, has had its chance to serve the Lord, as it is with the individual. Each person, from generation to generation, has had the chance to accept Jesus. This is a fact concerning each generation, for even Christ warned His generation, that past generations shall judge them.

Jer 2:31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? The sayings of perverse and degenerate nations, and peoples. We are not Lords, not of others, nor even unto ourselves.
A man who thinks this, is deceiving himself. Have your idols fed you, clothed you, or stood with you? I think not.
Our Lord knows when His Children are, naked, hungry, thirsty, and lonely, but your gods know nothing.
Silver and gold are cold things from the earth, idols are made by the hands of the imagination of mad men.
False gods come from the pride of mans spirit saying, We will create a god that is most like unto us.

Do I not have compassion on the poor?
Yes, but I cannot change the will of God concerning these matters, for the Bible states, It is better for the flesh to be destroyed, so that the soul may be saved.
Do I not understand the conditions of people in other lands?
Yes, but I cannot feed the world. For Jesus stated; I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
For unto God, there is neither rich nor poor, Jew nor Gentile, but all having need of salvation.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(2Ti 2:1-3)
Is it wrong then to ask others for help? No. But we must understand that, our substance comes not from man, but from God. It is explained this way, The things that you receive from man, last only for a season, and the things that you receive from God are eternal. Man may help for a while then grow weary of the effort, but our Lord never tires. Do not put your faith in man, for man is, weak and vulnerable to change.

Does your faith stop at midnight, or can you accept the things, that will come upon the tomorrows of life?
Has God promised you fame, fortune, wealth, prosperity, because you have accepted Christ?
No, just the opposite, you will live a life, as our Lord lived, having total dependence upon God.
Where is your faith, where is your knowledge of Gods word?
Have you forgotten to pray, and read?
Does not the scriptures state what I have already told you?
Jesus taught us that total dependence upon God, is the way of the Father. For the Bible states that, our Lord is a jealous God, and will have no other god before Him.
You must all show your faith by your works.
When others are in despair, you must have hope. When others are frightened, you must show bravery in the face of dire circumstances, for how else can you convert the unbeliever without showing your faith, trust and Hope in God?
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:18-19)

When there are many types of faith, Jesus told us to be as one, as He, and the Father are one. Does not this make sense, for when one man stands alone, he is alone with his faith, but when many stand together, all their faith comes together for the good of the body. Those that are weak are made strong, and those that are strongest in their faith, are made stronger. 2Ti 2:3 -
endure: 2Ti_2:10, 2Ti_1:8, 2Ti_3:11, 2Ti_4:5; 1Co_13:7; 2Co_1:6; Heb_6:15, Heb_10:32, Heb_11:27, Heb_12:2, Heb_12:3; Jam_1:12. Ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/