Real Faith Versus Fake Faith

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James 2:14–20 KJV 1900
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:14–20 RVR60
Hermanos míos, ¿de qué aprovechará si alguno dice que tiene fe, y no tiene obras? ¿Podrá la fe salvarle?Y si un hermano o una hermana están desnudos, y tienen necesidad del mantenimiento de cada día,y alguno de vosotros les dice: Id en paz, calentaos y saciaos, pero no les dais las cosas que son necesarias para el cuerpo, ¿de qué aprovecha?Así también la fe, si no tiene obras, es muerta en sí misma. Pero alguno dirá: Tú tienes fe, y yo tengo obras. Muéstrame tu fe sin tus obras, y yo te mostraré mi fe por mis obras. Tú crees que Dios es uno; bien haces. También los demonios creen, y tiemblan. ¿Mas quieres saber, hombre vano, que la fe sin obras es muerta?

Faith is one of the most basic words in the bible.

Faith is one of the first terms we encounter as we became Christians
Faith is how the kingdom of God operates/functions.
We wont receive anything from the kingdom of God without faith.
Yet, many people have really not grasped the actual meaning and and how to operate by faith.
(let me give you a little history lesson on me before I go on.)
I have been playing the trumpet for the past 30 years.
I took numerous amounts of classes on the trump at Fresno State. (7 Years)
My instructor was Dr. Michael Caldwell.
(Every time I pick up the trump, he is the first person I think of.)
The first day I met him he handed me trumpet book with basic notes and studies
I was kinda of upset, coming from play for so many years and knowing so much about the trumpet really insulted me.
I met with him twice a week.
We did basic studies for about a year.
To tell you the truth, even though i knew the basics, If i never went back to learn the basics again, I would not be the kind of player I am today.
To this day, I give private trumpet lesson and my kids get mad at me when I start with basic notes and basic studies.
What am trying to say about all of this?
Sometimes we have to go back to the basics to better understand.
To better understand what is going on in our lives.
To better understand why certain things are happening.
To better understand why my prayers are not being answered.
Why am I not healed?

Our culture is literally over run with all kinds of fake products.

Almost anything real can almost be fake.
And even be purchased at a much cheaper price.
My mom knows a lady that can sell you a fake Michael Cores purse for $80 even though the original ones can cost you up to $1,000.
We can even improve our body with fake nails, hair, teeth and other body parts.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that.
I love to take care of my wife.
You can eve go out and eat a fake taco with fake meat, a hamburger with fake meat.
You can eve put fake sugar in your coffee, and I'm sure many of us did that this morning!

There is one area in our lives where we must have the real thing.

You have to have real faith, not fake faith, or it does not work.
You can walk around with that fake purse and everyone will believe you.
You can walk around with that fake watch and everyone will believe you.
You can walk around with those fake sunglasses and everyone will believe you.
You can’t walk around with fake faith, people will be able to see it in how you run your life.

In the bible there are over 6,000 promises from God.

God has made these promises for you!
We need these promises to stay stable, strong, and healthy especially during this pandemic.

In order to access these promises that God has given to us we must have a legitimate, genuine faith.

Fake faith has no power to change your life!
It has no power to save you.
It has no power to answer your prayers
Fake faith has no power to transform you.

Maybe some of us have been wondering why our prayers have not been answered.

Maybe the problem is not your request.

The problem might be that you have been using fake faith.
James 2:14 NLT
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
James 2:14 RVR60
Hermanos míos, ¿de qué aprovechará si alguno dice que tiene fe, y no tiene obras? ¿Podrá la fe salvarle?

Do I have these saving faith items in my life?

If you are taking notes I would like you to circle the word “say.”

1. Real faith is more than just words I say.

Claiming that I have real faith does not prove that I have real faith.
Memorizing a bunch a scriptures and using key words in the bible does not prove that you have real faith.
Just because you say you have faith does not guarantee you have it.
Have you ever met someone that sounded like a believer?
They know all the right phrases.
They walk around like a walking bible.
But, their lifestyle is totally different.
Their lifestyle does not match their words.
James 2.14 says just because you say you have faith doesn’t mean you have it.

Real faith is more than words.

Matthew 7:21 NIV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 RVR60
No todo el que me dice: Señor, Señor, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos.
Not everyone that says Lord, Lord is going to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Only those people that do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.
I can say I am the best dancer in the world, but, that wont make it true.
I can say I am the best golfer in the world, but, that wont make it true.
I can say I am the best singer in the world, but, that wont make it true.
And the moment I started dancing/golfer/singer you would know that wasn’t true.

What value does fake faith have?

None, it is worthless
Real faith is more than words I just say!
Real faith has actions

2. Real faith is more than emotion I feel.

James 2:15–17 NIV
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:15–17 RVR60
Y si un hermano o una hermana están desnudos, y tienen necesidad del mantenimiento de cada día,y alguno de vosotros les dice: Id en paz, calentaos y saciaos, pero no les dais las cosas que son necesarias para el cuerpo, ¿de qué aprovecha?Así también la fe, si no tiene obras, es muerta en sí misma.
If I slam my finger in the car door, and you see, I don’t need your sympathy, I need your help!
I don’t need you to come up to me while my finger is stuck in the car door and tell me, “ you know brother… I sense your pain!?
Faith is practical, it gets involved with peoples needs.
Faith is more then just the words I say.
Faith is more that just the emotions i feel.

3. Real faith is more than an idea I debate.

For a lot of people, faith is just something they discuss.
For them faith is just a conversation.
They will talk all day about faith, all night!
They will even debate you!
These people would rather discuss then do.
James 2:18 NIV
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
James 2:18 RVR60
Pero alguno dirá: Tú tienes fe, y yo tengo obras. Muéstrame tu fe sin tus obras, y yo te mostraré mi fe por mis obras.
Faith needs commitment.
There is a lack of commitment.
How does God know you have real faith?
Real faith is visible, you can see it.
Faith like love is odorless, it is colorless,
How do you know if someone really has faith?
On a diet. Since everyone is trying to loose weight.
Faith is really like calories.
You can’t see calories.
But you can sure see the results.

Real faith is expressed in visible ways.

Faith is something you do!
You prove your faith by your actions.

Real faith always produces a changed life.

It’s is more than the words I say!
It’s more than an emotion I feel!
It’s more than an Idea I debate!

4. Real faith is more than a truth I believe.

James 2:19–20 NIV
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
James 2:19–20 RVR60
Tú crees que Dios es uno; bien haces. También los demonios creen, y tiemblan. ¿Mas quieres saber, hombre vano, que la fe sin obras es muerta?
Even the Devil believes in God, I guarantee you won’t find him in heaven.
Demons believe in God, you wont find them in heaven.
There is one thing say you have faith, its another thing obey God, love God, to trust God, to serve God.
Saying I believe in God will not get you into heaven.
Even the Devil says that!
It is not something you just believe.
So what is real Faith?

5. Real faith is something I do.

Faith is something I do.
Faith is a commitment, faith is a choice you make.
James 2:26 NIV
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26 RVR60
Porque como el cuerpo sin espíritu está muerto, así también la fe sin obras está muerta.
Faith shows up in my lifestyle.
1 Corinthians 16:13–14 NIV
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13–14 RVR60
Velad, estad firmes en la fe; portaos varonilmente, y esforzaos.Todas vuestras cosas sean hechas con amor.
Let me ask you a question this morning before I close.

What are you doing to demonstrate your faith?

What changes can you point to in your life that demonstrates you are a doer of the Word of God?

Is my lifestyle any different from unbelievers?

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