What is the Evidence?

We expect things to work: my computer at Living Faith in Lebanon. It did not work right straight from the box. I spend 4 hours with their tech people on the phone the first day we owned it.

Make your faith more than head stuff

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?...

18 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.

See the word show. That word is used two times. Go ahead and circle those two time appears. First James says show me your faith without your deeds. Why, because James knows it is impossible to have faith but nothing to show for it. James agrees that the transformation beginning in our mind, but it does not stop there.

Our SALVATION begins with God’s grace. Grace comes from God, our Faith reaches up to God, and then our works of love demonstrates our relationship to God. Look at Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Paul said in Romans 12:2 (NIV84)

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

What is first to be transformed and renewed, that is right your mind.

The change of mind is important, however, it does not stop there. We all need that change of mind. That is what word repentance means to change your mind. A change of mind, without a change is action is not really a change of mind.

Let’s say I am driving to Columbus and I come the intersection of 49 and 70 and instead of going East, I turn west by mistake. When I realize my mistake, I change my mind and say, I need to turn around and head the opposite direction. If you are riding with me and I continue toward Indianpolis and pass several exits where I could turn around and continue to go west, all the time talking about how I need to go east. At some point you are going to assure I really did not change my mind why, because I did not act any different.

That is like the person who says, Yes I repent, but continues doing the same things, and going in the same direction, you and I can question if they really repented.

So the evidence of faith is more than just a head thing, more than believing, but it starts there.

There were two atheists on a fishing trip in Scotland, when one of the men hooked the Loch Ness Monster. Immediately his fishing pole bent over as the giant sea creature began dragging their little boat wildly across the loch. Hanging on for dear life, the man cried out, “Oh, God, help me!”

“Hey,” the other man said, “we’re atheists, remember! We don’t believe in God.”

“Sixty seconds ago,” he responded, “I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster, either!” -- Gregory Dickow, The Power To Change Today (New York: FaithWords, 2009).

It begins there, but it does not end there.

Make your faith more than Emotions.

Are emotions important, yes. Should you feel your faith, yes. But emotions is not evidence of faith.

Look at

Make your faith more about Doing.