REVIVE YOURSELF IN JESUS AND AWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT
Too often, we lack work. Maybe we are not forgiving someone, not praying, not crucifying selfishness to care for others, or not sharing the Gospel.
We know this is a severe problem because James said that “faith by itself if it does not have work, is dead” (James 2:17). What’s more challenging than dead faith?
But here’s a danger in how we can interpret this verse. We can miss James’s point. Since faith without work is dead, we can think that we had better start working if we lack work. We had better start praying, start forgiving, start caring more for others, begin sharing the Gospel. But that’s not what James is saying.
James says that since faith without works is dead, then if there are no words, the problem is that our faith is doomed to some extent. And that to correct the problem, there must be something to revive our faith.
A Heart Without a Pulse
To understand James’s point, imagine he had said that “a heart by itself if it does not have a pulse, is dead.” So, if you have no pulse, what’s the problem? A dead heart. And what should you do to get a beating? Try to revive your spirit.
If you try to make a pulse without reviving your dead heart, you might be able to create what looks like a pulse. But it won’t be a discernible pulse because it won’t come from a living heart.
In the same way, if you try to do works without reviving your dead faith, you might create what looks like work. But they won’t be real works because they won’t come from a living trust in Jesus’s person and work and His provision to be working in your effort.
Abiding and Bearing
Jesu taught the very same truth in John 15. He said every branch that stands in him would bear fruit (John 15:5). So, if we don’t bear fruit, the problem is that we’re not taking, which means the solution isn’t to try to bear fruit; the answer is to start abiding. Fruit comes from abiding. And work comes from a living faith.
But how can faith be restored? Let’s say you don’t share the Gospel since you fear what people might think of you. Then this is lack of work; James would say that cause is dead faith. So how can you recuperate your faith?
Trust His Power
Faith is a supernatural work of God. So, begin by coming to Jesus Christ as you are, and believe His power to change your heart. Have faith in him as your redemption and perfect righteousness. Trust him as your Lord, Savior, and Treasure.
Confess your lack of work. Receive a fresh pledge that you are fully and freely forgiven through Jesus’s death on the cross and by faith unified to the living one who is your righteousness.
Confess that your lack of work shows a lack of sensation in your faith. Ask God to revive, strengthen, and help your confidence.
Find Promises
Then, to strengthen your faith, find which promises from God in the Scriptures you are not trusting. Lack of obedience is caused by not trusting God and His promises. So, think about what commands you are not obeying and what promises from God motivate that obedience.
Here is a promise we often use to battle our fear of sharing the Gospel.
In Luke 6: 22-23, Jesus promises that you will be rewarded in heaven with even more joy in him if you are insulted for his sake. So, if fear of being humiliated keeps you away from telling people about Christ, it’s because you’re not trusting this promise. You’re not counting that God will reward you with more joy in Christ if you’re insulted. Or you are not entrusting that joy in Christ will infinitely make up for the pain of being humiliated. Or both.
That lack of trust is what James means by a dead faith. So how can dead faith be revived?
Feel the difference?
When the Holy Spirit shows up, your faith is no longer dead. It’s been revived. And your restored faith will make you want to share the Gospel with others because you know that any insults you receive will bring more joy in Christ forever.
We wouldn’t try to create a pulse without reviving the heart. So don’t try to develop miracles without restoring your faith.
To read more on how Religious Stagnation and Dead Faith is dangerous, Humanity and the mercy of the Holy Spirit, read the novel “The Holy Spirit Vs. Man’s Animal Kingdom” by Paul Cronin.
AMAZON:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662448732/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_i_8E6S76EF4NTTKYXQ2A29
Barnes And Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-holy-spirit-vs-mans-animal-kingdom-paul-cronin/1141162203
