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Mike Yoder - June 13, 2021
Timing Your Reward
Hoarding earthly abundance now invites misery to come. Enduring suffering now invites divine blessing to come.
Scripture Passage: James 5:1-12
From Series: "James: Faith/Works"
Faith works: this is the message of James. That we, in our own ability, cannot stand in the face of adversity. We could never find the strength to trust without faith because we don’t have the capability to see above the trials that we meet, to keep our eyes focused on the King while counting the situation we are currently experiencing as joy. Faith works. This is the essence of James. We don’t work to be saved; we work because we are saved. Without faith, without works, we too quickly become that man in the mirror staring at his face but then forgets the way he looks as soon as he turns away. But with faith, with works, we stay steadfast on this journey, progressively sanctified, Knowing we’ll be perfected once we reach the other side. Faith works. This is the cry of James. That faith, apart from works, can never be sustained. That in every day and in every way we should see this truth proclaim because it’s faith that makes us doers of the Word, not just hearers. It’s faith that keeps us humble, not proud. It’s faith that directs our tongues to bless, not to curse. It’s faith that causes us to show mercy, not judgment. It’s faith that leads us to true religion, not its empty substitute. And it’s faith that’s causing us to preach the Good News to every tribe, tongue, and nation with every breath that we breathe. And it will be faith that causes us to worship our God for all eternity. This is the message of James: Faith works.