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. (James 2:14-17)
Faith is the last step in this process and it is always revealed in action while hope is revealed through words. Faith is always shown through an action carried out in obedience to an instruction that you have been seeking from God. Thus, when you declare, ‘He is my ever-present help in time of need”, what comes next are instructions from God on what steps to take for the fulfilment of that scripture in your life. That Instruction is what we call the Rhema, which means you have heard something concerning that hope. In line with hearing from God, the first level is the logos which is the thought of God for that situation and that thought is the instruction that will lead to the manifestation of what is about to unfold based on your request or prayer.
For instance, you are declaring that by the end of the year certain things will have happened in your life or career; which is your confession and hope for the year. Hold fast to it, but understand that an instruction or instructions will come to you, that will tell you what to do. When you carry out the instructions, you will get God’s manifestation on the matter. The main reason why instruction is important here is for direction but you are never going to hear God if you have animosity or unforgiveness in your heart.
Obedience to the instruction is what is called faith. James said in the above scriptures that you cannot say that you are operating in faith if you do not have or do the corresponding action. Abraham had to carry out the instruction of scarifying his son before he became the father of all nations and Rehab was delivered also through her action. Every work of faith is always backed up by a corresponding action. Just like the scripture says that faith without works is dead.
Furthermore, most times believers think that faith is hope and our confessions are of faith but that is totally wrong and as a result after making our confessions we wait for something to happen instead of getting instructions on what to do. God says He will open our ears and give us instruction on what to do. There are certain changes you may need to make on how to conduct yourself, threat others or a particular task you will need to do. As you begin to make those changes and carry out the task as instructed then faith, the substance of the things you hope for will begin to show.
In conclusion, you cannot have faith without fellowship because faith is a product of intimate interactions with Jesus. Faith goes within the veil to a place of worship and nothing can be timider than what produces faith. That is why the scripture says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways acknowledge him; that word acknowledge is the same word that Adam knew God in. It is an intimacy, an interaction that is total, and it says the result of that connection is that He directs your steps; meaning He shows you exactly what to do. Therefore, as we continue to press on in our daily life prayerfully lets never forget that love, hope and faith are the three things we must always live our lives by that will set us apart in the world as we break grounds and show what the God kind of relationship is all about.
‘Poju Oyemade