REAL FAITH EXPERIENCES GOD’S POWER
As we conclude our Sunday message series on the Book of James, we’ll look at how real faith experiences God’s power. A fake Christian will never fully experience the power of God. But a genuine believer will be empowered by the Lord to help us live life and live in a godly way (2 Peter 1:3). God empowers those who genuinely believe so we can live victorious lives. God empowers us and tests our faith as well. The Lord allows various trials and difficulties into our lives — from temptations to prolonged pain, and everything in between (difficult relationships, health problems, work and financial challenges, etc.). When pain and trials stay for years, we need to know more than ever, that we will experience God’s power in our lives if we have real faith. How does God allow us to experience His power?
PERSEVERE
Our perseverance is part of experiencing God’s power, because we cannot persevere without His empowerment. Our willpower can only give us temporary perseverance; only God can enable us to persevere the way He wants us to. If your faith is real, then your eyes are fixed on Jesus as you wait on the Lord. Fixing your eyes of Jesus means that you trust Him, you know His promises and believe that God always keeps His promises. This also means that you will keep His ways. Jesus is our greatest reward; we are to be patient until Jesus comes again (James 5:7). The Second Coming of Jesus is the one thing that we should be most looking forward to. It is only when Jesus returns that all of our problems will be solved! Real faith means we are excited for Jesus more than anything else. Jesus’ return is near, and when He comes again, He will be the Ruler over everything, our King, and our Great Reward (James 5:8). There are many who claim to be Christians but couldn’t persevere because their hearts are too attached to the world. If our longing is for what is temporary, we won’t be able to persevere. But if our longing is for the Second Coming of Jesus, and our motivation is His Presence, then we shall persevere because the Judge (Jesus) is “right at the door” (James 5:9). Like the prophets in the Bible, don’t complain or hurt others back, focus on Jesus, the Judge who is coming soon (James 5:10). Jeremiah suffered greatly from physical attacks to “failure” in ministry even as he remained faithful to God’s calling (Jeremiah 20:1-3, 26:7-9, 16:1-2, Lamentations 3:14, Jeremiah 38:1-16, 7:27, 20:9). Jeremiah complained to the Lord and almost gave up hope (Lamentations 3:18).
Yet the central passage of Lamentations show that Jeremiah regained his hope in God as he recalled the Lord’s unceasing lovingkindness, unfailing compassions, His great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-23)! The Jews greatly valued inheritance passed on from their fathers and Jeremiah considered the Lord as his inheritance and therefore hopes in Him, seeks and waits silently for the Lord to come and save him (Lamentations 3:24-26). James gave Job’s example of endurance through numerous sufferings for us to follow (Job 1:13-19, 2:7-8, 19:13-19, 3:11, 25-26). Job almost gave up to the point that he wished that he was never born until he encountered God (Job 42:1-6). Perseverance is the natural response when we encounter God’s goodness and glory.
PRAY
There is no power in prayer; the power of prayer lies in who we are praying to. Make sure that you are praying to the true God! If my faith is real, it will be seen in my prayer life. My prayer life shows how dependent I am to God. A lot of Christians who only pray before they eat, or when things become so tough. We should always be in prayer for all things; be desperate for God and go to Him every day. But go to Him without demands or manipulation — that’s not genuine dependence on God (James 5:12). Prayer doesn’t bend God’s arm to do what we want. It bends our hearts and knees to do what He wants. James instructs us regarding prayer (James 5:13-14). We are to pray when we’re hurting, happy, and pray for those who are sick. We are to pray in faith — believing that God can do what we ask and trusting that His answers are always perfect (James 5:15). Prayer in faith is surrender to God, in humility, dependence, and trust in God. We cannot demand from God to do what we want. But we also cannot deny His power to answer “impossible” prayers when we’re right before God (James 5:16). We hinder God’s powerful work in our lives when we live in sin. Perhaps unanswered prayer is because of unrighteousness in our lives, such as in how you treat your spouse (1 Peter 3:7). Ordinary people will see great answers to earnest prayer (James 5:17-18). The prophet Elijah experienced God’s power through miraculous answers to prayer (1 Kings 17:1, 18:42-44, 17:17-21, 18:36-38, 2 Kings 2:8). God will surely show His power to a righteous person who earnestly prays.
PROCLAIM HIM
James closes his letter with this most important truth: that the most powerful act of God is saving us from death through His Son, Jesus (James 5:19-20). Jesus died for our sins and rose again after three days — the most powerful work of God. Eternity is way beyond any answered prayer here on earth (Acts 4:10-12). The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). This is why we share our faith because we all need Jesus, the only Name that can grant us eternal life (Jude 1:22-23). No amount of miracles on earth can replace the miracle of having eternal life in Jesus. Share your faith in Christ to those who still need to know Jesus and trust in Him as their all-Powerful Savior and Lord.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Based on the message today, how does God want me to respond to the challenges I am facing?
How vibrant is my prayer life currently? Is there anything hindering my prayers to be answered?
To whom can I proclaim Jesus this week? What steps do I need to do to make this happen?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray earnestly for more people to have real faith that experiences God’s power in their lives that leads them to Jesus.
Show genuine care for others by sharing your faith to them.
Live out and talk about the gospel of Christ wherever you go this week.