(James 2:14-16)
The spirit of faith involves believing, receiving, and confessing the promises of God. That’s one side of the faith coin. The other side is that there must be corresponding actions to what you believe, which involves obedience to what God has told you to do. To tell someone to be warmed and filled and not provide for the individual’s practical needs is of no benefit.
This is why we started the Tulsa Dream Center—to put feet to our faith and help the poor in our city in numerous ways: food and clothing distribution; dental, medical, and legal services; educational services; recreational opportunities; and spiritual enrichment opportunities.
James goes on to say, “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).
Years ago, Sharon and I were youth directors in the church where Kenneth E. Hagin’s Campmeetings began. Fred Price was a guest speaker at the church and asked everyone to imagine a starving man who had a plate of well-prepared food in front of him. The man’s confession was, “I believe if I eat this food I will not die.” There was nothing wrong with his belief system, but there were no corresponding actions to his belief. He never touched the food. On the second and succeeding days, this scene was repeated, and eventually the man died because he never ate any food.
Like that starving man, you can repeatedly say, “I believe,” but if there is no follow-through or corresponding actions, you will be defeated.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Billy Joe Daugherty was founder and pastor of Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was also the founder of Victory Christian School, Victory Bible Institute and Victory World Missions Training Center. Five hundred twenty-three Victory Bible Institutes have been started in eighty-five countries around the world. He inspired individuals and ministries with his life, love and influence for more than 30 years.