Scary Message

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham a little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's brand-new book reignite first hears his message scary message. I would like you to God's word valid turn to James chapter 2 chapter of James the passage where about to read in the book of James is one, if not the most frightening passage in all the Bible because it is possible to believe in God. To believe in Jesus and to die and wake up in hell and is frightening and terrifying to consider that a person could be in church and not have a real genuine faith. So really this message is about saving faith because not all faith is saving and that's what we read in the book of James chapter 2, so beginning in James chapter 2 and beginning in verse 14. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have work. Can that faith save. That is a faith without works. If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to him going. Please be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that so also faith by itself does not have works, is DEA the bed but someone will say you have faith and I have work, show me your faith apart from your works. James says I will show you my faith by my works because of my faith and by my works.

Verse 19 here's the scary part you believe that God is one.

You do well, even the demons believe and shutter nonstop right there. This is a sobering startling passage shocking really passage of Scripture that I can somehow say the right words believe, at least intellectually in all the right things. Practice all right religion, traditions and rituals and all the rest and not go to heaven not be say no when I say saving faith.

What is it mean to be say to be say means that all your sins are forgiven.

Everyone past, present and future say from our sin. It means that God Jesus lives in that we are alive in Christ that his very presence possesses our lives is what it means to be saved. It means to know for certain that when you die or when Christ comes that you will spend eternity with him. That's what it means to be say and every body needs to be say the whole world needs to be say and it is how we are saying that because the issue and James is telling us that is possible for you to say your say think your say and not be say now before we go any further I want to make it absolutely clear that we are not say, by doing good works of any kind are good deeds. Our efforts to gain heaven, we don't earn it. We don't deserve it with saved by the grace of God. James tells us that earlier in James 118 when he says we are born again by by the living word of God, look at it. Verse 18 of chapter 1 of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that is, we are birth by the word of God's own will. God graciously lovingly brought us into his family. It was his work, his back. The finished work of Christ on the cross we are saved not by our deeds but by his deed when he said it is finished paying in full. He accomplished that he did it all. He did it all. Paul says this clearly in Ephesians 2, eight and nine for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of what not of works, lest anyone should boast. Paul said in Titus 35 not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he has saved us so it is grace through faith. The just shall live by faith we are justified by grace through faith in a living Christ. Now a great debate has ensued over the generations as to what James meant, and even denominations have been birth in churches have split over the issue of faith and works, and some have wanted to make it this great debate may versus work and personify Paul versus James. In other words, which is it. Are we saved by grace through faith in Christ alone or are we saved by grace through faith that works alone. James and Paul are not debating they're not fighting each other face-to-face, but someone described it is James and Paul back to back fighting different enemies. Paul is fighting legalism. Paul is fighting late legalism which says you have to keep the law, keep the commandments, do all these things in order to be justified in order to be say that it was the battle cry of the apostle Paul, as well as the great Reformation that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. By his grace. James, on the other hand is fighting a different kind of enemy's license is the attitude which says it doesn't matter how you live, you come to faith in Christ are saved by grace you go from there. It doesn't matter whether you do good works are not so James is is fighting against this kind of a license which says anything goes. Once you become a Christian. Here's another way looking at it.

Paul is dealing with our vertical relationship with God, our relationship with God in justification and James is looking at our horrible horizontal relationship with God as we relate to people and relate our faith the people.

Is this the sanctifying side of our salvation. So both my faith and my works. We are say how so Paul said in second Corinthians 13 verse five examine yourselves whether you be in the pay and I wanted I want to call upon you everyone who's watching everyone who's listening today to take a look an honest look at your life and your works in your faith and your deeds, and to see if you are a true believer. What is saving faith. Number one.

Saving faith is a laboring faith look again in chapter 2 verse 14. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works can that faith save him that faith of faith without works. Can that say then the answer is no to someone who has a say so, but not a show so they someone who probe facets faith, but does not possess price in their lot. James says that kind of faith is his fault. It is foolish. It is futile. It is worthless. There are some who have faith and not being to show for it. There's no fruit. Then there's there's no evidence there's no proof the evidence to prove on the D believers who were that you live and give writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 6 verse nine speaks of those things which accompany salvation that accompany salvation. Salvation to come alongside with salvation. That company salvation was Forrest Gump would say, you know like these in care contaminates they they go together. Faith and works in the Christian life go together.

A person is not saved by works, but is saying by a faith that works we put into practice in the proof. What we truly believe. What are the things that accompany salvation, a love for God desire to know him and serve him with our love for God, a hatred for sin. We want to live the way we used to live. I'm not the same person I used to be. Jesus changes life and some people need to stop in during religion and start enjoying salvation in Jesus Christ because that's the kind of faith that laborers for the Lord lives for the Lord. People walk up to you. Students and say something different about you. What's changed in your life happened you have to say something like well, God's been good to me. God's grace changing have a new life in Christ. There is a difference in the sky you're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in his message scary message pastor this month we have a special gift for our listeners who give a gift to PowerPoint. It's your brand-new book, reignite what can you tell us about this powerful resource.

My latest book reignite is out and it is definitely needed.

The message of this book is needed today. It was actually born out of a personal experience an emotional crisis in my life after cancer surgery and I discovered some things about reignited my life that I want to share with you if you find yourself exhausted, tired, depressed and anxious uncertain about your future that I believe this book is going to encourage all today and get reignite as our thank you for your gift.

Call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627 or text the word PowerPoint 231-3131 text PowerPoint to 313131. Now let's get back to today's message. Scary message also is saving faith, a loving faith. Here's what I mean by that. James gives us a brief illustration word picture in verse 15 he says if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in food or 16 and what you says to them go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body. What good is that a rhetorical question and the answer is obviously well nothing is a person has great needs are destitute, their homeless is not just that they have a little food they they they don't have daily bread there that they're not close properly and some someone comes along.

He's talking to people here gathered in the church body, he says. And so you come along and you see this person in great need. Like that and you do say oh well. God bless you all pray for you, be warmed and filled, hope you get better. Have a nice day you walk away. Where's the love where's the labor James is saying if we don't make an effort to help hurting people, broken people in our faith is a pseudo-faith is not real. You walk up on somebody who has a need. Don't just pass by well just say God bless you all pray for you, but God is putting someone at your doorstep. God is putting someone in your life. God is putting someone in your pathway that you might serve them and love them and help them in Jesus name. That's the faith that saying that is not alone. The works follow in that same passage that I quoted earlier from Paul in Ephesians 289. Remember, for by grace are safely faith and not that not of yourselves is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast. You know what verse 10 says for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good work.

Okay theology lesson.

Are you ready put your thinking cap on. I will give you three simple prepositions. And if you can get these prepositions straight. Your theology is salvation, faith and works will be straight for by grace and by grace through faith to do good work by grace through faith. Grace is God's riches of Christ, expense, God's gift.

Faith is forsaking all I trust him FAI pH forsaking all I trust him by grace through faith unto good works, and if we can get that straight. We can make a difference in this world after all, did Jesus say when you close the naked when you feed the hungry, when you give a drink to the Thursday when you welcome the stranger you've done it under me. They said how we done that on to you Lord. He said when you've done it under the least of these is done it under me you serve me by serving people you love God by loving people is all loving faith is the laboring faith but one final thing a soul living faith. When you verse 19 you believe God is one. You do well, even the demons believe and shutter you want to be showing you foolish person that faith apart from works is useless.

Look at verse 26 for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead now James talks about two kinds of religion here.

First of all a devilish demonic religion. He says do you believe in God. 94% of Americans say they believe in God. Okay, you believe in God.

Congratulations you got the faith of the demon because the demons believe in God, the devil, and all the hordes of hell and not atheists are not even agnostic their believers in God.

They know God exists may know God is one.

If the demon say a demon came forward today during our invitation and wanted to join the church.

So we say you believe in God is always a washer name on my name is Mr. Beelzebub Mr. Beelzebub you believe in God, absolutely.

I know God exit. Do you believe in Jesus, no question about were told in the in the New Testament that the demon spirits. They confess Jesus as the son of God. They said son of God. Why are you tormenting us, they said, Jesus is the holy one, the Messiah, so Mr. Beelzebub you believe in Jesus absolutely.

I met Jesus. Oh, do you believe he died on the cross alone yeah I was there.

You believe he rose again. No question about it. I know Jesus is alive from the dead you believe Jesus is coming again demons believe that oh yes, Mr. Beelzebub said absolutely Jesus is coming again to see demons are Orthodox and not heretical.

They believe in all the creeds and we would say, Mr. Beelzebub, you're going to make a great member of this church, Ryan Onan, you believe all the right thing. But if we were probably a little more, we would say Mr. Beelzebub when you follow Jesus and give him your life you would say no no no no no no no no no I play for the other team I've already decided not to follow Jesus. Fact is so many people have the faith of the demon you asked them to.

You believe in God we believe in God. Jesus he's a good man, best man. I believe in Jesus.

I'm just not that into it. I'm just not that committed really doesn't make that big difference in my life I would be kind of a C student not shoot for a night and I'm not going to make A's in Christianity. I'm a sea with a few drops and a few incompletes I I'm pretty sure when I die I will go to the happy place. I'm a better place because after all, I'm, I'm not that bad. I'm better then then then a lot of people so try harder not do anything. I'm not going to come in and I do know I'm not in the server, but I believe Jane says congratulations you got the faith of the devil you know that passage it says the demons believe in God and they wrangle.

This is a cool Greek word which means shutter shake or shiver a major hair standing on the skin's call, but they're not say why, because their faith is dead, not alive. He gives two examples he gives Abraham and Rahab to polar opposites in the Old Testament Abraham father of the faithful godly dedicated man, but you a friend of God and then Rahab who was not a patriarch but a prostitute not a Jew but a Gentile paid and get both of them had saving faith in common.

You know why because James tells us Abraham believed God, and he was willing to sacrifice his own son delay Isaac on the altar. He was solely in any says my faith in God means that I will follow him no matter and then Rahab she was living in Jericho and with Israel is marching on Jericho. The spies came in and she hid those five she lie is I will was not a good example. No, she was a pagan but she believe, and she risked it all. She risked her own life to identify with the children of God, and she was a believer and she risked putting faith in think that is a living, otherwise is as long as you got here listening to PowerPoint. Jack ran in today's message Gary message. Chances are you faced your share of crisis meeting or even in the fight of your life right now. Or maybe you're simply feeling exhausted by the busyness of life and sap the spiritual strength.

Whatever you're facing.

We want to help fan the flame of faith your life by sending you Dr. Graham's newest book reignite this personal account of how God let Dr. Graham do his own crisis will help you focus on God during difficult season. See you can experience fresh passion and joy in Jesus and will send you a copy.

I thanks for your gift today. Call now to request your copy of reignite: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627 also text the word PowerPoint 13131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop E store. Give the gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie Pastor what is your PowerPoint for today is been said that if your religion hasn't changed your life, you better change your religion. The truth is only Jesus can change your life and genuine faith produces that transformation is very very important to remember that real spiritual change comes from God's grace and not man's works that our salvation is in Christ and Christ alone.

So the faith that we have in Christ.

Genuine faith. Real faith is laboring that is it works. It is loving and it is living it's real if I'm in Christ. I will be doing certain things because of my relationship with Christ. I will be giving I'll be serving. I'll be working in his church and his kingdom is the laboring faith is also a loving fate. James tells us that if we don't make an effort to help hurting people, broken people all around us that our faith is a pseudo-faith is not real of faith that is loveless rather than selfless is a Selby faith and that's not a real faith finally is a living faith is not simply had knowledge. His heart knowledge believing from the heart. The Scripture tells us that even the demons believe all the truths about God, but their hearts don't trust them, or believe in him or receive them. They don't live for him so authentic faith, genuine Christianity is a laboring faith, loving faith and a living faith if we are in Christ, we will live our faith so we don't just say so when it comes our relationship to Christ.

We show so and therefore we know so because by their fruits you shall know and that is today. Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint today will send you Dr. Graham's brand-new book, reignite as our thanks. Call one 807 957-1800 795-4627 also text the word PowerPoint 313131 PowerPoint 3131 joy Dr. Graham next time as he brings a message you can use your word speak life that's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries