James 2:20-26
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Points to Ponder
Isn’t the point in these verses that faith results in action? Faith without action is not action and action without faith is not faith. To know a truth doesn’t necessarily lead to obedience to the truth, but to believe a truth, leads to active obedience in light of that truth.

This litmus test can give us a glimpse into our own hearts. What we know we may say with our lips, but what we believe is only evident through our attitudes and actions. “We act upon what we believe not upon what we know.”1 Understanding that distinction has greatly impacted my life as I have gained greater understanding of my own heart.

How about you? What does your life say about what you truly believe?
Some food for thought today.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

1 Vicki Arudda, quoted in Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore

Remember records, the ones that go round and round on a turn table? Oh boy, my age is showing! I can remember when they’d break or skip and you’d just keep hearing the same thing over and over again, and so came the phrase; “You sound like a broken record.” It’s enough to drive someone crazy! Or drive them away.

I was part of a family conversation where a mom and daughter were visiting after being apart for some time. They live a few states away from each other and are more than that distance apart in terms of what decisions are best for the daughter’s life (an adult woman).

I listened patiently, and did not interrupt. No one really could, because the mom was intent on being heard again and again and again. Same words, just repeated again and again. This conversation was one that had been happening for years. Each time they had a chance to be together, most of that time was spent with the mom stating her case and the daughter trying to respectfully state hers and yet not be moved from her choices.

When there seemed to be a way to get a word in edgewise, I asked if I could say something. They both said yes.

I shared with the mom that I knew her daughter had heard her. She knew exactly how her mom felt, where she stood and so on…that was crystal clear. I also shared with the daughter that she was very much loved and confirmed that she understood the options available to her from the family should she choose their help. I made one other point that seemed obvious to me, but not to them.

“You both spend precious time together disagreeing about the same things over and over again. Mom, she has heard you, but you insist on telling her the same thing each time she comes. Sooner or later she may stop coming. I know that’s not what either of you want, but you seem to be headed in that direction. (They had both recently lost their husband and father, an unexpected death.) Time is precious! I’m not suggesting you compromise values but I am suggesting you accept each other and move forward.”

This led to her daughter asking me what I thought she should do. I didn’t tell her what I thought. I told her what I thought the Lord would have her do. “He wants you to die, die to yourself so He can live through you.” He is all about hope! My hope is that she will accept Him as her Savior and the Lord over her life.
As we walked along the beach she loves so much she said to me; “Look at that (the ocean). It is something else!” I pointed at her and replied; “Look at you- you’re something more amazing than that ocean and all that is in it. You are made in His image.” What a blessing to share the love of Christ with her just like someone did for me. I pray she will be coming back for more…
Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2( NKJV)
Dina Seaton
DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:18,19
18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!

Remember this week we will be doing 4 Digging Deeper Victory Call’s to clear the way next week for the series on modesty.

James 2:18-19
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!

Points to Ponder
I grew up believing I was a Christian because I believed in Jesus Christ. I knew He died on the cross for my sins. I knew He was the Son of God. I believed in heaven and hell. I believed all that. But in July 1983, God touched my life and gave life to my dead spirit; I was born-again. I was saved by His grace. All those things I knew became more than head knowledge; they became heart truths that I believed by faith.

In all those years prior to my conversion, it never occurred to me that the demons knew all the things that I knew. They knew Jesus died; that He is the Son of God. They knew there is a heaven and there is a hell. They had experienced both. Yet, for all their knowledge, they are not saved.

So let me ask you today. Do you know Jesus personally or do you just know all about Him? If you never have asked Jesus to save you, trusting and believing that only He can, won’t you today? You won’t get into heaven by chance or accident. You are not saved by any of your own efforts, good works or good intentions. You are not saved because you are the right religion, or in the right family. There is nothing you can do that will surpass the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just necessary for your salvation it is also sufficient. If you would like to know how you can be saved please email me at dhunt@americaskeswick.org and I will gladly share with you the gospel that can set you free. It’s not my opinion that matters it is God’s truth and His power that saves.

Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

I just wanted to give you ladies an update on our recent Family Freedom Walk. As you know we had a little competition between the Freedom Fighters men and the Victory Call women. And may I humbly say, “Ladies, we skunked them!!” The Victory Call ladies donated $5,350 to the Walk and the men? Well, the men donated $100. It’s not too late ladies; if your husband is a Freedom Fighter reader, he can still make a donation to the cause via the website. I’m not sure but a little poking and prodding might be in order, and if that doesn’t work then a little guilt and shame.

Just kidding. We had fun raising funds for the Addiction Recovery Ministries through the Family Freedom Walk. We raised $40,000 and it’s still climbing. Thank you to each one of you that walked, rocked and/or sponsored the event.

This week we are going to do 4 Digging Deeper with 2 sections of Scripture. Today and tomorrow we will cover James 2:18-19 with the commentary and points to ponder and James 2:20-26 on Thursday and Friday. We are doing that because next week we will be running our annual 5 day series on modesty as we approach the warmer summer months. Probably more than any other series I have written, the series on modesty has gotten a great deal of response. But alas, that is not our task for today; today we will look at James 2:18-19:

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!

Commentary:
“But someone will say.” As was common in Hellenistic rhetoric, James introduces a hypothetical respondent into his discussion of faith and works, continuing his argument against those who think that faith can save without works. God is one. This affirmation of monotheism stems from the core Jewish creed called the Shema (Deut. 6:4; see Mark 12:29; Rom. 3:30). But James stresses its inadequacy, since even the demons believe this, and they shudder. Mere mental assent to the Christian faith does not save anyone. The faith that saves, as both Paul and James affirm, embraces the truth of the gospel and acts accordingly.” [ESV Study Bible notes pg. 2394]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Points to ponder
I grew up believing that “if I lived a good enough life” I’d go to heaven. It was a works-based theology, and I didn’t know any different. As I came to Christ in my 20s I learned of faith and salvation freely given by Jesus Christ, not earned or warranted. Sounds simple enough but honestly there are times that the “doing” in my life still silently gives me a sense of righteousness. Old habits die hard.

Faith is a verb not a noun. Faith isn’t just thinking something is true. Faith, genuine faith, results in action. Likewise, action can be action through sheer act of human will void of any Holy Spirit power. Faith without works does not save (it’s not really faith) and works without faith do not save because they are merely a result of human effort.

Let our faith shine through the works the Father has given us to do in His Holy Spirit power. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

There are, have been and will be, many false teachers of God’s Word. One in particular has, over the years, aggravated me to the point that when I hear his voice on the radio I can’t change the station fast enough. And now, dear Lord help us, he is also on T.V. I know there are many but this one gets to me. He is fixated on predicting when the Lord will return. End Times and when that will be (exact and yet ever-changing dates and times) are his focus. Someone recently commented to me that she watched the program to see what he was teaching and she noted that while he was consumed with telling others about the End Times, he never told them how they could be made right with God, how they could be ready. Many may be impressed with his knowledge of Scripture. But don’t be, even Satan quotes the Scriptures.

As for the day and time Jesus will return, it amazes me that anyone dares to claim they know – when not even HE knows!

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37 NIV)

I believe he really believes what he says. As I’m writing this I’m being convicted, yet again, that I need to pray for him. He truly has been deceived and seeks to deceive all who will listen. And there are many who listen. But if they are listening and take the time to seek out the truth of God’s Word for themselves they will hear the lies and hopefully move on. Study God’s Word. It’s how we’ll know the truth from a lie.

So WATCH! Watch for what HE told us would be happening “ahead of time.” Yes, the earth as we know it will come to an end, the stars will fall from the sky, the sun will darken and many other things will occur, BUT read on…

The book of Mark, chapter 13, gives us a clear picture of what we’re supposed to be watching out for.

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13: 22-23 NIV)

He has told us everything ahead of time, “everything”. We are on a need-to-know basis with God. He tells us everything we need to know! Let’s stop listening to others who add to it.

Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer
America’s KESWICK

P.S. The words of Christ referenced above are written in red in my Bible. Red- Oh the power of the blood of Jesus to make us ready!

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:14-17 (ESV)
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Referring again to the study of Mark 5:21-43, I would like to share with you a different perspective-that of our teacher, Dot Elwood, with her permission.
She learned much from this passage from the perspective of Jairus, the synagogue ruler and dying girl’s father.

How difficult it must have been for this man, who after pleading for Jesus’ help and convincing Jesus to come with Him, to wait for Jesus to actually get to his house. This was urgent! His precious daughter was on the verge of death! He was probably wishing Jesus would run – FAST! Yet, in the midst of the crowd pressing in all around Him, He stops to see who touched Him. I’m sure in such a crowd, many people had touched Him, but verse 30 says, “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?'” Jesus knew who touched Him, because He knows all things. He stopped in order to minister to this woman. Great for the woman, but what about Jairus who was standing there…….waiting? He probably wanted to physically pull Jesus along! Then, Jairus’ worst fears are realized. “While Jesus was still speaking (with the woman), some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher any more?'” (Mark 5:35)

But wait, the story doesn’t end there. Verse 36: “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.'” Jesus then proceeds to Jairus’ house. He moves right past the mourners who were “crying and wailing loudly.” (vs. 38) And, “He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means , ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” (Mark 5:41-42) Think about that for a moment. NOW how do you think Jairus felt? Talk about an emotional roller coaster!
Dot gleaned some really insightful lessons from this passage that really spoke to me and blessed my heart. I trust they will for you as well.

1. Don’t listen to the enemy around us. (Telling us not to bother the teacher, that there is no hope.)
2. God’s delays are faith-stretching opportunities!
3. God’s delays don’t always mean “no”.
4. On the other side of my delay may be an answer so much better than we anticipated.

Dear sister, may this encourage you today as you wait on the Lord. He has not forgotten you!

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

(All Scripture taken from the NIV)

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:14-17 (ESV)
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Recently, I was studying Mark 5:21-43 in preparation for the Ladies Bible Study I attend. It is the account of Jesus healing a bleeding woman and restoring a girl to life. I would encourage you to read it as you have opportunity.

As I was meditating on the passage, two things really jumped out at me and I would like to share them with you.

First, the tremendous faith of both the girl’s father (Jairus) and the bleeding woman.

“Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with Him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.'” (Mark 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.'” (Mark 5:27-28, emphasis mine)

They both KNEW that just a touch from Jesus, not could, but WOULD bring healing. And their faith prompted them to action. They both sought Him out, even though there was risk involved. As a synagogue ruler, Jairus risked persecution and ridicule for seeking out this man, Jesus, that many were cynical of and hostile toward. As someone with a chronic bleeding condition, the woman risked making Jesus ritually unclean under Jewish law by touching Him. But their steadfast faith caused them to take that risk-and the woman was healed and Jairus’ daughter was not just healed, but raised from the dead!

Secondly, they both fell at His feet.

“Seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him.” (Mark 5:22b-23a, emphasis mine)

“Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth.” (Mark 5:33, emphasis mine)

To me, this shows reverence, humility, and desperation. The woman was definitely desperate. As verse 26 says, “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” They both realized the power and the greatness of the One they approached, prompting humility and reverence.

The study of this passage caused me to ask myself three questions:
1. Do I truly believe that Jesus is sufficient to heal and to help? (He may use different methods, tools and people in our lives, but ultimately our help is from Him.)
2. How often am I getting down on my knees in total desperation, awed reverence, and complete humility before Him?
3. When things get crazy, do I seek Him first, falling on my knees before Him, or do I exhaust all other options first?

Lord, may we find ourselves often on our knees before You, in reverence, humility, and a knowledge of our desperate need for You in all things, and with a faith that is steadfast, knowing You are sufficient for all of our needs.

God’s Word is alive and active. Tomorrow I would like to share with you how the Lord spoke to the woman teaching the Bible Study using the very same passage-and it is a very different perspective from mine.

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

(All Scripture taken from the NIV)

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:14-17 (ESV)
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Friends, how are you doing? Have you been taking time to tarry at the Lord’s feet? Are you delighting in the Word? Are you spending time with Jesus or simply reading your Bible? I know I can be guilty of approaching the Bible like an item on my task list. I have been asking the Lord to teach me to read His Word with my heart not my head. How about you?

James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Commentary:
“if someone says. This important phrase governs the interpretation of the entire passage. James does not say that this person actually has faith, but that he claims to have it. faith. This is best understood in a broad sense, speaking of any degree of acceptance of the truths of the gospel. does not have. Again, the verb’s form describes someone who continually lacks any external evidence of the faith he routinely claims. works. This refers to all righteous behavior that conforms to God’s revealed Word, but specifically, in the context, to acts of compassion (v. 15). Can faith save him? Better translated, “Can that kind of faith save?” James is not disputing the importance of faith. Rather, he is opposing the notion that saving faith can be a mere intellectual exercise void of a commitment to active obedience…James illustrates his point by comparing faith without works to words of compassion without acts of compassion…faith by itself…is dead. Just as professed compassion without action is phony, the kind of faith that is without works is empty profession, not genuine saving faith.” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John Mac Arthur pg 1887-1888].

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 2:12-13
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Points to Ponder
At first read, I thought this verse said, “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law.” I thought that odd since we are no longer under the law and living under the law is bondage. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) When I read more carefully, I realized it said “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law OF LIBERTY.” That’s a big difference. We are under the law of freedom, not bondage and surely that makes a difference in the way we live. Do our lives reflect our freedom in Christ in our words and actions, especially towards others? In that Christ has set us free, we have been shown mercy by God. When we lose sight of that, we can be prone to be critical and judgmental.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. Judgment is so much easier and self-satisfying, isn’t it? Judgment portrays me as the determiner of what’s right, it elevates my opinion as most accurate and important. It is self-centered, self-righteous, and self-seeking. Isn’t having a critical, judgmental spirit a nuance of a proud heart?

Mercy, on the other hand, removes me from the center of the universe and treats the other person as more important than myself. True mercy is an act of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The next time I am tempted to be judgmental, I pray the Holy Spirit will remind me that I have been shown mercy and that I am no more deserving of it than the other person. I pray that His reminder will humble my heart and lead me to speak and act as one who is judged by the law of freedom and shown the mercy of God.

Blessings,
Diane

PS This is the final week before the Family Freedom Walk (Saturday, May 7th). If you would like to sponsor one of the staff or Colony men, please contact Guest Services at 1.800.453.7942 or go to our website http://www.americaskeswick.org (Give Now button). By the way: Ladies, we are doing well in the Freedom Fighters/ Victory Call competition.

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.