(Pastor Chen)
In the previous lessons, we have established that faith has corresponding actions. The corresponding actions can either be saying something or doing something, or both. We mentioned the importance of confessing the Word of God and having our actions to come in line with the Word for the promises of God to become reality. While it is true that faith without works is dead, but equally important, work without faith is also dead. Our faith must not be in our actions but in God. And because our faith is in God, we act on what He says. In other words, what we do should be the result of our faith in God. We must have this proper perspective on faith, or we will turn faith into works by trusting in our actions. We do not receive from God based on our actions but through our faith in God. Our actions are merely corresponding actions of our faith.
Many believers got into trouble because they inadvertently place their trust in their actions instead of God and His Word. When it comes to healing, they place their trust in "not going to the doctor" or "not taking the medicines." Not taking medicines or not going to the doctor is not an indication of faith. Faith may have a corresponding action of such, but it must come as a result of faith in God. Again, our trust must be in God and not in our actions alone. Same thing holds true when it comes to prosperity. Many believers place their trust in their giving instead of God. They have developed a mentality that when they give, then automatically God will give back to them. If this is so, then prosperity ceases to be of grace but of works. But II Corinthians 8:9 tells us very plainly that prosperity is of grace. Giving should be the result of our trust in God and not us "paying" for what we want. One thing that must be burned deeply in our hearts is this, "Faith is not of work." Faith is trusting in God and God alone.
Even as important as confession is, we can easily turn it into work. We do so by placing our trust in what we say instead of in God and His Word. What comes out of our mouth becomes routine and shallow. II Corinthians 4:13 states, "But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke,'' we also believe and therefore speak." What we say should be the result of what we believe. In other words, we need to speak out of a believing heart. A believer may start out confessing the promises of God with doubts, but this person must focus his or her heart on the Word of God and chose to believe every time he or she opens their mouth to speak. Otherwise, confession is merely dead work, which does not bring results.
Our corresponding actions can also be dead works if they are not done according to the promptings of God. In other words, we must base our actions on what God is telling us and not on what we feel or what we see others do. God may by His Spirit tell a person to throw away the medicines, but that does not mean everybody should do the same. Every one of us is at a different level of faith and should act according to the level we are at. And only God knows exactly where we are at in our walk with Him. Only He can guide us as to what our corresponding action should be. Therefore, our intimate fellowship with Him is imperative for us to accurately exercise our faith. It all boils down to this; faith is our absolute trust in Him in all that we say and all that we do, for apart from Him, we can do nothing!