"Can I Help You?

September 13, 2015

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Summer Sermon Series:

“Revive Us Again O Lord!”

Adapted from “Revival” by Adam Hamilton

Theme: Works Of Mercy…

Ephesians 2:8-10

James 2:14-18

“Can I Help…?”

James 2:14-18Common English Bible (CEB)

Showing faith

14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? 15 Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. 16 What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? 17 In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.

18 Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action.

Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me…

“Put your money where your mouth is. Talk is cheap. Put up or shut up. The proof is in the pudding. They are “running of the mouth again.”” Have you ever heard any of these phrases that are used when someone is just talking and talking but you find it hard to believe what they are saying so you kind of challenge them to prove what they are saying… How about when Christians talk and talk? They talk the talk but are they walking the walk? They are a talking but are their feet a walking?

We are almost at the end of our summer of “Camp Meetings”. We are asking God to bring revival to our lives and to our communities…to the world. It has been an interesting journey so far. OK…you don’t have to raise your hand on these questions… This summer we have been trying to awaken that which may have fallen asleep. How many of you have felt that tugging of the Spirit? We have talked about some of those feelings that weighed us down and how we need to bring them to the cleansing water of God. How many have felt a little more filled with the Spirit as you made room by getting rid of some rocks that weighed you down? We have understood that we are saved by grace alone. How many have given room of God’s grace? We long for holiness for we want to be holy as God has called us to be. How many really have felt that more passion for God and His word as you have been intentional with our faith and with Him?

We want to do what God wants us to do but sometimes our motives get a little off course, so to speak. How many of you know someone who talks the talks but really doesn’t walk the walk? They talk about doing but never seem to do. It can get that way with faith at times. There are times when people of faith talk all about their faith but there is no works behind that faith. In the Epistle of James that I read it talks about living our faith and not just having faith. We may have faith but if there are no works behind it then our faith is as good as dead.

OK…here is where it may get confusing at times. We heard in the Ephesians letter from Paul that we are saved by grace and not works and this is true. The last part of the Ephesians 2 verses 8-10 states “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What James is saying is that we saved by grace found in our faith in Jesus Christ and if there is no works our faith might as well be dead.

OK…let’s see if I can explain this better. We are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. We are so thankful to God for His grace in sending His Son to die for us that we can’t help but want to do outward things to show our inward change and gratefulness. We are so thankful that we want to show that same grace that we have received to others who are in need of grace. This is doing “Works of Mercy” as they are called. They are divided into two categories: Spiritual and Corporal:

1.   The Corporal Works of Mercy are these kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their material and physical needs.

feed the hungry

shelter the homeless

clothe the naked

visit the sick and imprisoned

bury the dead

give alms to the poor

2.   The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of compassion, as listed below, by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual needs.

instruct

advise

console

comfort

forgive

bear wrongs patiently

We as Christ’s church need to “revisit” some of these works. Some how we have forgotten what we are here for…

We long for revival in ourselves and in our church. But as I have always said…it begins with you and with me. It is a heart thing. It is from within that we begin this wondrous journey of grace.

Ray and I along with the girls watched a movie called “Do You Believe” and it has really made me stop and think not only about myself but have a burden for others. It has got me thinking about a true revival. We can read all we want and pray and do all kinds of works of mercy for others. But there is one question that must be answered if we are to have a true revival. It is a question that every follower of Christ needs to ask themselves. Do you … do I … do we … BELIEVE? Now I am not talking about some superficial belief…I am talking about a deep down belief…

Speak from the Spirit… ( See video of Sermon for this part of what was preached)

Amen…