Now, lest there are those who think that we have already examined this topic in a previous chapter with a similar title, we will first of all clarify what we are going to teach here. Formerly, we looked at the motivation for serving God, the attitude of our heart, what God has done in us through Christ, to cause us to want to serve Him. However, we will now look at the actual working out of what God has worked in us—the works of faith that are the evidence that God is real in our lives; and that His presence and power are being manifested through what we do.

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

So we must ask, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” It is one thing to know what to do, or even desire to do it, and quite another to know how to do it or to be enabled to do it. We are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only,” but that is easier said then done for most of us. Even the Apostle Paul, as disciplined and as zealous in serving God as a mortal man can be, was faced with this dilemma—“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

To begin with, we must all see our “natural face in a glass,” as Job did when he said, “I am vile,” or Paul when he said, “oh wretched man that I am.” The Word of God is a mirror that allows us to see ourselves as we really are, not just who we think we are. Therefore, by looking into God’s Word, we see that we are  weak, powerless, helpless, and hopeless  sinners; and to do the works of faith, we must not forget what “manner of man” we are. However, in coming to know Christ and the power of His resurrected life we can find the keys to victory.

Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The prerequisite to do God’s work is that we must “believe on him whom he hath sent.” There is no work that any man can do that is truly the “work of God,” apart from having a relationship with God. Our trusting Christ for salvation is the first work, even though it is no work at all on our part. We must trust God’s salvation completely. We must cling to nothing that we are or have done. Salvation is not a fifty-fifty work of redemption or even a ninety-ten; it is Christ and Christ alone who saves us.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

However, even if we are true believers in Christ, there is nothing we can do apart from abiding in Christ and walking in Christ—we must “live by faith.” However religious the flesh may try to be, it can only produce the things of the flesh. Only the Holy Spirit can produce real spiritual fruit. Preachers, teachers, missionaries, and other workers cannot produce spiritual fruit in their hearers—except they be directed and used by the Holy Spirit. Most preaching and teaching emphasizes earthly, fleshly, worldly blessings that appeals to the ears of the masses. Wealth, health, happiness, manifested gifts, experiences, and other visible and feel good blessings, are the messages preached by those who are after the flesh. Fleshly preachers are more interested in physical results than in spiritual results—programs, buildings, and the size of their congregations are what they esteem as the blessings of God. How many hands were raised, how many people came forward or were baptized, is the measure of their success—not caring whether these so-called converts where real or not. These misdirected proclaimers know nothing of the cross, of death to self, or the sacrifice, tribulation, and trials that are a part of the real Christian experience. They know nothing of the abiding life, or living by faith, or “faith which worketh by love.” We cannot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ by ourselves, or by the help of others in the flesh; we are all dead and blind, and “if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” We cannot see what to believe, how to be saved, or how to be born again by the instruments that carnal men try to use. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us to true repentance and faith in Christ; and only He can lead us to do God’s work.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Matt 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matt 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more child of hell than yourselves.

To preach the Gospel means to proclaim the truth, the good news of Jesus Christ, and let the Holy Spirit do His work. Men do not bring other men to Christ in a spiritual way; and men do not bring to birth other men into the family of God by their own devices. It is spiritual adultery when we try to partake of the union that is between the sinner and God alone. When we teach others that by belonging to a Church, or by practicing some church ritual, or that by being lead to Christ by a preacher or personal worker is the means by which we become God’s child, we are practicing spiritual fornication. Whatever is the foundation of your belief about salvation will determine your methodology in the matter of seeing others brought to Christ; and how you view God’s means of salvation will greatly determine your perception of how believers are to “work the works of God.”

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden

We are not saying that God does not use men and women of faith to draw souls to Christ—He certainly does; but the methods by which some modernistic evangelists use to create believers is artificial and unscriptural. Where in the Bible do we see practiced the “easy believism” tactics that are used today? Examine any account where a group of people or an individual is brought to Christ and you will not see these imitation methods being used. What you will see is the Gospel being preached in power, and men and women crying out, “what must I do to be saved?”; and they are told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Now, abiding in Christ means we continue “looking unto Jesus.” Just as we looked to Him as our only hope of salvation, so now we look to Him for life. The Holy Spirit brought us to see Jesus dying for our sins, and the Holy Spirit brings us to see Him as our only hope of living in victory. To abide in Christ is to live “by the faith of the Son of God,” not trusting anything that is of the flesh; but trusting only Him who is “the author and finisher of our faith.” The Holy Spirit brought us into the spiritual body of Christ when God gave us the faith to trust Jesus for salvation; and we must abide in that same faith if we are to bear fruit unto God. The Holy Spirit also now dwells within us, giving to us the life of Christ—if “we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” To abide in Christ is to walk in the Spirit.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

In looking to Christ we have been made to see, that not only are we now free from the impending wrath of God’s judgment, but we are also free from struggling to keep His law, and doing those things we thought would please Him. We now look “into the perfect law of liberty,” and see not, what must I do or not do, but what can I do in Christ. It is a mistake to begin the Christian life by being told, or by thinking, that we must now go out and do something for God. Did we do something in order for God to save us? Did we receive “the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are we “so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” To be sure, as a new believer we should desire to serve God, but first, our prayer should be, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Psa 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

So then we begin by praying for God’s will to be done in our lives, then waiting for Him to answer our prayer. God did not say to the Apostle Paul, ‘Now that you know that I am Christ Jesus the Lord, the one you have been persecuting, I want you to go out and do something to make amends for all the evil you have done’; but He said, “arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” God then worked in Paul’s life through the disciple Ananias; and we also should take heed to what our spiritual leaders have to say, especially those whom God has used to bring us to Himself. We should also be reading and studying His Word. It is through His Word that God speaks to us in this dispensation and reveals to us His general will. Beyond that however, we can be sure that God is quite able to reveal to us His specific will for our lives—if we but depend upon Him and look to Him. When we are given thoughts or directions about what we are to do, we should wait for God’s witness and confirmation to know that we are following the right spirit. There will come to us many thoughts and ideas about what the will of God might be for our lives; but many of these thoughts will come from our own flesh, or even the misdirection of Satan himself. Howbeit, God understands our dilemma, “for he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” In spite of our weakness, He is able to make clear the direction we are to go,” if there be first a willing mind.”

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Psa 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

2 Cor 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

We again call to mind the Biblical principle we discussed earlier, about having the testimony of two or three witnesses when God speaks to us. God employs this principle when communicating to us His specific will for our lives. We may have the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, prompting us to venture out in some direction; but because we also are subject to other voices, God will also use other witnesses to give us the assurance of His will. Many there are who stumble out on their own, attempting to do what God has not chosen them to do, merely because they are heeding some inner voice. That is the reason we have so much perversion going on in the name of Christ today, because men are following their own feelings, or thoughts given to them by Satan. We have preachers that God has not called; missionaries that God has not sent; programs of men’s own doing; spiritual foolishness being practiced because someone had a feeling, dream, or vision, and convinced others to follow them. As Christians, when we have such thoughts, we must wait for God to speak to us through a Godly messenger—perhaps a Christian parent, friend, Pastor, or even in a message or Bible lesson. Gideon’s fleece is probably the foremost example of God giving assurance to one of His servants concerning His will. While many would call Gideon’s need for such signs, a weakness of faith, we would say that what he asked for was only being prudent.

Matt 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

2 Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Jer 23:25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

Judg 6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Prov 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Prov 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Along with praying to know God’s will, we should also be praying to know His power. Those that would do the work of God must also have the power of God. The people of Israel, after they failed to obey the will of God, tried to justify themselves by purposing to go to battle in their own strength. They now were outside the will of God, and without God’s presence and power, and the result was utter defeat. So will we be defeated when we try to act outside of His will and without His power. No believers have ever had a surer calling or better training than the Apostles. They had spent three and a half years with Jesus, being trained in all that they were to do and teach, but that was not enough. Before the early disciples were to obey the Great Commission of their Lord, they were told to wait until they were “endued with power from on high.” Perhaps you are sure of God’s call upon your life. Maybe you have prepared yourself by going to Bible College or through self-study. However, you still need the assurance of the Holy Spirit’s power upon your life before you do battle for the Lord.

Num 14:40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.
42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The last step that is necessary if we are to do “the works of God” is the simplest—“whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” By faith, prayer, and our willingness to serve God, we can be brought to the door of actually doing “the works of God”; however through faith, we must also step through that door. What we come to know as the revealed will of God for us to do, must become a reality by our doing it. Many false Christians say that they believe in Jesus, but they are without any evidence or change in their lives since their confession. Even so the evidence that we are living by faith is in the doing—for “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” We may piously pray for God’s will to be done; and say that we truly want to do the will of God; but if there is no outworking of our professed desire, then we are being hypocritical.

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

To live by faith, to step through the door and do “the works of God,” requires the boldness that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the weakness of our flesh we are fearful of stepping out and obeying God’s voice. We do not want to live by faith because of what it might cost us or because we have other fears about doing so. It is not a life that is pleasing to our flesh, because it requires us to give up doing what we want to do or what pleases us. We fear what others may think, or that we might have to endure some kind of persecution. Living by faith requires us to step out and obey God, trusting Him for the results and the grace to sustain us. Peter asked to step out of the boat and walk on the water with Jesus—and he did so with Christ’s permission. However, when he began to look around at the storm, and the physical impossibility of what he was doing, he began to sink into the waters. It is when we keep our eyes on Jesus and rely upon His strength, that we are able to do great things for God. We will be amazed at the things we will find ourselves doing in the power of the Spirit, things that once caused us fear and trembling to even think about doing.

1 Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Matt 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Josh 23:9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

If I may be so bold again, as to use some personal examples of what we are talking about in stepping through the door of faith, it could be of some help. The first, in a negative sense, was an experience I had as a young believer. Having a great desire to be a witness and to see my former comrades in sin come to know Christ, I had the opportunity to invite one such friend and his wife to a crusade—which they did attend with me and my wife. At the end of the very Biblical and empowered message, the evangelist, looking directly at me among a crowd of several hundreds, and at some distance said, ‘If you have brought a friend tonight, turn to him and speak a word for Christ.’ There was no question in my heart of what God wanted me to do, and yet I sat frozen in my seat saying nothing. To this day I have continually regretted my lack of obedience in not stepping through that door of faith. Although I had seen this friend many times after that, I never sensed the door of opportunity being opened to me as it was that night. I know that this friend and his wife later separated and divorced; and having not seen them in a number of years, I have no idea of their spiritual relationship with God. However, I firmly believe, that God would have made a difference in their lives that night, if I had only responded to His bidding.

Matt 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

Psa 39:2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

The second example, though not so weighty as my first, came as I was reading a Christian paper, The Sword of the Lord.[1] In it they were advertising their yearly visit to the Bible lands. As I read the advertisement for the trip, God’s Spirit spoke to my heart and said, ‘You should go on this trip.’ Now, when I mentioned the trip to my wife, she was of the same mind that we should try to go, even though she was pregnant and the circumstances of our going were insurmountable. The trip was only four months away and would cost well over five thousand dollars—no small sum to us in those days. We had never saved any money, and at that time we only had the small down payment to secure our reservation. We already had two young children and the trip would last sixteen days. We had no passports, no suitable clothes, and none of those things which most people would consider to be necessary for such a trip. However, as we stepped out on faith, God supplied every need. The trip was paid for, our bills were paid up in advance, our children were provided for, we found bargain clothes and obtained passports—which because of some irregularities, we received only through divine intervention. Therefore we were ready to go. However, the last act of God’s faithfulness came on the day we were to leave. Although the trip was paid for, we had absolutely no money to take along for other expenses. To this day, I do not know how it came about or who prompted him, but someone who owed us money came by and gave us nine hundred dollars. Needless to say, that trip was a great blessing to us then, and through the years has enriched our spiritual lives. It has also given me much encouragement to step through other doors of faith in doing what God would have me to do.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Now we can hear the voices of many who would say, ‘If the Bible is God’s Word, and we are to do “whatever He saith,” shouldn’t we just read the Bible and do what it says?’ That is the very argument that Paul fought against in his letter to the church of Galatia. The legalistic Judaizers had come to this young church and began to teach, that now in addition to believing in Jesus, they must also be circumcised and keep the written Law of Moses. We have today many pharasitical churches that are built upon this very doctrine, only they replace circumcision with Baptism, and the Law of Moses with the whole Bible. They will say that they believe in grace, but in practice they teach the works of the law. However, we are to be “ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” We are free from the written laws “of sin and death,” and we are told to “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” To take the grace of God, as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and turn it into a legalistic system of works, is to make “Christ … of no effect.”

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

However, this we will say to those who would disregard the Word of God and the commandments of God—that they too are in serious error. Jesus said to His followers, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” It was His purpose in coming that the Word of God be fulfilled, not only in what He was to do, but also in the lives of His followers. When we are truly born again and walking “in the Spirit,” we will fulfill the Word of God—not by obeying the letter of it, but by walking in the spirit of it. The primary fruit of the Spirit that is manifested in those who are abiding in Christ and walking in His Spirit is love—and “love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” The Word of God is used by the Spirit to reveal to us those things which are of the flesh and turn us away from them; and He also shows us those things which are of God and leads us toward them. We are not any more to view the Bible as a list of dos and don’ts, as most churches teach, but as the Manna of God, the Bread from Heaven by which the new creature in Christ is fed. Christ has given us liberty from “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” He set us free from the demands of the law which we were not able to perform because of the weakness of our flesh. However, we are not to use this “liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Genuine faith does not promote antinomianism—which is an attitude of contempt for the law. What genuine faith does is to provide us with a means to keep the law—“faith … worketh by love,” and “love is the fulfilling of the law”; so that “the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1 Cor 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Word of God is also our spiritual thermometer—it reveals whether we are walking after the flesh or after the Spirit. When we see ourselves walking according to His Word, we know that we are being led by the Spirit because, “whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” The Spirit of God will never lead us contrary to the Word of God, because the Scripture reveals Christ, the Living Word. Those who make excuses for their sin by saying that the Spirit led them to do something that is in violation of the Word, are sadly deceived—for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth[2] hath not seen him, neither known him.

Having examined all of this, what may we consider in Job’s life, after his trial and coming to see the Lord, that we might say was a work of faith? We are not sure of Job’s age when this account took place, but we know that he had grown children, and that he and his friends were referred to by Elihu as being “very old.” For a man of his apparent age, who had lost everything, even his children, to begin all over again was indeed a work of faith. To have his wealth restored to twice its former size certainly required some effort on Job’s part, even with the Lord’s blessing.  Additionally, both he and his wife, like Abraham and Sarah, were probably past the normal child-bearing years; and yet they had “seven sons and three daughters.” His newfound faith had indeed regenerated him, and given to him renewed strength and courage to start again. It is doubtful that any man, even Job, could have fought back after such calamities apart from faith in God.

Job 32:6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

In Job we see the picture of the new life of a believer. As Job, we were diseased with sin. As a sinner, we had lost everything and sat as a beggar in an ash heap. Yet now in Christ we may begin again—having a new-found faith and life. We now have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, giving us victory over the sins that had once destroyed our old life and bringing us into the life of a new creature in Christ.

1 Sam 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

Psa 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
11 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Now, as we have said previously, Job’s experience as only a friend of God, does not equate to ours as the born-again children of God, but we can draw some parallels. One of the most intriguing verses in the book of Job concerns his three new daughters. It was recorded of them that “in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job.” Knowing that the Scripture does not give much importance to outward appearance, for “beauty is vain,” why might this statement have been included? Again, we have to spiritualize this natural beauty for what we find in the New Testament as spiritual beauty. The fruit of Job’s new life was miraculous and beautiful to the natural eye of all those who knew him; and the result of our miraculous new life in Christ, is fruit that makes believers beautiful spiritually. This inward beauty is evident to the believer, to those who know him, and is “in the sight of God of great price.” The work of faith is not only evidenced by what we do, but by what we become as a follower of Jesus. The evidence of Job’s newfound faith was indeed a work that only God could have brought forth; and, as believers in Christ, only the power of God can change a sinner into a saint.

Job 42:14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.