Exceedingly Growing Faith !

Exceedingly Growing Faith: (James 1:22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." 2. PRACTICING THE WORD: practicing the Word means being a "doer of the Word," as we are told in the book of James. We have many "talkers about the Word," and even many "rejoicers's about the Word," but we don't have many "doers of the Word." Began to practice being a "doer of the Word" by doing in all circumstances what the Word tells you to do. Somehow thought that being a "doer of the word" means to keep the 10 Commandments. That is not what James 1:22 is talking about. After all, we, under the new covenant, have but one commandment: the commandment of love. Jesus said, "a New commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34). Love is described as an action word. Not just in word but in deed ! A "doer of the Word" will do that. If you love someone, you want to steal from him or her. You won't lie about him or her. Paul said that love is the fulfillment of the law. If you walk in love, you won't break any law which was given to curb sin. Being a "doer of the Word" means that we are to do primarily what is written in the epistles and those are the letters to the believers. They are the letters written to us, the Church's. As an example of doing the Word, let us look at some instructions given us in one of the epistles. (Philippians 4:6) "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Another translation reads, "do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." Verse seven, and God's peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of what ever sought that is, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount God over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." We don't mind practicing part of this--- the part that says to pray. But if you practice just that part and not the first part, you are not practicing the Word. You are not a "Doer Of the Word." If you fret and have anxieties, it isn't going to do any good to make requests or pray. That kind of praying doesn't work. And over anxious prayer full of fretfulness doesn't work. I felt very sorry for minister who came to me some time ago. But sometimes it doesn't give a man the answer just to sympathize with him. Stones and tests were in his life. His stomach was upset: he wasn't able to keep anything down that he ate. He couldn't sleep, and his nerves were shot because of a particular incident. He came to me for help. I began to tell him what the word said and how to pray about it. When I encouraged him to take this scripture we have just read and do it, he rebelled and said, "Oh, yes, but everybody doesn't have the faith that you have." I told him then that it was not a matter of having a lot of faith, but a matter of endeavoring to practice the Word. I told him that if he would practice the Word, his faith would be built up. And I told him how I practice this particular verse. When I get alone, I read this verse out loud. I tell the Lord that His Word is true and that I believe it. I told that minister that he would be tempted to say he couldn't help worrying and fretting, but God has not asked us to do something we cannot do. Many people tell God their problems and they pray the circumstance rather than the promise. When God said not to fret, that means we can keep from it. God is a just God, and He will not ask us to do something we cannot do. When I first began practicing this verse, it was easy to believe that I could make my request known unto God, but it was hard to believe that I could not fret. However, since God says that we don't have to fret, I would say, "I refuse to Fred or have any anxiety about anything." I tell the Lord that I bring my request unto Him and then I think Him for the answer. This quiets my spirit and pacifies the troubled attitude the devil tries to make me have. Then I get up and go about my business, but before you know it, the devil is trying to get me again. I simply go right back and read this verse and keep claiming it out loud. Well, the minister began to practice this. He told me later the problem was worked out and did not get as big as he had expected. He was being sued over a certain matter, but it did not amount to anything. God help him out of it all.