Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 9

January 9;      James 2:26;       218/260(III);        ‘Death’

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Death in the Bible means separation, never termination.  At physical death, our spirit separates from our body.  Our body dies, but our spirit goes on eternally.  I use this verse at memorial services all of the time.  We are immortal beings.  While we are physically alive, our body is the vessel that carries our immortal spirit.  In a very real sense your body is not you.  This is why the devil and the unsaved world, do everything they can to deceive us trying to get you to spend most of your time focusing on your body and mind.  If you spend all of your time on natural things and intellectual knowledge, even though those things may not be bad in and of themselves, if they keep you from developing your spirit by the Word of God, prayer and attending a good local church, then in a very real sense the devil has minimized your ministry.  Your spirit needs your body to function in this world.  Similarly, your faith needs ‘works’ to function as well.  You could have all of the faith in the world, that Jesus is your Healer, but if you do not act out your faith, you will have no results.  If your leg hurts and you declare that Jesus healed your leg, start to walk on that leg to prove it.  If you declare that you believe biblical financial principles and the Lord will use your tithe to accomplish His work on the earth and also prosper you, you have to take the ‘works’ step and actually tithe.  Your body needs your spirit and your faith needs your actions.