James 2:14-17 proves “love is the power faith works through” (Galatians 5:5-6); otherwise, faith is dead, nonexistent, wishful thinking, for “faith” must contain “love” to get “results”; thus, we cannot simply “voice” what only “necessities” can provide, but we can “voice” the “power of choice” God gave us, to bind (reject, prohibit) or loose (accept, permit), what the satanic forces try to force on us, as revealed in Matthew 18:15-20, but the real show of faith working through love is found in Hebrews 4:14-16, where we “boldly go to the throne of grace, to find grace and mercy from God in our time of desperate need, for faith in what Jesus Christ did and became for us, working through God’s love for us, empowers us to hold tightly to God’s promises, knowing at God’s preset time, He always comes through for us, which is what Proverbs 3:13-18 is telling us in beautiful word-pictures.
James 2:14-17 (NLT)—14 What good is it, dear brothers, and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you do not give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself is not enough. Unless it produces results, it is dead and useless.
Galatians 5:5-6 (NLT)—5 But we who live by the Holy Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised us (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit to be circumcised or uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Matthew 18:15-20 (NLT)—15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she will not accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)—14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced the same tests we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
Every human being has a God-given, heaven-backed, choice to either accept or reject every “symptom”: every ache, pain, disease, infection, sickness, virus, or whatever, and our strong, unmovable, “I will not let You go until You bless me” (Genesis 32:26), faith that “boldly knows the grace, mercy, and help in time of need” we receive at God’s throne, is worth the boldness of Proverbs 28:1, but this refers to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and not an animal lion, for in Revelation 5:1-7, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” went to God’s throne, received from Him the seven-seals scroll, and then gave it to “the Lamb of God”, who opened the scrolls and seals.
Please remember, the “feminine” of Proverbs “refers to Galatians 4:19, where Christ must first be formed in us, or until Christ is fully developed in us, so we are spiritual adults and no longer baby Christians (1 Corinthians 13:11-13; Ephesians 4:7-16).
Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT)—13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left-hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.
We either accept or reject what God tries to give us, and likewise, we either accept or reject what Satan and his wicked forces try to give us, and God in heaven honors our “freedom to choose”, but just remember this when we are offered “a divine blessing” or “a lying symptom”.
Jim Nabors
