Corresponding Actions

There is one thing that, if absent, can make your faith totally ineffective. In fact, actually dead. That one thing is corresponding action!

Here's what the Word of God says, in James 2:17:

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (NIV)

So also faith if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power--inoperative, dead. (AMP)

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (KJV)

Faith can not operative in a vacuum. God's Word calls this "faith being alone." For faith to operate and bring into manifestation that which you're believing, you must accompany that faith by actions.

Do What It Says

Let's back up to chapter one of the letter from James, to see this in another way. James 1:22-25 states:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."

James point is clear: Do what God's Word says.

Jesus certainly put this principle to work. He did everything, fulfilled everything in the Law (Old Testament). In Luke 4:18 Jesus announced in the synagogue His commission:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Later in Luke 7:20-23, we find Jesus "doing the Word."

When the man came to Jesus, they said "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

Corresponding Actions

What are corresponding actions? What are the works that make faith operate? Here's some simple definitions:

• Act like you have what you're believing.
• Do something you couldn't do before.
• Confess that you already have what you're believing.

In many of the miracles and healings of Jesus, we see this principle.

To a paralyzed man, Jesus said, "Get up!" Mark 2:1-12

To a man with a shriveled hand, Jesus said, "Stretch out your hand!" Mark 3:1-6

To a dead girl Jesus said, "Get up!" Mark 5:35-43

As Jesus walked on the water, he said to Peter, "Come!" Matthew 14:22-32

The prophet Joel said, "Let the weakling say 'I am strong!'" Joel 3:10

Principle in Practice

The principle and practice are the same. Act like you're healed when you're sick. Act like you're strong when you're weak. Act like God's promises are true!