Faith and Works

The story of the boy with the dumb Spirit that the disciples could not cast out is our focus this morning. Many times, we are stuck between what things God wants for us and the things we can have faith for. We struggle with what God's will is and what we believe are his promises that we can claim. I believe that whatever God has promised is mine if only I can believe God for it. Even things that seemingly sound impossible arr made possible with the exercise of faith in God and his will for our lives.
Joshua once asked the sun and the moon to stand still while Israel fought a war. God did it because his child requested by faith. Jairus got his daughter raised from death because he asked in faith. Even king Hezekiah got his death sentence revoked and his life extended by 15 years simply by asking God.
But I want to sound a note of caution here. My asking from God in faith is not an automatic guarantee that I will get it exactly the way I asked for it. Paul asked for the thorn in his flesh to be taken away. God refused but gave him something that more than compensated for the weakness- GRACE. That is the God-factor.
Faith is key to our walk with God but what happens when God does not answer exactly the way we want him to? Do we fold our arms and watch or do we keep working, trusting God's wisdom that his ultimate will will be done and his purpose will be established. I believe that faith is key but our works are the physical proof of our faith.
As we trust God to bring his will and purpose to pass in our lives,let us continue to do what Philippians 2:12-13 says: WORK out your salvation with fear and trembling,for it is God who WORKS in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is well