There are many videos out now that show how someone pranks another person to get a reaction. For instance, in one video, someone secretly pins a fake snake to a person’s shirt tail. The person suddenly notices the snake and reacts by trying to get away from it.  They bring an action based on what they believe in that moment.  In this case, it is to try to outrun the snake.

In the Bible, Abram believed he had heard God tell him to leave his country and his family and go to a land that God would show him.  God promised to make Abram a great nation and to bless him.  He promised to make Abram’s name great and to make Abram a blessing.  He also promised to bless those who blessed Abram and curse whoever cursed Abram and that in Abram, all the families of the earth would be blessed.

What did Abram do with this faith in what he heard?  He packed his things and went on a pilgrimage.  We know that God rewarded him.  Here we are talking about him all these many years later.  He is known throughout the world. His greatest challenge of faith came when he was tested by being told to offer his only son Isaac.  Because he believed he had heard God, he acted on it.  He put Isaac on the altar he had built and raised the knife to kill him.  That was when God stopped him and declared he had passed the test of faith.  Once again, God spoke amazing promises over Abraham.

One of the first acts that follow on the heels of faith is the act of speaking.

2 Corinthians 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

In the kingdom of God, it is not seeing that is believing. It is speaking according to what isn’t yet seen, which is believing.  The step that follows the speaking is an action in the direction of the declared faith.

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Like the person who believes a snake is after them will react, someone who takes God at His word will also react to it.  Faith produces the fruit of a response in step with whatever is believed.  The claim of faith becomes suspect if it doesn’t produce the fruit of an action in the direction of the belief.

James 2:9 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

James is making the point that even rebellious demons who oppose God believe He exists and, therefore, know they will one day be judged by Him. This causes them to tremble. They tremble at believing in His power, might, and authority to do as He says He will. Their belief that there is an almighty God brings action.

Faith first produces confession and then moves on to producing action.  To say I believe in Jesus and not confess Him as Lord is to bear witness that I do not really believe.  To confess Him as Lord and neglect following Him as His disciple demonstrates a shortcircuited faith.

To claim a promise but fail to declare it and act on it reveals doubt rather than faith.  True faith always produces the fruit of the evidence of that which is unseen yet believed.