FAITH DOES NOT ALWAYS SAVE

Do you know that faith does not always save? You are probably shocked, as I am! I don't know why I am typing this, but it sure is true.

James 2:19 (New Living Translation)
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THIS, AND THEY TREMBLE IN TERROR."
Can you imagine that? There is an example of a situation where faith doesn't save!

The Amplified Bible, puts it this way: "You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!"

I have only seen this type in horror movies, and it is nowhere close to what those demons pass through at the fear of the power of Jesus Christ. Negative faith.

A scripture comes to mind. But before that, let's iron out definition of terms. Faith. What is faith? Is it positive thinking? A feeling? One’s church affiliation? The belief that Jesus died for your sins? Confidence? Hope? Or is it something far more? The Bible states that “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). This is an incredible statement - yet, it is in the Bible! Take it for exactly what it says. Just think! Anything a person does, in attempting to be Christian, means absolutely nothing, if he lacks faith. For without faith, he has no hope - no possibility of pleasing God. Any who are not pleasing God are Christians in vain. That is serious! Consider yourself. Do you have real faith? Is it sufficient for salvation? Can you know?

You are probably thinking of the famous Hebrew 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 

This is difficult English. Trust the King James version to do that often. But I do love the King James Version, helps to keep certain verse of scriptures simpler, poetic and easy to remember.

Let's use a simpler translation, the New Living Translation: Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE: TRUE STORY OF SALVATION & MARRIAGE

This is how Brother R.W. Schambach narrated it:

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Some time ago, when I was in Seattle, Washington, I preached a message about Lazarus. The Bible says that Lazarus had been in the grave four days when Jesus finally came. Although it seemed as if He had arrived too late, He was right on time. He is never too late. In other words, it's never too late for a miracle.

Sometimes we put time limits on God. Mary and Martha were limited in their faith. They said to Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died" (John 11:21, 32). They had forgotten that Jesus was Christ, the Son of God - Emmanuel: God with us. They had forgotten that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. They didnt know that Jesus had intentionally waited. He wanted His followers to witness His miraculous power.

We should never try to figure out Gods timetables. He is always on time. It's never too late.

After the service, a woman came to me and shoved a piece of paper into my hand.

She said, "Now I dare you to say it's not too late."

Do you know what the paper was? A divorce paper, a final decree. She has just received it from the judge. It was final. The husband was gone.

She looked me right in the eye and said again, "Now, I dare you to say it's not too late."

So I smiled and took her dare and said, "It's not too late."

She said, "What about that paper?'

I said, "You are looking at the wrong paper. My paper says, What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:6) This is what I believe. How long have you been married?"

She told me they had been married for twenty-seven years and have five children.

I said, "That man has no business leaving you."

I laid hands on her and said, "Holy Ghost, bring that rascal to his senses and save him. Don't bring him back home the way he is. Lord, save him and fill him with the Holy Ghost."

I looked at the woman and said, "God home and get ready for your husband. He is coming."

Of course, that was easy for me to say. I was leaving town. I am an evangelist. I can hit them and run. But in all honesty, I believed what I had said. My wife and I drove from Seattle to Philadelphia. When we got to Philly, I had a letter, from that woman, waiting for me.

I opened it and the first lines said, "Dear Brother Schambach, God is never too late! God got a hold of that rascal, saved him, and filled him with the Holy Ghost. The Lord brought him back home and we got married all over again!"

That is the powerful aspect of faith. Take a stand of faith and say, "Devil, you are a liar. I am going to believe God for a miracle because He is going to turn this situation around." Speak faith. Speak to that mountain and that mountain has to obey your words. That is how you will experience the power of faith.

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THE END

Note: One of the things that I have noted with Brother Schambach, he is straight to the point in prayer request to the Lord, short on words and somewhat crude in speaking..but based on many miracle testimonys I have read coming from his revivals when he speaks over someone and lays on hands..it happens...boom, just like when Jesus commanded things done.

But, you can see that Brother Schambach does not mess around, he prophesies to the situation, declares it and commands it, yet he does it in supplication to God. This is the faith of the man...and Jerry Savelle said, he is a great man of God and what makes him such a great man of God is that he is a great man of faith!

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Here is what you have to say over your husband or wife that have strayed away:

               "Holy Ghost, bring that rascal, ______, to his/her senses and save him/her.

                                  Don't bring him/her back home the way he/she is.

                             Lord, save _______ and fill him/her with the Holy Ghost!

                                             In the Name of Jesus, Amen!"

                                                                God Bless