faith in action - believing

Summary: "1) act in obedience, you don't have to want to obey. 2) true faith will produce works. 3) do something in order to believe it. 4) find what is true and DO it"

1) Question: if I (or you) do something for God, do you necessarily believe in it?
Now, before you say 'no', think a little. You're not singing blandly in church because everyone wants you to, you're giving $200 to a christian ministry because you think that is correct to do.
Ha! I just figured this out.
There is a difference between believing something and wanting it. For instance I can step out in faith and give money even though I don't want to, but I think it's correct. I can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit even though I think I'm probably just imagining the Holy Spirit and I am going to look dumb.
Get it?
DO the things that are correct, the things God tells you. You know that you believe God because you obey him. Don't act because people want you to, don't act because it will advance you into a powerful position in the church. Do it because. Do it for God. Don't do it out of sheer willpower, though the decision might feel a lot like sheer willpower. submit to the Lord of creation.

2) by the way, on the topic of faith and works. the standard solution is that true faith will produce works. therefore, "faith without works is dead." in that sentence, faith and works aren't separate. faith - the type of faith that is without works - that type of faith is dead.

3) there is a difference between academically saying that something is true, for instance that God will protect you at all times, and between actually believing it, by stepping out in faith to where you could get seriously hurt if God didn't help you out.
The difference is between pure knowledge, pure data and a body of thought, and between the emotional side of it. On the one hand, don't believe something (data) and not apply it (emotion), on the other, don't do something that randomly pops into your head without confirming that God is behind it. If the holy spirit nudges you to do something, you probably only risk looking stupid, so the data side is ok, apply your knowledge and use emotion - do what you think the holy spirit said.
if it's something more risky, I suppose you need confirmation. talk to friends, look for real-world things that make the action easier, pray a TON, etc.

4) Ecclesiastes 11:13 (the end of the book) "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Find what is true in the bible, and then go DO it.