Living a Life of Faith

 The Life of a Living Faith

Book of James Chapter 5

If the Book of James has seemed to be confusing to anyone, we can see that a good study of what James is teaching will clear this all up.

There are no contradictions in the Bible and those that say so are the same ones who do not trust the Word of God to be the truth!

The Book of James is about practical, faithful living!

We must base our faith on the Word of God. We must understand that most of this world we live in will never agree with our creation as described by the Word of God.

For them to believe in our Creation, they would have to acknowledge our Creator and they will not do this.

Our faith in the One True God says that we accept the Words He has given to us as the absolute truth!

The plan of our salvation did not begin when our Savior came to this earth!

The plan for our salvation began immediately upon our creation in fact before our creation and the creation of this world we live in!

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and "belief of the truth":

We are to have so much faith in the truth of God that it should the main topic of our salvation until the day God takes us home or we last until the time of the rapture of the Church, which could happen at any time now as God begins to work with Israel as He promised them.

It is not just some of the Word of God is true, it is that all the Word of God is true!

It is because we live in this world so full of doubt that we must strive for our faith in this truth.

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, "with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel";

Our faith then is based upon the Word of God, all the Word of God.

Striving means we must put forth the effort to defend the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Another word for strive is contend.

To contend is to struggle in opposition to the falseness of this world.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

James is teaching us that we must be patient in this striving until the coming of the Lord.

It is best stated as Living in Faith!

*****Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

The one thing we must stay focused upon is the "Coming of the Lord"!

The Lord Jesus said He was coming again and we are to accept that as the truth and stay focused on Him.

The Holy Spirit has given us the example of the farmer.

The farmer has invested all he has to buy the seed.

The Lord has provided the seasons and will provide the early and later rains.

The ground is prepared and the seed is planted.

Then is the time for patience!

The Lord Jesus explain this as the act of spreading the Gospel.

Luk 8:11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 

Luk 8:12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 

Luk 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 

Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

The life of each Christian is under the same law of growth!

Gal_6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Time and again the Scriptures teach us the second coming of the Lord.

The same Scriptures teach us that before this Second Coming, He will stop in the clouds and take His Church out of this world.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

The Scriptures agree that the Lord is returning to reward "every person" for the work that they have done while He has been back in Heaven.

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

This obviously goes against anything this world is teaching.

The world is trying to save a world that the Lord says is not worth saving because of sin!

Jesus Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

Jesus Christ is returning to execute "judgment on all those who reject His truth!

Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 

Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

No matter what this world is doing, we who are practicing "Living Faith" are to continue living for Jesus Christ!

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

We must be patient and show this patience until the Lord takes us out of this world.

When the Lord repeats Himself, we certainly had better pay attention.

*****Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Sometimes it is not until we have hemmed ourselves in and are not able to take another step that we try to do what the Lord ask us to do.

It is in those times that we just need to stand still and watch what the Lord does to solve our issues.

What did the Lord say to Job? Job_37:14  Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

We cannot do these things unless we have faith and that faith will teach us patience.

Our strength will come from the thought that the Lord could return to take us home at any moment!

If those in the Old Testament had this faith, then we should ask ourselves why we do not have this faith when it is evident that we are in the "Last Days".

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

We do not see the coming of the Lord as afar off but as it could happen any time now!

We should have no doubt that our redemption is closer than it has ever been and we can "stablish" our hearts, which means we are to make this truth an absolute fact in our hearts.

We must never become dissatisfied with the Word of God!

*****Jas 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

It is not time to complain about the things we see in this world.

It is certainly not time to bring these complaints inside the Church.

When we complain we are again assuming the office of a judge.

If we rest in the truth of the Lord's soon coming, then we should act as if He is standing at the doors of Heaven just about to open the door to return to take us home.

Until the Lord completes the work He came to do for our salvation, He will not be standing at the door of His return!

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Until the Church Age is complete the Lord will remain in Heaven as our High Priest.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If we even think we are suffering now, especially here in the United States, then we need to go back and read about the Apostle Paul and all the other Apostles and even the things that happened to our Lord and Savior and we will see that we are not suffering at all.

The Holy Spirit will hold back more of evil in this world, if we only do our part.

Almost all of the Old Testament prophets were murdered by the various governments of Israel during the time of kings.

*****Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

 We must patiently endure the persecution of this world just so we can get that opportunity to witness for Jesus.

Heb 11:36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 

Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 

Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

These men and women patiently endured all these things because they held on to their faith.

It would have been easy to turn their back on Jesus and stayed alive a little longer, but they refused because they knew they had the truth.

How can we grumble against God who has made such wonderful promises to us?

Look at Moses for a great example.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

The rewards of Heaven are just too good to give up following the Lord Jesus!

Job was also a great example.

*****Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

We see here that James looked upon the Old Testament as actual history and we should to!

Job endured to gain the rewards of Heaven and the things that happened to Job happened in just a few days.

Every child of Job all died on the same day.

Few have ever suffered the trials and temptations of life that Job suffered through.

Along with the death of Job's children, he suffered bankruptcy, the loss of his property, all his livestock and even his employees and even his wife turned on him because he refused to complain to God.

Job never gave in. Job never forsook his faith in God even though he did not understand what was happening to him.

Job said: Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 

Job stated that he just could not be a hypocrite: Job 13:16  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 

It is hard to even imagine the absolute conviction of Job to hold onto his faith!

We must never take our eyes off the prize of the coming of the Lord to take us home.

It is sure and it is real!

The Apostle Peter also knew this to be the truth: 1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

No matter how much we are provoked by this world, we must never break into fits of swearing or the making of oaths.

When our answers are yes then say yes.

When our answers are no then say no and it will be enough.

We always seem to forget the Holy Spirit who is living within us.

He is our strength!

He is our comforter!

*****Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

No matter how much this world provokes us we must not swear by the name of the Lord.

What the Lord is saying here is to let your words stand firm. Always speak the truth and let your words be your bond of truthfulness.

He does not forbid the raising of our right hand and swearing to tell the truth in a court of law, but we had better be telling the truth when we do this.

The Jews in the day of Christ were notoriously guilty of common swearing.

They would swear on anything in God's creation, but not so much by God Himself.

Most of the time when we hear men swearing, they are trying to hide the fact that they are being dishonest.

If what we are saying is the truth then we do not have to swear to it.

Even in a court of law, God is watching us so we should take care that every word we say is the truth.

It is the same for us every time we open our mouths to speak. God is always watching His children.

We must never be that person who thinks we have to swear to cause someone to believe us!

This should hold to be the truth, even when we are going through trials and temptations because we are already being watched by Heaven's audience.

Most trials and temptations are tests to begin with.

Almost all of our answers can be "yes I will", or "no I will not".

If we are afflicted because of trials and temptations the best thing we can do is to pray.

Giving our burdens to the Lord is always the best thing we can do!

*****Jas 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 

Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

When we are going through troubles we need to pray!

When we are not going through troubles, then we need to pray and praise the Lord thanking Him for not going through troubles.

In fact, we need to praise the Lord in the midst of our troubles, thanking Him ahead of time for removing those trials and temptations from us.

Everyone upon this earth are facing trials and temptations at some point in their lives and usually quiet often.

As Christians we can depend upon the Lord to help us through these things when the lost have no such help.

Worldliness, lust and pride are the enemies of the Christian!

Also accidents, disappointments, unfaithfulness, bad times and bad feelings affect everyone from time to time.

We can all have good days and bad days.

For the Christian we can always rejoice no matter what we are going through because our names are written down in Heaven.

At some time or another we all seem to have sicknesses and most of those things are the same things we all suffer from, such as the "Common Cold".

There are also sicknesses that only affect certain people such the things of the heart, and that terrible word cancer that no one wants to heal and some other terrible things.

Many other things come about because nations are seeking some new disease that can stop an army in its tracks and make them easier to defeat.

We must understand that there is no illness that Our Savior cannot heal.

There is no problem that Our Savior cannot solve.

There is no nation that our Savior cannot defeat.

And thank goodness there is no one upon the face of this earth that Our Savior cannot save.

There are always some who are sick among the Church.

There may occasionally be a congregation that have no one sick on a given day but this is unusual.

There are those that think that the preacher’s job is to preach and nothing else but this is not true and every body of believers should have what are called elders.

It is the job of these elders and anyone else to visit the sick, but as we gather in God's house there is no better time to anoint that person or persons with oil and pray over them.

This is where our faith kicks in.

A prayer of faith, not just by these elders and the preacher but by all those present that day, especially including that one who has that sickness can indeed save the sick.

Notice the Holy Spirit adds that this prayer in faith can save the sick.

Notice what the Lord Jesus says: Mar_2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

It takes the same faith to be healed as it does to be saved and this we must remember.

Over and over the Lord Jesus said this was true.

Mar 10:52  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. 

Luk 7:50  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. 

We must also understand that our prayer of faith must also be a fervent prayer.

*****Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Confession is also a key to our forgiveness and our healing!

This does not mean we are to go around confessing all our sins to each other.

We are to confess our sin in closet prayer, between us and the Lord.

If the Church is aware of our sin, then yes, we can confess that sin to them.

If we have wronged some other Christian then we can confess our sin to that person and ask for forgiveness and that forgiveness should come.

If we have misled or lied to someone, we should confess that sin to them.

If we have caused someone to stumble and sin, we certainly need to confess our sin.

If we have publicly committed some crime, then we need to confess and forgiveness is required but this does not mean we hide them from the law.

If we have a pastor who we can trust we can sometimes confess our sin to them.

When we confess to one another then we must also pray for one another.

We simply cannot overlook the power of prayer.

Prayer is the greatest gift the Lord has given to us after our salvation.

Our prayers must be in the will of God for our lives and the lives of God's people.

The Holy Spirit gives us an example with the prayer of Elijah.

*****Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 

Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 

Elijah a prophet of God in the time of the Kings showed us the power of fervent prayer.

Elijah was a man just like we are, a human being who had passions and feelings just like we do.

Elijah earnestly prayed for it to not rain for three years and six months and it did not rain.

Then Elijah prayed for the rain to come and he could not get to shelter fast enough to keep from getting wet because of a thunderstorm.

If we can live our lives knowing that we can contact Heaven then, we will know that the Lord God of all Creation has heard our prayer.

If that prayer goes along with His will for our lives, then it is highly possible that we will get a favorable answer.

If our trial or temptation came upon us because of our sin then it is possible that the Lord will remove that obstacle from our path if that chastisement is sufficient.

If our sickness came upon us for doing something God said to not do then we may not get an answer at all or we may get an answer we did not expect.

The main thing is for us to live in the will God has for our lives and give the Holy Spirit our reins and do what He leads us to do, always.

This is called following in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ and this is being a Christian.

Notice it is the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, not a self-righteous man.

It is the righteous man that gets the help of the Holy Spirit!

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

We need to stick to the truth of the Word of God and we can depend upon it to be the truth!

Amen

Living For the Lord Jesus

 A Living Faith in the Life of the Church

Book of James Chapter 2

As our first lesson discussed, the fact that we face temptations and trials every day.

One the greatest trials we face today is that of showing favoritism or partiality or discriminating against people.

Our world is caught up in the middle of this crisis today and as is normal the world chooses the side of sin.

Remember the Lord says, "to come as you are"!

This means every person upon this world can come to the Lord Jesus Christ just as they are.

It is then when we give in to the Lord that the Holy Spirit will begin His work in us.

These things are the main headlines in our nation today and the cause of many of the problems we face in America and throughout this world.

We must clearly understand that there are only two types of people in this world and they are those who are saved and those who are lost.

The color of their skin, the way they dress, nor whether they are rich or poor, have anything to do with it.

It is only if they have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ or not.

By the way, as Christians we have become the greatest enemy to our government today because we refuse to fall in line with their policies and the policies of this world.

*Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Showing partiality means to favor some people over others or to pay special attention to a person because of his wealth, social standing, position, authority, popularity, looks or influence.

James has addressed this message to the Church and we need to be active in obedience to it because it came by the Holy Spirit, from our Heavenly Father.

What is going on in the world we cannot solve, but we can solve these issues in the Church.

The Church is to always be obedient to the Word of God which will never change because says He will never change.

Those in the world are the lost and we need to reach out to them with the message of Christ and we cannot expect them to act in a way suitable to the Lord.

Those in the Church who get caught up in this foolishness are the ones we need to address.

Our number one job is to be obedient to all the Word of God.

Our last lesson stated: Jas_1:22 But be ye "doers of the word", and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Of all the people upon this earth, the people who should never show partiality are believers!

Everyone in the Church stands on equal ground with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Everyone that knows the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, bow before Him As Lord.

All those who refuse to do so, the lost, are those same ones that we must pray for their salvation!

When we bow before the Lord, it is as a servant or a slave, all with equal standing!

The Lord Jesus throughout His short lifetime was no respecter of persons.

Mat 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Every Christian will share the same glory of the Lord when He returns to take us to our home in Heaven.

So, we cannot allow these things to become part of the Church and we cannot expect those who are lost outside the Church to act any different than they do because they do not know Jesus!

We must pray for them, but the ones we need to reach are those who have not heard the Gospel or have only heard lies about the Gospel.

When we stand before the Lord no matter what we think of ourselves we can only see His glory which we cannot compare ourselves with because of His infinite glory.

On any given day we can expect many different people to step into the sanctuary of the Lord.

We must immediately show them the love of Christ!

*Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; Jas 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

In the time of James a man with a gold ring probably had several gold rings because it was rare for any of those people to even come into the Church, unlike today when many wear gold rings for many reasons, marriage being one of those reasons.

Many a person with no gold rings or even goodly apparel would enter into the Church to hear the wisdom of Jesus Christ and not much fanfare was made over those, unlike the attention that the man with the gold rings would attract.

This is showing partiality and it is sin.

When we see that phrase "weareth gay clothing" it just seems to fit in with the things going on in our nation.

The fact is that if such a person comes into the doors of the Church, we should welcome them as we would anyone else.

They also have a soul that is valuable to the Lord!

If their actions prove to be against the Church, then we should ask them to leave as much as we would anyone who is not civil in God's House of Prayer, but we must refrain from being the cause of their actions.

If they refuse to leave, then we may have to get help to get them removed without causing harm to the Church.

We must allow the Word of God to convict them just as it has done to each of us.

Any house of worship that has specific good places for those who seem to be of high rank and bad places for the poor to sit, is not a Church!

Every Sunday there could be those who represent the extreme ends of wealth and poverty. If partiality is not to be shown in this case, then partiality should never be shown in any case.

In the Church there must be no distinctions, no distinctions of social class, standing, position, wealth, prestige, or recognition.

We should ask ourselves how many times a poor person has visited our Church and not been welcomed with open arms.

My church is mostly white so let us ask ourselves, how many times has a black person or a brown person come into our church and not be welcomed with open arms.

Since I have been at my church for over twenty years, I have not seen any rejected of any color, but I also know we can improve because the future that is front of us will weed out the true Church from the false church.

We must never think we cannot improve as a church!

We have the message of truth and a Pastor to preaches it.

We have loving people who show it.

We have prayer warriors who can make it happen.

We serve the one Lord of Salvation that says, "come as you are".

We will never feel uncomfortable around those we show the love of Jesus Christ!

*Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

When we show partiality, we have set ourselves up as a judge!

When we become a judge, then we think of ourselves as God!

We are saying that we can judge better than our Heavenly Father!

We judge by what we can see, but we cannot see into their hearts, but God can!

We do not know what is on their minds, but God does!

So we do not qualify as a judge in the Church of the Living God!

When we focus on the outward appearance of someone, we cannot focus on that person who possesses a soul that the Lord Jesus came to save.

Material things upon this earth will never be as important as the humans that live upon this earth!

Much of the world has forgotten this today!

The purpose of every human being upon this earth is to serve the Lord and make the fullest contribution to society. We can only do both by being in the family of God!

We are not put here to despise anyone!

*Jas 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Who are we to despise the poor?

When we despise the poor, we are showing contempt.

I do not know anyone in our church who is considered to be rich. In fact, Gethsemane is the most down to earth church that I know and I know there are other true churches.

Very seldom do the poor cause problems for anyone.

It is the rich and the high and mighty that oppress the poor and take from anyone if they get the chance to.

It is the rich and the high and mighty who will take advantage of every law to cause more problems for the poor.

No matter what our government tells us, the rich just get richer because it is they who make the laws.

The poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing!

Why in the world would we try to impress the rich or show partiality to them?

The rich are those same ones who make themselves lords over us all!

Even the Lord Jesus cautioned us on this thing.

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

It is the rich of this world who have placed themselves above the Word of God.

It is the rich of this world who have shown that they are the enemies of the Church today, and it is sickening to watch the world bow to them and grovel at their feet.

To grovel is to beg like a hungry dog.

We do not need any of this in the Church because the Church is a place to worship the Lord and we all stand on level ground in the Church.

What we see today is that everyone has been taught how to criticize.

In America today, everyone criticizes everyone else and the Church gets dragged into the middle of it when the Lord says to avoid it.

I have been guilty myself.

Let us just pray for the salvation of the lost and use the power of discernment to make the right decisions in our own lives and serve the Lord according to the Word of God.

*Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

What is royal law?

The royal law came from King Jesus!

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

A neighbor is today considered to be those who live closest to us, but this is not at all that the Lord Jesus means.

Our neighbors are all those who are connected with us in the bonds of humanity, and the love of God in us requires that we treat them all as friends.

The Lord Jesus means, that the entire world is to be considered our neighbors!

The Lord Jesus means, that we must not do to others that thing we would not do to ourselves.

A good example would be the parable of the good Samaritan.

It is a sin to show partiality!

James was speaking to Jewish people who knew the Laws of Moses, and James reminded them that the Laws of Moses directly forbade all respect of persons.

He also reminded them that it they broke one of the Laws of Moses, they were guilty of them all.

If we say we love the Lord and then, not show that same love to all others, then we are not being like the Lord Jesus Christ and if we are not being like the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are not being Christians.

This is the message James was giving to the Jewish Christians and to all Christians no matter their so-called race!

God does not see race; He only sees humans!

The Lord Jesus said if we could keep the Royal Law the Laws of King Jesus, then we will be keeping all the laws of Moses and all the laws of God.

If we could just love like Jesus loves, this world would already seem like Paradise.

*Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Some think faith is just believing the truth of Jesus Christ when in reality we show our faith by our conviction in action.

We show faith in our conduct in this world.

Head faith cannot save anybody!

We should ask ourselves, "is our faith moving us in the right direction"?

We could say that the greatest tragedy in the Church, is people who confess faith in Jesus Christ yet, they do not live for Him!

Millions profess Christ and are baptized and confirmed and made members of the Church, but they do not follow the Word of God, nor do they live for Christ Jesus.

Are they saved, it is between them and God, but the Lord Jesus said to deny ourselves and to pick up our own cross and follow Him.

Our faith must be more than a faith of speech, our faith must include our behavior and how we live our lives.

It should also include giving what we have in an effort to reach the lost!

A dead faith does not help anyone!

*Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

We must understand that our faith must be more than just sharing words of comfort!

There must be action in our faith!

When a brother or sister has a need, we must offer more than words of comfort, we must try to get the things they need for them.

Now James is talking about the Church and the members of that Church.

This does not mean we are not to help the lost, but helping the lost must include evangelism.

True faith begins with the Love of the Lord who cares for and is compassionate for all those who are in need by providing that need when we are able.

Now this does not change the fact that we are saved by faith without the works of those old Laws of Moses.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is no contradiction between these Scriptures they both tell the truth of God.

True faith cannot subsist without works after our salvation!

There is empty faith and there is faith working by love, which is being like the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

So many believe they are saved by faith and God accepts them because they believe in Jesus Christ regardless of if they fail to live for Christ and this is between them and God.

Once they have first believed in Christ then, in obedience to Him, professed Him before the church, and been baptized and joined the Church, God has accepted them and will take them to Heaven when they die and this is the truth.

I personally believe we can know we are saved when we are doing these very things.

I also believe we have an obligation to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is these who do so who are called Christian.

What does the Lord Jesus say?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

We must ask ourselves, then what is the will of our Heavenly Father after He has saved us?

The Lord goes on further to say:

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Jesus goes on to say all those who hear His Words and Does Them, are the same ones who are wise Christians.

Those who hear the Words of Jesus and do nothing else are then, the opposite of wise.

Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

The Lord Jesus is saying we are fools if we are not following Him, doing the things that He did, with all their heart.

James says show me your faith without thy works and I will show you my faith by my works.

These things sound tough, but the Word of God is always right.

*Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James says that even the devils and the demons and even Satan have head faith and are convicted with the fear of God, but they still follow Satan knowing they will spend eternity in Hell.

We need to ask ourselves; do we have more faith than the devils do? They not only believe, but they tremble knowing this truth because they cannot be saved.

The faith that they have cannot save them!

The question we must ask is, do we just have a head faith or a faith that knows our work is outside the Church and it consists mainly of reaching out to those in the world who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to be working on our relationship with Christ at all times!

What was the purpose of Jesus Christ?

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

We are to enter into the labor of all those who are Christian and who have gone before us.

This was the will of God for His Son and it is the will of the Lord for us after we are saved.

This takes more than just Head Faith!

Why are we hated today?

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

Joh 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

It is the Gospel that points to sinners and they cannot hide their sin from the eyes of God!

It is because the work we are to do, is to show those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ that they have no cloak to hide their sin.

We have a work to do after we are saved, and it begins by studying the Word of God so we can give them the truth of salvation!

Amen

Living in This World of Sin

 A Living Faith in Trials and Temptations

Book of James Chapter 1

We know that this James was the half-brother of Jesus Christ.

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 

It was this James who was one of eyewitnesses to the resurrected Lord.

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

It was this James who became the Pastor of the first Christian Church after Peter had to flee for his life, which was in Jerusalem.

This is also when Peter started a mission for Jesus Christ.

Act 12:16  But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 

Act 12:17  But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 

It seems it was this James that took over for Peter who actually began this first church of Christianity.

It was this James who was the presiding officer of the first Jerusalem Counsel.

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 

It was this James who was named one of the pillars of the early Church.

Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 

Gal 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

We can see that the half-brother of our Lord was held to a high standard to be mentioned along with Peter and John.

We know that this James was well versed in the Old Testament.

We know that this James knew how to apply the Old Testament to the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that this James was really familiar with the Sermon on the Mount, because he has included much of it in this first Book of the New Testament named after him.

We can trust this Book of James to be written under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit!

This Book was written to the Christians who were scattered because of the persecution of the Jews.

*****Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

We can imagine it took a lot of faith for a brother to confess that his brother was actually the Messiah and the Creator of this Universe.

That faith came when he saw his brother, the Lord Jesus Christ after his death, as He was resurrected from the grave, because the grave could not hold Him because death could not hold Him!

No doubt James was proud to say he was a servant to his half-brother Jesus because he did so.

We know that Moses was a slave to God, along with Joshua, and David, and Paul, and Jude, and all the Apostles and this James along with all the Prophets and now each of us who believe the truth and are all called Christians.

James had a calling to reach out to all Christians.

God used this letter so James could remain with the early Church when Peter had to flee from Herod and begin his own mission to reach the lost.

We should understand that it is not always easy to be a Christian in this world and it has been that way since the beginning of the Church.

We should expect trials and temptations and prepare for them because they will surely come!

When we think about having joy in these things, it first seems ridiculous, but in truth, life is not an easy walk for most people to begin with.

We should also understand that temptation also means to test, to try, and to prove, so we can have a better understanding of it.

When we conquer temptation and the trials of life, we become a much purer person, more holy, more righteous and more just.

We become a stronger person and become ready to be that servant the Lord can use.

The more we conquer these things, the more we become like the Lord Jesus Christ which must be our goal after salvation!

Remember the Lord Jesus told us take up our own cross and follow Him. That cross is a sign of death.

Mar_8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Then the Lord teaches us:

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Joy is not one of the things we feel while we are going through these things.

But Joy is the attitude that is needed.

The Lord is saying that when we look back on the things that have made us more Christian, we will find that some of our reactions were indeed laughable.

In reality, we should have joy in the fact that the world sees us as a Christian.

One of the greatest rewards we can receive upon this earth is patience!

We should understand that the Lord did not send us temptations nor trials in this life, but He will chasten us for our sin.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Will the Lord test our faith? We can be certain that He will!

An untested faith is a faith that may not exist.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

The Lord is seeking to improve our endurance to all these things.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 

Notice the Lord says, if it gets too bad in some areas, we may have to flee, but we can be assured that the Lord is coming back to get those who have not already gone home to Heaven.

This is called the rapture of the Church.

In all things we must allow patience to be our rule in this life!

*****Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

We should understand that if we truly want to become a citizen of Heaven, we must not refuse to enter the school of suffering which the Lord Jesus Himself has established here on earth!

When we look at these things as opportunities to get the blessings of the Lord, then we will see that we can have joy as we go through them.

When we can conquer our trials and temptations and get stronger, then we have fulfilled the purpose that God sent them.

We can see how these words become real in this day we are living.

Listen to the Lord Jesus:

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

God's purpose for us is to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot say we are Christian if we are not becoming more like Jesus. Do not let this world fool you! 

The more like Jesus that we become the more this world will hate us, because this world hates the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we stand firm in our faith in Christ, then we have conquered death just as He conquered death!

This is when the Lord opens the windows of Heaven and pours out more blessings than we can absorb while we are upon this earth.

We will have an eternity of perfection.

We will have an eternity of fitness, of completion, and fulfillment and all these things throughout eternity and that mansion will not be a bad thing either.

My pastor once preached that some of the people left behind might be injured for all those false teeth, those old joints that have been replaced with steel, all those glasses we need on this earth, all those braces, and crutches and any other thing that was placed in our bodies while we were living on this earth as they fall down as we are going up.

It will be the strangest rain they have ever seen!

We will lack nothing.

We will want for nothing.

We will have the abundance and the fullness of this life, but it cannot compare to those days of eternity in God's Heaven in His House!

We cannot reach this fullness of life if we lack the wisdom of the Lord!

*****Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

We will not be able to conquer anything in this life without the wisdom of the Lord!

Wisdom means far more than knowledge.

Wisdom is far more than just being intellectual about life of some area of this life.

Many people in this world have much knowledge; they are very common.

Many knowledgeable people fail trials and temptations because all that knowledge did not help them.

Only wisdom can grasp the great truths of life.

Scientists of today when they do not understand life they just add another billion years or so to it.

They may have knowledge, but they lack wisdom and they certainly lack understanding in the truth of God, at least most of them do!

Wisdom is seeing and knowing what to do about life!

Wisdom grasps the great truth of life without having to make up some false idea about life.

Wisdom sees the trials and temptations that surround life and death, the Lord and mankind, time, and eternity, good and evil, the deep things of the universe and the reality of the Lord our Creator.

Wisdom not only understands these things but wisdom knows what to do with these things!

Wisdom gains victory over all these things!

Psa_111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro_2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Pro_3:19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

The Lord is willing to share all His wisdom with us, but it can be too much for us, so he shares it a little at a time.

Asking wisdom of God is the way to conquer our trials and temptations and the Lord will always, will always, provide a means to escape.

God will never scold us for not knowing how to handle some trial or some temptation!

We must understand there is no question that the Lord cannot answer.

We must also understand if we cannot believe that the Lord has those answers we dearly need, then He will not provide that answer.

*****Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

If we are making a cake, then flour would be a necessary ingredient.

If we are making sweet tea, then sugar would be a necessary ingredient.

If we are praying to the Lord our Father in Heaven, then "faith" is a necessary ingredient.

Not just any faith, but faith in His ability to answer our prayers.

How can we ask in Christ's name, which is another ingredient, if we do not believe the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Joh 16:23  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 

There will be no answer for those who are not true believers!

Joh 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 

The things we ask for must be an object of our faith!

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 

1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

That word wavering means being in doubt.

How can anyone who rejects the truth of the Lord even think that our Father in Heaven would even consider answering their prayers when He has said He will not?

No matter how great the storms of life are to the unbeliever, they do not bother our Savior.

Mat 8:24  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 

He was asleep, because these twelve men had no faith and the things of this world, no matter how severe they seem to be they do not bother the Lord!

Those that pray without faith, how can they expect their prayers to be heard?

Those that reject the Lord, how can they expect to go to Heaven?

Prayer is the greatest gift the Lord gives to believers after the gift of salvation that comes by faith and faith only!

*****Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 

Unbelieving prayer is useless.

Though they may receive something it did not come from the Lord and they certainly have no right to blame the Lord either way.

They cannot expect anything more because they are not under the assurance of God's promises as is the believer.

Now the believer may not receive an answer they expected, but the Lord will listen to their prayers and His answer will be what is best for them.

God will never reward doubt!

God cannot answer the prayer of a doubting person because if He did, He would be rewarding doubt.

We must believe that God is who He says He is!

God will not hear nor can He answer any person who wavers in his faith!

Those who waver in their faith do not know the value of the gifts of God and cannot receive those gifts!

Those who waver in their faith are unstable in all their ways.

We cannot live our lives up and down, or back and forth and say we belong to the Lord, because we are not sure of anything.

We cannot be unstable in our Christian life and still insist we are living in the will of God. It is not God's will that we live in such a way!

This is the very reason so many saved people receive so little from the Lord.

Some have enough faith to be saved, but they remain babes in Christ all their days, never taking that next step of being Christian, a servant of the Lord trying to be like Him.

We must understand that the fruits of our prayers are received from the nail scared hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the middle person by whom God conveys His blessings!

Our strength comes from our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

We must understand that we will face the temptations of Satan, the Devil.

We must also understand that we will face the temptations of those who are lost in this world, our fellow human beings who are the children of the Devil whether they recognize it or not.

We must also understand that we will be tempted by the actions of those of this world that is so full of sin!

The Lord expects us to endure temptation no matter who we are.

It is true that sometimes, the strongest among us fail because they felt like they could not fail.

We must rejoice in the Lord no matter our circumstances!

Even the lowest Christian on the face of this earth will be exalted as a king and prince when the Lord returns.

No one has rank in God's New Heaven except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowing this, then if we are poor in this life we can think of ourselves as kings when the Lord returns.

All kings live in mansions and the Lord is building us all a mansion.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

We must never accuse the Lord of things that He cannot do!

We must never think our temptations come from the Lord!

*****Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 

So, where does temptation come from if not from God?

Because we still have that sin nature, sometimes the desire and the craving for things upon this earth are almost unbearable.

This is what temptation is: the desire and the craving for wrong things, things that the Lord forbids, and are harmful to our bodies, and to our spirits.

Just because some man justifies it, and says that it is acceptable, does it make these things right for us.

Such as alcohol, the Lord will never approve the drinking of any alcoholic beverage!

Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 

Pro 23:32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 

Certainly if we are not to look upon alcohol, then we should not be drinking it!

It does not matter that some religions allow the consumption of alcohol when the Lord says no to partake of it. They are wrong!

In this case the Holy Spirit uses wine and He says to not even look upon it.

We must not take into our bodies anything that dulls our senses and lowers our moral tone.

We must not yield to the temptation of anything that influences us to go against the Word of God!

God will never tempt us to go against Him!

We always want to blame someone else for our failures, but our failures are our own and we are the blame for all of them.

*****Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Jas 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

While we are in these bodies with that sin nature that we cannot avoid, evil thoughts and immoral desires will rule our lives if we allow them to.

These things will lure us into sin!

Even the unbeliever cannot use other excuses for rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is their decision to make and their opportunity to miss.

God cannot ever induce anyone to act against His will.

God will never go against anything He causes to be written down for us.

There is never a modern Gospel and there never will be a more modern Gospel than we have now. God never changes!

The Word of God is a Living Word that is real and is the truth, in all ages.

We must understand that some of our desires can be a sin, even if we do not act upon them!

Mat 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

When we face temptation from the normal and natural desires of man or woman, and think we cannot turn away from them, then these things become sin.

There is no person who is not a man or a women based upon the sex with which they were born.

Those that desire to be someone of the opposite sex is living in sin just as much as any of those desires that goes against the Word of God.

We cannot desire to do what sinners do and still say we are the children of God!

We are never to given in to our desires if they go against the Word of God!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

We must understand that it is the intention of the Word of God to be our guide in living the way that God has decided what is best for us, because we prove over and over again that we do not make good decisions based upon the rules of this world.

*****Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

The Lord Jesus does not see us as wise unless we are keeping the Word of God!

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Our house is this body we have been given, and it is this house we are to build upon with that Rock of Jesus Christ!

We must understand that just because we sit in God's house and listen to that sermon God gave to our pastor, that these things make us acceptable to Him.

It is not these things that make us safe and secure!

When we slip into some sin, we must not believe that God will forgive us just because we ask this of Him.

We must never think that God will not reject us.

We must clearly understand, God does not accept us because we hear and know the Word of God nor because we confess our sins.

These things are necessary and are very important but God accepts us because we confess our sins and then repent of them.

Repentance is turning away from sin and turning toward God!

God accepts us because we turn to Him and live for Him.

When we truly believe the Lord Jesus, then we will trust and follow Him and doing exactly what He says.

So many believe they can hang on to that pet sin they keep hidden and ask for forgiveness when we slide into it, but repentance is still required.

We are only deceiving ourselves when we think that God will just forgive us because of His grace!

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

There is no sin that we can continue in claiming God's Grace to be forgiven!

It is the doer of the Word of God who is blessed and not those who just hear the Word of God!

We are deceiving ourselves if we believe otherwise!

We are attempting to defraud the Lord Jesus Christ when we attempt to do these things.

We owe Him all we are and all we have!

*****Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

When we see the Word of God as our mirror, we can see just how great a sinner we have been since our birth

This holds true to every human being upon the face of this earth, no matter who they are.

Eze 33:31  And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 

Eze 33:32  And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 

Many of those who are lost do see the Words of God as great words to live by, but they go their own way because they do not see the Word of God applying to them.

They have made themselves self-righteous.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

Much of this world believe the Word of God is too harsh to live by, and they go their own way doing what suits them.

In either of these cases these who are lost forget that they are sinners in need of a Savior and the Bible says that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ and there are no other saviors.

They forget the destruction of this world that the Bible says will happen.

These are the loudest voices when the world speaks of "climate change" or "nuclear war” because they see this world as savable when the Lord says it is not savable.

Rev_21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

The Lord would not make all things new if this world were worth saving!

The greatest gift we can give to our pastors or preachers who preach the message God has given to them, is obedience.

When they preach, they must be looking for fruit.

As hearers we must carry out what we hear, or the preaching of the Word is falling upon deaf ears and that preacher will get discouraged and quit.

There are not enough true preachers today, but there are many impostors.

We cannot get the blessings of God from an impostor!

If we cannot find faith in the Word of God then as hearers, we also become impostors.

Then there are some who find the truth of God.

*****Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

What is the Word of God? It is the perfect law of liberty. Liberty from the bondage of Satan!

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can make us free from the bondage of the wickedness of this world.

When we live according to the Word of God, we will find that we can be freed from all the things that enslave our souls upon this earth.

We are free to know and fellowship with the Lord forever and ever.

We must continue in the Word of God all our days.

The trouble with this world is that those who deny the Lord Jesus, deny that there is life after the death of our bodies.

You would think that even the greatest believer in evolution could see that the miracle of life must extend after death.

They see animals of many kinds that can go dormant for periods of time and then come back to life and this is what God is telling them, there is life after death!

The Lord promises us that it is in this life that we are to prepare for the next life which is eternal!

The Word of God is the truth.

Heaven and Hell are real places!

Amen

Praying

Praying Devotedly

James 5

We have found that James has been teaching us things that we should all practise as Christians.

To be a Christian is still to be like Jesus Christ.

How did this name come about?

A handful of Jews from Jerusalem had gone to Antioch of Syria and preached the "Gospel" to the Gentiles.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
It is the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ that makes Christians.

If we are not like Jesus Christ then we are not Christians!

James has been preaching to Christians, who were scattered because of persecution, and this lesson continues today in chapter 5.

We ended last weeks lesson with this verse:

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

When we know how to do good by the Word of God, and reject God's Word then we are living in sin!

Let's Begin:

*****Jas 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

The Church is a mixed blend of people from all parts of society and from all cultures in this world. We should not be surprised when we find some in the Church who are rich.

It is not sin to become rich!

If those riches come from your own sweat and the work of your own hands then you need to thank God for what he has done.

But when those riches come at the expense of others then it was gained in a fraudulent manner.

James begins to condemn this type of rich man.

Happiness can never come from the riches in this world!

The quicker we find this out the better off we will be!

A comedian once said "money talks but all it says to me is goodbye"

Most of us find this to be true.

To "weep" is to be in misery and is a sure sign of grief.

To "howl" is to be in overwhelming distress as this misery has taken over your life.

Where does this misery come from?

*****Jas 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

That word riches means "all possessions".

That word "corrupted" means all those possessions have perished or will perish.

Many of the early Christians had been robbed of all their possessions simply because they had become disciples of Jesus Christ.

A moth breeds in yarn and garments and will eat the material thus destroying that garment.

That word "motheaten" means "the ways" of the rich will be destroyed!

*****Jas 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

That word "cankered" means that the best your riches will ever do for you, is to provide corruption.

That word "rust" is what happens to metals such as steel or iron, but the same Greek word used here can also mean the poisonous venom that is emitted by a serpent.

It is hard to have a good testimony and be very rich, if you have not used those riches to further the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

It is even harder to have a good testimony if you have lost those riches but still have a great desire for them!

It is that "lust for those riches" that will eat at your flesh and gnaw at your conscience until you have been consumed in your own misery.

Communism began when a certain group of the rich, took advantage of the hopeless poor. And on the backs of these poor they built themselves great riches and in some cases large nations.

By the means of slavery, many men have become rich and prosperous and human trafficking is still prevalent in our world today and it is still about riches.

Even today in what is called democracy and democratic governments, the reality is, that wealth and political influence have concentrated the wealth of the world into the hands of only a small number of multinational power brokers.

It is these men that have more control over the things of this world than we realize!

Even in America, even in an administration that says they are taking from the rich to give to the poor, the super rich have gotten even richer.

The intent of our governments today is not to take away from the rich to help the poor, it is to take away from what is called the middle-class, and make them all poor, while the rich just get richer.

The proof is in the results and not what the politicians say!

These things have always taken place and these things will increase until the time of Christ, when He will put an end to them!

Mar 14:7 "For ye have the poor with you always", and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

But when our Lord returns we also have this promise:

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and "the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies".

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; "for no man buyeth their merchandise any more":

Rev 18:17 For in one hour "so great riches is come to nought". And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; "for God hath avenged you on her".

There is the sinful Babylon of false religion.

There is the sinful Babylon of those rich who have gotten rich off the backs of innocent people.

Both will fall at the return of Jesus Christ!

*****Jas 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

That word "behold" means that the things written in the Book of Revelation will come to be true, "as sure as all the Word of God"!

God will avenge all the wrong that has been done to His people!

God will avenge all the wrong that has been done to His creation!

Jesus had these words:

Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Our God is a righteous God!

God came down from Heaven in the flesh to become our Savior!

Our Savior will return again as Judge and what we look for in a true Judge is "equity".

Psa 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psa 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Our God is righteous in all His ways!

2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

That Lord of the Sabaoth is in fact the Lord of Hosts!

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed coming from Heaven with His mighty angels and that day gets closer every tick of the clock!

Those that have oppressed the people of God's creation, will be judged!

*****Jas 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Jas 5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

That judgment will come to all who have lived and gained their wealth off the backs of others and ignored the Word of God.

They have lived in luxury on this Earth but there is no luxury in Hell.

They have indulged in wantonness or have made a sport of the way they live.

In other words they take great pleasure in all the evil things they have done!

They have fed off their desires, like beast eat their prey until they can eat no more.

Like sharks, they love the "feeding frenzy" over those less fortunate than themselves!

There are sometimes another reasons for the great wars that we see.

Most all wars have no real winners except for those that financed them and who are the underwriters of those wars.

In our past there have been those that have financed both sides at the same time, not choosing sides but only choosing riches over the death of the masses of people.

This still happens today, there are great riches to be made in every war!

In some wars the truly guilty are those that supply the weapons that have condemned those that are innocent and cannot resist!

God's answer is patience!

*****Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Just as the farmer must be patient until his crop comes to harvest, the Lord is very patient waiting on His precious fruit!

This is something that we all need to understand!

There are somethings that are just worth waiting for and the Lord sees every "Born Again" child of God as "one worth waiting for"!

There is great joy in the presence of angels in Heaven at every salvation!

It has now been over 2000 years since the Lord Jesus went to prepare our place.

He knows exactly how many places to prepare and He is truly waiting on those to fill those mansions.

Not one home in Heaven will be unoccupied!

Not one home will ever be sold or up for rent!

Someday soon the last part of the Body of Christ will be saved and the Church will be complete and we will all go to our new home in Heaven!

As the Lord is patient until this time we need also to be patient!

*****Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

We are living in sin, "if we do not live expecting the Lord to come at any time"!

We should know that the Lord Himself prays for each of us and this is one of His prayers as He prayed for Peter!

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, "that thy faith fail not": and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Our time to go home draws closer every moment that passes!

The Lord will make all things right when He comes in "judgment"!

*****Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

What are the signs of impatience? To "grudge", is to murmur, and groan and express your feelings against those that oppress the Church.

When we do these things it will affect our testimony and if one soul is lost because of our actions we will face that judgment also, at the judgment seat of Christ!

The eyes of the Lord are on every thing that has been done to us and is being done to His Church but His eyes are also on us in any wrongdoing!

If we study the Word of God and listen to it's truth, and see the things that are going on in our world, we should have no doubt that our "Judge is standing before the door", prepared to come to us at any time!

We are not the only ones who have seen hard times!

*****Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

"My Brethren", means all God's people, and we should know that all those that have spoken in the name of the Lord are our examples of others who have suffered.

Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Though some may be able, not many of us can say we have suffered as these mentioned in the Book of Hebrews.

These are our examples for suffering affliction.

The Bible never says that God's people will never suffer!

These that gone before, are our example in suffering and also our example in patience!

And God says those that do not believe, those that trust the world, are not even worthy of one child of God left behind to tell them about Jesus.

We are all a part of God's "Grace" to the unbeliever when we follow in the ways of Jesus Christ!

*****Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

God saved each of us for a specific purpose and God knows what is best for each of us to fulfill that purpose!

Not many will ever prosper and be much help to others if they have had an easy life!

We will never realize what a good day is all about, until we have actually had a bad day.

True happiness comes from enduring what "has to be" endured!

To be a Christian is to be like Jesus Christ and Christ "had to endure" all the things that happened to Him in order to bring joy, first to Himself, and then for us.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; "who for the joy that was set before him" endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What does endurance look like?

Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, "so opened he not his mouth":

All things were created by the Lord Jesus and we know that "God spoke" our world into existence.

But when He could have stopped His own death, He endured all these things and "opened not His mouth" and He did this for you and I.

We read many things in the Bible, such as the patience of Job, to encourage us in our bad times but we seem to forget the perfect example of our Lord as He endured death so that we can live and live forever!

Job was a real person and the story of Job is a real story and Job did have much to endure but after these things, then Job had real joy.

The Lord Jesus had much to endure and then came His joy for our Salvation!

When we endure the things of this world we should remember the absolute "joy" that is soon coming for all those that love the Lord.

And there are other things we need to do.

*****Jas 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

We must remember that as Christ Jesus endured the all the things that led Him to the cross, He also opened not His mouth!

We should remember there are no victories in Jesus until there are battles!

Blessings can come while we are in our trials but the greater blessings will come after we have endured that trial!

When we become impatient in our trials and temptations, it first noticed in our speech and then in our ways.

It is easy to say things that we do not mean, when we are suffering!

The Jews would swear often to back up the statements they had made but they were very careful not to blaspheme God in their swearing.

They would swear by heaven or by earth or even Jerusalem, but James teaches us all that all these things were created by the Lord and "it is impossible" to avoid swearing by God in any oath.

It is always better to just say yes when the answer is yes and no when the answer is no!

Even Jesus said to speak more than these things, is sin!

Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: "for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil".

So what is the best way to use our tongues? Prayer!

We may think that we are nourished by the food we eat and it is important.

But the absolute best use of our mouths are in prayer!

*****Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

When we find ourselves in the furnace, the most important thing we can do is pray!

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It was the cross of Jesus that tore down the barrier that was between us and God.

There is not any part of the day that we cannot go to the Lord in prayer!

We have no set times as some do, that we can reach out to the Lord. Our God is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

To be afflicted is to suffer from some difficult things in our life.

These are things that come not by our own sin, but by the things that we must go through in this life.

We are not to grumble and complain!

We are not to blame the Lord or anyone else!

"We are" to go to the only One who can help and that is our God in prayer!

This is the time to pray and not put it off!

Even Paul prayed that God would change his circumstances but God just gave Paul more "grace".

The Lord Jesus prayed, if there could be another way than to be separated from His Father for even one moment but God gave Jesus more strength.

And while you are going through your troubles there will always be others who are not!

If we are not down in the valley of transgression and are on the mountain top then we need to be singing Psalms of praise!

BUT, it is the "mature" Christian who can sing Psalms of praise and pray "while he is yet suffering those afflictions"!

Anyone can sing after their troubles are over!

It is through our prayers and our songs that we can worship our Lord!

This is what true worship is all about!

What songs should we sing?

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs", singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The Bible teaches us much about prayer and when we sing we need to be singing?

We need to be singing, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs!

*****Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

It would be a rare thing to find a congregation that gathered that did not have someone who was sick in some way among them.

The Greek word "astheneo" is used here and it means to be feeble, diseased, sick, or weak.

No doubt that this person should also be praying for themselves in closet prayer!

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Today this person would also ask to be put on a prayer list at his place of worship.

But James says to also call on those that have been Christians for a long time, the elders in the Church, and not so much the novices, who are new converts.

1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 "Not a novice", lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

These would be men who have been through many trials and temptations and would have experienced many blessings of the Lord and had followed and lived by the Word of God!

Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and "receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many".

These would be men who had "the gift and the grace of prayer" but they could also offer a word of counsel and advice.

It is true that in the time of the Apostles that they and some few others, had the gift of healing but James is not saying this in this passage.

When the Lord healed and the Apostles healed the results were instantaneous, the were complete, and they were permanent.

They were also unconditional and each one had a purpose!

And these healings were always secondary to the Word of God!

Luk 9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, "preaching the gospel, and healing every where".

The preaching came before the healing!

The "gift of healing" terminated once the New Testament was written!

There was no further need for the "gift of healing" and there are no more Apostles.

God now responds to the prayers of His children "at His own will and for His own purpose" but He will still respond!

We should also remember that even in the day of James and Paul, God chose not to heal everyone.

Timothy was a preacher of the Gospel but Timothy was not healed:

1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

The Apostle Paul prayed to be healed 3 times but God would not heal Paul:

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness". Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This is the same answer that is given the most today!

God's "Grace" must be sufficient enough for us to get through the trials of life!

In the day of James, oil was one of the few medicines that existed, and to be anointed with oil and the laying on of the hands are symbolic of the "healing power of God" and a sign of seeking the divine "Grace of God".

In other words "let them use oil who can by their prayers obtain recovery for the sick".

All healing then and now, are by the hand of God!

No human possesses the gift and the power to heal!

How do we know this?

*****Jas 5:15 And "the prayer of faith shall save the sick", and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

It is not the oil, it is not the laying on of the hands, nor is it any medicine that heals and saves, It Is The Prayer Of Faith!

And it is by the will of God and and the purpose of God that all prayers are answered!

The sick cannot be raised up unless the Lord raises them up!

The lost cannot be saved unless they are saved by the Lord!

Sins cannot be forgiven unless they are forgiven by the Lord!

Sin is the greatest sickness in this world we live and God sent His Son to solve that problem!

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And this is also why a prayer of faith is required!

Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved", and thy house.

Prayer is the key to life on this Earth!

And without Prayer in the name of Jesus, you will never make it to Heaven!

*****Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

To confess means a full, a frank, and an open confession!

If we have sinned against any person, then we need also to forgive them!

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

We must pray for each other, and not to some priest as Rome insists!

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: "but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy".

We must intercede for one another because we have a Savior who intercedes for us all!

Jesus Christ's intercession restores us to fellowship with God when that fellowship is broken through sin!

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

To pray for one another is also some of the "good works" that come from a "saving faith"!

That word "availeth" means "the profit of"!

The effectual fervent prayer is a prayer that profits!

This is not just a prayer from someone.

This is the prayer of someone who is justified by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and has the truth of God's "Grace" within him.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ";
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This is the "Grace" that saves and also the "Grace" that heals!

If you are not looking for that blessed hope, the appearing of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, then do not expect much from your prayers nor your prayer life!

It is this one thing that can energize our prayers above all other things!

It is this one thing that makes for fervent prayers!

Elijah was such a man.

*****Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

When the rain stopped it was because Elijah prayed, and it was by the hand of God!

The systems that make rain, put in place by the creating hand of God,were still in place but all God's creation is still under His direct control.

Luk 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! "for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him".

Pro 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? "who hath established all the ends of the earth"? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

There are many great wonders of nature but "they are all" under the absolute control of our supernatural God!

God can answer any prayer at any time because it is He who sits on the throne of His Own Creation!

All prayers that meet God's conditions will be answered!

*****Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and "shall hide a multitude of sins".

What is one good reason for "soul winning"?

There will be at that point in time, less sin in our world!

The more souls saved, the less sin in our world!

What is the truth?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Too many churches have erred from this truth!

Jesus Christ is the "only way" to our Father in Heaven!

Jesus Christ is "the truth" of what we will find in the Father when we get to Heaven!

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus Christ is all the life that can be given to us from our Father in Heaven!

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

When we can incite others to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for all their needs, we are completing the Will of God in our lives that we live for Jesus!

Every soul that is saved is one less soul that will never see spiritual death!

This will complete our study in the Book of James.

Next week we will look at some things in the Book of 1 Thessalonians.

Questions?

Let's Pray!