James1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
“Religious”: This refers to ceremonial public worship, instead of one referring to internal godliness, to emphasize the external trappings, rituals, routines and forms that were not followed sincerely. Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech which means we need to keep a tight reign on our tongue. This is speaking of someone who is a Christian in form only. The heart of man reveals what relationship he has with God. To be a true Christian, our heart must be washed in the blood of the Lamb. We must speak healing, peaceful words from a heart stayed upon God. James picks two synonymous adjectives to define the most spotless kind of religious faith – that which is measured by compassionate love. It is important that we pay special attention to those that cannot help themselves or else we will be like everyone else in the world.
The two things Jesus said were the important commandments were to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as our self. You cannot be involved in the ways of the world and belong to God. Christians are in the world, but are not of the world. We must not get involved with the world. We are to be a separated people.
The neighbors that we are most responsible for are the neighbors that cannot help themselves. The widows and orphans are the responsibility of the Christians. Keep yourself stayed upon good things, and you will not have time to get involved with the bad. When you do for those who cannot help themselves, you are doing it unto God.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
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:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
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.
Professing Christians who are content with only hearing the Word, have made a serious spiritual miscalculation. Even the scribes and Pharisees were hearers of the Word of God. The devil spirits even heard and believed, but they were not doers. We may say we are Christians, but the real test is do we live what we profess? Are we just saying and not doing? If so it is like looking in mirror and seeing a reflection of our self and not of God. This really is speaking of someone who professes Christianity, but lives like the world. This is like people who get baptized and then go back to their old way of life. When we repent, are saved, and baptized, we are to become a brand new creature.Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. The key word is continueth. He not only professes Christianity, but walks continuously in the salvation he has received. No one has to ask him, if he is a Christian. His way of life shows the world that he is a Christian and he will be blessed by it.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
As we should well know all things come from God because God owns all things and He gives all good and perfect gifts to anyone who believes and ask of Him. God is the same, today, yesterday, and forever. God does not change. God is the source of all Light. Jesus called Himself the Light of the world. The Light is so bright there is no shadow where God is. God of His own will created us to be like Him in truth and in deed. All the redeemed are God’s first fruits in that they are the first step in God’s redemption of all creation. James says, listen and don’t talk too much. Usually if we listen carefully to what someone is saying, before we speak, we will not get angry. We can use the word anger or wrath cause we know anger is not good and we usually are not on our best behavior which means we are not Godly or righteous. We are to put away those things that could lead us away from God. It is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, who saves our soul. This is speaking of being so full of Jesus and His Word that we will have His Word implanted in our inner-most being. Our heart will be stayed upon God and His Word, and that will cause us to live the way we should.
Mom and I are very sad this afternoon. While we were outside earlier, we saw an animal laying on the other side of the road. When Mom walked out to check, it was the mama cat. She had been hit by a car.
I know that she was mean to me sometimes, but it was because she was protecting her babies.
Mom says she’s going to do her best to take care of them- they’re eating wet kitten food already, and we’re also giving them plenty of kitten milk that Ms. Leah told us how to make.
Please pray for the kittens, that they’ll keep growing up big and strong, and learn how to be good cats from Fonda, Baby Girl, Chip and Crook.
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13
James 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.
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:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
In this life we have temptations, trials, and tribulation. It is not the temptation that ruins the man, but his attitude toward the temptation. We should willingly endure whatever temptation comes our way. Those who live and overcome the temptations they suffer, have awaiting them a crown of life. Temptations come to make us strong in the Lord. God allows the devil to tempt us. He does not bring the temptation Himself. It is actually the lust of the flesh which tempts mankind. We know this to be true, with the example of Adam and Eve. The first mistake she made was to listen to that old deceiver Satan. Then she looked upon that which was forbidden. The lust of mankind has always been the thing that causes man to sin. The wages of sin is death. The only reason Christians do not have to pay those wages, is because Jesus paid it for us. Verse 16 simply says walk in the salvation you have received.
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways
We are to rejoice for we are all the same in the eyes of God, it does not matter if we are at the bottom of the totem pole or at the top we are all the same to God. But how we look at what we have by what we gain from God or from man is what determines where our treasure lies, and will it be an eternal treasure or one that passes away. Verse 11 goes on say that as trouble comes if you are not putting up treasures in Heaven the your treasures will pass away. This is not speaking of the Godly rich, but of those who have ways that cause them to be rich. This is speaking of those who are thinking, not of life eternal, but life in the here and now. The rich, who put their trust in their wealth, have no future with God.
James 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.
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.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James now says if you would like to wisdom ask God for it. Why does he say to ask for wisdom? Because wisdom is what is needed to be able to begin to understand God and what He has for you. He says God will give it to you as long as you ask in faith, not wavering. It is useless to pray and ask for something, if you do not believe you will get an answer to that prayer. Faith is what causes the prayer to be answered. When Jesus healed the sick, He said, your faith has made you whole. If there is any doubt then God is not going to grant what we ask for. In Mark 9 a man of faith ask Jesus to help him with his unbelief because he wanted more and God here us when we sincere with our faith in asking for what we need. Verse 8 is speaking of an unstable person, who cannot make up his mind. He really does not truly believe anything. His heart is not right with God.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The book of James starts with James saying he is a servant of Jesus Christ and addressing the twelve scattered tribes of the Jews, this would be the ones that are followers of Jesus that have been scattered because of persecution. As he addresses them he is in essence addressing all Christians, even present day. He say to that when we are faced with challenges of any kind that we should count it with joy. most of the time we want to go the opposite direction but we should count it joyful to be tempted to show the control Christ has in our life. Also this where patience is born because it tries your faith. And as patience works it helps us to become more like Christ living more like a christian should live each day wanting nothing because we have everything with Christ
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Well here I am still not sure whereto go next, have a couple of ideas and that is why this scripture. God knows the plans He has for each and every one of us but He is not going to just put it out there in front of us. He wants us to call Him, most everyone today has a cell phone or access to one and uses it, but the call to God is absolutely free. He just asks us to pray and seek Him with our whole heart and He will hearken to us and give the answer we desire because He said it would be an expected end.
Also I would like to take the time to thank everyone that took the time wish me a wonderful and happy birthday, I count you all as dear and close friends even though we may not see each other regularly and for those who I know that sometimes forget to look at Facebook and get a chance to wish some one a happy birthday, like me, I still count you as dear and close friends to.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Again Jesus is speaking and says anyone hearing the words of this book, the Bible, and decides they need to add to it then God will add to the misery and plagues they receive in the tribulation, and if they want to take away from the words of this book then God will take away their part out of the book of life and out of the Holy City basically saying they will have no part in the heavenly eternity. Now for us who profess to be believers it is up to us to testify of the things we know of this book to unbelievers and let them know that when Jesus calls his bride home it will be in twinkling of an eye which means it will come quickly. It should also be our prayer today to say even so come Lord Jesus. As believers we know Jesus is with us every day with help of the Holy Spirit but we have to maintain that faith on a daily basis. For the unbelievers it is time to make a decision on who you will serve God or Satan,there is no in between and God’s spirit will not strive with man forever. I hope that if you do not have a Bible believing church to go to that you will find one today. It has been a blessing to me to go through this book of the Bible with those that took the to read and I hope receive a blessing from it as well. Whats next?
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
