James 5:13-20
Pastor Lee:
So we are about to finish the book of James! Think about this: for those of you who did your devos every day: you read the entire book of James! Pretty Great Huh! I am so excited about all of you that are staying faithful to the Lord and His Word.
WHAT A GREAT PASSAGE THIS IS!
The theme here is prayer. I mentioned yesterday that we also need to pray, and then today the devotion is all about the power of prayer. God says that when we are going through a tough time, we should pray through it. When we are going through a sick time, we should pray through it. And when we simply need God to do something miraculous (like making the rain stop for over 3 years) then we should just pray for God to work, and God will work in a great way, if we have the Faith to pray and Trust Him.
One other important note: it says, that we are to confess our fault to one another: that does not mean go around and tell everyone your sins, it simply means, find a close friend, and tell them your struggles so that you can have accountability through your struggle.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
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:
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.
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.
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.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
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.
FRIDAY, February 22nd, 2008
James 5:7-12
Pastor Lee:
Patience seems to be the key here. I find that when I am not patiene it is because I think that I deserve better than what I am getting. For example, If I am driving down the road and people are driving horrible, I should just have a Christlike attitude, but when I begin to get inpatient it is because I with that all of these other people didnt get in MY way. It is a dangerous thing to focus on yourself. But this passage makes it clear that we should not give up in serving the Lord (going to church, doing your devotions, living Christlike) because The Lord is coming back and we need to trust Him and live patiently as we weight for Him.
Also we should not hold a grudge agains someone. Let God be the judge! He is a VERY GOOD JUDGE!
Finally, has anyone ever told you not to swear? Well, this could be where they got it from. We shouldnt have to swear, because people should already know if we say yes, we mean it, and if we say no, it is the truth.
ONE LAST NOTE** You are all doing a GREAT job in your devos! Dont forget to pray about what you read; just take a second and talk to God abd what He just talked to you about. It really help good communication which builds a GREAT RELATIONSHIP with the Lord!
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.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
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.
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.
Pastor Lee:
Patience seems to be the key here. I find that when I am not patiene it is because I think that I deserve better than what I am getting. For example, If I am driving down the road and people are driving horrible, I should just have a Christlike attitude, but when I begin to get inpatient it is because I with that all of these other people didnt get in MY way. It is a dangerous thing to focus on yourself. But this passage makes it clear that we should not give up in serving the Lord (going to church, doing your devotions, living Christlike) because The Lord is coming back and we need to trust Him and live patiently as we weight for Him.
Also we should not hold a grudge agains someone. Let God be the judge! He is a VERY GOOD JUDGE!
Finally, has anyone ever told you not to swear? Well, this could be where they got it from. We shouldnt have to swear, because people should already know if we say yes, we mean it, and if we say no, it is the truth.
ONE LAST NOTE** You are all doing a GREAT job in your devos! Dont forget to pray about what you read; just take a second and talk to God abd what He just talked to you about. It really help good communication which builds a GREAT RELATIONSHIP with the Lord!
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.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
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.
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.
THURSDAY, February 21st, 2008
James 5:1-6
Pastor Lee:
There is an ongoing message throughout these six verses, that makes it clear: the love of money (or things) is the root of all evil. There are several verses that you may not understand and that is fine. The commentator is not even very clear, but let me share what I got and that should help you out.
Verse 5 is definitely the one that jumps out at me. Here is what it is saying: You have experienced the "pleasure of sin for a season" and it left you "wanton". Wanton means self indulgent and wrong. The idea it gives is this, imagine a cow on the day of slaughter, he is just sitting there eating away not knowing that with every bite he is only moments away from death. We are the same way, we indulge in sin, not knowing that every moment we come closer to our spiritual death. Stay away from sin/ Dont be a "fat Cow" when Christ returns!
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
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.
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.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Pastor Lee:
There is an ongoing message throughout these six verses, that makes it clear: the love of money (or things) is the root of all evil. There are several verses that you may not understand and that is fine. The commentator is not even very clear, but let me share what I got and that should help you out.
Verse 5 is definitely the one that jumps out at me. Here is what it is saying: You have experienced the "pleasure of sin for a season" and it left you "wanton". Wanton means self indulgent and wrong. The idea it gives is this, imagine a cow on the day of slaughter, he is just sitting there eating away not knowing that with every bite he is only moments away from death. We are the same way, we indulge in sin, not knowing that every moment we come closer to our spiritual death. Stay away from sin/ Dont be a "fat Cow" when Christ returns!
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
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.
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.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
WEDNESDAY, February 20th, 2008
Come To Church Tonight!
James 4:11-17
Pastor Lee:
Three main lessons I got from this:
1. Dont talk bad about other people! You have no right to judge others. The only one that has any right to judge is the one who made all the laws, and that is Christ alone.
2. You dont know what will happen tomorrow, you dont know if you will be alive, if your family will be alive, who knows? live TODAY as if it were your last. Serve the Lord because your life will be over before you know it. It is like a vapor.
3. If I am convicted to do something and I dont do it, then I am sinning. If I Know I am supposed to do something good, but I dont do it. It is wrong. (LIKE GOING TO CHURCH) :)
What did you get from this?
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:11-17
Pastor Lee:
Three main lessons I got from this:
1. Dont talk bad about other people! You have no right to judge others. The only one that has any right to judge is the one who made all the laws, and that is Christ alone.
2. You dont know what will happen tomorrow, you dont know if you will be alive, if your family will be alive, who knows? live TODAY as if it were your last. Serve the Lord because your life will be over before you know it. It is like a vapor.
3. If I am convicted to do something and I dont do it, then I am sinning. If I Know I am supposed to do something good, but I dont do it. It is wrong. (LIKE GOING TO CHURCH) :)
What did you get from this?
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
TUESDAY, February 19th, 2008
James 4:6-10
Pastor Lee:
There is a theme in these few verses and the last verse summs it up. If I will humble myself in the sight of the Lord, then He will lift me up. Often times we see people trying to lift themselves up in life. We are probably even guilty of it often times. But this passage makes it clear, when we try to lift ourselves up, then we only give ourself a false sense of position. The truth is, that when we lower ourselves, then Christ will lift us up. Because God resisteth the proud, Just like you do.
HAve you ever met a "one-upper"? Everything you say that you have done, they always say they have done it more, or better, or faster, or cooler. Many of us have met that kind of person, and we resist them, because they are always trying to make themselves look so good.
Live today with humility, understand how low we are, and let Christ alone lift us up.
By the way: I love the promise, "Draw neigh to God and He will draw neigh to you"
He is getting closer to you everytime you take a step in your daily devotions to get to know Him.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Pastor Lee:
There is a theme in these few verses and the last verse summs it up. If I will humble myself in the sight of the Lord, then He will lift me up. Often times we see people trying to lift themselves up in life. We are probably even guilty of it often times. But this passage makes it clear, when we try to lift ourselves up, then we only give ourself a false sense of position. The truth is, that when we lower ourselves, then Christ will lift us up. Because God resisteth the proud, Just like you do.
HAve you ever met a "one-upper"? Everything you say that you have done, they always say they have done it more, or better, or faster, or cooler. Many of us have met that kind of person, and we resist them, because they are always trying to make themselves look so good.
Live today with humility, understand how low we are, and let Christ alone lift us up.
By the way: I love the promise, "Draw neigh to God and He will draw neigh to you"
He is getting closer to you everytime you take a step in your daily devotions to get to know Him.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
MONDAY, February 18, 2008
James 4:1-5
Pastor Lee:
These 5 verses explain quite the story. Have you ever had a crush or a significant other that was flirting with someone else? It is not fun. It hurts. Imagine how much it would hurt if your husband or wife was cheating on you. It would be horrible. This passage explains that when we "flirt" with sin and the things of the World, then we are cheating on God. For example: in marriage you make a covenant because of the love that you have for each other; and for someone to break that covenant of love, just because of their lust, it would cause serious problems in that relationship. God wants us to understand that our relationship with Him is also a covenant of love. Christ loved us so much that He became the payment for our sins. When we fall back into the arms of the world, then we have commited adultery. Cheating on the one we love and the one who loves us. Think about how much that breaks the heart of God.
These 5 verses explain the heartache and problems that come with an adulterous lifestyle.
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Pastor Lee:
These 5 verses explain quite the story. Have you ever had a crush or a significant other that was flirting with someone else? It is not fun. It hurts. Imagine how much it would hurt if your husband or wife was cheating on you. It would be horrible. This passage explains that when we "flirt" with sin and the things of the World, then we are cheating on God. For example: in marriage you make a covenant because of the love that you have for each other; and for someone to break that covenant of love, just because of their lust, it would cause serious problems in that relationship. God wants us to understand that our relationship with Him is also a covenant of love. Christ loved us so much that He became the payment for our sins. When we fall back into the arms of the world, then we have commited adultery. Cheating on the one we love and the one who loves us. Think about how much that breaks the heart of God.
These 5 verses explain the heartache and problems that come with an adulterous lifestyle.
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
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