My reading of the Epistle of James

sermonindex Feb 8, 2007

Most every morning, before I am even fully awake, while the coffee is brewing, I read the Bible. I don't say that to boast, just to testify as to what God has me to do, to start the day in this world on a Foundation, that allows me to even make it THRU the day.

Having said that, for some reason God laid it on my heart to share my thoughts on the passages.

share my thoughts, not exegete, Lord knows I'm not smart enough for that, and I beg your apologies, for I read from an NIV Bible study Bible. what follows is verses I felt led to underline and the notes I made on the sides and margins.

1. Don't doubt

2. Exult in humility.

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind". James 1:6

1. quick to listen.
2.slow to speak.
3.slow to anger.

James prefaced this by saying in verse 19 by writing: "My dear brothers, take note of this:"

I pray Lord endow me with this trait, endow us.
This is at the heart of wisdom.

1. ....."do what it says"...do what it says, that is the Word. 1:22

we all know "works" will not get you into Heaven, but do what it says.

I've always had a check in my spirit when I hear the word "religion", but I got much fruit from this: (and I'm sure you all know this verse)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

be benevolent for those alone, poor and in distress, and dont buy into the world, in, but not of.

"But you have insulted the poor......." James 2:6a

by lifting up the rich.As to the poor, hug them, love them, feed them, wash their feet, for nobody else will do it but you and Christ within you, for as it has been said, "The Son of man has no place to lay His Head"

1. The "royal" law:

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture: 'Love your neighbor as yourself', you are doing right". James 2:8

2. "Mercy triumphs over judgement" James 2:13b

I will keep that buried in my heart and say it again: "Mercy triumphs over judgement."

Here's one we all know, but I had to underline it:

"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do". James 2:18b,c

and

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

From earlier, in yellow highlight, I had marked off this bit of Scripture from the "taming the tongue" exhortation:

"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" James 3:11

on the next page in the uppper margin I wrote four words:

"humility=wisdom" and "no slander"

after reading this portion:

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere, Peacemakers, who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteouness" James 3:17-18

and then

"But he gives us more grace. That is why the Scripture says:
'God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble'. " James 4:6

then I was led to underline two more passages:

"Brothers, do not slander one another..." James 4:11a

What God laid on my heart after reading that is this: currently there is division and contention among several ministries, we all know who they are. and if any of the brethern involved, read this, i urge you in Christ, get on the phone, and make it right, say , "I love you and the Lord loves you". period, end of sentence. No more open letters, no more reiterating "positions" and "stands", quit.

because as I read in James:

"There is only One Lawgiver and Judge......"
James 12a

and then I underlined:

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes". James 4:14b

and

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." James 4:17

how guilty am I of this? How many times have I stumbled in this regard......knowing what is good, yet........Praise God for the convicting Power of the Holy Ghost.

in the upper margins of the page I wrote five words:

"boasting is evil." "be patient", which are the first two words from the 7th verse of the 5th chapter.

then I underlined:

"Don't grumble against each other, brothers"...("or you will be judged") James 5:9ab

How many times have I been guilty of this? and I pray Lord help me be patient, stay my tongue, stay my keyboard, give it salt and light.

and then James concludes with this pastoral advice in the Lord:

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and annoint him with oil in the Name of the Lord.
And prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven". James 5:13-15

in trouble?pray.
happy? sing.
Sick? pray over him.

all very simple and very powerful.

and the last line I underlined is a tenet of this Most Holy Faith:

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective".

Great words of truth, as my own eyes have witnessed this, may I never forget that Pillar of faith.

finally, at the bottom of this simple epistle, I wrote these words:

"The Lord is full of compassion and mercy".

Thank You Jesus, I love You Lord, and I send my prayer and love to every saint who allowed me to share my morning with them, May you blessed in Messiah Jesus, neil

C

Christinyou Feb 9, 2007

"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do". James 2:18b,c

and

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

What about the reverse Paul speaks of? Show me your works without faith and I will show you dead works. Author inter:

So also, deeds without Faith is dead.

Who's faith are we dealing with in our works?

Galatians 2:16-21 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Faith of Christ gives our works the deeds of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

He is our righteousness and He is our Faith unto these righteousness deeds, for self can do no righteous deeds without the Faith of Jesus Christ in us.

In Christ: Phillip

sermonindex Feb 9, 2007

yes and amen!

neil

sermonindex Feb 9, 2007

1. Don't doubt
2. Exult in humility.
"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind". James 1:6

Brother Neil,

Thank you for your edifying post. Oh the depth and riches of scripture. It has all that we need that pertains to "life" and "godliness."

sermonindex Feb 9, 2007

amen,.....ALL we need.

Y

Yeshuasboy Feb 9, 2007

The Great Book Of James... a Masterpiece.... A wise but simple piece of beautiful.
I think it's still my most favorite of all the Books since reading it 15 years ago. The zeal of this man :-D Wasn't he so hated that he was thrown off the top of Solomon's Temple? James was dangerous to the phonies in the religious system of his day.
What a Book... What a man of God.

The Lord bless you with Himself,
richie

P

preacherafla Feb 9, 2007

A great book to show us how to live holy lives. An encouragement to help us approach others out of love-- "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (1:20)
May we always use God's word as a mirror to our lives and set right whatever is out of place. David did this, "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." Psalm 119:59

In His service,
preacheraflame

I

InTheLight Feb 9, 2007

Neil, many thanks for sharing your notes and what a great reminder this is that, as Tozer has said, an honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.

1. The "royal" law: "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture: 'Love your neighbor as yourself', you are doing right". James 2:8

This in particular struck me, I've never noticed before that James calls this love for men a "royal law". It clearly was a powerful law in our King's life, love for men regardless of their standing or position. Perhaps love to God, and love to men, are the royal couple of laws, the king and queen so to speak.

In Christ,

Ron

C

Compton Feb 10, 2007

Neil,

I wanted to thank you earlier for sharing your heart in this thread. I would encourage you to do this more! I would encourage myself to do the same! Let us abide no more in our politics and programmes...instead abide in Christ, and the call to His body and pray the living waters flow.

"Brothers, do not slander one another..."

So often I feel that within the body that our present unity in Christ is sadly overlooked...sometimes just because of uncharitable tempers and harsh assumptions.

For some of us breathe after personal holiness, longing to be a people who honor God through purity, while others of us are stirred deeply by the bleeding and poverty of others, longing for God to be made known through mercy and compassion.

Well, I don't know if it's the Spirit given to me, or grace to be the New Man, but I find I can, love both Christians! (When leaning on Christ and not looking to my own interests.)

Oh to be both Christians all at once! To live holy and to love wholey! One is not enough without the other. So rather then hurting those brothers who long for holiness with names like legalistic, or self-righteous, or wounding those brothers who desire mercy to triumph, with names like liberal or humanistic, we should protect the rare and precious traces of Christ we find exhibited in each other. Even with less then agreeable theology, a Christian can still be valued as an uncommon gift from God.

Of course doctrine is important. It always has been...especially biblical doctrine such as this oft overlooked one.

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

To do right and to love. Holiness and mercy. Two wings on the same bird! If we would be a Christian, we need both dimensions of God's character. In my opinion, the moment we pridefully assert one over the other, we are no longer spiritual, but carnal.

Brother let's continue to look for what already exists but has been neglected: the unity found from sharing Christ! So often, when I am offended by Christians, it is not my brothers and sisters who offended, but my own corruptions that recoil when touched. Holiness offends me because I need more holiness...and mercy offends me because I am unmerciful.

What is the cure for my jealous and stingy heart? Is it the Spirit of God and I spending long hours in isolated fellowship? Yes but that is not nearly all! If I would abide in Christ, I must abide in humble communion with His body. I'm not an iChurch with my own playlist.

So thank you again for sharing with us your warm reflections from James over a cup of fresh coffee this morning! Why not be open to penning future morning coffee devotionals? And if you ever compile them into a devotional book, you can always use the title, "Hallowed Grounds.";-) )

Blessings brother,

MC

sermonindex Feb 10, 2007

MC said

I'm not an iChurch with my own playlist.

(This comment tickled me, particularly in the light of your parting shot....) However, there is definitely an important place for meditation in isolation, and learning to be comfortable in one's new wineskin... :-)

you can always use the title, "Hallowed Grounds."

:-) because I have a beautiful old vinyl recording of original spiritual music from a London (UK) church - of orchestra, soloists and choir - which always ministers through the Spirit who inspired it - called 'Hallowed Ground'.... ;-)

But, more seriously, Neil said

1. quick to listen.
2.slow to speak.
3.slow to anger.
James prefaced this by saying in verse 19 by writing: "My dear brothers, take note of this:"
I pray Lord endow me with this trait, endow us.
This is at the heart of wisdom.
1. ....."do what it says"...do what it says, that is the Word. 1:22
we all know "works" will not get you into Heaven, but do what it says.

(NKJV) James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

This is what I'm learning about.... just ~~[i]~~doing[/i] what is called forth from me if I'm going to be like Jesus - no questions asked.