Joy in Difficulties
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, the half brother to Jesus whose Father was God; the brother of Jude. James was the leader of the church at Jerusalem. He was known for law keeping and this epistle was practical and ethical, written to the Jews (12 tribes) that were scattered abroad. If you have faith your actions will surely show it. Greetings, the Greek way of opening a letter. Paul would open with "grace and peace."
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
trying, dokimion, that by which something is tried or proved, a test
Being a Christian doesn't mean we will be free from temptations and trials. Our attitude towards them is to be Joy, because they are a means of moral and spiritual growth. Faith is tested. We do not rejoice in trials, but rather in the results, our faith will be proven and strengthened. Through trials we learn patience.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
perfect, teleios, brought to its end, finished, completeness
Patience brings with it maturity. Here the word for patience is active, it doesn't mean we do nothing, put it is as one striving for completion, as a runner in a race, we are to hang in there and not give up. Patient endurance makes completion, you will lack nothing.
Remember that God is always leading us forward into more light and truth and revelations from him. In the trials we seek God and continue knowing that our Lord is leading us all the way. The journey will purify our faith and prove that we are of him. The end will be enduring faith and determined service.
Wisdom From 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.
liberally, haplos, simply, openly, frankly, sincerely
upbraideth not, oneidizo, no deserved reproach , no disappoiintment or displeasure with a person for conduct that needs correcting.
The source of wisdom is our Father God, ask and receive, for he loves you and will not scold you for asking. When we ask God for anything he gives openly and sincerely. It shows that we trust him and know that he is there to answer. He will give you wisdom when you ask of Him. The Holy Spirit within, teaches us all things that are of Him. It is when trials come, especially that we need his wisdom.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Perhaps the best thing we can ask of from God, is more of His Spirit. Being filled up to where no darkness dwells within our hearts. More of Jesus Lord, gives us more of him.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
James 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.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
We are to ask in faith without doubting, not in the flesh, but in the spirit. Sometimes when someone is close to being delivered from the darkness, they will waver in fear and confusion. God is not the author of confusion, we must receive by faith.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
double minded, dipsuchos, uncertain, wavering, divided in interest
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Most Christians are not totally committed to the Lord. The apostle Paul was a committed servant. If we are totally His, then we know that the Lord will supply our needs, for he never fails. Are we totally committed to do the will of our Father? He will show us all that we need to know.
Our hope is not as grass
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
low degree, tapeinos, humble, cast down
God loves the quiet hearts, the poor in spirit, the meek and lowly.
Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Psa 10:12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
God hears the humble prayer and he will supply the needs of those who trust in the blood of Jesus, the passover lamb of God. We have the favor of our Father, God.
James 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
made low, plousios, spiritual abasement, leading to lament
1 Pet 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1 Pet 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
We do not trust in the abundance of money or things. Our trust is in the God who gives us eternal life and an inheritance as a son of God.
James 1:11 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.
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Set your heart on things above...
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead (to the flesh and it's lusts), and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Look towards our God, he is found in his creation, in kind words and actions, he dwells in our hearts. He honors his word in the Bible. Seek that which is eternal, for beauty will fade, youth will give way to old age, yet those who are in Jesus shine forever with his light and truth. He loves us and we are a people of love. Love endures the ages, forever and ever. God's very nature is goodness and love. Behold the beauty of the Lord, exalt our savior.
Crown of Life
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.
There is a reward for resisting sin. It is the crown of life. Jesus wore a crown of thorns, but was in truth Lord of Lord's and King of kings.. A crown is a reward, eternal life is the true reward. We will give our crowns gladly to Jesus our king. He will have many crowns to wear from those who love him.
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.
We give our king crowns to him as well.
When we give in to a lust or desire, who will pay the price? A temptation may be a sexual sin, or greed, or perhaps lusting after power. Many innocents suffer because of uncontrolled lusts do to incest and forced prostitution.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Suppose no one suffers, still sin has a price, it will lead to death. Jesus was abused and accused of sin by evil people who were envious of his power. They sinned against him in all they did to him and yet he was without sin. Jesus endured, he patiently went through the trials and persecution that came against him. He even endured the cross, for our sakes.
James 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:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
God is not the author of temptation. Where does temptation come from? the thoughts and lustful feelings of the flesh. This brings a demonic appetite for sin. Lust brings forth sin and sin brings death. Stop the progression at the start, cast down the lust before it grows to sin.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
It is up to us to control our eyes and our thoughts, so that evil deeds are not brought forth from a corrupt heart. If others use you for their lusts, remember the soul belongs to God. They cannot touch your soul.
We do not play with sin, for the end is death. They who endure shall receive a crown of righteousness. God will judge the evil doers and reward his own. Many are in bondage to anothers sins. Jesus sets the captives free, he is the deliverer. All who we are, we give to the Lord and he keeps us.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Jas 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.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Hear and do God's word
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Slow to be angry, slow to punish. Seek to understand, for often we know little of another. Be swift to hear, communication is listening and speaking. Do not presume to understand before a person shares their heart. Only the Lord understands hearts completely.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
In Jesus we have been given a clean new heart. How precious is our Lord, how unsearchable are his ways. He has made us acceptable to our God. He has filled us with his love.
James 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.
superfluity of naughtiness, abundance of evil or malice
If you have chosen the way of evil thoughts and actions, repent, turn away from this and receive the word in your heart. The word of hope and new life. If you are yet unable to be free, trust in the Lord to free you from all bondage. He is faithful to his word of promise.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
I know some reading this are not yet able to be free in Christ, to walk in his freedom. Whenever able we can show others Jesus in our kind deeds. Some say our good life is all we need, no, we need to hear the word of God in our hearts and share with those in need.
James 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:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
The Bible is as a mirror to our souls. The word exposes our need to be like Jesus. When we see the truth, we should be as God wants, and not go our own way.
James 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.
Liberty, eleutheria, moral or ceremonial liberty.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Continue in the perfect law of liberty and in God's love. Hear the word of God and do as you hear. Learning is a change of behavior. We will be blessed if we do as God commands. Obey him, to fail to do his will is sin. Those who are in bondage, God will bring you to freedom, he will not require of you more then he provides for you. It is God that works through us to do his good pleasure. We are not bound to endless laws and regulations. We are to study the word and obey because of love in a new spiritual heart.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Gary
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