King James Bible Study – “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.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2020
Chapters: Book of James
Message: Be The Blessing
Hello My Friend,
I do not have to tell you just how trying this year has been on our faith. In all my years since dedicating my life to Christ, I will tell you this, I never found myself both failing in my faith and being blessed through it. God reminded me of something this morning before I read His Word, there are a lot of people who are misguided in the ways of God. It is actually the job of the one who knows the truth to teach it to others, and not by pointing out their sin, for we are all sinners, but by ministering to them. All saved, born again Christians can expect to endure many tests of their faith, but the genuineness of their calling will be manifest by their faithfulness to God through the trials. We are not always going to do right by God, that is a fact, but we must never forget that God is merciful to forgive us of all are unrighteousness simply by confessing it, [I John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
The Book of James contains five chapters, was written by James, the half brother of Jesus in the flesh of Mary and Joseph. This epistle (letter) mentioned with Joses, Simon, and Judah, and often in the Acts of the apostles is known as the general epistle because it was not addressed to a particular church. This is the same James we read about in the Book of Acts that Herod had executed for his faith, this was written shortly before that happened. The purpose of the letter was to comfort believers who were undergoing trials for their faith, and to remind them that their faith is what brings their good works, which comes first by the reading of His Word.
[James 1:2-4,12-14,17,21 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. 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. 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. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.]
[when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.] We are to rejoice in the fact that temptation comes our way. Say what? I do not have to tell you that temptation comes when our heart is not right in the first place. And by experience, I can tell you, that the reason the heart turns from God has to do with becoming lax in His work. Not Word, but work. Just this morning I was reminded by God that I have not been lax in my working on the website. Couple that with the fact that church was closed for a while and I have not been teaching in Sunday school, and that preyed on my heart. If it were not for me doing my devotions daily I would be far worse, and believe almost at the point of walking away all together. However, I do have a ministry to fulfill, therefore, I must take care of my people by staying faithful to my calling. The greatest, most valuable gift we ever received on earth is God’s Word, for it is what brought us to Christ, [Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.]
[and hearing by the word of God.] We are saved by grace, through our faith alone in Christ, whom we received with meekness when we actually opened our heart to accept His Word. I would like to tell you that getting into God’s Word will keep you from sin, but it really does not if all we are doing is reading it. The only way God’s Word keeps us from sinning is by becoming obedient to it. Yes, we are saved by grace, and not of our own works, but at some point, we need more than just faith in His Word to keep us faithful.
[James 2:1,9-11,17-20,26 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.]
[and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.] This is where we must be careful and keep reminding ourselves that we are not under the Law, but grace. We never going to be able to obey every command, that is why Jesus gave us salvation by grace, but that is not what this is all about. What this is about is fearing God, loving Him, being faithful to Him, and if we sin, confessing it. The only way that we are going to keep our faith is by the work that we do for Him. Sometimes, God will send you to places that are very unfamiliar, such as in my case, where half of the members of my boyfriend’s family struggle with their faith. I cannot come down on them with all sorts of Scripture that shows them that what they are doing is sin. All I will do with that is push them further away from God. And God knows this, which is why He is the one who works on their heart through my kindness and love, and of course, by letting them know that Jesus is the one who takes care of me. Again, we cannot win them by condemning them, and words do matter. In fact, our tongue is our worst enemy.
[James 3:3-6,13,17 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 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.]
[let him shew out of a good conversation his works] Do you see how we reach the lost and backslidden with kindness rather than what people call touch love? There is something else that God reminded me of this week, it is that we cannot put off things that we need to do today until tomorrow. We may not have tomorrow, and if we wait, we may lose out on something that we do need. People often question why God blesses some more than others, well, here is the answer.
[James 4:1-6,13-14 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye 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. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye 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. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 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.]
[because ye ask amiss,] First of all, we have to ask God for the things we need, second, we have to ask Him by faith, never questioning Him. And third, how about we start thinking of others needs instead of our own for a while? God will always take care of His people, even if we have not been the most faithful. We may be eating ramen noodles instead of steak for a time, but He never fails, and we may just be the blessing others need.
[James 5:13-15,19-20 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. 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.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, patience, and longsuffering as You encourage and increase the faith of Your own through the trials of our faith. It can be so difficult to stay faithful when faced with these trials, but You are our strength to keep going to endure them. Lord, Give us Your power, mercy, grace, love, comfort, and the peace we need to keep going. Increase our faith, help our unbelief, and let us not forget all You have have blessed us with, even the little things. Keep us minded of Your promises and the blessings You have waiting for us during and after our trials. And instead of putting off for tomorrow what we can do today, let us be a blessing by showing Your Son to others through meekness. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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