Father, thank You for another day with You. I ask that it will be a good day and that we will learn much from You today. Bless our day with Your special blessings and keep us close to You In Jesus Name, Amen!! Doers—Not Hearers Only Part 2 James 1:26-27 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Fact 1: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Meaning 1: We need to keep our tongues from spewing out filth and speaking Godly speech instead. We are nothing without Christ and we need to speak that truth rather than the false we speak without Christ in our lives. Question 1: Do I speak right in You Lord? Am I watching what comes out of my mouth and controlling it? Fact 2: Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Meaning 2: We are not to become like the world, but to stick out as a person of love. God around us will keep us undefiled and standing on His truth. Question 2: Do I stand for You Lord? Am I doing what I must to be the person that You desire me to be? Take Away!! I need to make sure that the life that I am living is what God wants me to live. I need to shine the Word of God through me and my life so that all know that I am His. Father, thank You for a great study of love and need to be who I am to be in You. I ask that You will hold onto us and give us the life that we need. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
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Father, Help us to have a good day today and for things to go well and be helpful for us today. I thank You for Your love and the knowledge that You give us about what we are to be doing in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Doers—Not Hearers Only Pt 1 James 1:21-25 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Fact 1: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and over flow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Meaning 1: We need to lay aside the things in our hearts that contaminate the heart. filthiness in our lives keeps the good out of the life and does not allow the cleansing word of God to come in. We should welcome the implanted word that saves our souls from the filthiness of living. We need to take in what God is trying to teach us. Question 1: Do I clean out the filthiness that is in my life before I try to stand on His Word and live my life in the amazing joy and cleanliness of God? Fact 2: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Meaning 2: When we hear a sermon or from the Word of God then we have to follow that or it is a deception that leads to an ungodly life that will not fulfill our hearts to be more like God. Question 2: Do I follow through with what I know Jesus is telling me to do in His word? Do I spend time in the word and living the word each day? Fact 3: For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. Meaning 3: We need to live out what we are told in the Word of God. We need to not forget the person that God wants us to be and live our lives to stand in what His desires for us are. We cannot find the joy in life if we are forgetting what God has shared and allowing ourselves to go about the day anyway we want. Question 3: Do I hear and do? Do I observe what God says in His word is real and allow it to soak in and change me? Fact 4: But he who looked into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it; and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Meaning 4: When we get into the Bible and study we should not just read the word and then go about our day but we need to deepen our study and stand in the knowledge that God wants us to do in our daily life. We should get into the Word and live it daily. Question 4: Do I live what I study? Do I walk each day in the things that I am learning so they are not going over my head? Take Away!! I need to spend more time telling people to get into the Word and not allow themselves to just read and go on, but to study the Word in all times of their lives. And to do the things that they learn from the Bible and God. Father, thank You for a great study on getting into and holding onto the things that we learn in Your word. I ask that You would lead us on and help us to stand in You. In Jesus Name Amen!
Father, thank You for Your watching over me and keeping this day till it was over. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Qualities Needed in Trials James 1:19-20 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Fact 1: So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; Meaning 1: God is giving us an pattern to follow that He did while on earth and it will keep us from sinning and being good friends while talking to others. Question 1: Do I hear from people well and pay attention to what they were telling me? Am I slow to speak? Do I need to work on my speaking? Am I hard pressed to get mad at someone still? Fact 2: for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Meaning 2: Man's wrath does not give us the righteousness that we need to live a life that shows God to others. We are allowed Godly anger like Jesus had coming into the temple where the collectors were using the temple for bad. Righteous anger is not against the people so much as against what they are doing. Question 2: Do I live my life with no wrath that is demeaning the righteousness of God? Take Away!! I need to watch anger and make sure that it does not give me the wrong kind. I am not one to get angry easy, but I still need to keep that following good. I need to stop talking so much and close my mouth more. I do not need to rush ahead or comment while someone is trying to talk to me and I do that. Father, thank You for reminding us that we need to have a humble spirit and not be angry and speaking out. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, I thank You for a day to share Your love and a time to be blessed by those You are working in. I ask that these messages of love and acceptance are beautiful and well taken. You love each of us so much. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Loving God Under Trials Part 2 James 1:16-18 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Fact 1: Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Meaning 1: God gives down all the good gifts that we have in our lives. He filters out the bad so that it is not as hard as it would be, but sends the good to us to encourage even during the darkest hour. Question 1: Do I give God the credit when the good things in my life happen? Do I share the good things that God does with those around me even small ones? Fact 2: Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Meaning 2: He brings us along with blessings and love so that we are able to go before God. We are His first fruits of His labor of love. Question 2: Do I walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord? Am I standing in His will and living my life each day for Him? Take Away!! I really need to make sure that I am walking in Christ and that my worship and study are of His desires. I ask that God above will keep me on the right path. Father, it was a great lesson to remember that You are the one that gives us the good in our lives and You are our strength and love. Keep us following You and being blessed with a life we can be proud of. In Jesus, Name, Amen!!
Father, I ask that You will touch us today and make us remember how much You love us. I pray that we will have a good message in our study about trials. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Loving God Under Trials Pt 1James 1:12-15 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Fact 1: Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Meaning 1: We need to work hard at not doing what we are tempted to do against God. All people have things that they are tempted in and it is a blessing when we go away from that temptation. Question 1: Am I good at walking away from temptation? Do I have less temptation being in house all the time? Fact 2: Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself temp anyone. Meaning 2: We need to be careful when we are talking about being tempted. God does not tempt, it is all the devil and his workers that tempt us. Question 2: Do I fight off the temptation that comes my way? Am I stronger with holding my life together while here at home? Fact 3: But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Meaning 3: We are drawn away from God to be tempted, when we are holding onto Him and standing in His strength we are less apt to have temptation in our lives. Question 3: Do I stand so there is little temptation in my life? Is God reigning in my life so that temptation is nothing to me? Fact 4: Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin,; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Meaning 4: We need to stand so that the desires for what we are tempted to do will not bring us to doing it which is sin. Then when sin is full-grown and we do that sin it is death to the relationship with God. We are blessed to turn to Him rather than allow sin into our lives. Question 4: Do I stand so that sin is not a constant issue in my life? Am I holding onto God and the truth that holds me up? Take Away!! I need to spend more time closer to God so that I do not have the temptation to do things that are not good for me. I need to continue to stand strong and be in God's will for my life daily. Father, thank You for reminding us to not allow sin into our lives and not have to face the temptations that so easily get us going down the wrong path. Hold onto us and help us all to hold onto You. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
When we are born our names are in the "Book of Life", but it is up to us to accept the free gift of Jesus and remain in the book. Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. Those who do not receive God's free gift will be blotted out of the book. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. All who are blotted out of the book will be thrown in the lake of fire at the judgment. Those of us who have accepted the offer that God has given us will be in heaven and on the new earth. It does not matter who you are or what you have done, you can come to Jesus and accept His name in salvation. No one has to be left out. Do not allow people to tell you that you cannot come before God and accept Him. He does not discriminate because of who you are. He ushers in ALL who take salvation in Jesus. "Book of Life" Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. When we are saved, and confess Jesus in our lives then our names will remain in the book of life and the future will be amazing. Again, ALL can be saved you just have to take the gift of eternal life that Jesus gives. Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Only those in the Book of Life will be entering into eternity so you want to accept Jesus and be ready for the end of days here on this earth. You can come to Him anytime, but the sooner the better because when He comes back you lose your chance of salvation. Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Please think about it, Jesus is calling your name and wants to save you from the ending that will be horrible. All you need to do is to ask Him to come into your heart and be your savior. You need to know that He is God and that He loves You. He forgives ALL our sins and will help us walk in His will for us.
Father, I ask that today would be a good day for all of us and a blessing as we study Your word. Give us a special word just for us. In Jesus Name, Amen!! The Perspective of Rich and Poor James 1:9-11 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Fact 1: Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, Meaning 1: When we are lowly in the not high minded way we are more apt to live life abundantly in the right way. By following Jesus in Spirit you will have glory and exaltation. Question 1: Do I follow You Lord in a lowly spirit that makes for a blessed person? Am I striving to be more like You and hold onto You greater? Fact 2: but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. Meaning 2: Those whose riches are greater, can easily get caught up in the game of getting more and forget God. There is nothing wrong when You are rich as long as you live a life that blesses God's power and love. Question 2: Do I live with holy abandonment? Do I stand in a way that shows that I love our Lord? Fact 3: For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flowers falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Meaning 3: When you focus on the money that you have and getting more you forget to stand for the Lord and He will allow you to fall like the flowers in the brightness of His Son. Question 3: Do I stand in the sun tall and free from withering? Is my life going to show that there are ways to stand in the Son of God? Take Away!! I need to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and knowing that I do not put other things above Him, but stand in what He says is important. Father, Thank You for a great short lesson and the thoughts of how many different things we can put before You. We have so much to live for in You that we should be standing strong with You each day. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, I want to thank You for such a beautiful day and the heat is gone. I ask You would be with all the victims in the fires around the country and the storms on the east. We really need to have some of those tropical storms over here to put out all the fires and give the east a break. Help us have a great day In Jesus Name, Amen!! Profiting From Trials James 1:2-8 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Fact 1: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Meaning 1: We are all tested to see what faith we possess to hold onto. We learn to have patience and endurance by the testing of our faith. Question 1: Do I stand strong when I am tested? Am I a patience person in my life? Do I have the strength in God to hold onto Him while being tested? Fact 2: But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Meaning 2: We will lack nothing in life that we NEED if we can hold onto God and not allow anything to rattle us. We need a strong grip on the one that has us in His hand. Question 2: Am I a patience person? Do I hold onto God and allow Him to work in my life giving me just what I need? Do I see and take the things that He offers me? Fact 3: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Meaning 3: When we find that we lack the wisdom to do what we are trying to do all we have to do is ask for wisdom from God and He will gladly give us that wisdom. God loves to answer the prayers that He knows is best for us and provide more wisdom for our lives to walk closer to Him. Question 3: Do I ask for wisdom? Do I follow the wisdom that I have asked for? Am I holding onto and praying for the things that I need in this life? Fact 4: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Meaning 4: We are like a wave when we doubt it says, we cannot make up our minds and doubt every decision that we make. God will give guidance and help us along when we ask Him for the wisdom to make those choices. He is waiting for us to ask. Question 4: Do I ask for guidance in my life? Do I follow that when God tells me that I need to do something in my life? Am I following that guidance? Fact 5: For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Meaning 5: If we are not asking for wisdom and following what wisdom we are given we are unstable and in the wrong. God wants us to walk with and in Him in all things. Question 5: Do I stand with what God shows me and hold onto Him? Am I strong in you Lord and be who You desire me to be? Take Away!! I need to ask God for the things I need and the strength to live out life in the way that He sees fit. I need to hold onto Him and allow Him to work in my life like no other time. Father, thank You for a great study and the reminder that You are waiting to give us hope, life, freedom and guidance when we ask. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, thank You for this new book to study. keep us holding onto You and living our lives to be like You. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Greeting to the Twelve Tribes!!James 1:1 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Greetings. Fact 1: James, a bondservant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Meaning 1: James was not only Jesus brother, but he was now a servant of God and preacher of the word. Question 1: Would I be known as a bondservant of God? Do I teach others about the things of Jesus? Fact 2: To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Greetings. Meaning 2: The Christians were scattered around the area and not in Jerusalem right then. They were ousted by the Jews. Question 2: Am I strong enough in my love for Jesus that others hate me for my love and attitudes of His love? Take Away!! I need to live a life as a bondservant of God's, live so strong that others cannot help but feel and tell that I am His. Father, Thank You for a good opening, we need to live for You and make sure that others are close to You and see You in me. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Writer of James!!The book of James is believed to be written by Jesus' brother James. He did not believe in Jesus when He was alive and living His life on earth. John 7:5 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. When Did James Believe?What changed for James? His wholehearted transformation into a devoted disciple was almost certainly triggered by Jesus' resurrection from the dead. According to 1 Corinthians 15:7. James was one of the first people to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:7. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. James and the Church!!When Paul met up with James in Galatians 1:19, James was a respected leader in the church in Jerusalem. And years later, Paul referred to James, Peter and John as "Pillars" of the church. Galatians 2:9. Galatians 1:18-19 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. Galatians 2:9. and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, It is very likely that James wrote this letter in the mid to late 40's AD. About 15 years after Jesus ascended to heaven. James' letter was different from most of the epistles in the new testament. It deals with themes that concerned Jewish Christians, reflecting the demographic of the early church, especially in Jerusalem. In James 1:1 he talks about the twelve tribes, referring to the Jews scattered outside of Israel living among the gentiles. It sounds like Pastor James leading his flock from a far. He is encouraging them in their trials and hardships. They were often shunned by Jews and mistreated by the gentiles that they lived around. More like slaves after they started following Jesus way. This book is unlike many as it is not personal. It was not written to a specific area or church, but to the scattered Jews. I has references to Jesus teaching and help for different trials and issues that they face. He writes like a pastor - teacher. Walking the Tightrope |
HaniniyaI am Haniniya and I am from Bethlehem, Judea, Israel and I love the Lord and walk in His Word. I want to share His Word with You each day. Past Studies!!
July 2024
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