James 5, Prayer for Healing

 

James 5, Prayer for Healing

The anointing by the elders is a show of support for a sick person. The oil has no magic, nor does the touch of the elders. James is not saying that Christians should avoid doctors or medicines, for God works through those as well. Instead, this ceremony focuses on placing complete faith in God. When a sick person knows that others are praying for them, that person feels supported and loved.

If healing is to occur, the Lord will do it. Sometimes He performs a miracle that can’t be explained naturally; sometimes He works through doctors and medicines; sometimes it’s just the body’s natural, God-given process at work. Then there are cases where God performs the ultimate healing by taking the person to be with Him. The true “prayer of faith” acknowledges God’s sovereignty over each person’s life. The prayer offered in faith reveals trust in God to do His will. Healing prayer should be sought by all those who hurt.

Everyone needs healing, because everyone is born into sin. In this fallen world, people face hurts, pain, sickness, difficulties and traumas. People are broken by the sins of others, as well as by their own. Broken and wounded people need healing that comes from a renewed relationship with God and others. When people accept the fact that Christ suffered for our sins and His body was broken for us, our hearts are opened to recover a personal relationship with Christ. God is our great physician and sometimes He must perform major surgery for us to get to the bottom of our sins and begin to heal. Only then can people be healed and begin the process of recovery. No one will experience complete healing until they go to Heaven. We will always struggle with the sin nature. Submission to God is the formula for healing. He may not choose to heal to use the illness to help other people. As in the case of Paul, he gave Paul a thorn in the flesh which was used for God’s glory. In answer to Paul’s request for healing, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Paul boasted of his affliction by saying, “when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10.

 

 

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If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

James 4 - Pride Goes Before a Fall.

 

James 4, Pride Goes Before a Fall.

 

The Bible consistently warns against pride. “God resists the proud,” writes James. Pride brings shame, strife, and foolishness. (Prov. 11:2; 13:10; 14:3). Proud people are an “abomination” for “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:5,18).

Pride hurts one’s relationship with God because proud people think they don’t need Him. Pride hurts one’s relationships with others because proud people are self-centered and feel superior. Pride makes people blind to their own sinfulness. God opposes the proud, for their pride is sinful and He knows their danger to themselves and others.

The antidote to pride is a good dose of humility. Sometimes proud people are humbled through circumstances or even tragedy. When God gets their attention, He offers them grace. Humility is not weakness; instead, it is the willingness to “submit to God.” When we humble ourselves before Him, He promises to lift us up.

Judging.

Discipline is necessary for those in the fellowship who are involved in destructive sin. But when believers judge one another, they act against God’s law. Individuals who readily take God’s judgment into their own hands, often over minor issues, cause hurt and division. Jesus said, “judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matt. 7:1) Instead of a critical spirit, we should show understanding, compassion, and love.

The whole understanding of this is to Love others as God would have us love one another without pride and without judgments.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee

Through the Bible.

James 3, Think Before You Speak

 

James 3, Think Before You Speak

James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire. People dare not be careless in what they say, thinking they can apologize later, because hurtful words cause deep wounds and lasting scars. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before speaking, we would do well to picture our tongues as sparks that can start a destructive fire and cause irreversible damage. Kind words can build up the spirit and strengthen the bonds of friendship and love. The tongue may be small, but it can cause great harm or do good. Which it does is up to us.

Gossip is idle talk or rumors about the private affairs of others. Seldom is gossip helpful and uplifting; rather, it usually centers around less-than positive information or rumors. Even if what is being spread is true, the person passing the information along usually has less-than positive motives. The Bible says that a “whisperer separates the best of friends, reveals secrets, and causes strife.” (Proverbs 16:28; 20:19, 26:20). The gossip’s words, like a spark on dry timber, can create a firestorm that destroys friendships, relationships, and reputations.

Christians can use their time and words more wisely than by listening to or spreading rumors and half-truths. When the local gossip calls to talk, we can let the person know, clearly and finally, that we will not listen. When we’re talking about other people, we should pass our words through an inner filter of truthfulness, kindness, and love. We ought to train ourselves to not listen to or pass along gossip, for the consequences are far too hurtful to others.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

 

James 2, Playing Favorites

 

James 2 Playing Favorites

James warned the believers against showing prejudice. They were not to favor a rich person while ignoring a poor one. People often want to be associated with those who are successful, popular, and powerful. God demands impartiality, for all people are equally valuable in His eyes. Favoritism goes against God’s command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. He wants us to respect all people and treat them equally, regardless of their background or economic status. Each person is God’s creation. James said that if you show partiality, you have committed a sin and will be considered a lawbreaker. God who set forth the laws tells us if we commit one sin, we are guilty of all as all sins are equal in God’s eyes. Therefore, in order to receive mercy for the sins we commit we must be willing to be merciful to others.

James talks about the faith that leads you to do good works. Satan will tell you that yes, there is a God, there is a Jesus Christ, and that believing Him saves, but all you have to do is profess faith in Christ and then go on living in sin as you used to. We cannot be saved by imperfect obedience because God will not accept it. When we profess our faith and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we will produce the fruit of the spirit in our life. A Christian doesn’t do as he pleases but does as Christ pleases. Some of those fruits include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, taking care of widows and orphans. These are not the works of the Law but are works of our faith. The fruits of the spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Found in Galatians 5::22. If we abide in Christ, we will bring forth much fruit. Faith without works is dead, so we should examine our faith and discern whether it is just idle talk or are we walking the walk Christ laid out for us.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

James 1, Just Do It

 

James 1, Just Do It.

The brother of Jesus wrote this letter to explain that “faith without works is dead.” This makes it clear that people will never really know what Christians believe until they see the manner in which they live.

Imagine what it would be like to have an older sibling that was perfect. Jesus apparently had several brothers, none of them believed in Him until near the end of His ministry here on earth. James was the one brother that visited Jesus after His resurrection. Jesus had a special task for James and that was to lead the newborn Christians in Jerusalem. James became a pillar of that fellowship along with Peter and John. James advised the believers to be joyful during trials and troubles. Everyone faces trials in one form or another. We cannot control what we will encounter, but we can control the stress level the situations cause. Instead of being stressed, we can try being joyful. This is not a natural reaction, but one that the Holy Spirit can provide. It means choosing an attitude that looks expectantly to the lessons God will teach and the wisdom He will provide.

James tells us that if we “lack wisdom, let him ask God.. and it will be given to him.” Wisdom begins with God, who is the source. The first step to being wise is to have reverence for God, and then trust Him with our life. We become wiser as we become more like Christ. God’s wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy without partiality and hypocrisy.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation. Temptation comes from evil desires inside us. It begins with an evil thought and becomes sin when we act on it. God does not tempt His people, but He will allow Satan to tempt us for us to refine our faith and grow in our dependence on God. He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can bear. We can resist it by counting the cost and turning to God, asking Him for help and choosing to obey Him.

Be quick to listen and slow to speak. We show others respect when we listen intently and speak carefully. When we listen to God we should not only hear but do what He says to do.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

Hebrews 13 Religious Directions

 

Hebrews 13 Religious Directions

Marriage- Along with the characteristics that make for all good relationships, such as speaking kindly, being patient, listening carefully, marriage alone provides the opportunity for a man and woman to experience what God intends for their pleasure.

Married couples should protect their relationship because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Believers must seek to strengthen their marriage and not deprive each other of the pleasures that unite them.

 

Loneliness – This is a part of the human experience. But being alone is different from being lonely. When people feel lonely, they feel like they don’t belong, like no one cares, unloved and unwanted. When believers feel lonely, they need to remember God’s great promise. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” No matter how painful or difficult the situation, no matter how alone we feel, God is there. We can look to Him for deliverance, commit the situation to His care, and take comfort in His presence. God is always with us.

 

Loving Shepherds – The words, “Obey those who rule over you” refer to believers obeying their spiritual authorities- preachers, elders, teachers and so forth. Wise and godly leaders, called by God into positions of spiritual authority, have the heavy responsibility to “give account” to God as they care for the souls and spiritual growth of those in their care. Many leaders face a constant stream of turmoil, complaints and judgmentalism. We can ease their burden by praying for them, encouraging them and seeking to be helpful and supportive.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.

 

Hebrews 12 Run the Race

 

Hebrews 12 Run the Race

To run well, runners must let go of any weights that slow them down and just focus on the finish line. Believers must set aside any weight of sin to “run with endurance” toward the finish line of life. We know we’ll finish, because the Savior is “the author and finisher of our faith,” and He stands at the finish line to welcome us into eternity. When the hurdles of life are looming ahead of us and when the race seems too difficult, we need to get our eyes fixed on Jesus.

 

Children don’t enjoy discipline, but parents know that tough discipline is sometimes required to teach an important lesson. The same is true for God’s children. Though we love God, believers are sometimes disobedient, rebelling against His rules. God’s discipline proves that He loves His children. Discipline may come in the form of consequences, pain, or trials, but its goal is to mold and shape us. Like a loving Father, God disciplines us because He wants to keep us safe and help us mature.

 

Believers need to look out for each other, helping those who are feeling weak and guiding those who are heading in the wrong direction. This will guard against “any root of bitterness” that might spring up within the fellowship. This phrase may refer to the bitterness of unbelief that can poison a church and the bitterness between people that con poison relationships.

 

Bitterness, once planted, tends to grow quickly and cause trouble. Bitterness that is allowed to take root in our lives will spring up into actions and words that cannot be taken back. Believers can avoid the root of bitterness by dealing with their feelings immediately. When hurt or doubt are allowed to remain in one’s life, they provide hospitable soil for the root of bitterness. With God’s help, we can keep that root from having a place to grow, and if bitterness has already taken root, weed it out.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J, Vernon McGee Through the Bible