The Importance of Letters...

 Ending/closures are important just as the greetings were.

I never really took the time to realize the importance of greetings and then endings/closures.

We no longer write letters just emails, tweets, texts, messages, and DM's.

We have lost the art of letter writing.

But the Bible preserves the art of letter writing for us.

The people of the Bible had none of the things listed above, just parchment and some type of pen. 

So, when they wrote a letter it meant something.

When was the last time you wrote a letter? Or received a letter?

The last letter I penned if memory serves was an emailed letter to a friend in Africa.

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. Colossians 4:18

The letters back then took time to get delivered unlike today it can take a day or an instant if it's an email.

My point to all this is that I feel in my spirit is how important these letters are and the importance of greeting and ending/closures.

My prayer we look at these letters as an art form in the Bible and we see their importance of them.

I leave you today with the letter of Philemon (Look and see what this wonderful letter has for you and use what you have learned about the importance of these letters as you read).

Salutation

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have [h]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, [i]an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I fathered in my imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 At the same time also prepare me a guest room, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philemon 1

Endings/Closures...

 We have talked about greetings now let's talk about endings/closures.

Let's see how important they are!!!

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:21-23

So, this ending/ closure talks about greeting the saint in Jesus then it moves on to talk about the people who are with Paul, and Timothy greets the people to whom the letter was written.

Then it talks about saints in Ceasar's household greet you.

The final verse talks about the grace Of Christ being with your spirit.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also. 15 Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill it.” 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

So, this ending/closure opens with Luke sends his greeting and Demas.

From there, it goes on to talk about greeting the brothers and sisters in Laodicea and Nympha who have churches there.

Then it talks about reading of the letter to the church of Nympha and then the church of Laodiceans.

Next in moves on to tell Archippus to see to his ministry that was from the Lord, so that it will be fulfilled.

Finally, it talks about Paul who wrote this letter in his own hand while in prison, to remember him and grace to you.

Looking at just these 2, just like greetings, ending/closures are just as important. 

They signify greeting people, Church work, who wrote it in some cases, grace, and such.

We will continue tomorrow...

Agnus Dei (Spontaneous) [Official Lyric Video] - LIFE Worship

Greetings/Questions/Prayer...

So, as we saw yesterday greetings are important.

The writer would want something for someone.

This would also tell us who this letter was to.

Not all the letters are known who wrote them.

After this, the rest of the letter would commence.

How important are greetings to you?

Do you write greetings like the one in the Bible to others?

Take time today and look up other greetings in the Bible...

Pray about greetings and their meaning!!!!

God, I pray for what you have for us in these greetings that are in the Bible

Help us understand these greetings

Keep all that is unholy away from us as we read and learned these greetings

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Greetings...

 Before we move on to the series a party for God the Festivals explained. I got in my spirit and mind to touch further on the greeting and the ending of letters in the Bible.

In the Bible, the greeting and ending can be just routine, but they can also be that of concern and love.

Many of Paul's greetings and endings demonstrated love and concern for the people he was writing the letter to.

The greetings and endings most often pertained to what the people were going through.

Let's look at greeting first.

Giving Thanks for These Believers

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

This greeting is to the people of Thessalonians.

In God and the Lord Jesus Christ refers to the people who were in Christ, Christians.

Paul wanted Grace and peace for these people that come out of Love.

Correcting False Teaching

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,

2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Timothy 1:1-2

Paul is writing to Timothy as a brother in Christ or in the case of what it says in the Bible a son in Christ not of the flesh but of God.

Paul wanted grace, mercy, and peace from God for Timothy.

A Living Hope and a Sure Salvation

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:1-2

This letter is from Peter to the people who resided as strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

You who are Chosen means- Christian, those in Christ.

Obey Christ, Sprinkle of His Blood, grace, and peace be multiplied to you is what Peter wants for these people.

All these have the same theme that the writer wanted something for the people they were writing to.

The writers wanted to greet the people by not just saying hello or good morning but with a greeting of blessing and wanting things for them.

Seem like greetings are important.

We will continue tomorrow...

James Study Wrap Up...

 Yesterday we wrapped up the verse of James.

With only 5 chapters this book has a lot of wisdom and knowledge packed into it.

Do you agree?

This study of James has really been an eye-opener for me.

Was it for you?

I enjoyed researching and giving commentary on James.

Did you find it helpful?

Did you enjoy the study? 

Did you see that James does not end his letter with a formal ending but leaves it at verse 20 which says, let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

It is one of the few books that doesn't end with a proper ending as you would find in the other letters.

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:24

15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Above are 2 examples of what most of the letters in the Bible ended with a greeting or something like that.

As I read James is more like the writings and books of the Old Testament about wisdom. 

In the New Testament, it resembles the book of Matthew.

So, with that knowledge, as we close on James for this series, think back to all you read and have learned, go with that new knowledge, and tell others about this great and mighty man of God.

Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law. Deuteronomy 31:12

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15

James Chapter 5 Verses 16-20...

 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Verse 16:

Therefore, means to look at the last verse.

Verse 15- and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

So, after what we are to do in verse 15, we are to in verse 16 confess sin to one another and pray for one another.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

A prayer of a person who is righteous when it is shown or led by can accomplish much.

Some versions use great power, able, powerful availeth instead of brought about.

Verse 17:

An example of what man like us can do when prayer is involved.

15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. Acts 14:15

Verse 18:

Then he prayed again and it rain to produce crops.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42

Verse: 19

Some of the people would stray from the truth and if some turned back, we need to look at verse 20.

Discipline and Prayer

15 “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. Matthew 18:15

Verse 20:

We are to inform the person who has sinned the error of his ways so his soul will be saved from death, and it will cover a multitude of sins.

12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

James Chapter 5 Verses 11-15...

11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

Verse 11:

The people who went through it all are counted as blessed.

The example of the blessed is Job in this verse which is you read Job he did not sin and in the end was blessed for that.

This was to show the compassion and mercifulness of God.

11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. James 4:11

Verse 12:

Swear in this instance according to what I read and researched is about taking the Lord's name in vain or swearing about God.

We are not use our tongue in a manner unworthy of the Lord to talk about heaven or of earth.

oath- a call or appeal to God.

We are to say yes, we are to say yes and if it is a no then we are to say no,

If our yeses and no's are not right, we will be judged for it.

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Verse 13:

The next verse talks about suffering and to pray and then goes on to talk about cheerful people, we are to sing praises if we are.

10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. James 5:10

Verse 14:

Then it goes to the sick and if anyone is sick to go the elders of the church and have them pray over them. they are to use oil and anoint Him In the name of the Lord.

30 And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders. Acts 11:30

Verse 15:

Verse 15 continues about sickness and if we have a prayer of faith will restore the one who was sick,

Then the Lord will raise him Up and forgive him his sins.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

James Chapter 5 Verse 6-10...

6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous person; he offers you no resistance.

Exhortation

7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord

Verse 6:

You have condemned and killed the righteous person.

They bore the brunt of pain; they were powerless against their adversaries.

So, they let it happen is what it leads to.

2 You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2

Verse 7: 

The first part of the verse talks about people to be patient for the coming of the Lord.

The next part of the verse talks about the hard work that the farmer did which by His cost will yield him great reward.

The rain in the verse:

The early rain- it was sowing time that it fell (November-December) 

Latter rain- (March- April) t So that the harvest would mature.

22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” John 21:22

verse 8:

Just like the farmer which was the example we too need to be patient like that.

Keep the faith and be in constant holiness reminding yourself that the lord is coming.

The last part of this verse is saying that the coming of the Lord is near.

19 For who is our hope, or joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Or is it not indeed you? 1 Thessalonians 2:19

Verse 9:

Grudge not, groan, do not grumble are what other versions use instead of complain.

So, we are not to complain against one another, for we will be condemned.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the judge and is at hand to pass that judgment.

11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. James 4:11

Verse 10:

This verse gives us an example of suffering and patience which is the prophets in the name of the Lord.

The prophets are just like us because just like us they were persecuted too.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

James Chapter 5 Verses 1-5...

Misuse of Riches

5 Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of armies. 5 You have lived for pleasure on the earth and lived luxuriously; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Verse 1:

Another version uses the word wealthy instead of rich.

It was first woe to the worldly but then woe to the rich.

The rich will be sad and be in misery literally. 

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” James 4:13

Verse 2:

The riches being rotted refers to the riches being corrupt.

The garment being moth-eaten refers to the costly garments that the rich have, and they will not pride themselves on those clothes but may be eaten by moths and worms.

28 While am decaying like a rotten thing,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten. Job 13:28

Verse 3:

Some versions use cankered, eaten away, or rusted instead of corroded.

The gold and silver will not be usable because of the damage that was incurred to it.

 This will be a witness to the rich. 

This part of the verse talks about a fire that will consume you, this is a sign that will happen in the day of judgment.

Exhortation

7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [a]it gets the early and late rains.

Verse 4:

The first part of verse 4 talks about laborers and refers to the laborers' lives and are nourished-they have what they need.

The second part of the withheld by you refers to what the owner/rich kept back from the workers and what they were due.

Cries out against you is God's vengeance and the justice of God that he will do towards such people.

Reach the ear of the Lord of armies is talking about what has happened the Lord of hosts in heaven and on earth has heard what has happened.

Judgment.

13 ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired worker are not to remain with you all night until morning. Leviticus 19:13

Verse 5:

you have lived worldly; you have sought the pleasures of earth.

You have nourished your hearts with things of the flesh.

Day of slaughter refers to the day of their destruction.

49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, plenty of food, and carefree ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49

Jericho Falls

James Chapter 4 Verses 13-17...

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Verse 13:

You who say- this by heart or by mouth that it is said.

As to the day like the verse says it is talking about free choice to go when they want.

The rest of the verse talks about worldly direction versus God's direction. 

Making promises to themselves for this to happen without seeking God and His promises.

Warnings and Instructions

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,

For you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

Verse 14:

No one knows what tomorrow will be like except God, this includes our lives.

The rest refers to man will appear for a while- a vapor that appears for a while.

Then man will vanish away- Then vanishes away.

The best example of this part of the verse is this- We are here on earth for a while then we will vanish and go to heaven.

7 “Remember that my life is a mere breath;

My eye will not see goodness again. Job 7:7

Verse 15:

Instead means to do this instead of what they were planning to do.

They should seek the Lord where to live and to do this or that.

The last part of the verse talks about action.

21 but took leave of them and said, “I will return to you again if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. Acts 18:21

Verse 16:

other versions use the words vaunting, brag, arrogant plans, rejoicing in your boastings, and making arrogant boasts.

This all boils down to they were boasting about their plans and what they had done.

If we do this is considered evil.

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little [a]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 1 Corinthians 5:6

Verse 17:

We know right or wrong and do not do the right thing as we know it is sin upon us.

We are sinning if we do not do what is right.

37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. Luke 12:37

James Chapter 4 Verses 8-12...

 8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?

Verse 8:

Draw night to God and he will draw nigh to you (the first part) is what it says in the American Standard Bible. 

Once we tell the devil to flee, we are to draw nigh to God so that He will draw nigh to us (you).

Then we are to wash or clean our hands as we are sinners, purify our hearts from being doubleminded if we were.

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you. 2 Chronicles 15:2

Verse 9:

We (they) are to be mourning and sad.

We (they) are not to laugh, and we are not to be joyous.

We (they) are to turn these into mourning and gloom.

3 steps to having peace and being with God

Be afflicted then mourn and then weep.

This Day Is Holy

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the [a]governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law. Nehemiah 8:9

13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief. Proverbs 14:13

Verse 10:

Again, we are to humble ourselves but this time he (the writer) says in the presence of the Lord.

If we do this He (God) will exalt you (us).

11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety. Job 5:11

Verse 11:

This verse talks about not speaking evil against one another.

Several Bible versions say, speak no evil.

Then the verse goes on to talk about judging others and the law.

If we are judging the law, we are judges not doers of the law.

This is something we should not be doing.

Verse 12 tells us this.

20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 2 Corinthians 12:20

Verse 12:

There is only one who can be the lawgiver and Judge, they are talking about Jesus/God.

The writer talks about the one who is able to save and to destroy, this again is talking about Jesus/God.

The last part of verse 12 says but who are you, judging your neighbor.

Who are we meaning us being the judge instead of God.

Judging your neighbor means to judge others.

22 For the Lord is our judge,
The Lord is our lawgiver,
The Lord is our king;
He will save us— Isaiah 33:22

James Chapter 4 Verses 3-7...

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Verse 3:

This verse talks about asking for things and they do not get them because when they asked, they used the wrong motives. 

They were requesting stuff to spend on pleasure, not on righteous things.

22 and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

Verse 4:

Some versions use unfaithful people or creatures and one version uses unfaithful wives.

Some versions use love/ing the world.

This verse talks about people who do not follow God because they are adulteresses.

They want to be in the world and love the world.

This as verse says is hostility towards God.

Bitterness, malice, anger, or wrath can come into play with hostility as they are synonyms.

2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I remember regarding you the devotion of your youth, Your love when you were a bride, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. Jeremiah 2:2

Verse 5:

Do you think that in vain the scripture says the question in the verse?

God is a jealous God.

He desires the spirit that he has made for us and that dwells inside of us.

19 God is not a man, that He would lie,
Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19

(Side note my favorite verses are James 4:6-8!!!)

Verse 6:

God is a God of grace, and He gives us greater grace than anyone can.

God disapproves of the proud but loves the humble and gives grace to the one whom He loves the humble

We need to be humble to do what the next verse says.

7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,

But with great compassion I will gather you. Isaiah 54:7

Verse 7:

The word therefore means we need to look to the verse before it to do as this verse says.

We have to be humble, lay down everything, and give it all to God.

To submit to all He has for us and His direction for our lives.

Give in, yield, defer, agree, consent, back down, and give away are synonyms for submit.

We need to be humble and then do the action as the verse says, submit to God.

Submission.

Resist the devil.

Not to comply with what the devil has for us in his motives and his temptations.

When we do this the devil has to flee, run as one version puts it, or fly away as another version says.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 1 Peter 5:6

Study Check-in & James Chapter 4 Verses 1-2...

 What have you thought of this study of James so far?

What have you learned so far in this study of James?

What is your favorite verse so far in James?

4 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts? 2 You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

Verse 1:

Some versions use lust or desires.

This verse talks about wanting what you don't have and are willing to kill for it. 

This is why it says quarrels and conflict.

Some versions say wars and fighting.

We will fight and war among ourselves to get and have what we want.

Envy and jealousy come to mind, but in my research strife and contention came up for this verse.

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless. Titus 3:9

23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Romans 7:23

Verse 2

You lust for what you do not have so you murder for it.

You are envious of what others have and you cannot have it.

So fight and other versions say war instead of quarrel so you can get what you want.

You do not have it because you do not ask for it.

This means they were not praying to God for it.

God promised to give to those who are in Him the things they ask for.

6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous person; he offers you no resistance. James 5:6

15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 1 John 3:15

James Chapter 3 Verses 14-18...

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Verse 14:

We are not to have bitter jealousy and selfish ambitions in our hearts. 

The place where deeds and words flow from like a fountain that springs water.

We are not to be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

The truth is the gospels of Jesus (it is the Bible).

8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. Romans 2:8

Verse 15:

This kind of wisdom does not come from heaven but from the earth and evil.

This kind of wisdom does not descend from God/Heaven.

Earthly- opposed by God/heaven.

Natural- animal-like. No repentance- no born again and not having the sprit which God gives us.

Demonic- Hell itself.

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

Verse 16:

Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition exist, this leads to devilish wisdom meaning evil thoughts and such.

If we have such things this will lead to confusion.

This leads to all kinds of wickedness.

8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. Romans 2:8

20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 2 Corinthians 12:20

Verse 17:

This verse talks about the wisdom that is from heaven and then goes on to list the things that this kind of wisdom is.

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this [a]godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 2 Corinthians 7:11

Verse 18:

Righteousness- meaning true wisdom.

This leads to eternal life.

Sown- means to exercise or to act.

Some versions use the word seed, or produce from the seeds, planted or grown from the seed.

Those with this kind of wisdom shall reap the reward for having it.

It also could mean that when we exercise this kind of wisdom is done in a way that is peaceable and sweet.

From what I read they give to explanations.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,

But one who sows righteousness gets a true reward. Proverbs 11:18

James Chapter 3 Verse 9-13...

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Verse 9:

With our tongue we bless God and with our tongue, we use it to curse people. we do this even though we have been made in the likeness of God.

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

Verse 10:

it is said again like from verse 9 with the same mouth we use it to bless and curse.

The writer James says it should not be that way.

Verse 11:

It gives an example of spring giving fresh and bitter water in the same opening.

Both cannot exist together just like blessings and cursing cannot exist together.

34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. Matthew 12:34-35

Verse 12:

Another example or illustration fig tree bear olives or a vine bear figs.

Nor can salt water produce fresh water.

Talking again about the blessing and cursing cannot be together.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Matthew 7:16

Verse 13:

The question is asked who among you is wise and understanding?

To answer the question James says we are to show it by the actions of our good behavior, our deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18

I’ll Sing About Jesus

James Chapter 3 Verses 4-8...

4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Verse 4:

This is an example of a large ship being managed by a small rudder. 

This is talking about the tongue being the rudder and the rest of the body being the ship.

This is talking if we have the proper control of our tongue, it will influence the rest of the body.

Rudder to ship.

Verse 5:

The tongue is a small part of the body, but one version says to brag about great things instead of boasting.

Small fire is the tongue and the fire in the forest is the boasting or bragging.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

The tongue that speaks great things; Psalm12:3

Verse 6:

The tongue is a fire like the last verse.

it is unrighteous and is set other among the other body parts and it defiles us and set a fire for our life's course and is set on fire by hell.

Fire by hell is talking about the place where this kind of bad things burns continually.

2 Rescue my soul, Lord, from lying lips,

From a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:2

Verse 7:

Every animal or creature has or is been tamed by humans.

Verse 8:

No one on earth can tame their tongue.

It is evil-uncontrollable.  

full of deadly poison-death brining.

3 They sharpen their tongues like a snake;

The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah Psalm 140:3

James Chapter 3 verses 1-3...

The Tongue Is a Fire

3 Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to [c]rein in the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well.

Verse 1:

Some versions use the word master. and the verse says let not many masters.

This verse is talking about not to make many masters of other men's faith. This means not to make too many leaders.

Teachers are held to higher standards than those who are not teachers. Because they are set apart, they will incur a stricter judgment. 

Greater condemnation is in the middle of my physical Bible that I read out of, dealing or instead of stricter judgment. 

8 But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Matthew 23:8

Verse 2:

This verse means that everybody stumbles, and no man is free of sin.

Some versions use the word offend.

For many things we all offend. if any man offends not in word. The first part of the 21st Century King James Version.

If you do not stumble in what you say you are perfect and is able to control the rest of the body.

10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. James 2:10

Verse 3:

This verse from what I read and gathered is talking about togues. The writer is using the example of the horse to show that we need to direct our tongues like that of a horse and then the whole body.

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding,

Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,

Otherwise they will not come near to you. Psalm 32:9

James Chapter 2 Verses 22-26...

 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Verse 22:

Paul's faith was not idle but actively doing good works, seeking Christ for sanctification, and being righteous. 

Faith is made perfect when we do works declaratively. 

The cause is our faith, and the effect is the works we do.

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29

Verse 23:

Scripture was fulfilled by what Abraham did.

He did not actually go through because God stopped but was credited for it because he was willing to go through it and that was righteousness in the sight of God.

6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

Verse 24:

To be justified as the verse says we need to have works and faith together not just faith alone.

Verse 25:

Rahab Shelters Spies

2 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and rested there. 2 But it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to spy out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about, when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan, to the crossing places; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate. Joshua 2:1-7

Read the rest of Joshua Chapter 2 for reference.

Verse 26:

Without the spirit the body is dead so, is faith without works is dead.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6

James Chapter 2 Verses17-21...

17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 

Verse 17:

Faith without works is dead (by itself).

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6

Verse 18: 

Any believer is someone.

Any believer can pretend to have faith or say they have faith by faith of history.

Any believer can boast they have works and say nothing about their faith.

We have to take action to profess we have faith without it we are pretending we have faith.

If faith is evident there will be works to prove we have true faith.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” Romans 9:19

Verse 19:

This verse talks about believing in one God and that He is that one God.

Even the demons also believe the same as the believers and fear God.

4 “Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! Deuteronomy 6:4

Verse 20:

This verse is talking about a fool if he is willing to recognize faith without works is useless. 

20 On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Romans 9:20

Verse 21:

His faith in God and righteousness was his justification.

He did not actually go through with Issac on the alter it was the act of him trying to go through with it.

This was implied because God never actually made Abraham do it.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Genesis 22:9