How do We Compare Ourselves

First I would like to say that if God was not made public than how would we know about Him. Yes it is a personal choice to believe in Him or not. As a powerful influence in peoples lives around the world; I would have to say I would rather accept Him than to reject Him. Yes; sure sometimes we do give God the credit of doing something we do ourselves. But is that not relying on ourselves rather than God? Say if you did want to believe in God and you did accept Him whole heartedly; Would you not want to rely on God and watch His blessings come to you and not rely on yourself just as others might? When an individual is contemplating accepting Christ he or she starts on a journey of changing our lives for God and a testimony for others. We as an individual can show love and understanding to show to others. It is you who can make some difference. I would like to say; that very disturbingly; There are those who say they believe in God and they do not. Rather than a crutch; they hid behind a mask. I rather have God to completely to rely on than to have Him as a crutch. A crutch gives the idea that I can do it I just need a little help from God. This is symbolic of a person with a disability who needs something to lean on just to help me a little. Doing things in our own strength and saying to God "I will just use you when I have problems" is not what it is supposed to be. We all fall into that category because of human nature. When we come to accept Christ; It is a complete trust that we give to Him. This means; Whatever happens in our lives has happened for a reason; because we first trusted HIm. It is not good to compare ourselves with others. Rather it is how we compare ourselves to what God wants us to be.

Our Tongue in relation to Nature; Natural Man; & The Holy Spirit.

James 3:7-12

7.For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison..

Here is a comparison between animals and our tongue. It is often said that animals have more love than people sometimes. Hey: here it is in the bible.

An animal can be tamed but the tongue cannot. No one can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

We use the tongue to bless God; even our Father the almighty. Then with the same tongue we curse or say things against men that is made in the image of God. Hey; He made you and me and every living man; woman; and  child. And yet; done frequently we say hurtful things that diminishes God’s creation.

We have had hurtful things said against us that would even destroy us. and has somewhat destroyed our character in the community. But I have had to realize that their tongue is full of deadly poison.

There is also the other problem of saying or not saying something that the other person expects from us. This is so hard to determine and something I am working on every day of my life. Other people have deep hurts; that we do not know of. And when we say something; we do not realize the impact we are having on that persons life. We do not know their hurts and we offend in what we say or do.

I want to urge us; that when we speak to whoever that we say a quick prayer. “Please guide me by your Holy Spirit In Jesus name Amen”

Sometimes the Holy Spirit wants to use us to shock us into reality. But let us be careful; It could be coming from the flesh and not the Holy Spirit.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Yes it is realized by James that blessing and cursing does come into our speech and conversation with other people.

James says this should not happen. Why? we belong to Christ and we ought to be relying on Him for his words and thought.

Then James say’s that you cannot have both sweet and bitter coming from the same water outlet. Nor can a fig tree bear olive berries. Neither can a fountain give salt water and fresh water.

James is talking to brethren people that is, those that belong to Him.

Encouragement: These thing ought not to be so. Let us rely on the Holy Spirit to direct us.

The Tongue-A Fire; A World of Iniquity

James 3:6

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.

The Tongue is a fire. What does this mean? A fire can destroy property; this means a tongue can ruin one financially so they cannot afford to live where they are. A fire from the tongue gives a devastation of reputation; that is; One that had high standing in their community now destroyed by fire. The tongue can destroy like fire the reputation of others. It can leave people with ashes or things in their lives that cannot be repaired.Photos and personal belongings can be destroyed in a fire. The Tongue like fire can destroy or stop people from doing God's service in the community. What a tragedy that this is happening from the most supposed mature Christians of today. Satan wants to destroy peoples testimonies not only in churches but in the community so that churches even believe the supposed wrongness that was started by the fire of the tongue.

The Tongue is a World of iniquity. How big is the tongue of iniquity. It is world size. It is a world size of darkness; evil; immortality; injustice; unfairness and wickedness.

It defiles the whole body or it pollutes the whole body. We have heard much about pollution in this expanding world. We learn over the TV and News media, how we need to clean up pollution. Yet there is not much said about cleaning up the defilement or the pollution in our lives from the fire of the tongue. If we have a real fire and there were chemicals near by; the air would stink. So do our lives when we defile the whole body and others with our tongue.

It sets on fire the course of nature.> If we were to leave things alone then in time things would take care of themselves. But we think that we have the personal authority in our lives just to take care of it. We have had serious situations in our family that have come up in our lives, as a result I have had to take the leadership and say 'give it time, the truth will come out' It usually does. After taking no action and time had fixed the issue, because I left it to God. I have then went back in thought and said to myself. "If I had tried to fix the problem, it would have made it worse or it would have taken longer to resolve. The tongue sets on fire the course of nature or it is a block for the Holy Spirit to have His intervention.
1John 2:11. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
So if we sin we have an advocate or a counselor to whom we can talk to, He is, our Lord Jesus Christ the righteous. We can also safely say that when others sin against us we have our righteous Lord Jesus Christ, the one in whom we can cherish His counsel, because He is righteous.
Do we need to get counsel from our Lord Jesus Christ the righteous, regarding our problems and His wisdom to guide our tongue. I think we all do. So let us pray.
Father in Heaven, forgive us this day if we have used our tongue in an unwise way that could have destroyed someone's life. I pray for that person and that he or she will ask God for His wisdom and to guide them in the way that would be pleasing to you. I also ask that you would forgive me for saying things that I should not have said and ask that you will teach me to ask of you what I should say before I speak. I pray this in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ amen.

The Tongue

1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

My Notes.

Verse 1,2 It is a sobering thought that we need to be careful about what we say. As I read this; I sought diligently what it was saying. From the text, I have a great responsibility to make sure what is correct for my readers.

First it is talking to Christians I.e “My brethren” then the instruction comes “be not many masters” I know myself just being a parent and teaching them is a great responsibility. We are going to be responsible at the judgement seat of Christ when it comes to our children. Even on earth I find that parenting and the way we parent our children can be condemnable amongst the world and fellow believers. How much more does God expect of us when it comes to the authority in the home.   Luke 17:1,2 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all

Do we offend? yes I believe we do “If any offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”  There is only one man that was recorded as perfect in the Bible; his name is The Lord Jesus Christ.

So what about those who are in a ministry. James says; do not be the masters of many. I encourage others; keep your ministry to a place that God wants it to be. Too many pastors are doing too much in there own church. There are too many members not doing anything. Some; I believe need to step down; and some need to step up. above all be and do what God wants you to be. Be aware of  the tongue and do not be stubborn.

3 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.

As teaches and as parents, we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Not by the horse who has no bit in the mouth or a ship without a helm; tossed too an frow in this life.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Just like the horse without a bit or the ship without a helm; the tongue wants to go it’s own way, because we want to subject our tongue to ways it should not go. Rather it should be directed by the Holy Spirit. Teachers need to back up things about what they say regarding the word of God. Parents also need to back up what they say with God’s leading of the Holy Spirit.  We should follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and be always praying to guide our Children and those we have contact with in our everyday lives.

Remember; a large fire cannot be started if a small fire is not lit. A small fire will not be lit if our tongue is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Remember; a fire in relation to the tongue is something that is wrongly said or something that is said that can be destroying to another person. Fire does destroy.

Something said directed by the Holy Spirit cannot be a destructive force or accusative, of another persons life or ours.

We cannot be perfect, but let us be directed and steered, Just like the horse and the ship, by the Holy Spirits words as he speaks to us when we commune with Him.

Keep your Life Ringing

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?
Keep this bell ringing...
'The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace...
Numbers 6:24-26

James 2:25,26 A Faith that you can have.

Joshua 2 - Rahab Hides the Spies
Lesson 2 - Faith for salvation
Exposition by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson


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I got this from http://www.jesuswalk.com/joshua/lesson2-ex.htm

I believe that all Christians should read this. Also if you do not know the Lord It would be good too. Phil B



New discipleship / spiritual formation curriculum for new believers

I ask myself, Why is the story of Rahab included in the Bible? I don't think the spies' mission was crucial to the success of the Battle of Jericho in chapter 6, so it isn't really necessary to the narrative of Conquest. But I think the story of Rahab was included for at least three reasons:

To relate the effect that the Israelites had on the inhabitants of the land: "our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you" (2:11),
To highlight the saving faith of a gentile whose descendents include the Davidic line of kings and Christ Jesus himself, and
To demonstrate God's wonderful grace to a prostitute despite her profession.
I've tried in a short story "You're Israelites, Aren't You?" (http://www.joyfulheart.com/evang/rahab.htm) to communicate what happened as clearly as I can. In this exposition I'd just like to comment on a few of the customs of the time and some of the larger issues the text points to.

Rahab's faith (2:11)
It's pretty obvious that Rahab had decided quickly to hide the spies. It put her life at risk, but she had become convinced by the stories that had circulated in Canaan about Israel's God. She had concluded "the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below" (2:11). That was quite a statement of faith.

Jericho probably worshipped the fertility gods worshipped in the rest of Canaan (though I don't know that archaeologists have uncovered household gods in the ruins of Jericho). Baal was worshipped as the supreme male fertility god, the storm God, sometimes represented by the horns of a bull. He was considered to have power over rain, wind, clouds, and therefore over the fertility of the land itself. Ashtoreth was a female goddess commonly worshipped in Canaan. Worship sometimes involved intercourse with female prostitutes and male homosexual prostitutes at shrines as a ritual to insure fertility in the land. While Rahab probably wasn't a shrine prostitute -- she was an entrepreneur and had her own house -- she was affected by the beliefs around her.

But when she heard the stories of the exploits of Israel's God, she believed in him and wanted to associate herself with him and be involved in his cause. James asserts, "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." (James 2:18-19)

James indicates that it is possible to have intellectual assent concerning the truth of something without having real faith. Demons believing that God is the only true God is the example he gives. The demons weren't saved by their belief because they didn't act in accordance with it. They trembled in fear and continued to resist God. The residents of Jericho heard the same stories as Rahab and were filled with fear. But instead of taking action to join themselves to this God, they prepared for battle. Rahab, on the other hand, sided with the true God at risk to her own life. Her confession of faith, "the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below" showed that she had replaced her previous belief in Baal (to whom were attributed those characteristics), with a belief in the LORD.

My friend, do you have Rahab's kind of saving faith in God, a faith that aligns you with him rather than with the secular culture? Or is your belief mere intellectual assent, the kind that believes and trembles? Maybe Rahab can be an encouragement to you to take some steps of faith and enter into true faith.

Incidentally, Rahab calls God by his given name Yahweh. As you are probably aware, whenever in your English Bible you see LORD in small caps rather than in upper and lower case it refers to the name Yahweh. God is generic (like Hebrew "El"), while Yahweh is specific.

A trophy of grace
Rahab's faith is lauded three times in the New Testament. First, in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1:5-6, a Rahab is given as the mother of Boaz:

"Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse, the father of King David."
While she isn't specified as Rahab "the harlot," it's pretty likely that she was. In this genealogy only five women are mentioned, each for a particularly noteworthy place in history: Tamar (vs. 3), Rahab (vs. 5a), Ruth (vs. 5b), Bathsheba (vs. 6), and Mary (vs. 16). If this Rahab weren't the famous prostitute, she probably wouldn't have been mentioned at all, especially in company with Tamar (who posed as a prostitute so her father-in-law would impregnate her), Ruth (a Moabite whose tender story is told in the book by her name), and Bathsheba (with whom King David committed adultery).

It's pretty clear that our God is in the redeeming business. Instead of hiding "irregularities" in Jesus' family tree, they are pointed out as trophies of God's grace and forgiveness. No matter what you may have done in your past life, God is ready to forgive you and give you a new start. In fact, your repentance from sin and turning to him brings joy to him -- so much so that he orders a party in your honor, which the already-faithful people don't even receive (Luke 15:7). Our God is the God of the Second Chance. Praise Him!

Faith praised
The second time we find Rahab mentioned in the New Testament she appears in the Hebrews 11 "Hall of Faith": "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient" (Hebrews 11:31). It indicates that the citizens of Jericho were being punished because of their "disobedience." God was punishing their sin as he had promised Abraham centuries before: "In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure" (Genesis 15:16).

Now their sins of idolatry and licentiousness had reached this full measure. Yet the chiefest sinner, if you will, in Jericho, who put her faith in God, was saved, both from temporal destruction and eternal destruction.

The third time we see Rahab in the New Testament, James says of her, "Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" (James 2:25). She is mentioned in the same breath as Abraham, the father of faith, whose faith was "credited to him as righteousness" (James 2:23 quoting Genesis 15:6). This is sometimes called "imputed righteousness." In the same say, God counts your faith as righteousness and forgives you through Jesus Christ.

Rahab's Deceitfulness (2:4-5)
But how are we to deal with Rahab's deceitfulness? This is not an easy issue, nor can we treat it fully in the space here. However, I think these are the important points, which I could liberally document from Scripture.

The Scripture is clear that lying is sinful. Falsehood is universally condemned.
God is known as a God of truth. He never lies. We are called to emulate him, and to be a people of truth.
Even though some men and women of God did tell untruths (Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, David, and Peter), there are never commended for it. Rahab is commended for "welcoming the spies" (Hebrews 11:31) and helping them "when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction" (James 2:25). She is not commended for her lie per se.
However, consider that in everyday life we commonly place limits on truthfulness.

Some people have a right to know things, others don't. "It's none of your business" is often an appropriate response to a probing questioner.
Being truthful does not necessarily mean telling everything you know.
In time of war, we consider it permissible to deceive enemies with feints and disinformation. We even seek to deceive burglars with lights on timers to make them think we're home when we're not.
Rahab's case doesn't seem to be that far from our own century, where people such as Corrie ten Boom (http://www.joyfulheart.com/books/tenboom.htm) hid Jews in their homes from the Nazis who sought to destroy them. The very act of hiding someone is an act of deception. Does the end justify the means? When an enemy soldier comes to the door and asks, "Are you hiding any Jews in your home?" what do you answer?

"No." A bald-faced falsehood, or
"Yes." A truthful statement, but an invitation for the soldiers to carry out their evil that makes you complicit in their evil intent.
I suppose there are other things that could be said that would not be a lie. "You're welcome to come in and look around," is neutral. It is not a lie, though it intends to deceive the soldier into thinking that you have nothing to hide, which is not true. How many times have you thought of what you should have said after the conversation is over? Too often!

As a nation in the fall of 1998, we are trying to assess President Bill Clinton. He claims to have been legally accurate in a statement that was meant to deceive the American people. But it seems like a self-serving lie designed to keep him in office. This does not help people view him as a person of integrity, or trust him. Being factual but deceptive to protect oneself doesn't seem to point people to the God of truth.

The President is accused of an even more serious deception than lying to the American people: lying under oath. The Third Commandment says: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who takes his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). When people are sworn in court "so help me God," they are taking the name of the Lord. They have taken a solemn oath to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." If they don't tell the truth after having sworn by God to do so, then they have taken the name of the Lord in vain. We see this in Rahab's story below.

It's one thing to give into the temptation to lie to keep ourselves out of trouble. Our motive is clearly selfish, and God instructs us to tell the truth.

But it's another thing to tell a falsehood because we know that if we tell the truth, innocent people will die. Lying is an evil, but it seems like "the lesser of two evils" because we don't know how to do what we know to be right without lying. Life is sometimes messy like that, though we gradually gain wisdom from our sins and mistakes.

When Jesus was pressed by questions meant to trick him, his Father gave him supernatural wisdom to confound his enemies. We need that kind of wisdom in the face of evil.

So what do we do when we feel forced to tell a lie? Justify ourselves? No, that becomes a slippery slope that leads to justifying lying more and more often. Rather we should confess to God our sin of lying and ask for forgiveness, and also ask for wisdom in the future to know how to tell the truth without compromise.

Odds and ends
The scarlet cord (2:18). S.D. Walters has suggested that the scarlet rope may have been the mark of a prostitute, a "red rope" district, if you will. I adopted this idea in my short story, though this is just conjecture. However, scarlet in the New Testament is associated with sensuality. The Great Prostitute in Revelation 17 sits on a scarlet beast, and was dressed in purple and scarlet (Rev. 17:4).

Stalks of flax (2:6). I find it interesting that Rahab wasn't just a prostitute. The flax drying on her roof indicates that she also prepared linen thread and perhaps clothing in a cottage industry like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:24. Flax is produced from the herbaceous plant Linum usitatissimum L. which grows up to 4 feet in height, so it probably wasn't too difficult to hide the spies among its drying stalks. "The cut flax was tied and set up to dry, then soaked in water from five to fifteen days to loosen the fibers, after which the fibers were drawn over the edge of a stone or board and beaten with a wooden mallet, and finally refined by combing." (Madeleine S. and J. Lane Miller [revised by Boyce M. Bennett, Jr. and David H. Scott], Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life [Harper & Row, 1978], pp. 377-378)

Swearing by the LORD (2:12)
Rahab tells the spies what they must do to escape the King's men searching for them, but before she sends them off, she asks for a special assurance:

"Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign...." (vs. 12)
She is asking them to "testify under oath" that they will keep their promise. Who knows better than Rahab how easy it is to lie to keep yourself out of trouble. Her livelihood had depended upon it. Since she believes in the great power of Yahweh, she wants the spies to take Yahweh's name as an assurance that they will keep their word. If they break their word it would be breaking the Second Commandment, "taking the name of the LORD their God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Rather than it being a sign of Rahab's unbelief, this is probably another indication of her belief in the true God.

Remarkable!
When you take the time to examine Rahab, you find a remarkable woman who demonstrated a remarkable faith. But God's forgiveness is even more remarkable. This week I received an unsigned note from a man who objected to one of my unnamed articles on forgiveness:

"With all due respect, the article about forgiveness seems to be nothing more than exactly that which murderurs [sic] and criminals want to hear so that they can keep committing their crimes, because God and His good people are suckers and will keep on forgiving them no matter what they do!"
Forgiveness is hard for even us Christians to accept. We are not nearly so inclined to forgive as God. Nor are we inclined to forgive sins again and again. But, contrary to my anonymous friend, I believe our God is full of forgiveness, full of grace, full of mercy. No, we can't trifle with God. When we do, we experience his uncomfortable discipline in our lives. But he does forgive. Again and again. He forgave Rahab her prostitution. He forgave David his adultery and murder. He forgave Peter his denials. He forgave Paul his persecution. And he will forgive you. Trust him like Rahab did, and he will forgive you.

Father, give us faith like Rahab to see who you are and what you are doing in our times, and to align ourselves with you. Give us courage to do what is right, even when in doing so we risk all we hold dear. And give us courage to proclaim your great grace far and wide. In Jesus' name. Amen.

James 21-24

God wants our Faith made perfect. This was a challenge to me; I pray it will be to you also; Please click on this link below and read.

http://www.facingthechallenge.org/gen22.php

The Royal Law - James 2:5-13

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
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.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.


5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

James says here; that God has chosen the poor of this world and then describes them of being rich in Faith. Then God recognises those that love Him are heirs of the kingdom. And furthermore; this heir is for those that love him. So; even though poor; we can be rich in faith of our Lord Saviour. And we have a heavenly home that awaits us; because he promised it to those that truely love Him. What an Encouragement!!!

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Here in verse 6 and 7; we have a comparison of the rich in this period of time to that of the poor. The rich in hate of the poor. They oppressed them or had a cause to make them suffer or crush them. And they brought them to the judgement seat or a ruling of judement or if you like a tribunal.

Is not there today towards those that love Him; a crushing of our faith in Him. May be it is our provision; our daily bread; or a house; a car. The bible says that the world hates us.

1 Cor 4:10. We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.

1 Cor 1:27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

So faith can have an adverse affect on those that do not understand our faith in Him. But let us take courage. Although we are crushed by the faithless or those that do not believe; what we receive and our outward appearance of faith is going to confound the wise and the mighty. And we do have an inheritance.

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

James reminds us here, in contrast; of the judgement seat or a tribunal; there is a royal law. A law that has royalty. The royal law is to love your neighbour as your self. and then James says you do well. I would like to say here; let us not do what the unsaved do; that is; crush another believer. If one has a faith in something regarding what the Lord is doing for them; that we do not understand; let us not be like those who have not the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and go about to crush or to pull them down; or as the bible puts it, to oppress them.


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.

Here it is very clear; if we hold one person in high regard, as opposed to another; James says that sin is committed. and are convinced of the law; that is; that they want to hold to the law. "as transgressors"; that is; it is evident that by holding one in high regard they have broken there own law. Then James continues in verse 10; if they "keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

James is saying by holding one in high regard is an offense; yet by keeping the law; and commiting this very sin of holding one up higher than the other, then that person is guilty of transgression of all the law.

We need to be careful christian. we need that royal law; of loving our neigbor as our selves.

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.

Here in verse 11 is an example of two sins; but if one sin is committed; then that person has become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement

We need to show mercy; so that mercy can be given to us. Mercy rejoices against judgement.


Let us have Royal Law. Let us love our neighbours as ourselves

FW:7% Forgiveness

This may be a story. But the biblical principle is obvious
Phil B

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how. It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive .

'As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?

The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'

'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'

The man answered - 'Yes. Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.

'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?

And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'

'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'

The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'

As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.'

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for Him, forward this with the title 7%

The A. B. C. of not having Partiality in the Church James2:1-4

1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.


2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;


3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:


4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?


A. Have no Favouritism

1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the] Lord of glory, with respect of persons:

Gills Exposition puts it like this:

That is, such as have, and hold, and profess the faith of Christ, ought not along with it to use respect of persons, or to make such a distinction among the saints, as to prefer the rich, to the contempt of the poor; and in this exhortation many things are contained, which are so many arguments why such a practice should not be encouraged;

This is happening today. Is it not sad? I remember not so long ago. The church building was going to be reasonably packed. Because I could not see i.e. eye problems I was shuffeled to the back of the church because there were visitors there. I believe some consideration could have been executed because of my problem. But no attempt was made to help out. I am not saying this because of hurt. But I thought at the time, that their attitude was so wrong.

James is saying here that a distinction of the saints should not even be considered. I asked my self with the seating problem. Was I asking for favouritism? No! was the answer that came back to me. I was asking for consideration and if it were not possible then sitting at the back may have been the only answer. But I saw in their shuffling and attitude, that they had favouritism amongst the church.

Our Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is nothing short of the same,without partiality. We have the same Lord, the same faith, the same law of liberty which I discussed in my last blog. i.e the Law of grazing and having the freedom of Christ.

B. Have no partiality between the poor and the rich.

2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:


This is a comparison of the poor man and a rich man coming into a Church i.e. (A Church is an assembly not a building.) It is a comparison of which is easily noticed by others. A man coming in with a gold ring, coming in lovely clothes to that of a man with vile clothes i.e. Clothes that we just cannot stand. clothes that could be unclean, clothes that are not ironed, clothes that are not a persons best to look at.

And then as verse three points out, that a person says to the person wearing the gay clothing. Woops, hold it, gay clothing? In this context, it does not mean the same thing as todays language.
James points out that the man that comes to the church assembly in (gay or magnificent clothing) ie gay means here magnificent clothing. Let us continue. We say to this person who wears the magnificent clothing to sit here in this nice place. Then we say to the person with the vile (vile clothing: meaning dirty, cheap or shabby) clothing to sit here or to stand here or sit here under my footstool.

This is favouritsm to the person with the magnificent clothing. This is down grading to the person with the dirty, cheap, and shabby clothing.

C. Do not be Judges

4.Then James asks the question. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and become judges of evil thoughts?

Gill says it like this:

a) Are ye not then partial in yourselves…

That is, guilty of such partiality as must appear to yourselves, and your own consciences must accuse you of; or do not ye distinguish, or make a difference among yourselves, by such a conduct, towards the rich and the poor:

b) and are become judges of evil thoughts;or

"are distinguishers by evil thoughts"; that is, make a distinction between the rich and the poor, by an evil way of thinking, that one is better than the other, and to be preferred before him.

Let us be Doers James 1:18-27


18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.
27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Thoughts at this point from James 1:18.

1. vs 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James exhorts us to be the first fruits of his creatures. we are to be a sacrifice from our old life to our new life.2. Vs

2.19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

We need to be ready to listen. Slow to speak of others even in our thoughts. Slow to anger. It is often we are not ready to hear but we speak fast of others and then this brings us to anger. Let us not be used of Satan to be trapped in our own thoughts but rather ready to listen. Let us not be used of satan in our speaking of others. Nor let us, because of these things be lead to anger.All this can cause splits in families, marriages, friendships, and churches.

3. vs 20 it says that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God"So, the wrath of man does not work in what God knows that is not right.

4. vs21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

So because that anger does not come from God in His righteousness. And that we need to listen intently and slow to speak, because anger does not come from His righteousness. Because of these things we need to lay apart or cast off filthiness and superfluity or an abundance of naughtiness. This naughtiness can come from a quick mouth, and from those who do not want to listen, which causes anger which is not from God's righteousness.

5. vs 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Then James exhorts us to be doers of the word. We need to be not only poetic of what is said. But also in our thoughts we need to have a poetic thought life that reflects God's glory.

So here we go. So what we speak and what we say and what we think should reflect righteousness. we should not have that ecessive naughtiness coming from our mouths.

Going back to verse 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls

In the last part of this verse it says that we need to receive the engrafted word or the implanted word in speach and in thought. This is so different then to have the superfluity of naughtiness.

6. vs23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Here is a good illustration of what we will be like if we hear but do not do in our thought life and what comes from the mouth. He will forget what he was. If we do not hear intently. If we are not doers. We are going to leave what we hear and forget what we supposed to do. So James is exhorting us to be a poetic doer in thought in speach and I believe in a total being in His righteousness.

7. vs 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The person who stoops to the grazing of freedom and does not become a forgetful hearer but he is a doer in righteousness he will be blessed in his performance. Or he will be blessed by not becoming a forgetful hearer. And he will be blessed by being a doer of righteousness.

8. 26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

Hey we do not want a religion that is vain, But we need a righteousness that is in Christ.

9. Vs 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We need a pure religion that is not defiled by our lack of hearing or our lack of doing. We need one that is not of anger. How are we to do this? James encourages us to visit those that need comforting, and the widows ie, those that have no husband ( figuratively or literally). We have a Father who is our God. There are those that need the comfort of our own lives and the comfort that comes from God.

Let us be doers. let us hear intently. let us speak slowly of others. Let us keep our lives ready for His service ie Our Lord Jesus Christ.