THE JOY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS MY STRENGTH

James 1

King James Version (KJV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

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.

JAMES CHAPTER 1

VS 1 JAMES SEES AND CALLS HIMSELF A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND SEND GREETING. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY. CHRISTIANS ARE HUMBLE.

VS 2 HE CALLS THEM BRETHREN. THIS IS A SHOW OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION. HE THEN ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF TEMTATIONS. TEMPTATIONS ARE FACTS OF LIFE. YOUR RESPONSE TO THEM DEPENDS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN CHRIST BY FAITH WHO GIVES YOU KNOWLEDGE AND POWER TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION.

HE SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH TEMPTATION IS NOT PLEASANT, WE CAN REJOICE IN TRIBULATION WHEN WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD. THE STATEMENT “COUNT IT ALL JOY” MEANS THAT THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN WHEN FACED WITH TEMPTATION IS TO REJOICE. THIS IS THE JOY OF AN ANTICIPATED VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS. THIS IS EXERCISING YOUR FAITH. WHEN YOU FOCUS IN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE BEING TEMPTED BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THAT MEANS THAT YOUR CHRISTIANITY IS SINCERE AND THE GOD OF TRUTH WILL STAND BY YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOU THAT YOU MAY BE A PILLAR AND ABLE TO STAND AND STRENGTHEN OTHERS IN THE DAY OF TRIBULATION.  REMEMBER THE WAY TO STAND IS TO HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD AND TO BELIEVE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

VS 3 THE PURPOSE OF THE TRYING OF THE FAITH OF A CHRISTIAN IS THAT IT WORKETH PATIENCE. THIS SHOULD GLADEN OUR HEART. WHEN YOU SET YOUR EYES ON THE GOAL SET BEFORE YOU IT IS EASIER TO CARRY OUT THE TASK AT HAND WITH JOY.

VS 4 LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING. THESE TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS ARE USED TO MAKE YOU BETTER. FIRST YOU LEARN PATIENCE. IN PATIENCE, YOU PATIENTLY ALLOW GOD TO MAKE YOU PERFECT.  WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO A PATIENT UNDERGOING SURGERY WHO DECIEDES TO WALK AWAY FROM THE OPERATING ROOM SIMPLY BECAUSE THE OPERATION WAS TAKING TOO LONG. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE . YOU LEARN PATIENCE BY BEING PATIENT.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE STANDARD. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A LIFE OF TRUST AND OBEDIENCE. YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST GOD AND OBEY HIM. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GOD NEVER FAILS AND HE WILL SURELY DELIVER ALL THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.

VS 5 WISDOM IS IMPORTANT . IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.

GOD GIVES WISDOM. LET US LEARN TO ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.

VS 6 LET US ASK IN FAITH. WHEN YOU ASK IN FAITH, YOU HAVE NO DOUBT. YOU simply patiently wait for the promise.  SINCE WE KNOW THAT GOD WILL NEVER FAIL; WE SHOULD NEVER WAVER. WHEN YOU ARE STEADFAST IN YOUR FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL INHERIT THE PROMIS THROUGH FAITH.

VS 7, 8 A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.

VS 9 LET THE BROTHER OF LOW DEGREE REJOICE IN THAT HE IS EXALTED.

VS 10 BUT THE RICH, IN THAT HE IS MADE LOW

THIS MEANS THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET TO HEAVEN. IF YOU NEED TO BE HUMBLE, HE WILL MAKE YOU HUMBLE, IF YOU NEED STRENGTH AND CAURAGE HE WILL STENGTHEN YOU AND SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS REACHES IN GLORY.

VS 12 BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL OVERCOME AND ENDURE WHEN YOU ARE TRIE. THIS IS BECAUSE HE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PERFECT.

VS 13 GOD GOD CAN NOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN.

VS 14 DESIRES AND LUSTS ARE AVENUES FOR TEMPTATION. PUT YOUR DESIRES AND WANTS IN CHECK. HOW DO YOU DO THAT. HAND OVER THE KEY TO JESUS CHRIST. THAT IS THE DIFFICULT PART. HAND OVER CONTROL TO JESUS CHRIST. ONCE YOU TAKE THAT DECISION AND TAKE THAT BOLD STEP OF FAITH, HE TAKES OVER . HE NOW DIRECTS YOU GIVING INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIVES. YOUR DUTY IS JUST TO TRUST AND OBEY AND ALL WILL BE WELL. WE ARE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRICE FOR HARD WORK IS MORE WORK. WELL THINK ABOUT THIS. JESUS CHRIST SAID, COME UNTO ME ALL YE WHO ARE BURDEN AND ARE HEAVY LAIDEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. CAST YOUR CARES ONJESUS CHRIST FOR HE CARES. CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER. BE CAREFUL WHENEVER YOU WANT SOMETHIG. ASK SOME SIMPLE QUESTIONS LIKE, CAN I DO WITHOUT THIS? IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE? WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT GET IT? DO I REALLY NEED IT? IS IT THE WILL OF GOD FOR ME AT THIS TIME? THESE QUESTIONS WILL HELP YOU TO PUT YOUR DESIRES IN CHECK AND TEACH YOU CONTENTMENT. GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. WE CAME TO THIS WORLD WITH NOTHING AND WILL LEAVE WITH NOTHING. OUR SOUL IS VERY PRECIOUS LET US TAKE CARE OF IT BY ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST TODAY FOR OUR SALVATION.

VS 15 SIN LEADS TO DEATH.

VS 16 DO NOT ERR MY BELOVED BRETHREN

VS 17 EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHT WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING.

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.

NOTICE HERE THAT IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT WE SHOULD BE HIS CHILDREN AND A KIND OF FIRSTFRUIT OF HIS CREATURES. THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE. WITH HIS WORD HE BEGAT US OF HIS OWN WILL. REMEMBER THAT IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US . AGAIN AS MANY AS BELIEVE IN HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON , HE GIVES POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.

VS 19 WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHEREN, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO WRATH.

VS 20 FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

VS 21 WHEREFORE LAY APART ALL FILTHINESS AND SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS, AND RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE ENGRAFTED WORD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.

THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD.

AS A CHILD OF GOD, LET YOUR WORDS BE FEW. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. SPEAK MORE TO GOD THAN TO MAN. REMEMBER THAT THE HEART OF THE KING IS IN THE HAND OF GOD. SPEND MORE TIME WITH GOD. LEARN TO FORM THE HABIT OF SAYING TO GOD FIRST ANY THING YOU WANT TO SAY TO MAN. BY SO DOING, YOU WILL MAKE FEWER MISTAKES IF ANY IN WORD THOUGHT AND DEED. THIS IS BECAUSE GOD ALMIGHTY WILL CORRECT EVERY WORD YOU SAY AND GIVE YOU A GOOD REPLY. AS AN OBEDIENT CHILD WHEN YOU TAKE HEED, YOUR LIFE WILL REFLECT THIS CLOSER WALK WITH GOD. TRY IT TODAY AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU.

LEARN TO LISTEN, ESPECIALLY TO GOD WHEN HE SPEAKS SO THAT YOU WILL GET USED TO HIM AND DIFFERENCIATE HIS WORDS FROM OTHERS. READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY ALWAYS.

DO NOT GET ANGRY. WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY, IT IS EASY TO LOOSE CONTROL. IT IS EASY TO FORGET THE GAME PLAN. IT IS ESAY TO OFFEND GOD. JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE AN AMBERSSADOR OF JESUS CHRIST ON EARTH JUST REPORT THE MATTER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND LET HIM TAKE CARE OF IT WHILE YOU WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.  AS A CHRISTIAN GOD GIVES YOU SELFCONTROL AND DISCIPLINE.

WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY, YOU CAN NOT PLEASE GOD. WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY, YOU CAN NOT DO GOOD THINGS. WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY YOU CAN NOT BE FOCUSED. BE SOBER AND VIGILANT.

TAKE AWAY ALL FILTHINESS AND SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS;

WHEN YOU TAKE THESE AWAY, YOU RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE ENGRAFTED WORD OF GOD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOUL.

YOUR SOUL IS VERY PRECIOUS. TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. YOU NEED THE WORD OF GOD FOR THIS PURPOSE.

VS  22 BUT BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEAERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.

WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE OBEY GOD AND DO THE WORD OF GOD.

DO NOT DECIEVE YOURSELD. GOD IS A GOOD GOD AND GOD IS JUST TOO.

VS 25 WHEN YOU DO THE WORK OF GOD, YOU SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOUR DEED.

VS 26 CHRISTIANS SHOULD CONTROL THEIR TONGUE.

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.