A journey through the Letter of James.

 Chapter 1

When Faith is tested rejoice

Testing of faith perfects us in faith.

When we are bombarded in faith, turn to God and seek for his wisdom. Ask without doubting. Ask in faith. He will provide the right wisdom.

let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation:.And the rich, in his being low: 

There is temptations in this world,but it is not arising from God. Temptations arise because of our desires of flesh..and traps of evil. Our greed and desires of flesh conceives sin in us and produces death..but if by grace of God in spirit we are enduring temptations..he shall receive the crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him...so conquer the temptations with the increasing strength in the knowledge of love of God..

The love of God pouring into us through holy spirit will help us to conquer temptations and thus save from sinning and defeat death by Jesus power of love..whose knowledge helps us to choose the love of God above worldly desiring love...

So let us not be mistaken or deviated from our way in God..nothing evil or tempting is coming from God..but best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.  

For of his own will has he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.

So abide in the word of God and obey the word in whom we are born again

Let us be good listeners..slow in replying and very slow in getting angry. Anger is not working as per justice of God.

Hence hold on to the word of God in meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls..by removing all uncleanness and naughtiness..

Not only hearers but be doers of the word..the word reflects our real state as like looking into a.mirror...when it reveals ur real image..be ready to change according to the words revelation..if not u hear and go ,u deceive your own selves.But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

Word with whom we are born again according to the wish of God and not by desire of flesh..is a double edged sword that reveals all our inner thoughts and has power to purify us in our willing submission to the word to be made flesh in us by the power of holy spirit..

Let us say 'let it be done in me according to your word'

If u think u r fearing the lord, then control your tongue.

What is true religion for God?

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Chapter 2

Those who believe in Jesus must not show partiality based on status. If you behave so, you have made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts

Realize, God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him.

Fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself".

if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. faith was active along with Abraham's works as he was ready to offer Issac, and faith was brought to completion by the works

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

 Chapter 3

Tongue:-

 we who teach will be judged with greater strictness: so be fearful when teaching others.

Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check from sinning, with a bridle.

the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, 

It sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 

the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing..can a good tree bring bad fruit...

The source have to be cleansed...tongue speaks out from fullness of heart..

If heart is good..tongue speaks good..

Let the heart be abiding in God: filling in wisdom.

If u r wise and understanding..it can be Shown by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

But if our hearts are rotten..if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts.. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish...For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

If u feel so filled in heart then take care, do not be boastful and false to the truth.  

Discern the type of wisdom filling you:-

The wisdom from above is first *pure, then *peaceable, *gentle, *willing to yield, *full of mercy and *good fruits, *without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Chapter 4:

Friendship with world is enemity to God.

Humble yourselves to be cleansed..before the Lord..draw nearer to him. Resist devil,he will flee from you

There are fights between you due to the fleshly desires existing inside you..in your organs to satisfy ur own selfish desires.

U don't get what you ask because u ask for what is evil.

 It come from your cravings that are at war within you. (You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts)

You do not have, because you do not ask..but murmurs and complains.

 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

Friendship to world is enemity to God. whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  

God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”

God gives all the more grace; therefore it says,

“God opposes the proud,

    but gives grace to the humble.” 

We are weak but God is giving grace for us those who humble for his help. There are desires fights cravings etc but all these are from evil. If we Submit yourselves therefore to God, devil will flee away .Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. draw nearer to God and he will too draw nearer to you..abide in him always to be shielded from all the friendship with world that generates evil passions.

 *Therefore, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Humble to cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, your double-minded nature. Lament and mourn and weep. 

* Never Judge others:- who are you to judge your neighbor?

 if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge . There is one lawgiver and judge our lord, who is able to save and to destroy. Are we playing God? So never speak evil against one another.

 * Never boast about tomorrow: all such boasting is from evil and desires of flesh.  

you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

So we must say only, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that".

Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

Chapter 5

Those who are wealthy in worldly things realize that you have accumulated rotting wealth in these last days.

The wealth is rusting. This rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. Evidence against the wages you kept back by fraud from those who helped you, not giving the required eligible appreciation or acceptance or Thanksgiving to your fellows.

Your gain of wealth is by selfish motives.

You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. So increased in flesh.

You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

*Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

*do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors.

As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

blessed are those who showed endurance(Job)

There is a purpose for lord for this,he compassionate and merciful.

do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The Prayer of Faith

If you are suffering- pray

If you are cheerful- sing praises

If sick- call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.

The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.

 

confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

 The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Bring back anyone among you who wanders from the truth. If he/she is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.