Week 8 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 1

Introduction…in Track and Field events it seems once an old record is broken, so many others break it as well. Spiritually, it is always comforting to feel that others have gone through what we have to go through. Patient endurance is a part of the Christian life and we can look to many saints of God who have gone before us as examples of faithful living.

Read James 5:10-11 “Brothers, take as an example of patience in hardship the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Look you, we count those who endure blessed. You have heard of Job’s steadfast endurance and you have seen the conclusion of his troubles which the Lord gave to him, and you have proof that the Lord is very kind and merciful.”

Bible Study

• Jesus taught that the person who endured to the end was blessed and would be saved. See Matthew 24:13
• You may have heard of the ‘patience of Job’ a great man of faith in Scripture who endured tremendous set back and then God granted him a wonderful comeback. See the Book of Job.
• The word ‘patience’ is passive a word to describe what Job went through and how he remained faithful to God.
  • “Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him.” Job 13:15
  • “My witness is in heaven, and He that vouches for me is on high.” Job 16:19
  • “I know my Redeemer lives.” Job 19:25
• The word used here in these verses of James describing Job, this great man of faith, is a Greek word, hupomone, meaning, ‘gallant faith’, which describes a person who can come out from a time of doubt, sorrow, or some disaster with faith stronger than before.
• “The Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning.” Job 42:12
• There are moment in life when we think that God has forgotten or left us, but if we tie a knot at the end of our rope and hold on, we will be rescued by the hand of God. “He will never leave or forsake us.”
• I have learned to realize like the Psalmist that, “God’s lovingkindness is better than life.” (Ps. 63:3)

Application

• Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:
“LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you’d walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied:
“My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

written by Carolyn Joyce Carty

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 2

Introduction…our words  have power. What we say can put us over or under. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21. “A good person out of the good  treasure of his heart brings forth good things and an evil person out of the evil of his heart brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12: 35-37 NKJV

Read  James 5:12 “Above all things my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor earth, nor by any other oath. Let your yes be a simple yes and your no a simple no, lest you fall into judgment.”

Bible Study

• Here is great advice for living. So simple and yet so powerful.
  • We do not need to swear by anything to give credence to our words.
  • When we say yes, mean yes. And when we mean  no, say no.
  • We do not need to add words or swear by anything to make our words more believeable.
  • Just be consistent and tell the truth.
  • Be honest and true to our word.

• Our words are weighed in heaven and matter on earth and for eternity. WOW!

• What is in our heart will come out of our mouth. What is spoken with our mouth reveals what is in our heart. (Matt. 12:34)

• We can change the course of our lives by the direction of our words. This is good news for us who know the Lord, because if we have been going in the wrong direction…we can turn it around by believing and speaking the Word of God.
• In the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 5) God speaks to His people saying certain things we should not do to avoid judgment, but also to live life to the fullest. Two of those 10 relate to our speaking behaviors.
  • Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. We are to bless God and praise Him recognizing Him as Creator God who is holy and the only one who can save us from our sin. What honor and respect He deserves.
  • Don’t bear false witness against others. Do not lie about someone else especially with intent to hurt them or their reputation. We are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. There is great value in a good report. Speak well of others.
• Some Scriptures to live by…all from NKJV:
  • “The mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6
  • “The tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18
  • “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.” Proverbs 12:14
  • “…the lips of the wise will preserve them.” Proverbs 14:3
  • “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4
  • “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.” Proverbs 10:11
  • “A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth.” Proverbs 13:2
  • “He who guards his mouth controls himself, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Application

• The Bible teaches us as believers, disciples of Jesus Christ that every word is spoken in the presence of God and therefore must be true, right and good.
• Making an oath is a sign that your words cannot be trusted at face value.
• The Christian should be known for the integrity of his/her word.
• If we have said things that were wrong or wrongly said, ask the person and God for forgiveness. “If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 3

Introduction…Church life is real community since we are members of one body, Jesus Christ, the True Church. Also we are a part of the body of Christ locally, here at Elevate. One thing has been made clear about the Church, the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. We have different gifts, ministries and we ourselves come from different places in life. Overarching the differences is the fact that we operate as one, we need each other and there are no spare parts. All working and sharing together we make up the Body.

Read James 5:13-15 “Is any among you in trouble? Let him pray. Is any in good spirits? Let him sing a hymn. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and pray over him and the believing prayer will restore to health the ailing person, and the Lord will enable him to rise from his bed; and even if he has committed sin, he will receive forgiveness.”

Bible Study

• The Bible teaches in Matthew 5:45 that ‘the rain falls on the just and unjust alike.” Meaning trouble (rain) comes to all of us. Christians don’t have a rain check, but we do have an ability to pray and God, our Father, hears and answers prayer.
• So when problems come our way, don’t be anxious or overwhelmed, pray and God will be there with us and for us. See Philippians 4:6
• Some of us in the church are going through trouble, while at the same time others are in good spirits and things are going well for them. The church activity appropriate for these times are singing, praising and thanking God.
  • Psalms 100: 1-2 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…Come before His presence with singing and into His courts with praise.”
  • This is why joy, singing and worship is a vital part of church and Christian life. See I Corinthians 14:15,26; Colossians 3:16)
  • Ephesians 5:18-19 teaches us, “don’t be drunk with wine in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord.”
• If and when we are sick, call for the church leadership and anointing with oil and prayer are the right thing to do.
  • There is a gift of Healing that some members of the body of Christ possess. That is the supernatural ability to pray for the sick and they are healed.
  • All of us do not have the same gift, or the gift of Healing but in spite of this we are encouraged to pray for each other, that we might be healed.
  • The element of oil and the activity of anointing are methods God uses to instruct the Church, how it should be the hand of God reaching out to the needy. God is the Healer. We in obedience and in faith follow His leading.
  • One of the names of God is ‘Jehovah Rophe’. God my Healer. “Sun of righteousness rise with healing in your wings.” Malachi 4:2 God heals today.

Application

• Healing is for us and for the Church. Healing was paid for and provided by Jesus bearing stripes at His Crucifixion, where it says “and by His stripes we are healed”. Read the amazing Word written 800 years before, prophesying Christ, the Messiah, would come and die for our sin and sicknesses. See Isaiah 53.

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 4

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 4

Introduction…the healing God offers is for the whole person…the body, mind and spirit. When Jesus healed people, further showing His Deity, he often said as well, “your sins are forgiven.” See Mark 2:5. He even clarified that healing sickness and sin forgiveness go hand and hand as a body and spirit both need His saving/healing touch. In Luke 5:23-24, Jesus said, “which is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven or rise up and walk, that you might know the Son of Man has authority upon earth…”

Read James 5: 16-18 “Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a good person, when it is set to work, is very powerful. Elijah was a man with the same emotions as ourselves, and he prayed earnestly that it should not rain, and for 3 years and 6 months no rain fell upon the earth. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth put forth her fruit.”

Bible Study

• Sin causes a barrier between us and God. Confessing our sin before God removes our sin and puts us in right relationship and continued fellowship with Him.
• Sin causes a barrier between us and others. Admitting our wrong doing, humbly asking forgiveness from another provides and promotes healing of the relationship.
• When we pray and come to God, these barriers must be removed. When confessed, God forgives and remembers them against us never again. But there still may be work to do with others, our wives, our children and friends whom we may have offended.
• Remember the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:21-26 taken from the Message Bible, which clearly shows us God’s order of things…first reconciliation with others and then bring your gifts to God.
  • “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, do not murder. I am telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot’ and you might just find yourself hauled into court.
  • “Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.”
  • “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”
  • “ Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him…”
• Prayer is powerful. Be right with others and God and the prayer becomes powerful moving the hand of God. See 1Kings 17 and 18 regarding Elijah

Application

• The Apostle Peter encourages us if we are married that our prayers are hindered when we are in unresolved conflict with our mate. Once again confirming the truth that we have to get it right with others before we get it right with God.
• See I Peter, chapter 3…especially verse 7.

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 5

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 5

Introduction…James finishes his letter with one of the greatest accomplishments and most uplifting thoughts in the Bible. It is the supreme human achievement although God inspired and empowered. What could it be? Leading someone to Christ or helping someone back to the Lord God. That is the ultimate good deed and the most courageous rescue ever made. This life giving eternal contribution so impacts people are THE asset of value in heaven and God takes great notice.

Read James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if any among you wander from the truth and if anyone turns him again to the right way, let him know that he who has turned a sinner from his wandering way will save a brother’s soul from death and will hide a multitude of his own sins.”

Bible Study

• How sad, what a tragedy, but we as sheep do wander and can wander away from truth. Our free choice allows us to deny, curse, leave and/or grieve God.
• But for those who seek and find the truth of God’s Word, His love and His forgiveness…to them gave He the power to become the children of God.
• Truth is something we must hold onto, love and cherish. 2 Thessalonians 2:10
• Truth is something we must hear and obey. Galatians 5:7
• Truth is something we do and live by. John 3:21
• Truth is something we live out in love. Ephesians 4:15 and 1 John 3:19
• When a brother or sister is fallen, or wanders from the truth, we who are spiritual are tasked by God to seek out and restore the weaker person with humility and love knowing that it could very well be us that is needing the help and rescue. See Galatians 6.
• Our lives as a Christian, as a disciple of Jesus Christ should bear fruit as we abide in the vine, Jesus Christ. See John 15. We may bear…
  • Fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace…Godly character
  • Fruit of righteousness…a lifestyle that pleases and obeys God
  • Fruit of new believers/salvation…people coming to know Christ through your testimony.
    • We sow into lives, others may reap, but God gives the increase.
    • “And he that reaps receives reward and gathers fruit to life eternal that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.” John 4:36
    • “He that wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
• Jeremiah speaks for God when he says, “if you utter what is precious and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth.” Let’s be the mouth and voice of God in our world. Jeremiah 15:19
• Daniel says it clearly, “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

Application

• Paul writes to Timothy, a young man of God and it speaks to all of us, “Take heed to yourself and to your teaching for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10