Archives for 2022

Good morning,

James 5 has five themes, riches, patience, prayer, faith, and restoration. This week we will explore each of these and make pertinent application.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

Prayer for the Sick (5:14-16)

^“14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

It is the privilege and responsibility for every Believer to pray for the sick. We should have the faith to believe that God can heal anyone, of any sickness or disease, at anytime. BUT, we must also understand that God is not bound to bend to our desires. There are reasons unbeknownst to us, God may choose to allow a person to suffer or die. Our part is to pray and accept God’s perfect will in each situation.

Prayer for the Nation (5:17-18) (Israel)

^“17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

James takes us back to 1 Kings 17 and 18. King Ahab was a wicked Baal worshipper. He set up pagan shrines called groves to his god. God was not pleased. He sent Elijah to proclaim that no rain would fall for a period of time. (1 Kings 17:1) Then 3 ½ years later the word of the Lord came to Elijah and God caused it to rain. (1 Kings 18:1) The nation of Israel was being punished for failure to follow God. Their wicked leaders drew the nation to idol worship. God sent Elijah with judgment. Only God could withhold rain and then produce it. It was a sign to Israel that the God of creation, the Almighty God, was more powerful than Baal and the other false gods. Prayer changes things.

Effective prayer comes from knowing God. So we must be Believers in God. We must be saved. Then we must understand the way God thinks. To understand how God thinks we must understand His word. We must be willing to read it, study it, and apply God’s word into our lives. 

Prayer for the Backslidden (5:19-20) (Restoration)

5:19-21 Our call to help restore the stray sheep (Matt. 18:15)

¹⁹ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

James 5 has five themes, riches, patience, prayer, faith, and restoration. This week we will explore each of these and make pertinent application.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

Oaths and Christians 5:12 

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

First, we are never to take the Lord’s name in vain. Second, the oaths taken in secret societies are also prohibited. Third, the oath we take in court or for the “oath of office” is an expression of agreement and is acceptable. Many of us have served in the military. When we were inducted we took an oath to “serve and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Prayer for the Afflicted (5:13)

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

We are to pray for those who are afflicted. Who are the afflicted? Believers persecuted for their faith. Why are they being persecuted, beaten, and killed, because they will not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. Although this is the extreme, there are believers at work or in a local church that may be afflicted for their faith.

Pray for these believers. Ask God to put His hedge of protection round about them. Pray that they would stand firm under the affliction.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

James 5 has five themes, riches, patience, prayer, faith, and restoration. This week we will explore each of these and make pertinent application.

RICHES, PATIENCE, PRAYER, FAITH, AND RESTORATION

JAMES 5

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

INTRODUCTTION:

When we are patient, we are persevering. We will have confidence and hope in life whatever we face because who we are in Christ.

I. Money Problems: 5:1-6

A. What Their Riches Will Bring (5:1-4)

 5:1 Woes to the rich and to corruption (Luke 6:24)

5:2-4 Wealth in time is all worthless (Matt. 6:19-20))

5:5-6 Self indulgence is sin and is of no benefit (Luke 16:19-20, 25)

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.³ Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.⁴ Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

B. The Way The Rich Used Their Wealth (5: 5)

“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.”

C. The Way They Got Their Wealth (5:4, 6)

⁴ Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. ⁶ Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

James is explaining that riches used to profit oneself causes sorrow. He uses words like miseries, corrupted, and moth-eaten clothes. He alludes to the idea that hording was taking place and that laborers were not being paid.

So what is the right use of riches? Riches should be used to further the cause of Christ. What might that look like? Christmas is just around the corner. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. When was the last time that you gave Jesus a gift? There are missionaries, church members, Pastors, Evangelists, and people that have blessed you spiritually. Give them a gift for Jesus sake. Thank them for what they mean to you. What about the homeless and down and out? Jesus ministered to these people. How about giving to a soup kitchen or going to work at a holiday meal.

The possibilities are endless. Also each of us need to remember who provided our riches. God Himself. God gave us the ability to work and earn a living. So when we give a gift to in Jesus name, we are really just giving back for what He has given us.

So how are you going to use our riches?

II. Patient Endurance 5:7-11

5:7 Be patient

5: 8-9 Watch because Jesus will return (Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:35-39)

5:10 The Prophets are our example (Matt. 5:10-12)

 ⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.¹⁰ Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

James challenges us to be patient. In today’s culture we are not accustomed to being patient. We have fast food, stores with all kinds of products, fast internet, and on demand TV. So when the Bible commands us to be patient, we do not know what to do.

Slow down might be a good first step. Find a quiet place in your home, get your Bible, and read. Turn off the TV, cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices and just relax.

James points out we are to be patiently waiting for the Lord’s return.  We are to be patiently enduring and suffering affliction. We are to follow the example of the prophets and Job.

Be patient!

III. Oaths and Christians 5:12 

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

First, we are never to take the Lord’s name in vain. Second, the oaths taken in secret societies are also prohibited. Third, the oath we take in court or for the “oath of office” is an expression of agreement and is acceptable. Many of us have served in the military. When we were inducted we took an oath to “serve and defend the Constitution of the United States.”         

IV. The Prayer Of The Saints: 5:13-20

A. Prayer for the Afflicted (5:13)

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

We are to pray for those who are afflicted. Who are the afflicted? Believers persecuted for their faith. Why are they being persecuted, beaten, and killed, because they will not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. Although this is the extreme, there are believers at work or in a local church that may be afflicted for their faith.

Pray for these believers. Ask God to put His hedge of protection round about them. Pray that they would stand firm under the affliction.

B. Prayer for the Sick (5:14-16)

¹⁴ Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

It is the privilege and responsibility for every Believer to pray for the sick. We should have the faith to believe that God can heal anyone, of any sickness or disease, at any time. BUT, we must also understand that God is not bound to bend to our desires. There are reasons unbeknownst to us, God may choose to allow a person to suffer or die. Our part is to pray and accept God’s perfect will in each situation.

C. Prayer for the Nation (5:17-18) (Israel)

¹⁷ Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

James takes us back to 1 Kings 17 and 18. King Ahab was a wicked Baal worshipper. He set up pagan shrines called groves to his god. God was not pleased. He sent Elijah to proclaim that no rain would fall for a period of time. (1 Kings 17:1) Then 3 ½ years later the word of the Lord came to Elijah and God caused it to rain. (1 Kings 18:1) The nation of Israel was being punished for failure to follow God. Their wicked leaders drew the nation to idol worship. God sent Elijah with judgment. Only God could withhold rain and then produce it. It was a sign to Israel that the God of creation, the Almighty God, was more powerful than Baal and the other false gods. Prayer changes things.

Effective prayer comes from knowing God. So we must be Believers in God. We must be saved. Then we must understand the way God thinks. To understand how God thinks we must understand His word. We must be willing to read it, study it, and apply God’s word into our lives. 

D. Prayer for the Backslidden (5:19-20) (Restoration)

      5:19-21 Our call to help restore the stray sheep (Matt. 18:15)

¹⁹ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

CONCLUSION

• Beware how you deal with money
• Be patient, the Lord is coming soon
• Do not swear an oath
• Pray for the afflicted, sick, nation, and the backslidden

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

James 5 has five themes, riches, patience, prayer, faith, and restoration. This week we will explore each of these and make pertinent application.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

Patient Endurance James 5:7-11

5:7            Be patient

5: 8-9        Watch because Jesus will return (Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:35-39)

5:10          The Prophets are our example (Matt. 5:10-12)

 ⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.¹⁰ Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

APPLICATION

James challenges us to be patient. In today’s culture we are not accustomed to being patient. We have fast food, stores with all kinds of products, fast internet, and on demand TV. So when the Bible commands us to be patient, we do not know what to do.

Slow down might be a good first step. Find a quiet place in your home, get your Bible, and read. Turn off the TV, cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices and just relax.

James points out we are to be patiently waiting for the Lord’s return.  We are to be patiently enduring and suffering affliction. We are to follow the example of the prophets and Job.

Be patient!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

James 5 has five themes, riches, patience, prayer, faith, and restoration. This week we will explore each of these and make pertinent application.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

MONEY PROBLEMS:  5:1-6

    A.  What Their Riches Will Bring (5:1-4)

        5:1      Woes to the rich and to corruption (Luke 6:24)

        5:2-4   Wealth in time is all worthless (Matt. 6:19-20))

        5:5-6   Self indulgence is sin and of no benefit (Luke 16:19-20, 25)

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. ⁴ Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

    B.  The Way the Rich Used Their Wealth (5: 5)

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

    C.  The Way They Got Their Wealth (5:4, 6)

⁴ Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. ⁶ Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

APPLICATION:

James is explaining that riches used to profit oneself causes sorrow. He uses words like miseries, corrupted, and moth-eaten clothes. He alludes to the idea that hording was taking place and that laborers were not being paid.

So what is the right use of riches? Riches should be used to further the cause of Christ. What might that look like? Christmas is just around the corner. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. When was the last time that you gave Jesus a gift? There are missionaries, church members, Pastors, Evangelists, and people that have blessed you spiritually. Give them a gift for Jesus sake. Thank them for what they mean to you. What about the homeless and down and out? Jesus ministered to these people. How about giving to a soup kitchen or going to work at a holiday meal.

The possibilities are endless. Also each of us need to remember who provided our riches. God Himself. God gave us the ability to work and earn a living. So when we give a gift to in Jesus name, we are really just giving back for what He has given us.

So how are you going to use your riches this Christmas season?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

The solution for strife: get right with other people. v 11-12

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

1. Do not speak evil of one another v 11
2. Who art thou that judgest another? v 12

As we study God’s word, we are told “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

We are to restore repentant believers not condemn them. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

The believer in Christ should: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:32)

Let us reflect on how we are doing.

A humble dependence on God

1) Caution against an attitude of independence from God. v 13-16

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

a. We will v 13

b. Ye know not v 14

c. Life is a vapor v 14

d. If the Lord will v 15

The question begs itself, “Who is in charge?” Do we make our decisions in life with or without the direction of God? 

 2) A challenge to live according to what we know in the Lord. V 17

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

When we know we have sinned, we must repent, ask God to forgive us, and move on. Unfortunately, Satan has won this battle with many believers. These believers feel like they have done something that cannot be forgiven. They repent but feel totally unqualified for further service. That is straight out of the pits of hell! God forgives and equips ALL who are willing to serve Him.  Please do not fall Satan’s lie.

CONCLUSION

Submit yourself unto God

Resist the devil

Draw nigh unto God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

The solution for strife: in humility, get right with God. v 6-10

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1. But God gives more grace v 6
2. God resists the proud v 6
3. God gives grace to the humble v 6
4. Therefore submit unto God v 7
5. Resist the devil and he will flee from you v 7
6. Draw near to God v 8
7. Cleanse your hands v 8
8. Purify your hearts v 8
9. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord v10

The same Holy Spirit convicting us of our compromise will also grant us the grace to serve God as we should. But this grace only comes to the humble. In the light of the grace offered to the humble, there is only one thing to do: submit to God. This means to order yourself under God, to surrender to Him as a conquering King, and start receiving the benefits of His reign.

To solve the problems of carnality and the strife it causes, we must also resist the devil. This means to stand against the devil’s deceptions and his efforts to intimidate. As we resist the devil, we are promised that he will flee from you.

The call to draw near to God is both an invitation and a promise. It is no good to submit to God’s authority and to resist the devil’s attack and then fail to draw near to God. We have it as a promise: God will draw near to us as we draw near to Him.

As we draw near to God, we will be convicted of our sin. We are compelled to find cleansing at the cross.

As we come as sinners before God, we appropriately humble ourselves before God, then He will lift us up. Because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and grace-the unmerited favor of God-always lifts us up. 

Here James gives us practical things we can do deal the problem of strife. Apply these Biblical principles to grow in your relationship with God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

THE HUMBLE DEPENDENCE OF A TRUE FAITH

JAMES 4

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

A. The humble character of a living faith

1) Reasons for strife in the Christian community. v 1-3

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

1. Wars and fightings v 1
2. Lusts v 1
3. Desire to have v 2
4. Ye ask not v 2
5. Ask amiss v 3

James accurately describes strife among Christians with the terms wars and fightings. Often, the battles that happen among Christians are bitter and severe. The source of wars and fightings among Christians is always the same. There is some root of carnality, an internal war within the believer regarding the lust of the flesh.

The types of desires that lead to conflict are described. Covetousness leads to conflict (you lust and do not have). Anger and animosity lead to conflict (murder). 

The reason these destructive desires exist among Christians is because they are not seeking God for their needs (you do not ask). Or, when they do ask, they ask God with purely selfish motivation (ye ask amiss).

This is not how God wants us to live our lives. We will find God’s answers as we continue our study of James 4.

2) A rebuke of compromise and covetousness among Christians. V 4-5

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

1. Friendship with the world is enmity with God v 4
2. Friend of the world is the enemy of God v 4
3. This is a rebuke in the Old Testament vocabulary. God spoke this way in the Old Testament when his people were attracted to some form of idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8-9, Ezekiel 6:9, Ezekiel 16:32, Ezekiel 23:37, and Hosea 3:1).

So the question for each one of us is who are we befriending? The world, the flesh, and the devil, or the God of creation, salvation, and sanctification. The answer to that question will help us determine our spiritual condition. 

What is your answer?

3) The solution for strife: in humility, get right with God. v 6-10

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1. But God gives more grace v 6
2. God resists the proud v 6
3. God gives grace to the humble v 6
4. Therefore submit unto God v 7
5. Resist the devil and he will flee from you v 7
6. Draw near to God v 8
7. Cleanse your hands v 8
8. Purify your hearts v 8
9. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord v10

The same Holy Spirit convicting us of our compromise will also grant us the grace to serve God as we should. But this grace only comes to the humble. In the light of the grace offered to the humble, there is only one thing to do: submit to God. This means to order yourself under God, to surrender to Him as a conquering King, and start receiving the benefits of His reign.

To solve the problems of carnality and the strife it causes, we must also resist the devil. This means to stand against the devil’s deceptions and his efforts to intimidate. As we resist the devil, we are promised that he will flee from you.

The call to draw near to God is both an invitation and a promise. It is no good to submit to God’s authority and to resist the devil’s attack and then fail to draw near to God. We have it as a promise: God will draw near to us as we draw near to Him.

As we draw near to God, we will be convicted of our sin. We are compelled to find cleansing at the cross.

As we come as sinners before God, we appropriately humble ourselves before God, then He will lift us up. Because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and grace-the unmerited favor of God-always lifts us up. 

Here James gives us practical things we can do deal the problem of strife. Apply these Biblical principles to grow in your relationship with God.

4) The solution for strife: get right with other people. v 11-12

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

1. Do not speak evil of one another v 11
2. Who art thou that judgest another? v 12
3. As we study God’s word, we are told “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

We are to restore repentant believers not condemn them. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

The believer in Christ should: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:32)

Let us reflect on how we are doing.

B. A humble dependence on God

1) Caution against an attitude of independence from God. v 13-16

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

a. We will v 13

b. Ye know not v 14

c. Life is a vapor v 14

d. If the Lord will v 15

The question begs itself, “Who is in charge?” Do we make our decisions in life with or without the direction of God? 

2) A challenge to live according to what we know in the Lord. V 17

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

When we know we have sinned, we must repent, ask God to forgive us, and move on. Unfortunately, Satan has won this battle with many believers. These believers feel like they have done something that cannot be forgiven. They repent but feel totally unqualified for further service. That is straight out of the pits of hell! God forgives and equips ALL who are willing to serve Him.  Please do not fall Satan’s lie.

CONCLUSION

Submit yourself unto God

Resist the devil

Draw nigh unto God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

Reasons for strife in the Christian community. v 1-3

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

1. Wars and fightings v 1
2. Lusts v 1
3. Desire to have v 2
4. Ye ask not v 2
5. Ask amiss v 3

James accurately describes strife among Christians with the terms wars and fightings. Often, the battles that happen among Christians are bitter and severe. The source of wars and fightings among Christians is always the same. There is some root of carnality, an internal war within the believer regarding the lust of the flesh.

The types of desires that lead to conflict are described. Covetousness leads to conflict (you lust and do not have). Anger and animosity lead to conflict (murder). 

The reason these destructive desires exist among Christians is because they are not seeking God for their needs (you do not ask). Or, when they do ask, they ask God with purely selfish motivation (ye ask amiss).

This is not how God wants us to live our lives. We will find God’s answers as we continue our study of James 4.

A rebuke of compromise and covetousness among Christians. V 4-5

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

1. Friendship with the world is enmity with God v 4
2. Friend of the world is the enemy of God v 4

This is a rebuke in the Old Testament vocabulary. God spoke this way in the Old Testament when his people were attracted to some form of idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8-9, Ezekiel 6:9, Ezekiel 16:32, Ezekiel 23:37, and Hosea 3:1).

So the question for each one of us is who are we befriending? The world, the flesh, and the devil, or the God of creation, salvation, and sanctification. The answer to that question will help us determine our spiritual condition. 

What is your answer?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of 9 October 2022 and runs through the evening of 16 October 2022. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events.

Spiritual/Prophetic Significance:

What will the Messiah Yeshua be doing during the Millennial reign over the Earth?

Micah 4:2 “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE (the Mashiach) will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law (Torah) shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 2:3 says the exact same thing. HE, the Messiah, will teach us His ways. I doubt Yeshua will be teaching replacement theology or modern church doctrine that speaks against the Torah and the feasts of the LORD. There will still be Gentiles or nations outside of the New Jerusalem that will be required to go up and keep the feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot or they will face famines and plagues as punishment. Does this sound like modern Christian doctrine? This is not a matter of liberty or grace but a righteous requirement. This isn’t the “well I don’t fully understand this feast stuff so God understands my heart and will be ok with it.” Read for yourself! The scriptures speak it clearly and overwhelmingly, leaving no shadow of doubt or question.

Zechariah 14:11, 16-18 “And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited… And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles… And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain… the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles… and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com