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P E R S O N A L ST U DY G U I D E PERSONAL
STUDY GUIDE

JAMES
BOOKLET

A BIBLE STUDY
of

JAMES
Developing a Living Faith for a
Successful Christian Life

FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND

 Unless otherwise noted, scriptures are from
the AMPLIFIED Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC),
Copyright ©1954, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987
by The Lockman Foundation.
I have spent more than 40 years studying God’s Word, and I can
honestly say it has completely changed my life! I am living proof that
God can heal and transform us through the power of His love and His
Word working in our lives.

Mark 4:24 says, ...The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the
truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes
back to you....

This is why I’m so excited to present this study of the book of James. I’ve
included material to help you walk through each chapter and apply it to
your life in a meaningful way. With this approach, it’s like we’re doing a
personal Bible study together.

Whatever you’re currently dealing with in life, James probably has

something to say about it! Are you going through a difficult time? If so,
he teaches us how to “count it all joy” and grow strong in the midst of it.
Are you in need of guidance? He’s got that covered too, instructing us on
how to receive God’s wisdom and experience the supernatural power
of prayer.

This book also includes some of the greatest and well-known scriptures
on the importance of our words—ones I have personally needed to study
over and over again!

More than anything, James is a book about growing up spiritually and

developing a “living faith”—a faith that’s characterized by godly behavior
and good works that display the love of Christ to the world around us.

The book of James has so many valuable things to say about living a
successful Christian life—a life that not only brings us joy, but also brings
tremendous glory to God and positively affects the lives of others.

I believe as you watch and listen to the CDs and DVDs in this Bible
study and take the time to work through the personal study guide, you
are planting good seeds that will strengthen your faith and produce a
harvest in every single area of your life. God bless you!

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 HISTORY 5

JAMES CHAPTER ONE: How to Develop a Successful Christian Life 6

JAMES CHAPTER TWO: How to Let People See Christ in You 26

JAMES CHAPTER THREE: How to Follow God’s Lead & Enjoy His Rewards 39

JAMES CHAPTER FOUR: How to Keep God First in Your Life 50

JAMES CHAPTER FIVE: How to Stay Christ-Centered Every Day 63

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A BIBLE STUDY
of

JAMES
HISTORY

There were two disciples among the twelve who were

named James. This Epistle was not written by either of
them, but was written by James, the brother of Jesus. James
occupied a prominent place in the church in Jerusalem and
is mentioned in the book of Acts. The theme of this book in
the Bible is “A Living Faith” that is evidenced by righteous
living and godly behavior. There are five chapters in the
book of James and they present:

Chapter 1: How to Develop a Successful Christian Life

Chapter 2: How to Let People See Christ in You
Chapter 3: How to Follow God’s Lead & Enjoy His Rewards
Chapter 4: How to Keep God First in Your Life
Chapter 5: How to Stay Christ-Centered Every Day

The book of James does not deal much with doctrines of the
faith, but with practical Christian ethics.

Although James was the brother of Jesus, he recognized Him

as the resurrected Lord, for he refers to himself as a servant
of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ!
 — JAMES —

CHAPTER 1
HOW TO D E V E LOP A S U CCES S F U L C HRISTIAN LIFE

verse 2-4 | Patience Through Adversity

JAMES 1:2-4

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are

enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various
temptations.

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your

faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play
and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly
and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Trials may not feel joyous, but we can consider them so

if we know what they do for us after they have done their
work in us. A woman may have pain in labor while delivering a child, yet
she simultaneously has joy because she knows the final outcome! Toward the
end of her pregnancy, she has prayed for her labor to begin. She wants to go
through the hard part to get to the good part.

Have you ever gone through a difficult situation that

eventually brought about something good? Explain.

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Trials develop in us, and bring out of us endurance,
steadfastness and patience.

These are all powerful character traits that Jesus displayed and we
should deeply desire. They enable us to reach the end of our goals,
and God’s plan for our life.

They all share a similar definition that indicates an ability to go

through difficult things without giving up; trusting God, and
allowing Him to do the work in us that needs to be done.

Difficulties of all kinds are in the toolbox that God uses to sharpen
and refine us.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do
not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I
will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes,
I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of
rightness and justice.

Isaiah 41:15 Behold, I will make you to be a new, sharp, threshing

instrument which has teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat
them small, and shall make the hills like chaff.

Isaiah 41:17 The poor and needy are seeking water when there is
none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I the Lord will answer
them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Describe an experience that has stretched your faith, causing

you to trust God in a greater way. How did the Lord use this trial
to help you grow in endurance, steadfastness and patience?

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 Trials are not evidence of God’s displeasure and anger.

Although we may open doors for the enemy through sin and
disobedience, God will still use them for our good and
advancement, as we trust Him.

If we profess to have faith, we can be guaranteed that sooner or

later our faith will be put to the test!

The last thing we need when we are in times of trials is

condemnation added on top of what we already have to deal with.

Don’t receive the lie that God is punishing you for some sin you
have committed.

TRY THIS: The next time you feel guilty or tempted to think God is
mad at you, simply and sincerely ask His forgiveness for anything
you have done, then choose to believe what His Word says.

Say aloud: “God loves me unconditionally, and there is

no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
(See 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 8:1.)

WAYS THAT TRIALS HELP US

1. They train us. They force us to use our faith and eventually
become stable during the storms of life.

2. They humble us!

Proverbs 18:12 Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility
before honor.

2 Corinthians 12:7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too

much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these

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revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me
from being excessively exalted.

1 Peter 5:6-8 6Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower

yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God,
that in due time He may exalt you, 7Casting the whole of your care
[all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for
all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you
watchfully. 8Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant
and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams
around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize
upon and devour.

Like diamonds that are formed under great pressure, trials present
unique circumstances that can eventually bring out the best in us.
In what ways have your trials and personal experiences
humbled and shaped you into who you are today?

3. They remind us to be totally dependent on God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 8For we do not want you to be uninformed,
brethren, about the affliction and oppressing distress which befell
us in [the province of] Asia, how we were so utterly and unbearably
weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life [itself].
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Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the [very]
sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in and
depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead.

4. They help us develop character.

Romans 5:3-6 3Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult
and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing

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 that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and
unswerving endurance. 4 And endurance (fortitude) develops
maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And
character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident
hope of eternal salvation. 5Such hope never disappoints or deludes
or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. 6While we were
yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time
Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.

5. For the glory of God – our trials give us a testimony.

Psalm 40:4-5 4Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man
who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the
proud or to followers of false gods. 5Many, O Lord my God, are the
wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward
us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of
them, they are too many to be numbered.

Psalm 71:14-17 14But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet
more and more. 15My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of
Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I
know. 16I will come in the strength and with the mighty acts of the
Lord God; I will mention and praise Your righteousness, even Yours
alone. 17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and hitherto have
I declared Your wondrous works.

Revelation 12:11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means

of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for
they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death
[holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

You cannot have a testimony without a test! Just be sure that all
you don’t end up with is just the “moan-ies!”

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Do you have a testimony resulting from a particularly
difficult season of your life? In what ways have your trials
glorified God?

Patience

Endurance and steadfastness (works) bring out patience.

I saw a lot brought out of me before getting down to patience. It was buried
in my spirit, deposited there by the Holy Spirit, but was under my heavily
burdened and carnal soul.

David gives us a picture of patience exemplified.

Psalm 31:1-3 1 In You, O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me
never be put to shame or [have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver
me in Your righteousness! 2Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me
speedily! Be my Rock of refuge, a strong Fortress to save me! 3Yes, You
are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me
and guide me.

If a child is weaned from the breast or his bottle, he fusses a lot but it allows
him to eat solid food. God is getting us ready for more solid food. He wants us
to be able to eat meat and not choke. He wants to turn us into sharp threshing
instruments that have teeth! (See Isaiah 41:15.)

As we grow in patience, eventually all rebellion against the will of

God will be gone, and strong Christian character is developed. We
no longer crave what God sees fit to withhold. We are content!

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 Patience is a fruit of the Spirit often developed during trials.
How have you personally grown in patience? In what ways
has it increased your joy, contentment and trust in God?

Much can be said about trials and their benefits. Much can
be said about what we need to learn through them. But let me end
this section by saying we will have various trials and tribulations
throughout our lives. Our goal should be to navigate them well, and
get through them as quickly as the Lord allows.

When a woman is in labor preparing to give birth, the main

instruction she hears is “breathe.” If she tenses against and resists
the pain, it not only does not bring her through to delivery, but it
makes it take longer!

BREATHE . . . BREATHE . . . BREATHE!

As we choose to trust God during difficult times, He promises to

work good out of our painful experiences (see Romans 8:28). In
the midst of trying times, when you feel like running from the
pain, what are some ways you can “breathe” and cooperate
with God?

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verse 5-8 | The Double-Minded Man

JAMES 1:5-8

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God
[Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without
reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no

hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates,
doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown
hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive
anything [he asks for] from the Lord,

[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious,

irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about
everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

During trials we may ask for God’s help, being assured of

receiving it. God does not reproach us, nor find fault with us.
This is very amazing!

We ask without doubt and we will receive!

We will doubt unless we keep our eyes on Jesus — not on ourselves
or our circumstances.

Peter walked on water until he looked at the waves and the wind,
and then he began to sink.

Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You,

command me to come to You on the water. 29He said, Come! So Peter
got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward
Jesus. 30But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was

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 frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me
[from death]! 31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and
held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

God delights in hearing your prayers and desires to lead and guide
you in every situation.

TRY THIS: Do you need wisdom for something specific in your

life? Take a few moments right now to ask the Lord for His
divine direction.

Jesus rebuked doubt!

Mark 4:35-40 35On that same day [when] evening had come, He said
to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake]. 36And leaving
the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat
[in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him. 37And a
furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the
waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming
filled. 38But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the
[leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do
You not care that we are perishing? 39And He arose and rebuked the
wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind
ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was
[immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness). 40He said to them,
Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no
firmly relying trust)?

Pray without doubt and you will receive.

Mark 11:22-24 22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God
[constantly]. 23Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be
lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his
heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done
for him. 24For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and
you will [get it].

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We must know that what we are asking is definitely the will of God
or we will doubt!

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, and not be distracted by the

circumstance.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus,
Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first
incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to
maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize]
that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring
the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus ignored bad reports.

Mark 5:35-36 35While He was still speaking, there came some from
the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], Your daughter has died. Why
bother and distress the Teacher any further? 36Overhearing but
ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do
not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.

God wants you to boldly and confidently come to Him in prayer

(see Hebrews 4:16). What practical things do the above scriptures
say you can do to prevent doubts and distractions from
creeping in? What role does patience play in prayer?

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 Make a decision! Make a decision and stick with it!

Colossians 3:2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is
above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

HOW TO MAKE A SOLID DECISION

1. Pray.
2. Consider all your options.
3. Write down the advantages and disadvantages of each
of them.

4. Make a choice!
5. Don’t try to make an important decision when you are
emotional because it probably won’t be a good one.

6. Sleep on the decision. See if you have peace in

the morning.

7. If you feel you need to get a confirmation, check with

a mature, trusted Christian professional or friend. This is
not something you have to do, because you have the
anointing in you and it teaches you.

1 John 2:27 But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment,
the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently]
in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you.
But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and
is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never
depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His
anointing] has taught you [to do].

8. Nail down your decision and start taking action!

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James says the “man of two minds” is constantly uncertain and
unstable (see James 1:8). What are some recent decisions you
have struggled to make? Which of the instructions above can
specifically help you become more decisive?

verse 9-12 | Be Content

JAMES 1:9-12

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation

[as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God],

And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being
shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he
will pass away.

For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the
grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will
the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under

trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the
test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life
which God has promised to those who love Him.

No matter how rich a person is in material goods, he is actually

poverty stricken unless he is rich in his relationship with the Lord.

No matter how poor a person is in material goods, he is wealthy if

he knows the Lord and is an heir of God.

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 Circumstances can change quickly in our lives, just as a flower may
bloom and then in a few days be wilted! This should not frighten us
because as long as we have Jesus, we have the most important thing
we can ever have.

Two great scriptures on contentment:

John 3:27 John answered, A man can receive nothing [he can claim
nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been
granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the
gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.]

Philippians 4:11-12 11 Not that I am implying that I was in any

personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the
point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
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I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circum-
stances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance.
I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every
situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and
enough to spare or going without and being in want.

The man who is patient under trials will receive the victor’s crown
of life.

Revelation 2:10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss
your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and
critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be
loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give
you the crown of life.

Faithfulness is a powerful thing!

If we look forward to our rewards in heaven, it will help us endure

the difficulty of the trials we experience here on earth.

God is the “Rewarder” of the faithful. (Payday is coming!)

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What is the secret to being content? Can you recall a time
when you’ve had joy and contentment in the midst of trying
circumstances? How does contentment lead to faithfulness?

verse 13-18 | A Proper Response to Testing & Temptation

JAMES 1:13-18

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God;

for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He
Himself tempts no one.

But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed

and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin,
and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.

Do not be misled, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from
above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light,
in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or
setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons]
by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits
of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated
to Himself].

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 God never tempts us to sin! Temptation comes to everyone.

Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle
of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him]
until another more opportune and favorable time.

We come into temptation, or we succumb to it when

we have evil desires, lust or passions that are not being
controlled.

I am never tempted to steal — that is not a weakness for me!

I am frequently tempted to become impatient when things are not

going the way they should be — that is a weakness for me.

It is pointless to pray that I won’t be tempted.

Matthew 26:41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be
cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Pray that you won’t enter into the temptation!

Trials and testing reveal our weaknesses; therefore, they

can be a good thing if we recognize the true problem as
being in us, and let the Holy Spirit help us with it.
Blaming our sin on other people or circumstances only helps us
remain deceived!

God has given us a new nature so that we may be an

example of what He created us to be.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have
[perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation
and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take

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courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the
world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered
it for you.]

We must be able to deal with the same things that others deal with,
and yet have a totally different response than they do.

What are your greatest areas of temptation? In the previous

lesson, what does the Bible say you can do to protect yourself
from giving in to temptation?

verse 19-25 | Be Doers of the Word

JAMES 1:19-25

Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick

to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and
to get angry.

For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes
and requires].

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of

wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and
welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts]
contains the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely
listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning
contrary to the Truth].

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 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and
being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his
[own] natural face in a mirror;

For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and

promptly forgets what he was like.

But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of
liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it,
being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer
[who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry!

Anger leads us into many problems.

“Be quick to hear” may mean listening to people, but it may also
mean listening to the Holy Spirit in the midst of situations so you
can have a good response. Jesus was always listening to God in
the midst of His activity. When He was falsely accused, He
frequently didn’t even answer his accusers.

God’s Word has power to change us if we receive it with

meekness! It saved the soul of the one who is born again.

Hear and obey! If we merely listen and don’t obey, we are

betraying ourselves by reasoning. We find a reason to be exempt
from obeying.

We are blessed in a life of obedience, not just a life of

knowing!

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Are you a doer of the Word? What does James say is the
difference between a “doer” and a “listener?” What benefits
have you personally experienced as a result of living in
obedience to God’s Word?

verse 26 | Spiritual Maturity

We can judge our level of spiritual maturity by listening

to ourselves.

JAMES 1:26

If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the

external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but
deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless
(futile, barren).

1 Corinthians 3:1 However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to

spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the
carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in
Christ [unable to talk yet!

Our words are verbal expressions of our soul.

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 verse 27 | True Religion

The expression of true religion may be seen in outward

acts of mercy toward the poor.

JAMES 1:27

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward

acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father
is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows
in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and
uncontaminated from the world.

Our responsibility to the poor is found throughout the Word of God,

and it reveals the true condition of our heart.

Job 31:16-22 16If I have withheld from the poor and needy what they
desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for
relief], 17Or have eaten my morsel alone and have not shared it with
the fatherless— 18No, but from my youth [the fatherless] grew up with
me as a father, and I have been [the widow’s] guide from my mother’s
womb—19If I have seen anyone perish for want of clothing, or any
poor person without covering, 20If his loins have not blessed me [for
clothing them], and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
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If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless when I saw [that the
judges would be favorable and be] my help at the [council] gate,
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Then let my shoulder fall away from my shoulder blade, and my
arm be broken from its socket.

Keep yourself from becoming like the world!

John 17:15-16 15I do not ask that You will take them out of the world,
but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. 16They are
not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of
the world.

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How is James’ definition of “religion” different from how the
world often defines it? What are one or two specific things
you can do to live out true religion in your life?

RECAP

The first chapter of James is a call to spiritual maturity.

1. Maintaining a good attitude in trials

2. Being confident in decisions and avoiding
double-mindedness

3. Being content whether you have a lot or a little

4. Accepting responsibility when we come into temptation
and letting it teach us something valuable

5. Controlling the emotion of anger

6. Being a doer of the Word
7. Carefully guarding our words
8. H
 elping those who are poor; helping to provide for widows
and orphans

9. Managing to be in the world, and yet not become like it

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 — JAMES —

CHAPTER 2
H OW TO L E T PEOPLE S E E CHR IST IN YO U

BACKGROUND

This chapter is divided into two parts: verses 1-13, and verses
14-26.

In the first part, James stresses to his readers the

importance of not thinking they can obtain righteousness
by the law given to Moses.

In the second part, he stresses the importance of not

thinking that one can have true faith without works of
obedience. He who has received Christ will manifest his faith
by his works!

The New Covenant believer now lives not under the law of
rituals, but the law of love! When one walks in love, they will
keep all the other commandments.

verse 1-7 | Love Is Seen in How We Treat People

JAMES 2:1-7

My brethren, pay no servile regard to people [show no prejudice,

no partiality]. Do not [attempt to] hold and practice the faith of
our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory [together with snobbery]!

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For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are
adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel,
and also a poor [man] in shabby clothes comes in,

And you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid
clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you
tell the poor [man], Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet!

Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming

critics and judges with wrong motives?

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who

are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their
position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has
promised to those who love Him?

But you [in contrast] have insulted (humiliated, dishonored,

and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who
domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts?

Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name

by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ
invoked in baptism]?

John 13:34-35 34I give you a new commandment: that you should love
one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one
another. 35By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if
you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

The selfishness of the human heart is easily seen when we are

inclined to favor the wealthy and those in high positions, while
ignoring those who are poor and cannot provide any opportunities
for us.

James warns the believer repeatedly in these verses to treat all

people the same, regardless of their wealth or social standing.

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 Take a few moments to reflect. Have you ever shown partiality
to someone based on their wealth, title or status?

True love can often be measured by how we treat people who can’t
do anything for us in return. Think of one or two people who have
demonstrated unconditional love to you, expecting nothing in
return. How did these people make you feel?

Do you need to broaden your circle of inclusion?

Multitudes of wars have been fought through the centuries because
the people from one culture or ethnic background despised those
from another.

Killing began in Genesis with Cain killing Abel because he hated

him. They weren’t alike!

1618-1648 A war of religious hatred existed between Catholics

and Protestants.1

In the Nazi/Jewish Holocaust, approximately six million people

were killed because they were Jews. 2

1967-1970 One million people were killed in the Nigerian civil

war, a war between two tribes who hated one another. 3

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Rwandan Genocide In 100 days, nearly one million people were
brutally slaughtered. This war was due to ethnic hatred between
two tribes, the Tutsis and the Hutus.4

There has been conflict and war in Ireland for years between
Catholics and Protestants. 5

A war called the “Cold Religious War” has lasted 962 years. It
is between the Western Catholic Church based in Rome and the
Eastern Catholic Church (Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox).
They split over doctrinal differences in 1054, and have not officially
fellowshipped together since. The doctrinal difference they split
over was the origin of the Holy Spirit, and whether they should
have the Eucharist with leavened or unleavened bread.6

1.history.com, “Thirty Years’ War” 2. ushmm.com (United States Holocaust

Memorial Museum) 3. blackpast.org 4. history.com, “The Rwandan
Genocide” 5. history.com.uk, “Northern Ireland Conflict.” 6. graceuniversity.
edu, “The Split Between Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy”

I am weary of people hating one another for no reason other than

they are different.

Can you fellowship with those from other

denominational backgrounds and refrain from
having any judgmental attitudes toward them?
Can the rich fellowship with the poor?

Can we stop seeing color and simply see people?

I am not recommending that we become so inclusive that we

accept sin without confronting it, but we certainly can love the
sinner. I can reject what someone does without rejecting them.
They may not become my best friend, but I can keep the door open
for ministry opportunities. I can show basic human kindness.

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 Is it difficult for you to love those who are different than
you—whether it’s their race, background, denomination,
or even their political views?

TRY THIS: In the next few weeks, make a point to be friendly to

someone with whom you normally wouldn’t socialize. Make a
sincere effort to listen and understand who they really are.

Qualities I have seen in those who are poor in material

wealth, but rich in faith:

They are kind and ready to help others in need.

They show more appreciation for what they do have, than many
people do who have abundance.

When we have traveled to third world countries where poverty is

prevalent, the people have offered us more hospitality than I have
ever seen in a wealthy section of America. I am met at the plane
by dozens of people, all bringing gifts of flowers, crafts they have
made, beads, etc. That has never happened here in America. Is it
just their culture, or do they know something we don’t?

They often place value on what is truly valuable, and that

is relationships.

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verse 8-13 | The Royal Law

JAMES 2:8-13

If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the
Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you
do well.

But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people,

you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as
violators and offenders.

For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and
offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking]
all of it.

For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You
shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have
become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law.

So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged

under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ,
especially about love].

For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be]
merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously
over judgment.

Matthew 22:36-39 36Teacher, which kind of commandment is great

and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments
are light—which are heavy?] 37And He replied to him, You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind (intellect). 38This is the great (most important, principal)
and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as [you do] yourself.

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 Love is seen in how we treat people!

What have you done to help someone in need in the past 30 days?

When was the last time you reached out to someone in a

crowded room who was alone and perhaps different than you?

When was the last time you thanked the janitor who cleans your
office building?

If we live by the old covenant law, it is like playing the

game Whack-A-Mole!

You may keep one law but if you break another one, you are
guilty of breaking them all.

James 2:10-11 10For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but
stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of
[breaking] all of it. 11 For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery,
also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill,
you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law.

Be very careful not to let anyone put you under any law
but the law of love.

Be careful not to put yourself under the law of rituals while

ignoring the love of people.

What if I pray for an hour every morning, but I am rude to the

clerk who doesn’t move as fast as I would like her to?

What if I give into the offering every Sunday at church, but I

leave and criticize the pastor?

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READ THIS: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
In your own words, what is the lesson we should take away
from these verses?

We can sometimes do a lot of spiritual things, yet forget to follow

Jesus’ instructions to “love one another.” Love is an action, often
requiring intentional thought and purpose.

Take a few moments to think of two or three specific,

practical things you can do to truly love the people in your
life. Write them below.

Be merciful!

Mercy triumphs over judgment! Mercy is kindness beyond

anything that could possibly be expected! It cannot be earned or
deserved. It can only be given in love and received in gratitude.

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 verse 14-26 | Faith Without Works Is Dead

JAMES 2:14-26

What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to

have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such]
faith save [his soul]?

If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,

And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and
well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what
good does that do?

So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of

obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power
(inoperative, dead).

But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and
I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart
from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of
obedience] will show you my faith.

You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe
and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair
stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!

Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive,

spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works
is inactive and ineffective and worthless?

Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made

acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar
as an offering his [own] son Isaac?

You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his]
faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when
he implemented it] by [good] works.

And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed
in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was

34
accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in
thought and deed), and he was called God’s friend.

You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before

God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through
works of obedience as well as by what he believes].

So also with Rahab the harlot—was she not shown to be justified

(pronounced righteous before God) by [good] deeds when she took
in the scouts (spies) and sent them away by a different route?

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith
apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

We are justified before God by faith, but are justified

before men by our works!

How can anyone see my faith if there are no works to prove it? If I
have the ability to help a person in need, should I offer only prayer
or should I sacrifice and help them? Take a few moments to reflect.
Is your faith in Christ apparent to others? What do your
actions say to those who don’t know you?

If every Christian walked in the world as an obedient child of God,

churches could not hold the people trying to get into them. As it is,
statistically, the church in western culture is continually shrinking
in size and effectiveness as a whole. New churches are continually
opening, but overall numbers are not growing.

35
 2 Corinthians 5:20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making
His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal
representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor
[now offered you] and be reconciled to God.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise or think less of you because of

your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech,
in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously)

among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as
evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to]
glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you
wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].

It is good that you believe in God, but even demons believe! If we

are unproductive and ineffective, our belief is worthless as far as
helping others is concerned.

James 2:19-20 19You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the
demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a
man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]! 20Are
you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually
deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and
ineffective and worthless?

Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness with

God; but it was not until he offered Isaac as a proof of his faith that
it was completed, and reached its supreme expression.

James 2:21-22 21Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified
(made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as
an offering his [own] son Isaac? 22You see that [his] faith was cooperat-
ing with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its
supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.

36
The Amplified Classic Edition version of James 2:24 below says we are
justified before God by our works. However, I do believe other translations
more clearly reflect the meaning of this verse.

James 2:24 You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous

before God) through what he does and not alone through faith
[through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].

The highly regarded scholar, T. Robertson, states that the accurate

translation of this verse is not that the person is made righteous,
but that he is shown to be righteous!

Unless understood properly, James 2:14-26 can be confusing when

considered with what Paul teaches, which is that we are justified
by faith alone and not by works.

Romans 3:20-24 20For no person will be justified (made righteous,

acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works
prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make
men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an
acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and
holy character]. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed
independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually
it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22Namely, the righteous-
ness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and
confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for
all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23Since all have sinned and
are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
24
[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God,
freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy),
through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus.

What do we say about someone who claims to believe in Jesus and

yet they have no good works? All I know is that Jesus said that if we
loved Him, we would help others (see John 21:15-17). Other than
that, I prefer to say nothing and leave the judgment of those
matters to God, who alone is our Judge!

37
 John 21:15-17 15When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with
reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]?
He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep,
instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said
to him, Feed My lambs. 16Again He said to him the second time,
Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional,
spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes,
Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive,
personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him,
Shepherd (tend) My sheep. 17He said to him the third time, Simon, son
of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection
for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and
hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he
said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You
[that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a
close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

As for me, I will strive to do as much good in this world as I can so

that I might accurately represent God to the lost!

READ THIS: John 14:15; 1 John 4:19; Matthew 22:37-39

What do these verses say about the correlation between loving
God and loving others? Why is it so important to first receive
God’s love?

38
 — JAMES —

CHAPTER 3
HOW TO FO L LOW GOD’ S LE AD & E N JOY HIS REWARDS

The faith that James writes about is a vital force that enables a
person to control that unruly member, the tongue. It cannot be
done without God’s help, but it can be done. The tongue is often
used to dishonor God, and has injured our fellow man. It is the
cause of most strife in the church and in the world. Relationships
end because of the tongue, jobs are lost, opportunities are lost,
and yet it is one of the tiniest organs in our body. It is wise to
seriously consider what James has to say about the tongue.

verse 1-12 | The Power of the Tongue

JAMES 3:1-12

Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted

censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know
that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with
greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater
accountability and the more condemnation].

For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.
And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong
things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man,
able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.

If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we

can turn their whole bodies about.

39
 Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are
driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder
wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great

things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark
can set ablaze!

And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set

among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole
body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s
nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can
be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).

But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless

(undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men
who were made in God’s likeness!

Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These
things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same

opening fresh water and bitter?

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs?

Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.

Don’t try to teach others if you don’t have your tongue

under control because teachers will experience a greater
condemnation than others.

If I am teaching others and not controlling myself, then my sin

is much more serious than someone who is not teaching.

40
Two times I remember speaking critically about other teachers
of the Word, and both times God dealt severely with me in order
to teach me a lesson.

Our power against the enemy can be lost through a lack of controlling
our tongue.

Walking in love increases the anointing (presence and power of the

Holy Spirit), but criticism and judgment can decrease it.

Matthew 7:1-6 1 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others,

so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned
yourselves. 2For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others,
you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance
with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out
again to you. 3Why do you stare from without at the very small
particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and
consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you
say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when
there is the beam of timber in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first get
the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly
to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye. 6Do not give that
which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your
pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and
turn and tear you in pieces.

Jesus used great wisdom and restraint with His words!

John 14:30 I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil
genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He
has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs
to him, and he has no power over Me.]

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was

submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened
not His mouth.

41
 During the six agonizing hours that Jesus spent on the cross, He
only spoke seven times and it totaled 41 words in Greek, (58 in
English) and took approximately one minute. For the other five
hours and 59 minutes, He was silent.

How do you respond to accusation or criticism? Why is it so

important to carefully watch what you say during these
times?

Jesus often did not answer his accusers at all.

Luke 23:9-10 9So he asked Him many questions, but He made no

reply. 10Meanwhile, the chief priests and the scribes stood by,
continuing vehemently and violently to accuse Him.

Mark 14:60-61 60And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked
Jesus, Have You not even one answer to make? What [about this
which] these [men] are testifying against You? 61 But He kept still and
did not answer at all. Again the high priest asked Him, Are You the
Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), the Son of the Blessed?

We would all be wise to follow the advice of James to be

quick to hear and slow to speak

James 1:19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be

quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense
and to get angry.

1. Being able to control what we say is a sign of spiritual

maturity.

42
2. If we don’t offend in speech, we are fully developed and
able to exercise self-control in all other areas.

3. Millions of people go on diets trying to control what goes

into their mouth, but perhaps we should pay more attention
to what comes out of it!

A tiny thing can make a huge difference!

A large horse can weigh 2,200 pounds and yet a tiny piece of metal
in its mouth can control its direction.

Although they are all different, an average ocean liner would

weigh approximately 210,000 tons. The direction of the vessel is
determined by a small rudder that is controlled by one helmsman.

Controlling the tongue requires help from God, and that

means we need to pray in that area regularly.

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at

the door of my lips.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my

heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable]
Rock and my Redeemer.

Do not expect to control your tongue without giving special prayer

and study to the subject on a regular basis.

Proverbs 18:20-21 A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit
of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be
satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of
the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for
death or life].

43
 Our words literally have the power to hurt or heal, to build up or
destroy. Are you speaking words of life about yourself and
others? Discuss a time when something you said—whether
positive or negative—has impacted a situation or one of your
relationships.

Don’t stop at trying not to speak negative and harmful

things. Discipline yourself to regularly speak positive and
powerful things.

1. Use your words to build up others and give them

confidence.

2. Speak good things about your future.

3. Don’t speak words filled with worry and fear.
4. Say good things about other people.

verse 13-17 | The True Fruit of Wisdom

JAMES 3:13-17

Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then

let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with
the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of
true wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry,

selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it
and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

44
This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above,
but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).

For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and

selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmo-
ny, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it
is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to]
yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is whole-
hearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free
from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

Wisdom is to be sought after!

Wisdom is more valuable than any other thing on earth.

Proverbs 1:1-8 1The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims,

and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2That people
may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and
comprehend the words of understanding and insight, 3Receive
instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
righteousness, justice, and integrity, 4That prudence may be given
to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the
youth— 5The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the
person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound
counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]— 6That
people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an
enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their
dark sayings or riddles. 7The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord
is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its
starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly
Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. 8My son, hear the instruction
of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.

45
 Wisdom is insight, intelligence, the right use of the mind, the right
use of knowledge, and prudence that is good management in all the
affairs of life. The beginning of wisdom is the reverential fear and
awe of God.

Wisdom does now what it will be satisfied with later. Wisdom does
not gamble — it invests!

When it comes to making wise choices, do you consider

yourself a gambler or an investor? Do you tend to make
decisions today that you will be happy with tomorrow?
Explain.

Human wisdom is very different from godly Wisdom.

If we are guided by our own mind without seeking the help of the
Holy Spirit, we are doomed to destruction.

The Bible warns against mere reasoning!

Proverbs 3:5-7 5Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with
all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or
understanding. 6In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge
Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7Be
not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and
turn [entirely] away from evil.

What the devil said to Eve in the Garden of Eden made sense to her
mind, but caused trouble for all mankind.

46
READ THIS: Genesis 3:1-7
What the devil said to Eve in the Garden of Eden made sense to her
mind, but caused trouble for all mankind.

Romans 8:5-6 5For those who are according to the flesh and are
controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those
things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the
Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on
and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6Now the mind
of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is
death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both
here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul]
peace [both now and forever].

Our own knowledge and insight will only bring us so far. Has
something ever made sense to your mind, but it proved to
not be the wisest thing to do? Explain.

Conversely, can you think of a time when God helped guide

you through a difficult situation in a way you didn’t
expect — a way you could have never planned yourself?

47
 H.A. Ironside in his study on the book of James said, “A
wise man is a man of God, a man of faith who is taught by
God. He manifests good behavior and His speech is filled
with humility and meekness.”

True wisdom from above is always filled with good fruit. It is not
jealous, nor contentious. It is not selfishly ambitious. Much of what
we see in the world today is not godly wisdom. Men’s actions are
geared toward obtaining what they want immediately without
any thought for eternity!

Humility is the proper fruit of wisdom.

• 
I know I am nothing without God.

• God gets all the glory for all of my success.

• I don’t think more highly of myself than I ought.
• 
I don’t overestimate my ability and underestimate the
ability and worth of others.

• I am not quick to display my knowledge!

The display of knowledge

The inordinate desire we have to tell others what we know is a fruit
of pride.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted

with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to
be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
and Him crucified.

Notice that Paul determined not to make a display of what He knew.

Wisdom is full of peace!

Wisdom is peace loving and does whatever is required to be

peaceful and keep the peace. Wisdom does not merely desire peace,
but it pursues it!
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1 Peter 3:10-11 10For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days
[good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and
his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). 11 Let him turn away from
wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for
peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions,
and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire
peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself,
but pursue, go after them!]

Notice how these two verses agree with what James is saying in
Chapter 3. Be careful with your words and pursue peace.

The results of wisdom show up in every single area of our lives—

through what we say, how we act, and the decisions we make.

Discuss a time when using wisdom has helped you “keep the
peace” or say something to help improve a situation. How have
you grown in wisdom? Are there situations you handle
differently today than in years past?

In the same way, let your light

shine before others, that they may
see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven.

— MATTHEW 5:16 (niv)

 — JAMES —

CHAPTER 4
H OW TO K E E P GOD F IRST IN YO UR LIFE

verse 1-3 | What Leads to Strife

JAMES 4:1-3

What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts

(quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not
arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your
bodily members?

You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go
unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as
far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger
and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment,
and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do
not have, because you do not ask.

[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because
you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your
intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in
sensual pleasures.

2 Timothy 2:23-24 23But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing
to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies
over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife
and breed quarrels. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not be
quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly

50
to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he
must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and
willing to suffer wrong.

Strife is very dangerous. It is bickering, arguing, heated disagreement

and an angry undercurrent.

A wise person will avoid strife like he would the plague.

Most strife can be eliminated by asking God for what

we want and trusting Him to give it to us if it is right
and when it is right, instead of us trying to make things
happen ourselves.

When we have strife inwardly (conflict in ourselves), it

usually turns into strife with others.

An unhappy, dissatisfied person takes his frustrations out on others.

When you encounter someone who is hard to get along with, it is

because they are an unhappy person.

Strife comes in many forms, and it has the ability to seriously

harm our relationships. Think of an area of your life that has been
affected by strife. How has it affected your relationships with
those around you? What has been your response?

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 Jealousy is a dangerous thing! It rots our bones, according
to Proverbs!

Proverbs 14:30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the
life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like
rottenness of the bones.

“Thou shalt not covet” (be jealous or envious) is one of the Ten
Commandments! It reveals a wicked and a dissatisfied heart.

Scriptures about the beauty of a satisfied heart:

1 Timothy 6:6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for]
godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which
is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in

righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You);
I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding
Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

Philippians 4:11-12 11 Not that I am implying that I was in any

personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to
the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state
I am. 12I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened
circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in
abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of
facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a
sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually

prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys
His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they
shall be completely satisfied!

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You have not because you ask not.

The privilege and power of prayer is utterly amazing! Let us pray

more and strive less!

Comparing yourself to others and coveting what they have will not
only make you miserable, but it can also steal your peace and lead
to strife.

Take a few moments to reflect. Do you currently desire something

that is provoking jealousy or causing you to be discontent?

PRAY THIS: “God, I know You have a great plan for my life and
You see my every desire. I ask You to help me find contentment
and satisfaction in You. Help me to want Your perfect will and
timing...and to trust You more every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

verse 4-5 | Keeping God First

JAMES 4:4-5

You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with
the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not
know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So who-
ever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as
an enemy of God.

Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose

that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns
over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a
jealous love?

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 Keeping God first in our lives is something we strive toward on a
regular basis.

Don’t make the mistake of asking God to give you something

that when you receive it, takes you away from God.
• A career you wanted • A business
• A ministry • The pleasures of the world
• A family

Proverbs 3:6 (TLB) In everything you do, put God first, and he will
direct you and crown your efforts with success.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—
[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your
heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take
first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).

Is there anything in your life preventing you from keeping

God first? What is the greatest hindrance to you developing
a deeper relationship with Him?

verse 6-10 | Grace, Grace and More Grace

JAMES 4:6-10

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit,
to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He
says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives
grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to
receive it).
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So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him],
and he will flee from you.

Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that
you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you
have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests,
and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even
weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief
and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of

the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your
lives significant].

God gives us grace (undeserved favor and power of the

Holy Spirit) to overcome all evil tendencies. Only those who
ask for help, receive it.

Do you ever find it difficult to ask God for help? How does
an over-confidence in our own abilities prevent us from
receiving God’s grace?

We cannot change ourselves without God’s help!

Galatians 3:1-3 1O you poor and silly and thoughtless and

unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or
bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your
very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set
forth and portrayed as crucified? 2Let me ask you this one question:

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 Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and
doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and
believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a
message of faith?] 3Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly?
Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are
you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?

Philippians 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that
He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus
Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good
work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

1 Thessalonians 5: 22-24 22 Abstain from evil [shrink from it and

keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.
23
And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and
through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and
wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body
be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 24Faithful is He Who
is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also
do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

READ THIS: Romans 7:15-25

In your own words, what does this passage say about God’s
role in our transformation?

Pray and study the Word of God in the area of your need,
and receive grace, grace and more grace!

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Don’t look only at how far you have to go — look at how far you have
come. As long as you believe, God is working!

Are you receiving God’s grace for changes in your life? Or are
you trying to make it happen “in your own strength”? Explain.

We cannot change the other people in our lives.

Pray, trust God, call things that are not as if they already existed,
and value people where they are instead of where you would like
them to be.

Only God can change the people in our lives. Is there someone you
are trying to change?

TRY THIS: Take a few moments right now to pray for this person.
Ask God to help you trust Him for the needed changes in their life.

We all have circumstances that we would like to change.

But if only God can change them, learn to enjoy where you
are now while you are waiting for God’s timing in your life.

57
 Do you wait well? How do you respond when it seems like
nothing is happening?

TRY THIS: Think of a circumstance you are currently praying for

God to change. Make a decision to enjoy your life to the best of
your ability while you’re waiting for things to turn around.

Resist the devil and he will flee!

Obedience releases God’s power.

Philippians 2:8-10 8And after He had appeared in human form, He
abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience
to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! 9Therefore
[because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has
freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10That
in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth…

Keep fellowshiping with God and as you humbly wait

on Him, He will lift you up and give you victory. The
importance of spending time with God cannot be overestimated!

Psalm 27:4-6 4One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek,
inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and
gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful
loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His
temple. 5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the
secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a
rock. 6And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round

58
about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will
sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

verse 11-12 | Don’t Judge Others Critically

JAMES 4:11-12

[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He

that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and
criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law,
you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].

One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to
destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death].
[But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on
your neighbor?

Romans 14:10-13 10Why do you criticize and pass judgment on

your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your
brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For
it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and
every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor
and to His praise]. 12 And so each of us shall give an account of himself
[give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. 13Then let us no
more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but
rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an
obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

We are each one only responsible for ourselves and our

actions. Rather than judging others, let’s strive to behave the way
we should.

1 Corinthians 4:5 So do not make any hasty or premature judgments

before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to
light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose
and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then
every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.

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 It’s easy to point the finger at others; however, judgment and
criticism don’t get us anywhere. Are you quick to judge others?
How does focusing on others’ faults prevent us from seeing
the truth about ourselves?

verse 13-17 | Beware of Presumption

JAMES 4:13-17

Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such
and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business
and make money.

Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen
tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but
a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little
while and then disappears [into thin air].

You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and
we shall do this or that [thing].

But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your

self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong.

So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it,
to him it is sin.

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The truly humble person will always ask, they won’t
assume and presume on the goodness of another.

We make plans and expect God to make them work! A few more “if
it is your will” statements in our prayers would be wise.

Numbers 14:40-45 40And they rose early in the morning and went
up to the top of the mountain, saying, Behold, we are here, and we
intend to go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have
sinned. 41 But Moses said, Why now do you transgress the command
of the Lord [to turn back by way of the Red Sea], since it will not
succeed? 42Go not up, for the Lord is not among you, that you be not
struck down before your enemies. 43For the Amalekites and the
Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword.
Because you have turned away from following after the Lord,
therefore the Lord will not be with you. 44But they presumed to go
up to the heights of the hill country; however, neither the ark of
the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.
45
Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites who dwelt in
that hill country and smote the Israelites and beat them back, even
as far as Hormah.

READ THIS: Proverbs 3:6

What does it mean to “acknowledge the Lord”? Do you
regularly include God in your decision making?

Luke 14:10 But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest
place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, Friend, go
up higher! Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit [at
table] with you.

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 Don’t put yourself forward, but wait for God to do it.

INSTANCES OF PRESUMPTION IN THE BIBLE

1. When the disciples rebuked the little children and told

them to leave Jesus alone.

2. When Peter rebuked Jesus, telling Him he must not go to

Jerusalem and suffer and die.

3. When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, and
Jesus had to put it back on!

4. John 18:10-11 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it

and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The
servant’s name was Malchus. 11Therefore, Jesus said to Peter, Put
the sword [back] into the sheath! The cup which My Father has
given Me, shall I not drink it?

James 1:22 tells us to be “doers of the Word...not merely listeners.”

Describe an instance when God’s Word has challenged you
to “come up higher,” presenting you with a new level of
responsibility. How did you respond?

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 — JAMES —

CHAPTER 5
H OW TO STAY CHR IST-CE N T E R E D EVERY DAY

verse 1-6 | Warning Against Selfishness

JAMES 5:1-6

Come now, you rich [people], weep aloud and lament over the
miseries (the woes) that are surely coming upon you.

Your abundant wealth has rotted and is ruined, and your [many]
garments have become moth-eaten.

Your gold and silver are completely rusted through, and their
rust will be testimony against you and it will devour your flesh
as if it were fire. You have heaped together treasure for the
last days.

[But] look! [Here are] the wages that you have withheld by fraud
from the laborers who have reaped your fields, crying out [for
vengeance]; and the cries of the harvesters have come to the ears
of the Lord of hosts.

[Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal)

living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification.
You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

You have condemned and have murdered the righteous (innocent

man), [while] he offers no resistance to you.

63
 James gives a warning to people who focus on their wealth
without any regard for God or man.

It is not wrong to be wealthy, but it is wrong to crave to be rich and

then ignore God in the pursuit of it.

It is also wrong to use people to get more for yourself, and mistreat
them in the process.

Mark 4:19 Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions
of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and
deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for
other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it
becomes fruitless.

Notice it says they “creep in.” God recently told me to forget the
piece of property we were trying to sell and just let Him take care
of it. It was as if He was saying, “Joyce, you really don’t have time
to waste on this.”

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the
one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever
is trusted in).

This doesn’t say we cannot have money — it says we cannot serve

money.

How would you describe your relationship with money and

possessions? Has greed ever caused you to make a decision
that wasn’t best for your life? Has it prevented you from
having a deeper relationship with God?

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The only way I have found to successfully resist being
selfish is to be aggressively generous, and do it on purpose!

My flesh is frequently telling me what it wants.

When I walk at 6:30 in the morning, I hear thoughts like this:

“What shall I eat for dinner?” “When can I have another cup of
coffee?” “What outfit shall I wear that I will look really little in?”

I hear a lot of “I wants,” from my flesh also:

“I want some new shoes.” “I want dessert today.” “I want to go out to

lunch.” “I want to rest.”

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit
[responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will
certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human
nature without God).

The lusts may show up, and temptation will come; but we can
follow the Spirit and not fulfill them.

Do not focus excessively on what you do wrong. Repent for it, ask
God to help you, and focus on following the Holy Spirit.

You cannot overcome your weaknesses by focusing on them and

feeling guilty about them all the time.

When are you most tempted to act selfishly? How does spend-
ing time with God and “walking in the Spirit” change your
focus? Give an example.

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 verse 7-11 | Reminders

JAMES 5:7-11

So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest
from the land. [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it
until it receives the early and late rains.

So you also must be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen

and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the
Lord is very near.

Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you

[yourselves] may not be judged. Look! The Judge is [already]
standing at the very door.

[As] an example of suffering and ill-treatment together with

patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of
the Lord [as His messengers].

You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast
[who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you
have seen the Lord’s [purpose and how He richly blessed him in
the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and
tenderness and mercy.

Be patient “as” you wait, not “if” you wait.

Think of how the farmer has to sow seed and wait for the harvest,
continuing to do what he needs to do.

Be patient – THE LORD IS NEAR!

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Don’t complain while you wait, or complain about the
people in your life, so that you may not be judged.

The judge (God) is already standing at the door! Just as we judge

others, we will be judged.

Think of the prophets and how they patiently suffered.

Think of Job and how he endured suffering, but was richly blessed
in the end.

Don’t bind yourself by an oath, but be sure you keep your

word!

Don’t say things like, “I swear to God I will do such and such.” We
are guests here for a short while and should not invoke such an oath.

Giving any kind of a promise, vow or oath is very important to God,

and He expects us to do what we have said we will do.

Patience isn’t just the process of waiting, but it is how you act
while you wait. Are you currently dealing with a situation that
requires endurance and perseverance? What do your words
and attitude say about how well you are waiting?

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 verse 13-18 | Prayer

JAMES 5:13-18

Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)?

He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise
[to God].

Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders

(the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the Lord’s name.

And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and
the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will
be forgiven.

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your

false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one
another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone
of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of
a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic
in its working].

Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with

feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed
earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three
years and six months.

And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and
the land produced its crops [as usual].

Pray at all times, in every place, with every kind of prayer.

Pray your way through the day. If you are blessed, praise God! If you
are sick, ask for healing!

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Sickness can be caused from hidden sin, so if God reveals
anything like that to you, confess it.

Confession is good for the soul! Only things that are hidden have
power over us.

Elijah certainly wasn’t perfect, and he prayed and had

amazing answers from God.

READ THIS: Hebrews 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Through Jesus Christ, we have been made righteous and can freely
come to the Father with all of our needs—big or small.
Do you pray with boldness, expecting God to do something
great in response? If not, what do you believe hinders you
from praying with more confidence?

verse 19-20 | Closing Comments

JAMES 5:19-20

[My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from the Truth and
falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God],

Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a sinner from his
evil course will save [that one’s] soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins [procure the pardon of the many sins committed
by the convert].

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 James admonishes us to help believers who have strayed from
the right path and are purposefully living in sin. We shouldn’t
just tolerate sin or pretend that it’s not there, but we have a
responsibility to confront it when necessary.

We should also love them, pray for them, and make ourselves
accessible to help them in the midst of what they are going
through...always reminding them that God is ready to redeem
and restore.

We’ve all experienced that sin comes with real consequences

(see Galatians 6:8). That’s why it is so important to let God use us
to help others turn back to Him.

Our lives play out what it really means to be a Christian.

When we can encourage and help others turn to God
instead of to their sin, we have done a very good thing!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The book of James is filled with so much valuable teaching—

scriptures that have helped me tremendously in my personal life.
Each time I study these chapters, the Lord shows me something
new that helps me come up higher in my walk with Him and in
my relationships with others.

I encourage you to read James over and over again. Use this Bible
study to help you plant it deep down on the inside. As you do, I
can guarantee you this: God’s Word will continue to change your
thoughts, words, attitudes, realtionships...and every single area
of your life.

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© 2017 Joyce Meyer Ministries

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or
used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the
publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America.

First Printing, 2017

ISBN 978-1-942854-10-4

Joyce Meyer Ministries

P.O. Box 655
Fenton, MO 63026
joycemeyer.org
 ...Receive and welcome the
Word which implanted and rooted
[in your hearts] contains the
power to save your souls.

JAMES 1:21 (A M P C)