The following are points of emphasis from our study of the Book of James (Chapter 5):
1. False believers often have money as their god.
2. The treasures of the world are all subject to decay.
3. False believers live as if Jesus will never return.
4. Mistreatment of "day laborers" is a hallmark of the false believing rich.
5. God hears the cries of the mistreated poor.
6. False believers become consumed with extravagant lifestyle.
7. Such extravagance reminds of fattened cattle ready to be slaughtered.
8. The immoral bounds to produce extravagance become limitless.
9. The children of God, in the midst of mistreatment, patiently await the coming of the Lord.
10. Hearts must be resolute in the midst of this patience and persecution.
11. The judge (Christ) is "standing at the door."
12. God has a purpose for the suffering of His children (Job is the example).
13. The Lord's character, His compassion and mercy, is a comfort to those who are suffering.
14. The spiritual condition is evidenced by the words of the man.
15. A child of God must speak plainly and honestly.
16. A child of God, in the midst of suffering, must pray.
17. A joyful heart sings praises to God.
18. The man weakened by suffering should call on church elders for ministry.
19. The elders are to encourage, comfort and strengthen the man.
20. The prayers of the elders must be prayers of faith.
21. Such prayers of faith are prayed for suffering believers with repentant hearts.
22. A repentant heart will readily confess sins.
23. The passionate prayers of the spiritually mature will "avail much" (Elijah is the example).
24. The church has those that have "strayed from the truth."
25. There is grave danger here, and the church must call the unregenerate to the true faith.
26. The hallmark of false faith is a lifestyle not tied to Biblical principles.
27. Eternal death awaits the wandering soul.
28. Children of God must desire to redirect the wandering soul.
29. The condition of the lost is a hopeless condition.
30. The grace of God holds forgiveness for the wandering soul that He reclaims.
Heard 'Round the House:
The logical met the emotional in this recent exchange --
Song (age 9): Luke, what is wrong with Anna?
Luke (age 11): I don't know. Once again, she is mad for no apparent reason.
Song: Luke, you shouldn't say that she is mad for no good reason since she may have a good reason to be mad.
Luke: Song, I didn't say she was mad for no good reason. I said she was mad for no apparent reason. Being mad for no good reason means that the reason she is mad is not good. Being mad for no apparent reason means that I don't know the reason that she is mad.
Anna (age 7): See Luke. You are the good reason that I am mad. So stop saying that.
Song: See Luke. You shouldn't say that.
Luke: She is still mad for no apparent reason.
John Dee Spicer
Arkivi i blogut
About Me
I started the Daily Journal in 2000. I sent it as an email to a few friends (it was a round number, either 10 or 20, I can't remember exactly). It has grown over the years, primarily due to those original few forwarding it to others. During this time, I have journaled through Genesis, selected Psalms, the Gospel of John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter's letters. (These are the books I can remember for sure this morning, anyway.) I don't have seminary training and don't claim to have special wisdom. Rather, I simply desire that others develop a love for God's word. There is only one interpretation for any Bible passage, and I will rely on the wisdom of scholars through the ages (at least those at my disposal) to help with that one interpretation. I will also attempt some practical application. Somewhere along the way I started sharing some funny things my kids would say, and this became known as "Heard 'Round the House." I will continue to share these priceless nuggets as my kids provide material. The "Daily" Journal is a bit of a misnomer, since I only do it Monday through Thursday. I don't do it on Friday because I attend a 6 am Bible Study. I don't do it on the weekends because so many received it at work (I may revise this approach since I have gone to the "Blog" format). I do read my Bible on a daily basis, and strongly recommend a chronilogical daily Bible - you will read the Bible completely each year, and the events unfold in a historical fashion.
