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Bible Bites James 5:12 Integrity

James 5:12  A Matter of Taking Oaths and Integrity  

 

In our modern society we are at a loss to find such things as responsibility, accountability and integrity. The principles of goodness and dependability are almost ghost tales. It is interesting because we all value these things but not many people seem to exemplify them. As Christians this gives us a great opportunity to be seen as different. I am not referring to those who go around and parade their so-called “Christian Values,” like a vote for me button. I am speaking of the everyday person who is guided by the Spirit of God and exhibits true Spiritual fruit. James is speaking into that need and to those people. 

 

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

 

 

Bible Bites James 5 7-11 Longsuffering in Christ

 

James 5: 7-11 The Patience of the Saints

Longsuffering is such a valuable fruit of the Spirit and it can only be nurtured through trials. It isn't gained in any other way other than walking by faith in the face of difficulty. If life is the gym, faith is the workout routine then longsuffering is the results! 

 

 

 

 

⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

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

⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

¹⁰ Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Bible Bites James Chapter 5 1-6 Warning to the Rich

 

James Chapter 5 1-6:The Truth about the Wealthy 

“The rich man glories in his riches, because he feels that they naturally draw upon him the attention of the world…At the thought of this, his heart seems to swell and dilate itself within him, and he is fonder of his wealth, upon this account, than for all the other advantages it procures him.”

Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)

 

 

Although this was written in 1759 the same is true several hundred years later and it was true several hundred years before in James time. The glorification of wealth and the rich are constants in every time and all cultures. The value we place upon material things are a snare and a trap that lead us into suffering and bitterness. 

Matthew 19:23
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Why? Is it wrong to be wealthy? Is it a sin to have been fortunate to be born into wealth or to have worked to achieve it? The answer to both of these questions is no, so what shall we say of the rich? James presents to us how we should view the riches of this world in relationship to the grace we have received in salvation. 

 

 

 

5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

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

6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Gospel of John The Fruit of the Spirit

 

 

The analogy of fruit is one that is planted throughout the Bible. Fruit is seen as the ultimate reward from any thing that is planted, cared for and nurtured. The fact that work should yield a benefit is pictured in this analogy. We don’t work and care for a plant, a person or a relationship and do not see the results of our efforts. Israel has often been compared to a vine by God and He says He planted it and cared for it so that it might bear fruit. Jesus adopts this analogy as these men move toward the Garden. Let's examine the meaning of His words and how they apply to Christian service, as we are now grafted into the Branch of Christ as the Church. We saw first in the last lesson how God the Holy Spirit indwelling a person reveals them to be a believer. Here Jesus continues and shows how the service that is powered by the Spirit reveals a true relationship with God. We know that service alone is nothing, only service that bares fruit matters. Service that bares fruit is the tell tell sign of true Christian service. 

 

 

 

John
Chapter 15 KJV 
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Gospel of John 14 25-31 God is always with us!

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

31But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

The Question of Election

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

The Gospel of John 14 7-21 The Divine Precedent and the Divine Order

cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Sample of the Job Chapter 36 Lesson

This is a sample clip..you can find the full lesson in the podcast list as well as the playlist on the Youtube Channel 

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSY0OagoRk7WQSrqJ5YiRcGllTFop0fc1

 

 

Sample Clip from Revelation 13 Study

This is a sample of the Revelation 13 study... 

Gospel of John 14:5-6 Jesus Shares the Gospel

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.