(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
JAMES CHAPTER 1: YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN?
APX. prior to A.D. 63
This chapter is about the following things: JUSTIFICATION BEFORE MEN, THROUGH PERSECUTION, PATIENCE, FAITH, WISDOM, HUMILITY, GOD'S GENEROSITY, WORLDLINESS, STEADFASTNESS; ALL THAT, NOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED-THE CHRISTIAN LAW, persecution, patience, temptations, wisdom, walking, our temporary riches, God's Generosity to us, a command to do the work of the LORD, watch your tongue, know and discern between true and false religion. Paul, the other apostles and Luke spoke of believing because of the evidence, the eyewitness accounts; James talks about believing faith, faith in spite of any and all consequences, even up to the point of death. It has been said, and that even taught here, is that the way we behave towards other people, in and out of the church body, indicates, even reveals clearly before all what we really, truly believe about God! The apostle Paul speaks clearly about faith leading TO salvation; James speaks about the kind of faith that proves that you ARE in fact saved. Not a feeling, a sense, it is action, what we do, how we walk. Your works, if your faith is a true, saving faith, will bear witness of that saving faith. Thus, there is no contradiction with Paul's writings or, in fact, the entire rest of Scripture.
(Matthew 7:16-20 [AKJV/PCE])
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The Bible clearly teaches, cover to cover, that we are not saved by works, nor can we maintain, restore that salvation by works. We are saved by faith, a faith that is demonstrated, characterized, recognizable by our works which are to represent the Saviour, by a change in us, our attitude, our speech, our working now for the LORD, not to be characterized by idleness, indifference, carelessness, and no change in ourselves at all.
JAMES
THE BOOK OF JAMES, AKA TRANSLATED FROM MANY LANGUAGES
Ya'cov (Jacob): Hebrew
Jacobos: Greek
Jacques: French
Lago: Italian
Jaime/Diego: Spanish
James in English
James was the half brother of our LORD, a son of Mary and Joseph, along with Jude, who wrote the epistle by that name, and was a writer who agreed with the apostle Paul in many ways; merely taking a different angle, a different approach, a different direction on our faith, our walk. It is not a contrast; just a different way of looking at our faith. James presided over the council of Jerusalem, and is widely misunderstood, his verses being taken out of context to make it seem as though we need to work to be or stay saved. His whole book is about what to do, how to carry ourselves before men, to be justified of men, before men, not God. Not to be justified before God, but what to do now that we are, to be seen of men as a testimony, witness, justification, so as to not have to always here those biting words, "You call yourself a CHRISTIAN?".
It is about what to do after and because we are justified before God through the Blood of the Lamb, the LORD Jesus Christ. Looking at the same thing, two different ways, same conclusion, just more practical, how we carry ourselves. Paul explains what to do with the evidence, showing how we need to get saved and and how we get saved. He is about believing to the saving of our souls, to be justified before God. James is about having faith despite our consequences, to demonstrate, show to men that we are saved, by our witness, our testimony of how we handle ourselves through trials, testings, persecutions which they were indeed experiencing, up to martyrdom. James himself was martyred by being stoned to death, according to Eusebius, for decl;aring Jesus Christ and was praying for God to forgive them. We are to represent God to the world, showing who He is, and our behavior and speech is what we have to accomplish this. It is the visible thing for all to see. Paul (how to get saved) is doctrine; James is practical application (now that you are saved). Paul is nuts and bolts on how to get saved, while James is nuts and bolts on how to live, now that we are saved.
It is chastisement of those who are idle, wealthy and not helping, all talk and no work for the LORD, all talk and no action, all talk and no testimony, no eyewitness to an unbeliever as well as the brethren.James got saved after the resurrection when the LORD appeared to him, and was at the council at Jerusalem, arguing against works salvation, saying that the Gentiles did not need to keep the law, that the Gentiles were saved by faith as they the Jews were.
James was listed first in Galatians 2, meaning a preeminence, and Paul even says the disciples came from James, nearly synonymous with "from Jerusalem".
The entire book is about the mature Christian.
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN:
Chapter 1: Being patient in Trouble
Chapter 2: Practices, Lives out Truth
Chapter 3: Controls, Bridles the Tongue
Chapter 4: Get off of your high horse
Chapter 5: Leave judgment where it belongs, in the Hand of the LORD
It would be from reading his epistle that he more about trying to prevent people thinking that, since they were justified before God, they could now do whatever they wanted, being secure, forgetting that the world was watching them more carefully, and that they needed to watch their own witness, testimony before men, because they had been known as Christians, thereby bringing scorn upon the Church, the LORD, themselves.
(Acts 15:13-21 [KJV])
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
(Galatians 2:9-12 [AKJV/PCE])
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
(1 Corinthians 9:5 [AKJV/PCE])
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
James and Jude were literal brethren, who later learned, became apostles
(John 7:5 [AKJV/PCE])
For neither did his brethren believe in him.
If they were called brethren, then did not believed as spiritual brethren, then they were literal, blood brethren
(1 Corinthians 15:7 [KJV])
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
(Galatians 1:19 [AKJV/PCE])
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
(Matthew 13:55 [AKJV/PCE])
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Living Faith-true faith, with Jesus as the object of faith, acted upon (James 2:22)
(James 1:1 [KJV])
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James calls himself a servant, not using the title apostle, showing us his humility
It starts with a very Jewish flavor, a letter to his own blood, a nation, now scattered because of believers and unbelievers
The reason for the scattering was the persecution of those preaching the gospel
There are "the twelve tribes" mentioned here, not "two tribes and ten lost tribes", a rank heresy going through the church
The scattering went on from then until now, and was the reason 1,700 years later the Americas were formed
There is this long standing Christian myth that there are ten lost tribes of Israel. Paul put that to be in Acts 26:7, below.
(Acts 8:1 [KJV])
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(Matthew 10:23 [KJV]) But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(Acts 14:4-7 [KJV])
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use [them] despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of [it], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel.
(Acts 26:7 [AKJV/PCE])
Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
(James 1:2 [KJV])
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
This joy is by far the last thing from our minds to do, the hardest, but the most important
It requires a look into our future home, not looking at our present conditions
But, in the end, we can rejoice because we will have patience to endure the next trial, which may be harder, but we will get through it because of patience
(James 1:3-4 [KJV])
Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
When we get to the point that we can wait upon the LORD in all circumstances, when we do not care at all about what we possess, when we can endure much more, we then have a new outlook, nothing in this life is of much concern
It means going through it, because that is what it takes to learn that hard lesson
God tests our faith, not to show Him whether we believe on Him, whether we trust by faith Him for the outcome, but to show ourselves, one way or another
Do we need more faith? We will discover that in the trial
(James 1:5 [KJV])
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Wisdom only comes from God, because that is the only wisdom that actually counts
This is a promise of a fulfillment, a guarantee of wisdom to those who ask
Worldly wisdom and knowledge mean nothing to God in terms of knowing the most important things, and are merely a head stuffer, a head sweller, makes one puffed up, "smart, educated", full of oneself
UPBRA'ID, v.t.
To charge with something wrong or disgraceful; to reproach; to cast in the teeth; followed by with or for, before the thing imputed; as, to upbraid a man for his folly or his intemperance. Yet do not upbraid us with our distress. He upbraided them with their unbelief. Mat 16. [The use of to and of, after upbraid, as to upbraid a man of his gain by iniquity, to upbraid to a man his evil practices, has been long discontinued.]
To reproach; to chide. God who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. James 1.
To reprove with severity. Then he began to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done - Mat 11.
To bring reproach on. How much doth thy kindness upbraid my wickedness!
To treat with contempt. Obs.
(James 1:6 [KJV])
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Faith...everything good from God is by faith
People like and hate change, depending. The winds of change will always blow away from God and to thi9s world and the enemy
So, we need faith. If we have no anchor (faith), then the winds of change will blow us all over, and we will follow everything except what we need to
It is like praying, "LORD, I do not know for sure you will give me wisdom, but here goes, I need it, please grant it"
(James 1:7 [KJV])
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
We have to trust God, because the one thing God does not want is distrust, since He is God, trustworthy, faithful even to the unbelieving
Everyone in Scripture who was blessed by God, was a great warrior for God, overcame all sorts of obstacles, did great things to conquer, vanquish enemies, was a faithful man, trusting and following only the One true God, not back and forth between God and false idols, but steadfast
They were not looking at their problems; they were looking to God for their solutions
You do not throw an anchor overboard to let it dangle in the water, those would be drogue stones, and allows the boat to drift with water and wind
The person for us to anchor to is the rock, the LORD Jesus Christ
(Hebrews 11:6 [KJV])
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(1 Corinthians 15:58 [KJV])
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
(James 1:8 [KJV])
A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
Let's look at the fallen nation of Israel in the Old Testament, then the faithful one
Captivity, conquering in freedom, peace, prosperity, complacency, captivity, conquering in freedom, peace, prosperity, complacency, captivity, conquering in freedom, peace, prosperity, complacency, rinse and repeat
Not a path for us to go down
It is like the sail of a ship on a mast in a socket, no ropes to tie it to a cleat on any side, that can rotate with the wind:
Can go in any direction
Can change direction at any time, and change back
Will go the way the winds says to go
Has no actual, ultimate destination
(James 1:9 [KJV])
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
God exalts us when we humble ourselves
We need to be humbled by God sometimes, because our flesh puffs us up, with worldly knowledge, our worldly accomplishments, our riches and possessions
When we keep our eyes on the prize, it anchors our soul, which is the most and really only important. Riches flee, the LORD does not, nor our eternal destiny, our eternal home, estate, fellowship with God
(Matthew 19:30 [KJV])
But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.
(Matthew 20:16 [KJV])
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
(1 Peter 5:5-6 [KJV])
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(James 1:10 [KJV])
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Often, to get saved, a rich person has to lose their riches in order to be humbled enough to recognize they have nothing earthly left, but they are now presented with the only thing that ever mattered-ETERNAL LIFE and, after having that, they now can see clearly that those things they lost were nothing at all compared to the riches in CHrist they now have
The rich rejoice now; will be humbled later
The rich who is made low means humbled in this life, to be exalted in the next. The understanding of this promised event should be sufficient, since the riches of this life will all burn, the eternal rewards will never fade, something to rejoice about!
Anyone who is taken off of their own pedestal and made low is to be thankful that God saw fit to show them their own pride
You do not want to be near, associated with, akin to, related to, allied with, the rich when they fall, because that fall will be great
(Isaiah 40:7-8 [KJV])
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
(1 Peter 1:24 [KJV])
For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
(James 1:11 [KJV])
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Without water, hot sun wilts everything. The only reason that cacti and succulents live longer is the water they store, more than regular plants
The only other way things make it is with a deep tap root, down to groundwater
Shallow roots, hot sun? Dead plants. Like those who relish to good life in this short life, not thinking about their death
Every rich person dies, like every poor. Those who trusted in their riches do not get to take them with them
YOU WILL PROBABLY NEVER SEE A TRAILER BEHIND A HEARSE
If you ever do, those things in thetrailer will still be here on earth, until they rot and the earth is gone, and that person will still be dead and gone
(James 1:12 [KJV])
Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
It does not say IF he is tempted, it says he is blessed WHEN he is tried and endures it
Certainly, in a fashion, the saints at Smyrna during the first century would have been in this sort of situation
All at Jerusalem were scattered in the persecution, or crucified, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, everything under the sun the Romans and Jewish leaders could do to stop the spread of the Word of God, the Word of the LORD Jesus Christ
(Revelation 2:8-11 [KJV])
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
(James 4:7 [KJV])
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(1 Peter 5:8-9 [KJV])
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
(James 1:13-14 [KJV])
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
God allows things, Good tests us; God never tempts us to sin-only the enemy can do that
God is never tempted to do evil to us, never was, never will be. Only the enemy
Our temptations are because of our nature, our own weaknesses that the enemy uses to get at us, knowing we are frail
"his own lust" means it is within us, that thing that is drawing us into sin, however it got there, that door was opened, it came in and is resident and must be removed
Our only defense is to cry out to Jesus Christ, even aloud, to ask, plead, beg for help
(James 1:15-16 [KJV])
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
This is the order since the fall
It is the same with believers who do not repent, do not glorify God-they go home early
James is asking them not to do this
(Hebrews 10:26-27 [KJV])
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17 [KJV])
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
(James 1:17 [KJV])
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
A good God cannot give us bad gifts
God is perfect; therefore so are His gifts to us
Because He is unable to change from that, this will always be the case towards His children
This gift might even include some tribulation, because the gift if the trial that brings patience, so let us always be thankful
Conversely, every evil things is from below, from the pit of hell, fire and brimstone, the future abode of our enemy
(Luke 11:11-13 [KJV])
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
(James 1:18 [KJV])
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Of God's own will, He decided to extend the Gospel to the Gentiles, to save us by grace, not by our goodness, not by our good works
(Romans 10:17 [KJV])
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(James 1:19 [KJV])
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
We learn be hearing, so we can share what we learn by speaking
We always need to have a teachable spirit to learn, in order to teach, hence the order
Otherwise, we profess our own words, not God's, we profess worldly wisdom, not from God, and do not teach right doctrine(s), but lead many astray
(James 1:20 [KJV])
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Another converse emotion and action, another opposite effect
(James 1:21 [KJV])
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Definitions are below, but there is a lot here to ponder
Today we say "No overflow of wickedness", humble implant, graft into you like a branch the Word of God
That Word of God has the ability to save us; therefore it surely can change us and has to, if we are to grow true
SUPERFLU'ITY, n. [L. superfluitas; super and fluo, to flow.]
Superabundance; a greater quantity than is wanted; as a superfluity of water or provisions.
Something that is beyond what is wanted; something rendered unnecessary by its abundance. Among the superfluities of life we seldom number the abundance of money.
NAUGHTINESS, n. Nautiness.
. Badness; wickedness; evil principle or purpose. I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thy heart. 1 Sam 17.
Slight wickedness of children; perverseness; mischievousness. , a. Nauty.
Wicked; corrupt. A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. Prov 6.
Bad; worthless. The other basket had very naughty figs. Jer 24.
Mischievous; perverse; froward; as a naughty child. It is now seldom used except in the latter sense, as applied to children.
(ENGRAFTED)
INGR`AFT, v.t. [in and graff. The original word is ingraff or graff, but it is corrupted beyond recovery.]
To insert a cion of one tree or plant into another for propagation; as, to ingraft the cion of an apple-tree on a pear-tree, as its stock; to ingraft a peach on a plum.
To propagate by incision.
To plant or introduce something foreign into that which is native, for the purpose of propagation. This fellow would ingraft a foreign name upon our stock.
To set or fix deep and firm. Ingrafted love he bears to Caesar.
(James 1:22 [KJV])
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
When a person gets saved, Jesus said we would know them by their fruits
When a person gets saved, they are now a new creature and are called to act like it
When a person gets saved, they now know that their mind has changed, and know that they are called to do what is right, and that right thing they know
When a person gets saved, they now have the Holy Ghost of the LORD Jesus Christ in them, showing them, helping them do what is right, for the glory of God
When they are saved, they must be discipled, then practice, walk with Christ more closely, doing His will and not our own, as new creatures
Confession, raising the hand at a calling, coming forward, can happen sincerely, or to please men, for show, for appearances
When it is sincere, it is visible, it is work for the LORD done that is seen clearly
Often at first shunned by family and friends, spouses, etc. it becomes evident that sincerity if one can endure that
As they say today, "This is where the rubber meets the road"
(Matthew 5:11 [KJV])
Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
(Matthew 10:39 [KJV])
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(Mark 10:29-30 [KJV])
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
(Mark 13:9 [KJV])
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
(Luke 9:24 [KJV])
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
(James 1:23-24 [KJV])
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
He looks into that glass after and says, "Eh, I'm OK. I'm a good person, I'm doin' OK, thanks."
They are like King Saul and the rich young ruler who Jesus corrected and invited to believe, but his riches got in the way
(1 Samuel 16:7 [KJV])
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
(Luke 18:18-27 [KJV])
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
(1 Samuel 15:22 [KJV])
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
(Proverbs 21:3 [KJV])
To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
(James 1:25 [KJV])
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
No one can look at the Word of God honestly, sincerely, humbly and conclude they are anything more than useless dust, a filthy thing, a wicked sinner, saved by grace through faith
(James 1:26 [KJV])
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.
There is always a confession of something, either praise to God, encouragement of others, or filthy, coarse jesting, cursing, swearing, lying
When we are loose tongues, saying whatever we want to, whenever we want to, we are deceiving ourselves and those words come from inside us, because of our deceived heart from which they arise, as belief or self-deception are in the heart and the tongue merely reveals which it is
There is no third option
Gossip...................poison of asps, destroyer in the church, back stabbing, slander, libel, evil use of the tongue
If you pay attention, you will see the injury done is done more IN the church than in the world, and this is shameful, but no one is ashamed
Loyalty, love, construction, maintenance:::: versus :::: Wickedness, evil, destruction, division, betrayal, hate feigned as love
BRI'DLE, n.
The instrument with which a horse is governed and restrained by a rider; consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages, according to its particular form and uses.
A restraint; a curb; a check.
A short piece of cable well served, attached to a swivel on a chain, laid in a harbor, and the upper end drawn into a ship and secured to the bits. The use is to enable a ship, when moored, to veer with the wind and tide. Bowline bridles are short legs or pieces of rope, running through iron thimbles,by which the bowline attaches to different places on the leech or edge of a large sail
BRI'DLE, v.t. To put on a bridle; as, to bridle a horse.
To restrain, guide or govern; to check, curb or control; as, to bridle the passions; "to bridle a muse." Bridle the excursions of youth.
BRI'DLE, v.i. To hold up the head, and draw in the chin.
(James 1:27 [KJV])
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
How one feels about their fellow man, woman, child is how he treats him or her
That is an outward reflection of an inner change of a man or woman
The vertical part of that Cross of the LORD Jesus Christ, which represents the relationship offered by God to us for fellowship and relationship with Him, holds up the horizontal member, which clearly represents, reflects our relationship with mankind
