Welcome to Week 5 of the Fall 2023 Teaching Series!
This week’s additions include:
Reading His Word: Study of James – Chapter 5
Ministries: Introduction to The Power of the Blood: Whyte, H. A. Maxwell and Planting the Heavens: Releasing the Authority of the Kingdom Through Your Words, Prayers, and Declarations: Sheets, Tim, Henderson, Robert.
James – Chapter 5
Please begin by taking time to click on the link and read or listen to James 5 NIV (biblehub.com).
The Book of James closes with chapter 5, reiterating several of the themes of God’s message.
The chapter opens with conviction and warning regarding our attitude on wealth and earthly treasures. Our desire for these things must never supersede our calling from God.
“Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”
James 5:3 NKJV
“You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.”
James 5:5 NKJV
We are again reminded to manage what is in our hearts. Christ and Holy Spirit live in our hearts from the point we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and receive His salvation. Seeking earthly pleasures over Christ and Holy Spirit pushes them aside in our heart and creates space for desires of the flesh to gain power.
God through Holy Spirit will guide each of us to be good stewards of any possessions we are blessed with. Everything we have is a blessing from God. He created each of us uniquely with talents and opportunities to bring His kingdom come. Our ability to earn a living, our skills, all are gifts from the Lord. He has been generous to us and we are to share generously with others, to reflect Christ’s love for all.
“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
James 5:8-9 NKJV
We will be held accountable for our choices and actions. How we carry ourselves either reflects Christ’s love or sinful earthly ways of this world. We must remember every person we meet or come in contact with would benefit from experiencing the love of Christ. We need to reflect that love.
“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let you “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”
James 5:12
When we swear to uphold something, it is easy to let our arrogance take over, believing anything we accomplish is of our control and power, not the Lord’s. We will be judged for the words we choose and the compassion and mercy we show others.
This does not mean ignoring sin. An unwillingness to call our sin or gloss over it as something we do not need to repent for is just another form of sin. We need to seek God’s direction in addressing all situations in our lives. God the Father, through Holy Spirit living in us has miraculous ways of teaching us to address sin in a way that is compassionate and loving.
Finally, as is so constant in the Bible, God provides hope.
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:15-16 NKJV
Through Christ and Holy Spirit, we have been given power and authority to act here on earth. Learning to better understand that power and utilize it to bring Christ’s love and God’s kingdom to earth is our Great Commission. We are able to more fully act on that power as we work to be more righteous servants for God’s kingdom.
Let’s pray together for this growth and gaining of wisdom to continue in each of our lives today, tomorrow and forever.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Word! Through the Bible, You have given us guidance to further our discipleship. You are merciful and compassionate and I thank You for Your patience as I seek to grow in Your ways. Please help me see ways You want me to reach out to others. May all my thoughts, words and actions align to Your will for my life and those I encounter.
Thank You for Christ’s sacrifice, to bring about my forgiveness of sins and salvation. May I be a partner in Your process to bring others to Christ.
Thank you, Father God. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray.
Amen.
Ministries
The Power of the Blood: Whyte, H. A. Maxwell. Scripture speaks to the power of Jesus’ blood, for: salvation, healing, and forgiveness. This book drills down into some of those scriptures, helping us to better understand the power given to each of us as intercessors, pleading the power of Christ’s blood in prayer. Some of the elements discussed include: the uniqueness of Jesus’ blood in the womb of Mary, cleansing of our hearts at the point of salvation, the power of Christ’s blood will cause the devil and his demons to flee and the need for regular cleansing of our sin. Reading this text expanded my knowledge of this element of power given to us by Christ and how we can invoke that power through prayer. For those who seek to secure God’s promises in their lives through bleeding the blood of Christ, this is an informative and empowering read!
Planting the Heavens: Releasing the Authority of the Kingdom Through Your Words, Prayers, and Declarations: Sheets, Tim, Henderson, Robert. Uses scripture to help the reader better understand the authority given to us through Christ’s sacrifice and how God desires for us to use that authority here on earth. The beauty of this text is that it shows each of us a way to contribute, through prayer and decrees of God’s scripture. Some are able to physically go to places to pray and minister and that is wonderful. But for those who are unable to go to a place, these teachings show how someone can still be part of God’s great work in a region they are called to support. This text is so encouraging, challenging each of us to think of ourselves first as members of God’s kingdom and encouraging us to utilize the authority given to us by a deeper relationship with God!
May God be with you as you grow in His kingdom power!
To God be the Glory!
Amen.
Published: 11/30/23