James 1:2-18

Let me begin from the beginning...

The last few months I have been separated from the Fellowship of the Body of Christ. This is something that has happened before and has caused multiple issues for me. Simply because, I am weak in my faith and the Enemy knows just how to attack me. Alone as I am, without the fellowship and encouragement of my fellow Christians, I struggle each day to make it through. I have been seeking to do right, but finding myself lost in the trials and stumbling blocks of the world around me.
I've even tried to being bible studying on my own, but again, the desires of the flesh grab my attention more and more. Pulling me from the Word like a boat drawn on the rapids. So in order to hold myself accountable, I have decided to study the bible and do it diligently. I'm not a perfect person and don't claim to know ANYTHING about God's Word nor do I claim I can understand it all... This bible study is simply to put my thoughts in order, after reading the Word, and maybe it will help someone else who might be struggling and give them encouragement.

Being social creatures we crave social interaction, but the world has another way of simply isolating us: Technology. I hope that my views help you find your own and that God will also speak through me and help me understand the meaning of His Written Word.

Welcome...

To...

My Bible Study...

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Book/Chapter: James 1:2-18

Thoughts:

A while back, my old pastor spoke about James in the new testament. He said there were 3 kinds of people in the world:

1. People who are going into trials/tribulation

2. People who are going through trials/tribulation

3. People who are coming out of trials/tribulation

Lets focus on the first one...

1. INTO trials/tribulation:

I'm not sure I quite understood my pastor when he spoke of it, but I believe I do now... You see, when my pastor spoke of this I had just started coming OUT of trials... but little did I know that more were around the corner.

I've stated in my introduction that I've been away from the fellowship of other believers for quite some time, this is a perfect example of how the Enemy can bring trouble into our lives. But though that trouble comes to break us and smash us, I've found in James, the solution to overcoming the Enemies plans. Don't worry... it's nothing magical or mystical, it's really quite simply and yet the hardest thing to do in times of trouble... REJOICE!

James states that our trials are for a reason, to test our faith, to build our steadfastness in Christ, and to build ourselves up so we can stand against the Enemy with the Lord's confidence and to give us the courage to know that God loves us even when we fail.

I haven't fully understood this message much, but I have it in my spirit that it is ministering to me. Because I've come into a trial.. One that is breaking and smashing me around. I keep trying to hold my head up, to see the "silver lining" but I forget, I don't "feel" like thanking God for the hardships that I've got to go through because of my own choices. But recently, my spirit has been churning and burning inside me and I've recently discovered that it's God's gentle way of letting me know I need some time with Him. Desperately.

See, I'm entering a trial now. Will I fail? I don't know, but I hope not. Will I be steadfast? I can't say, only that I know that God will catch me should I stumble. Will I come out unscathed? Only if I trust God and praise Him for the testing of my faith!

Because you know what? The Enemy can't harm you, God wont let that happen. As long as we rejoice in our trials and know that He is God. That we live by Faith not just by works, but by believing that the impossible for us, is certainly possible with GOD!

Looking over James, has been a troublesome thing for me, because I hate admitting that I'm going through it, I'm never sure if I'm coming out of or going into... but I'm never through it seems, and James says to count it all JOY!

Lets look at the second one...

2. GOING THROUGH trials

Again, I can relate. My pastor is dead on to me. I can't seem to look past the fact that James - some 2,000 years ago - was dead on to me too! I needed to be reminded that God still loves me, even though I'm struggling in my faith...

As I said before, the Enemy knows exactly where to hit me. So with all his power, he attacks - simply because I'm a daughter of Christ. James tells us that we should boast in our trials, that those who are rich should boast of being made humble, and the poor to boast in Christ's mercy and love. James also tells me that God will give freely, whatever we ask - if asked in truth and faith. Without doubt! A doubting man, according to the book of James, is a double-minded man who can not believe due to the doubts he has. God can't work in my life because I doubt I'll actually get what I've asked for.

Am I double-minded? Do I doubt God? These questions relate to me because... yes, sometimes I doubt if God is really listening, I doubt I'll get anything I've asked for because I've reduced God to a small nothing instead of believing he's bigger and larger and can do anything!

James says to rejoice when we go through trials... I find it hard especially right now with so much going on, but in truth, if I rejoiced instead of complained, the Enemy will have to find another means to drag me down and thus putting him on the defensive! I believe that whole heartedly, that God can do anything - but sometimes my flesh likes to tell me otherwise.

Lets look at the third one...

3. COMING OUT OF trials

When I finally came out of one trial, I was so relieved I thought I was done... but it's a fool who thinks that outside his death bed! My trials continued to come... so again I fell away from God and the Enemy took over. But I still hold fast to my faith. I stumble more than walk, I fall more than stand, I fall behind more than run ahead... but I still hold faithfully to the truth that God is God! The Enemy attacks in other ways, whispering in the ear that will listen... and because I've been away from fellowship and christian friends I've listened several times and always it has lead me to sorrow and pain. When will I learn? James still tells us to have faith, to trust that God will provide. That we are created by His very hand! We, of the Faith, are the first fruits, His!

But another thing James tells me that I must always remember... God doesn't TEMPT us! God TESTS us, but only to make us stronger. Temptations come from our own fleshly desires which give birth to sin and sin to death. But James states that all GOOD gifts; life, salvation, livelihood, etc. Come from God the Father! So do not be thinking that God will tempt you he wont.

Anyway, as I explore the different aspects of my personal trials and tribulations, I see James speaking directly to me about what I should be doing, how I should do it, and how I can overcome those trials simply if I rejoice about them instead of complain...

James 1:2-18

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.