Tribulation Saints will overcome the enemy by the blood of Jesus during the Tribulation Week. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11 KJV). Just as demons should be presently cast out in the name of Jesus because of the blood of His sacrifice for us, during the Tribulation, the adversary will be overcome by the “blood of the Lamb” (12:11) coupled with the “word of their testimony” (12:11), which may cost them their lives, for “they loved not their lives unto the death” (12:11). Resisting the devil is necessary for him to “flee from you” (James 4:7). Resisting him “steadfast in the faith” (1Peter 5:9) using God’s Word is key. But, the specific testimony that drives demons out of humans is the value of Christ’s shed blood in cleansing our sin (1John 1:7), thus defeating the devil’s power over us. For the Tribulation Saints, this most likely ends with their martyrdom. Not all, however, will be martyred, since some will enter into the Millennium in the flesh, along with newly converted Israel at Christ’s Second Coming, to be ruled by Christ. LORD, a lot needs to happen before we ever get to the New Heavens and New Earth at the end of the Millennium. In particular, fortify our brothers and sisters at this time in the Tribulation Week. Grant those appointed unto death the Martyr’s Crown. Even now, teach us patience that we would faithfully fight Your battles. Grant us the Victor’s Crown for overcoming. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Patience
It’s Not Whether You Win or Lose, But How You Play the Game
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV). Grantland Rice (1880-1954), a well known, American sportswriter is famous for the quote, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.” Sports is about winning. Life also is about winning. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 15:57). If we already have achieved the victory through Christ, then it is only how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives that matters. Faith realizes the preeminence of Christ’s gracious, finished work on the Cross for our salvation, and the Holy Spirit applies the reality of that belief to how we conduct our daily lives. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10). Perhaps all of this sounds familiar, yet unless it compels us to follow hard after Christ, then we have probably misunderstood or underestimated the role of the Holy Spirit: (1) to make us willing to obey God’s commandments, i.e., “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27), and (2) to reveal Jesus to us to make us more like Him, i.e., “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew [shō] it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:14-15). Father, we desire to know You better. Take of Your Spirit and show us Jesus. Teach us the delicate balance of “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). Show us how even our faith is a gift from You (Ephesians 2:8). Help us to exercise patience, so we will live out the reality of the Game of Life, which You already have won for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Fulness of Time
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4 KJV). It was the appropriate time set by God, when it had fully come for Christ to be born to fulfill the righteousness of God’s law. Only when God decides it’s right is the time full. As the tough, old drill sergeant said, “You’re not dead until I TELL you you’re dead!” God grant us the patience to wait for the times You have chosen and the willingness to labor like it should be today. Amen.
Why Doesn’t Everyone Finish?
Why doesn’t everyone finish their Pilgrim’s Progress journey to the Celestial City? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV). A common saying in the world, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’ makes a lot of practical sense. How does anyone know they are His chosen few? Peter answers that question. “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [Greek, agapē, love]. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:2-10 KJV). Maranatha!
Yahweh Knows How to Turn Raw Confidence in Him to Mature Patience
Yahweh knows how to turn raw confidence in Him to mature patience. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3 KJV). If anyone can tell us what patience is, the Lord can. The faith that pleases Him will be tested to produce the fruit of patience. Just ask Job.
The Discipline of Patience
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4 KJV).
Yes, patience is a discipline.
Continue readingJames 1 Commentary
Practical Christian Wisdom from the New Testament Book of James
A Letter of Practical Christian Wisdom
Introduction (1:1)
Verse 1: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings” (James 1:1 NIV).
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1 NIV) tells us that the writer of this letter was James, a younger half-brother of Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 13:55). Once a bonafide skeptic (Mark 3:21) of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) of his Older Brother, James had now been transformed to become His ardent supporter, humbling himself not only as a “servant [Greek, doulos, slave] of God” (1:1 NIV), but equally, a bond servant by choice of Jesus, who he now admits to be the Jewish Messiah and his master. James’ choice of calling himself a “servant of God” (1:1 NIV) is consistent with the teachings of Christ. “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me” (John 12:26 NIV). We are servants of the Lord with the benefit of God directing our choices in life. Remember, we are not here to figure out how to use God, but how He can use us. This epistle or letter was addressed to the “twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (1:1 NIV), since the Early Church was originally Jewish converts returning to their homes from the Acts 2 Pentecost, as well as, to the converted Jewish brothers and sisters “scattered among the nations” (1:1 NIV) by the persecutions of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1). NT scholars date this epistle as sometime before 62 AD, when James was martyred by King Herod (Acts 12:2). The Romans did not destroy Jerusalem and the Temple until 70 AD. “Greetings” (1:1 NIV) is the expected salutation, since this is a letter.
Continue readingJames 5 Commentary
Practical Christian Wisdom from the New Testament Book of James
Warning to the Rich (5:1-6)
Verse 1: “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you” (James 5:1 NIV).
Is James condemning all rich people? No, as we read previously, he is condemning all those who are seeking to accumulate wealth irrespective of God or man. He describes whom he condemns — “you [who] boast in your arrogant schemes” (James 4:16 NIV). Why should they “weep and wail” (5:1 NIV)? He answers, “because of the misery that is coming on you” (5:1 NIV). To what misery does James refer? Jesus described the misery of more than one rich person, possibly because riches are associated with someone who has been blessed. The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) illustrates how a homeless beggar goes to his reward in Abraham’s bosom, and a rich man descends from his luxury into the fiery torment of Hades, both defying what many would expect as their outcomes. The moral of their story is not to seek the outward evidence of wealth as a signpost to Heaven, and not to reject the evidence of poverty, as a certainty of Hell. Both must pay heed to the claims of Scripture, without the benefit of miraculous events, to find their way to Heaven. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31 NIV). The rich fool and his storehouse (Luke 12:13-21) shows us how foolish it is to place our confidence in earthly riches, as a sign of prosperity, happiness, and security. “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (12:19 NIV). God terminates the rich fool’s life with the epitaph, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (12:21 NIV).
We Need A Miracle 