James Archives – Heart of Grace Ministries

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I want to start out today by reading some difficult but inspiring verses to everyone.

James 1:2-4

[2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
[4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We have to begin to transform our lives in this year with what will seem like 2 brand new steps. I’m also going to tell you that this might not be your favorite thing that you ever hear me tell you, but nonetheless we’ll speak what God would lead us to.

The first thing that we HAVE to do is to stop complaining every second that we have breath to the Lord as well as everyone else. We have to begin to realize that there will always be someone else out there that has it worse, and that our situation is not the worst in the world. I’m not being horrible and saying that you don’t have dark days, but the scriptures lead us to handle things differently. They lead us to count it all joy. I know that it seems impossible to do, but you know how we count something joy even when it hurts? As we begin to count our blessings and begin to use the other tools that God gave us to bring us to a good place, we will find stability as we journey on towards the end of a trial!

The second thing that we have to do is let faith work. How do we do that? Well, first of all by not running away when things get too hard. We cannot back down or give up in the middle of something. That is how God builds up something good in us. It’s one of the ways he can get glory and you can overcome the enemy! If you stay grounded in God, desiring nothing but his will, and let that patience through your faith have its work, you will have an experience to speak of from the ends of your trials that you will have learned from! And always remember, when it comes to the trials of God, you are never tested in something for you not to learn anything from it.

Let’s read on some more now:

James 1:12

[12] 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.

Blessed is he who endures! There is a reward for us who hang on! I have always said since I began the ministry that there is a special quality about endurance. You have to have it regardless of the condition of your body. Endurance is in the mind. For that is why we inherit the crown of life for our head and not our body.

Let’s read on:

James 1:22-25

[22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
[23] 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:
[24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
[25] 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.

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like all the promises and resolutions we always break! What I do know is that my false promises are a direct rebellion against his atonement! That’s a serious thing!!!

When I begin to say things like:

“I will walk right if you help me”

“I will purify me if you answer my prayer.”

We have to realize that we are human and that we are always going to come short, but if I surrender myself, all my rights and demands, and justifications and finally leave myself in his hands, and then through my humble prayers he can do a work in me!

The last part I want to read to you today is what I like to call the dedicated verses of my life. If you don’t have any, put these in your heart as well!

Philippians 3:13-16

[13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
[15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
[16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

I can’t do anything for what is behind me in the yesterday. But God is the God of the yesterdays and allows the things of the past to help us spiritually grow today.

I know more than anyone that I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but the Lord will go before us! He is in what we are not aware of!

And I certainly know that with all that is in me that as far today, I’m going to press, strive, and break through for that peace and joy that I know will keep me.

God Bless You!

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James 3:4-8

[4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
[7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

One rumor = One Match

One issue = One Spark

One problem = One Coal

In other words, it only takes a little sentence or something small to start something huge, similar to a fire, that is almost impossible to put out.

The tongue is such a small part of the body, but goes such a long way.

What about other than words? As we know, actions speak louder than words!

James 3:11-12

[11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

We can’t have it both ways! Simple as that!

Proverbs 16:19-23

[19] Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
[20] He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
[21] The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
[22] Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
[23] The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

It is better to be open and loving, compassionate and to dwell there with others in a church service. It is definitely better to serve one another with these humble qualities! People then will get help that way!

Understanding is a wellspring! It only comes from a deep, spiritual learning experience that God through the Holy Ghost can teach you.

Proverbs 16:32

[32] He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

The more control that we have over our flesh by having a stronger spiritual life, you shall be better than mighty, and can take the cities (have control over the things that try and bring you down)!

Proverbs 21:23

[23] Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

If we can learn to be bigger than a conversation of the enemy, you can spare yourself from much trouble!

Proverbs 22:24-25

[24] Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
[25] Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

We need to be careful to watch our words, as well as the company that we are in. The longer that we stay in that, the more we become it.
Always remember some old adages:

– We are what we eat

– We are what we speak

– We feel based on how we act and our countenance

In essence, we will become what we are surrounded with!

Luke 11:9-13

[9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
[10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[11] 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?
[12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
[13] 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?

Let’s see the patterns:

Ask…shall be given

Seek…ye shall find

Knock…shall be opened

Asking is requesting from God by your spoken words.

Seeking is requesting from God from your spoken word and actions.

Knocking is requesting from God as an action.

So in other words, we do not communicate to God by spoken word alone, but by our actions also. Everything in a service counts for something! It is for someone or for you! It is worth the obedience!

James

Resolutions, Resolutions, Resolutions

The Power Of Our Words