13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
James 5:13
Praise and prayer occupy the Apostle’s teaching in Chapter 5, Verse 13. These two spiritual disciplines are vital for Christian growth. Without them, maturity will come slowly if at all to the Believer.
When trouble comes, pray. Pray also when times are good. No matter the circumstance and no matter the situation, pray. God works through the prayers of His people. The Lord will not answer every prayer as we would hope. He will hear us and do what it is best.
Praise the Lord, Child of God. He has blessed you, protected you, and kept you in Christ Jesus. Praise Him when you feel like it and even when you don’t. Honor the King of kings and Lord of lords through praise each and every day.
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Let’s think about three things these verses reveal to us.
1)We must plant for the harvest. As believers, we are called to spread the gospel seed far and wide. This happens in many different ways including preaching, teaching, witnessing, sharing our testimony and ministry through the church.
Not everyone is called to the specific preaching or teaching office. However, all Christians should be sharing their faith and inviting people to Jesus in their daily lives. The Great Commission to go and make disciples is given to all.
(Matthew 28:19-20)
2)We must prepare for the harvest. Apollos watered the seed after Paul planted it. We must prepare to receive the overflow in our churches and in our lives as we sow the good news into the lives of others. Preparation is needed when one “waters the seed” as being unprepared for the harvest is shameful and wasteful. Telling others that Christ died and rose again and that there is hope for reconciliation with God through the forgiveness of sin will result in salvations. Not everyone will receive the message, but, some will. Are we prepared to enjoy and accommodate the harvest?
3)We must pray for the harvest. Our task is to plant and prepare for harvest. However, God must bring the harvest. God must cause it to grow and mature. We ought to pray that God will bring the harvest and that He will send laborers into the field. (John 4:35 & Matthew 9:28)
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
James 5:12
Keep is simple. That advice, though well-worn, has stood the test of time. James implores us to say to avoid grandiose pronouncements and stick to plain speech.
The faithful gospel requires an understandable explanation. Christ lived for us, died for us, and was raised from the dead for us is what people need to know. Let us allow others to engage in fooling arguments and swearing oaths. Let’s keep it simple.
Let your yes be yes and your no be no, Child of God!
Do you want to be holy? Believer, do you desire that your life would reflect the life of Christ? If so, consider the following.
**Abide in Christ
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
**Glory in Christ
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Philippians 3:3
**Hope in Christ
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
**Dwell in Christ
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love.
Ephesians 3:17
**Rest in Christ
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:10
The Apostle’s command in verse 10 is simple and powerful—persevere. The people of God should persevere and not give up in their trek toward Heaven. The road will be long and the path will be hard. Nevertheless, the true Christian will continue with the Lord.
Job experienced the best and worst that life had to offer. Yet, he is commended in this verse for his patience through it all. This fruit of the Spirit is truly needed by Christians in our day. Be patient, dear Christian. It will be worth every mile and heartache when we see Jesus.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful. Rely on His mercy each day, Child of God. Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!
We change and our world changes around us. God, however, is always the same and so shall He ever be. Consider these Scriptures……………….
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand.
Isaiah 14:24
“For I , the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”
Hebrews 1:11-2
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Now a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few. 4 Then you shall come in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour into all these containers; and you shall set aside what is full.” 5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they began bringing the containers to her, and she poured the oil. 6 When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he said to her, “There are no more containers.” Then the oil stopped. 7 So she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
2 Kings 4:1-7
This account from 2 Kings gives us 4 lessons about the Lord.
7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
James 5:7-8
Be patient, Child of God. The Lord’s arrival is nearer and nearer each day.
The farmer exercises patience as he plows the field and sows the seed. The harvest will not come right away. The good agriculturist must wait and fertilize the crop so that a bounty will be produced from it. And as the farmer prepares for the harvest, so we must wait joyfully prepare for the coming of the Lord.
James also tells us to strengthen our hearts. Now is not the time for weakness. Let us strengthen our relationship with the Lord through prayer, the Word, the Church and the working of the Holy Spirit.
Be patient, Child of God. The coming of the Lord is near.
The God of the Bible is the God of all comfort. God, as He is revealed in Holy Scripture, brings comfort to His people in various ways. He is good, holy, righteous, and loving.
(2 Corinthians 1:3)
Let us give thanks today for the Savior who comforts us and let us rejoice in His greatness!
It Is Well With My Soul
Horatio Spafford
When peace like a river attendeth my way.
When sorrows like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
mrtonyfrench 