James Expounds on Faith Volume 9

 Receiving Wisdom from God Part 6

James 1:14-16 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

The temptations to do evil never come from God to any of His children, nor is He the One who tempts the unbeliever into sin as it was declared to us by the Apostle James in the previous verse. Therefore, with that being the truth then where does and why does sin occur in the 🌏 world and even within the 🧒 children of God? The answer is simple, singular, and straightforward because sin is an inside job (as Dr. Adrian Rodgers put it) which is exactly what the Apostle James declares with these words, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren." (James 1:14-16) (KJV). The long English phrase 'when he is drawn away' is translated by the one Greek word exelkō (used this one time only in the New Testament) which means to drag forth, that is, (figuratively) to entice (to sin): - draw away. The English word 'lust' is translated by the Greek word epithumia meaning a longing (especially for what is forbidden): - concupiscence (a desire for sexual intimacy; physical attraction), desire, lust after. The English word 'enticed' is translated by the Greek word deleazō meaning to entrap, that is, (figuratively) delude: - allure, beguile, entice. In other words, we human beings (men and women; believers and unbelievers) are drawn away from what is the truth of God into 🤥 lies when we are allured by a longing or physical attraction or desire for sexual intimacy with someone who is not our wife and yielding to these desires can cause serious problems in ones life by making such choices and not seeking the wisdom of God when we are 😔 faced with these scenarios. We see in the sports 🌏 world that the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics has now been suspended for an entire year from his position with the team for having a sexual relationship with a woman also in the Celtic's organization. The Word of God commands us (as believers in Jesus Christ) to yield not to these desires in our flesh and it is not because God wants to keep us from fun, or feelings, or fulfillment, but because He wants to keep us from the often times detrimental, dirty, and damaging consequences of our yielding to temptation. What has played out in the sports media over the last few days that has been extremely damaging to the personal and professional life of the Boston Celtic's 🏀 Basketball Coach was already known and seen by God and it could have been avoided if the Coach would have sought the counsel of God. Everyone of us have made similar choices that have had very bad consequences that could have been averted if we had gone to God for help. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Church ⛪, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colssians 3:5) (KJV) and he also wrote these words to the Thessalonian ⛪ Church, "Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex. Respect and honor your wife. Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God. You must not cheat any of the Lord's followers in matters of sex. Remember, we warned you that He punishes everyone who does such things. God didn't choose you to be filthy, but to be pure. So if you don't obey these rules, you are not really disobeying us. You are disobeying God, who gives you His Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-10) (CEV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 1:14-16, "In other scriptures the devil is called the tempter, and other things may sometimes concur to tempt us; but neither the devil nor any other person or thing is to be blamed so as to excuse ourselves; for the true original of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. The combustible matter is in us, though the flame may be blown up by some outward causes. And therefore, if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it, Proverbs 9:12. Observe here, 1. The method of sin in its proceeding. First it draws away, then entices. As holiness consists of two parts - forsaking that which is evil and cleaving to that which is good, so these two things, reversed, are the two parts of sin. The heart is carried from that which is good, and enticed to cleave to that which is evil. It is first by corrupt inclinations, or by lusting after and coveting some sensual or worldly thing, estranged from the life of God, and then by degrees fixed in a course of sin. 2. We may observe hence the power and policy of sin. The word here rendered drawn away signifies a being forcibly haled or compelled. The word translated enticed signifies being wheedled and beguiled by allurements and deceitful representations of things. There is a great deal of violence done to conscience and to the mind by the power of corruption: and there is a great deal of cunning and deceit and flattery in sin to gain us to its interests. The force and power of sin could never prevail, were it not for its cunning and guile. Sinners who perish are wheedled and flattered to their own destruction. And this will justify God for ever in their damnation, that they destroyed themselves. Their sin lies at their own door, and therefore their blood will lie upon their own heads. 3. The success of corruption in the heart (James 1:15): Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; that is, sin being allowed to excite desires in us, it will soon ripen those desires into consent, and then it is said to have conceived. The sin truly exists, though it be but in embryo. And, when it has grown its full size in the mind, it is then brought forth in actual execution. Stop the beginnings of sin therefore, or else all the evils it produces must be wholly charged upon us. 4. The final issue of sin, and how it ends: Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. After sin is brought forth in actual commissions, the finishing of it (as Dr. Manton observes) is its being strengthened by frequent acts and settled into a habit. And, when the iniquities of men are thus filled up, death is brought forth. There is a death upon the soul, and death comes upon the body. And, besides death spiritual and temporal, the wages of sin is eternal death too. Let sin therefore be repented of and forsaken, before it be finished. Why will you die, O house of Israel! Ezekiel 33:11. God has no pleasure in your death, as He has no hand in your sin; but both sin and misery are owing to yourselves. Your own hearts' lusts and corruptions are your tempters; and when by degrees they have carried you off from God, and finished the power and dominion of sin in you, then they will prove your destroyers. Do not wander, that is, from the Word of God, and the accounts of Him you have there. Do not stray into erroneous opinions, and go off from the standard of truth, the things which you have received from the Lord Jesus and by the direction of His Spirit. The loose opinions of Sinon, and the Nicolaitans (from whom the Gnostics, a most sensual corrupt set of people, arose afterwards), may perhaps, by the Apostle here, be more especially cautioned against. Those who are disposed to look into these may consult the first book of Irenaeus against heresies. Let corrupt men run into what notions they will, the truth, as it is in Jesus, stands thus: That God is not, cannot be, the author and patronizer of any thing that is evil; but must be acknowledged as the cause and spring of every thing that is good."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 8

 Receiving Wisdom from God Part 5

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: KJV

The Apostle James makes it emphatically clear next that no human being anywhere or in any ⌚ time or era can ever declare their luring into sin of any kind or sort to ever be because God made them that way or led them into those sins, for as it is clearly written here by the Apostle James with these words, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:" (James 1:13) (KJV). God is incapable of doing any kind of evil. But many naysayers will disagree because of all the times recorded in the Old Testament where God destroyed whole cities of people like Sodom and Gomorrah or the times that He commanded the Army of Israel to kill all the inhabitants of a city including women and children, well this is not God performing evil, but instead Him rendering His just Judgement to a continuously wicked and rebellious people, as it is written and declared in these two verses of Scripture, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:32) (KJV) and "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." (Romans 2:2) (KJV). Also, let us not forget these words from our Lord Jesus Christ, "Which of you convinceth (or convicts) me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?" (John 8:46) (KJV) and also these words, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." (John 14:30) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 1:13, "We are here taught that God is not the author of any man's sin. Whoever they are who raise persecutions against men, and whatever injustice and sin they may be guilty of in proceeding against them, God is not to be charged with it. And, whatever sins good men may themselves be provoked to by their exercises and afflictions, God is not the cause of them. It seems to be here supposed that some professors might fall in the hour of temptation, that the rod resting upon them might carry some into ill courses, and make them put forth their hands unto iniquity. But though this should be the case, and though such delinquents should attempt to lay their fault on God, yet the blame of their misconduct must lie entirely upon themselves. For, 1. There is nothing in the nature of God that they can lay the blame upon: Let no man say, when he is tempted to take any evil course, or do any evil thing, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil. All moral evil is owing to some disorder in the being that is chargeable with it, to a want of wisdom, or of power, or of decorum and purity in the will. But who can impeach the holy God with the want of these, which are his very essence? No exigence of affairs can ever tempt him to dishonour or deny himself, and therefore he cannot be tempted with evil. 2. There is nothing in the providential dispensations of God that the blame of any man's sin can be laid upon (James 1:13): Neither tempteth He any man. As God cannot be tempted with evil Himself, so neither can He be a tempter of others. He cannot be a promoter of what is repugnant to His nature. The carnal mind is willing to charge its own sins on God. There is something hereditary in this. Our first father Adam tells God, The woman thou gavest me tempted me, thereby, in effect, throwing the blame upon God, for giving him the tempter. Let no man speak thus. It is very bad to sin; but is much worse, when we have done amiss, to charge it upon God, and say it was owing to Him. Those who lay the blame of their sins either upon their constitution or upon their condition in the world, or who pretend they are under a fatal necessity of sinning, wrong God, as if He were the author of sin. Afflictions, as sent by God, are designed to draw out our graces, but not our corruptions."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 7

 Receiving Wisdom from God Part 4

James 1:12 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. KJV

The coming of trials, test, and temptations for a redeemed, regenerated, and resurrected child of the Most High God who has now become Abba/Father to us is very much a reality, however, it still never comes to us without our feeling dread, dispair, and discomfort because as long as we are in this tent/house/body our souls reside in, then we will be constantly bombarded with the temptation to go back to being the old 👨 man and allow our old nature to rise back up and take over our tent/house/body. The Apostle Paul knew of this reality within himself and therefore wrote about such strife, strain, and struggle to the Churches he had planted throughout the regions of his missionary work, for example he wrote these words to the Church @ Ephesus, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) (KJV). So, we can see then why the Apostle James is now declaring that the man or woman who has been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ is blessed when they/we face temptations head on and come through them by yeilding to the Power of the Holy Spirit to enable, equip, and energize our new man to walk through the test or trial victoriously, as it is written here, "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." (James 1:12) (KJV). The trying and testing of our faith is the primary form of temptation the Apostle James is referring to here, although the temptation to do evil (which is what all sin against God ultimately is) can also be what James is referring to as well.

The English word 'endureth' is translated by the Greek word hupomenō meaning to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind. The English word 'temptation' is translated by the Greek word peirasmos meaning a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, try. The English word 'tried' is translated by the Greek word dokimos meaning properly acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved: - approved, tried. You see, just like silver and gold must be tried or tested by 🔥fire to see if it is real/genuine and not phony or fake, so does the professing child of God's faith need to be tried and tested by 🔥 fire because not all visible Christians or Churches actually are real/genuine, remember the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He said, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out demons? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) (KJV). Those of us who are real/genuine will receive a 'crown of life' from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself which is not to be given to us for our accomplishments, but an incorruptible eternal crown for enduring our sojourn and pilgrimage home to our Lord Jesus in Heaven, as the Apostle Paul wrote of it with these words, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) (KJV).  

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 1:12, "The Apostle seems here to use the word 'temptation' in the most general sense, as denoting anything that will try the reality of religion, whether affliction, or persecution, or a direct inducement to sin placed before the mind. The word temptation appears in this chapter to be used in two senses; and the question may arise, why the Apostle so employs it. But, in fact, the word 'temptation' is in itself of so general a character as to cover the whole usage, and to justify the manner in which it is employed. It denotes anything that will try or test the reality of our religion; and it may be applied, therefore, either to afflictions or to direct solicitations to sin - the latter being the sense in which it is now commonly employed. In another respect, also, essentially the same idea enters into both the ways in which the word is employed. Affliction, persecution, sickness, etc., may be regarded as, in a certain sense, temptations to sin; that is, the question comes before us whether we will adhere to the religion on account of which we are persecuted, or apostatize from it, and escape these sufferings; whether in sickness and losses we will be patient and submissive to that God who lays his hand upon us, or revolt and murmur. In each and every case, whether by affliction, or by direct allurements to do wrong, the question comes before the mind whether we have religion enough to keep us, or whether we will yield to murmuring, to rebellion, and to sin. In these respects, in a general sense, all forms of trial may be regarded as temptation. Yet in the following verse James 1:13 the Apostle would guard this from abuse. So far as the form of trial involved an allurement or inducement to sin, he says that no man should regard it as from God. That cannot be His design. The trial is what he aims at, not the sin. In the verse before us he says, that whatever may be the form of the trial, a Christian should rejoice in it, for it will furnish an evidence that he is a child of God. In any way - if he bears the trial. It is possible that James had that passage in his eye. The sacred writers often speak of such a crown as promised, or as in reserve for the children of God. A common expression to denote those who are truly pious, or who are his friends. It is sufficiently distinctive to characterize them, for the great mass of men do not love God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 6

 Receiving Wisdom from God Part 3

James 1:9-11 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. KJV

We now find the Apostle James directing his words of wisdom to the brothers in Christ who are poor or rich in this 🗺 world of woe with these following words, "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways." (James 1:9-11) (KJV). It is not within our realm of understanding to know why our Lord Jesus Christ gives or grants or gathers earthly material wealth to some of His sons and daughters, yet He allows some of them to go without many or much earthly things, however, we do know that whatever has been given to any individual or group of followers of our Lord Jesus Christ does mean that proper stewardship over such things is the only reason they were ever received in the first place. Of course our Father in Heaven blesses the 👐 hands of the man or woman of God who is diligent and honest in their obtaining 🌎 earthly wealth, however, ill gotten gain will never go unpushied by our Lord Jesus Christ, even if the punishment is visited upon 👪 family in future generations. The Apostle James is here declaring to the brother or sister in Christ who are poor to rejoice in the fact that though many are of low degree and few material things during the sojourn here and now, they should shake off double mindedness with meditating on the solid sure salvation that has been given by our Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our exaltation as a child of God and an heir of Jesus Christ with all that He is and all that He has, as it is written, "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." (1 Corinthians 10:26) (KJV). In one part of Hannah's prayer to the Lord God/Elohim as she was praying for the Lord to open up her womb and bless her with a child, she said, "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail." (1 Samuel 2:6-9) (KJV). The life span and the death time of those who belong to Jesus Christ our Lord is already written by Him, so is the accumulation, acquiring, or appropriation of riches during our brief and very fleeting ⌚ time on the 🌎 earth are also written by Him and advanced to any of us to use (not to build ourselves little 👑 kingdoms here), but to advance the 👑 Kingdom of God on the 🌎 earth in preparation for eternity with Him in Heaven, as it is written, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 9-11, "The holy humble temper of a Christian, both in advancement and debasement, is described: and both poor and rich are directed on what grounds to build their joy and comfort, James 1:9-11. Here we may observe, 1. Those of low degree are to be looked upon as brethren: Let the brother of low degree, etc. Poverty does not destroy the relation among Christians. 2. Good Christians may be rich in the world, James 1:10. Grace and wealth are not wholly inconsistent. Abraham, the father of the faithful, was rich in silver and gold. 3. Both these are allowed to rejoice. No condition of life puts us out of a capacity of rejoicing in God. If we do not rejoice in Him always, it is our own fault. Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God (as Dr. Whitby explains this place); and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, as they produce a lowly and humble disposition of mind, which is highly valuable in the sight of God. Where any are made poor for righteousness' sake, their very poverty is their exaltation. It is an honour to be dishonoured for the sake of Christ. To you it is given to suffer, Philippians 1:29. All who are brought low, and made lowly by grace, may rejoice in the prospect of their exaltation at the last in heaven. 4. Observe what reason rich people have, notwithstanding their riches, to be humble and low in their own eyes, because both they and their riches are passing away: As the flower of the grass he shall pass away. He, and his wealth with him, James 1:11. For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat than it withereth the grass. Note hence, Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Riches are too uncertain (says Mr. Baxter on this place), too inconsiderable things to make any great or just alteration in our minds. As a flower fades before the heat of the scorching sun, so shall the rich man fade away in his ways. His projects, counsels, and managements for this world, are called his ways; in these he shall fade away. For this reason let him that is rich rejoice, not so much in the providence of God, that makes him rich, as in the grace of God, that makes and keeps him humble; and in those trials and exercises that teach him to seek his felicity in and from God, and not from these perishing enjoyments."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 5

Receiving Wisdom from God Part 2

James 1:7-8 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. KJV

The Apostle James continues on to now declare an emphatic rebuke of the brother in Christ who allows himself to be tossed back and forth like the sea is with the wind (verse 6) bordering on an insensitive, indurate, and insulting tone given to each and everyone of us in order to make the point clear that there can be no uncertainty in our purpose and actions before our Father in Heaven vacillating between two opinions, just as the Prophet Elijah declared to the children of Israel with these words, "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." (1 Kings 18:21) (KJV). In other words, we must not be wondering, wandering, and wavering with our belief as to who is God, for Christ is Lord and God, therefore, the Apostle James wants us to by faith ask Him for the wisdom to respond and react during our trials, test, and temptations that He alone would be glorified, so he writes to us these next words, "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:7-8) (KJV). The little English phrase 'a double minded' that begins verse 8 is translated by the Greek word dipsuchos (used only one other time in the New Testament) which means two spirited, that is, vacillating (in opinion or purpose): - double minded. The devil wants us to doubt our Father in Heaven and be confused 😕 by his tricks so that we will halt between two opinions, for we see it alive and well all over the world in visible Christianity today because there is not merely two opinions that he (the devil 👿) has thrown into the mix, but a buffet of opinions about God and His Word that the enemy wants us to line up and pick and choose what we believe to be the truth and ignore the real truth as it is clearly detailed to us and for us in Scripture concerning all matters under the Sun ☀. It is up to each one of us to not be silent (like the children of Israel were) when Elijah questioned them as to who is God. Jesus Christ is Lord and God and when we know and understand this without vacillating, then we can ask our Lord Jesus Christ in faith and receive Divine Wisdom from Him that will lead us into accomplishing His will on the 🌎 earth and not our will. Let us also with a rock solid 💪 strong belief know that our Father in Heaven will never come to us, correspond with us, or communicate to us in any manner to do or to be or to live outside of what He has once and for all communicated in His Holy Word the Bible, therefore, we shall never receive direction from God to go against the teachings in the Word of God, Amen!

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of a wavering double minded man of God, "To be sometimes lifted up by faith, and then thrown down again by distrust - to mount sometimes towards the heavens, with an intention to secure glory, and honour, and immortality, and then to sink again in seeking the ease of the body, or the enjoyments of this world - this is very fitly and elegantly compared to a wave of the sea, that rises and falls, swells and sinks, just as the wind tosses it higher or lower, that way or this. A mind that has but one single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in its devotions, and will be superior to all trials and oppositions. Now, for the cure of a wavering spirit and a weak faith, the apostle shows the ill effects of these, (1.) In that the success of prayer is spoiled hereby: Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord, James 1:7. Such a distrustful, shifting, unsettled person is not likely to value a favour from God as he should do, and therefore cannot expect to receive it. In asking for divine and heavenly wisdom we are never likely to prevail if we have not a heart to prize it above rubies, and the greatest things in this world. (2.) A wavering faith and spirit has a bad influence upon our conversations. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, James 1:8. When our faith and spirits rise and fall with second causes, there will be great unsteadiness in all our conversation and actions. This may sometimes expose men to contempt in the world; but it is certain that such ways cannot please God nor procure any good for us in the end. While we have but one God to trust to, we have but one God to be governed by, and this should keep us even and steady. He that is unstable as water shall not excel."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…