James Expounds on Faith Volume 53

 Patience in Suffering Part 2

James 5:9-10 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Next, the Apostle James warns us of groaning or griping or grieving against our own brothers and sisters who are truly 'in Christ' as we are because it is our Lord Jesus who truly knows the inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 of everyone of us and He will render judgement rightously without hypocrisy or favoritism, but righteously. Here is what James said to them back then and says to us today and all true believers of every era and generation of all time ⌚, "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (James 5:9) (KJV). The English word 'Grudge' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word stenazō meaning to make in straits, that is, (by implication) to sigh, murmur, with grief, groan, grudge, sigh. Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say of 'Grudge not' and it sums up what our actual attitude toward one another should be or ought to be truly, "The Greek is literally, 'groan': a half-suppressed murmur of impatience and harsh judgment, not uttered aloud or freely. Having exhorted them to patience in bearing wrongs from the wicked, he now exhorts them to a forbearing spirit as to the offenses given by brethren. Christians, who bear the former patiently, sometimes are impatient at the latter, though much less grievous." Moses documented for us with these words the desire of our Lord God for His people with one another, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:17-18)(NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian believers (as well as to each one of we believers today and of every era and generation), "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5) (NKJV). In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ knows what the true motivation of every thing done by any believer is and if it was not done out of real love and caring and for His Glory, then He alone knows and will reveal the truth openly for all to see. Example, some brother or sister may be apparently helping an older or elderly brother or sister with many things and it appears that he or she is doing it out of pure love and caring for that elderly person, yet their true motivation was to push or prod or persuade that elderly brother or sister to give them something as a reward for their helping actions. Our Lord Jesus Christ sees not only all of our actions, but also our intent that leads to our actions whether the actions are outwardly considered good or bad. Remember when our Lord Jesus said this, "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." (Mark 4:22) (NKJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of our Lord Jesus Christ standing at the door 🚪, "His eye is upon every thing that is wrong in you, and every wrong that is done to you; and He is now entering into judgment with your oppressors."

The Apostle James reminds us of the bitter persecution endured by some of the Prophets of old like Jerimiah (who was thrown down into the bottom of a well and left there to die by his own Jewish brethren) or Isiah (who was mocked and ridiculed and hated by his own Jewish people and eventually tied between two (2) 🎄 🎄 trees and sawed in half), here is what James says to them and to us, "Take, my brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." (James 5:10) (KJV). The little English phrase 'for an example' is translated by the Greek word hupodeigma meaning an exhibit for imitation or (figuratively specimen, foreshadowing): pattern. The little English phrase 'of suffering affliction' is translated by the Greek word kakopatheia (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning hardship; a state of misfortune or affliction; something that causes or entails suffering. The little English phrase 'of patience' is translated by the Greek word makrothumia meaning (as used here) forbearance; delay in enforcing rights, claims or privileges; refraining from acting. The Old Testament Prophets were given the Words of God to speak to the people and they had the Spirit of God upon them which emboldened, energized, and empowered them to speak only what God declared to them without faint or freezing or fear and this cost many of them their physical lives, however, we know that they are all with Elohim/Adonai right now in heaven and so will each one of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God living in us and empowering us (when we do not grieve Him) to desire, determine, and direct our lives to speaking the truth of the Word of God without stutter, stammer, or stopping, for as it is written, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) (NKJV). Let us not only live for our Lord Jesus Christ, but be willing to die for His Glory, as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words, "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:19-21) (NKJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 5:10, "The Prophets who had spoken to their forefathers by the Authority of God, were persecuted by the very people to whom they delivered the Divine message; but they suffered affliction and persecution with patience, commending their cause to Him who judgeth righteously; therefore, imitate their example." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 5:10, "That is, in your trials and persecutions. To encourage them to the exercise of patience, he points them to the example of those who had trod the same thorny path before them. The Prophets were in general a much persecuted race of men; and the argument on which the Apostle relies from their example is this: (1) That if the Prophets were persecuted and tried, it may be expected that other good men will be; (2) That they showed such patience in their trials as to be a model for us. That is, they showed us how evils are to be borne."

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 52

 Patience in Suffering Part 1

James 5:7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James now begins to exhort, excite, and encourage those Jewish believers (as well as we believers today and all believers from every era and generation) in our Lord Jesus Christ scattered into many different places from their homeland of Jerusalem by virtue of intense persecution (James 1:1) to be patient, that is, to be long patient or to suffer with long patience. The Apostle begins by giving them a Word Picture 🖼 as an example of what patient endurance will yield for them and for us when our Great God and King 👑 Jesus Christ shall appear, as it is written with these words, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." (James 5:7) (KJV). Patience is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as it is written, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering/patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) (NKJV). This heavenly/divine patience cannot be worked up by any of us by our flesh, but it is only truly manifested in us when we are yielding to God the Holy Spirit in obedience and faithfulness. Just like every good farmer knows that when he plants his or her 🌱 seeds, that there is no quick or instant harvest that can be expected, but a long germination, that is, the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow. Likewise, those early Jewish believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (and we believers to day and of every era and generation) must exercise long patience as we travel the highway to our heavenly home wrought with many obstacles, objection, and obstinacy from the people of this world still blinded by the lies of the devil 😈, as it is written, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) (NKJV) and also these words, "But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (the devil 😈) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) (NKJV), for because of them still being blinded by the devil 👿 they will do us violence and kill many of us by drugging our food and water and kill us with guns and knives and con us and swindle us and mock us and vandalize the things we are steward over and lie to us and try to manipulate us and on and on because of their blind hatred for our Lord Jesus Christ whom we belong to by repentance and faith. Here is what Vincent's Word Study had to say of James 5:7, "It is a patient holding out under trial; a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially the passion of anger. In the New Testament the word and its cognates are sometimes rendered by patient or patience, which conceals the distinction from ὑπομονή, uniformly rendered patience, and signifying persistent endurance, whether in action or suffering. As Trench observes, 'ὑπομονή is perseverantia and patientia both in one.' Thus Bishop Ellicott: 'The brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world.' Ὑπομονή. contains an element of manliness."

Next, the Apostle James gives those Jewish believers back then a word of knowledge, as it is written with these words, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:8) (KJV) that was most definitely given to him by God the Holy Spirit, as it is written, "For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit," (1 Corinthians 12:8) (NKJV) and that word of knowledge was that God was coming soon to destroy Jerusalem and so did it happen around 70 A.D. by Titus the Emperor of Rome; son of Vespasian (39-81). As it pertains to all of us true believers today and of every era and generation our Lord Jesus will come at each of our deaths and He will come at the Rapture of all true believers prior to the great tribulation, so in any case we must 'stablish' our inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 and this English word is translated by the Greek word stērizō meaning to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, establish, stedfastly set, strengthen. In other words, we must see our earthly pilgrimage and sojourn as us travelling in a land (the earth 🌎) that has land mines all around us and yet we must be fixed and stedfast and resolute and 💪 strengthened by the power of God to continue to travel no matter the many landmines of potentially being murdered, for our death is only a ushering of us into the awaiting and loving arms of our Great Savior Jesus Christ, as it is written, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14) (NKJV) and we should remember who our Brother Stephen saw as he was being murdered by the very same type of people alive today who want to do the same thing to everyone of us who belong to the same Lord Jesus as Brother Stephen, "When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep/died." (Acts 7:54-60)(NKJV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 5:8, "Be you also patient. Establish your hearts - let your faith be firm, without wavering, your practice of what is good constant and continued, without tiring, and your resolutions for God and heaven fixed, in spite of all sufferings or temptations. The prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous have in all ages been a very great trial to the faith of the people of God. David tells us that his feet were almost gone, when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, Psalms 73:2-3. Some of those Christians to whom St. James wrote might probably be in the same tottering condition; and therefore they are called upon to establish their hearts; faith and patience will establish the heart." Here also is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 5:8, "As well as the husbandman, and like him; and wait for the rains and dews of divine grace to fall, and make fruitful, and for the ripe fruit of eternal life; and in the mean while cheerfully and patiently bear all injuries, and oppressions: stablish your hearts; though the state of the saints is stable, they being fixed in the everlasting love of God, in the covenant of grace, in the hands of Christ, and on the rock of ages; yet their hearts are very unstable, and so are their frames, and the exercise of grace in them, and need establishing, which God's work; which is often done by the means of the word and ordinances; and these the saints should make use of, for the establishing of their hearts: the sense may be, take heart, be of good cheer, do not be dismayed, or faint, or sink under your pressures, but be of good courage, pluck up your spirits, lift up your heads: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; when he will render tribulation to them that trouble them, free them from all their sorrows and afflictions, and enter them into the joy of their Lord; which will be either at death, which was not very far off, or at the last day, which was drawing nearer and nearer, and which with God was near; with whom a thousand years are as one day."

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 51

Warning to the Rich Part 4

James 5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James now concludes his discourse of the unsaved rich men 🚹 and women 🚺 who have used others for their gain of filthy lucre with the most reaching and revealing and riotous of all the evil 😈 perpetrated against humanity and that would be the taking of other human life that was given by God (putting themselves in the place of God), as it is written here, "Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you." (James 5:6) (KJV). When the Apostle James here writes of the 'just', this English word is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning (as used here) to be innocent or righteous as made so by the cleansing power of the Blood the Lamb our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The other Apostle James was murdered by King Herod, as it is written here, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the Church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2) (NKJV). Herod murdered one of the 'Sons of Thunder' as our Lord Jesus Christ referred to the two (2) brothers James and John (Matthew 3:17). The rich like Herod controlled everything in those days, so it was natural that they (egged on, energized, and empowered by satan) would remove from the world 🗺 those whose lives were contrary to theirs by killing them. Let us remember Brother Stephen who was brutally stoned to death because he was bold enough to tell the unsaved Jews the truth, as it is written, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:51-60) (NKJV). Note: "When we the adopted sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ seek to walk or live closely to Him in obedience, we can expect the people of this world 🗺 to despise us and want us removed from their presence, i.e. kill us, however we must constantly remind ourselves of these words the Apostle Paul in his second (2) letter wrote to Brother Timothy, 'But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' (2 Timothy 3:10-15) (NKJV)."

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 5:6, "Several by τον δικαιον, the just one, understand Jesus Christ, who is so called, Acts 3:14; Acts 7:52; Acts 22:14; but the structure of the sentence, and the connection in which it stands, seem to require that we should consider this as applying to the just or righteous in general, who were persecuted and murdered by those oppressive rich men; and their death was the consequence of their dragging them before the judgment seats, James 2:6, where, having no influence, and none to plead their cause, they were unjustly condemned and executed. These poor righteous people had none to plead their cause; and if they had it would have been useless, as their oppressors had all power and all influence, and those who sat on these judgment seats were lost to all sense of justice and right. Some think that he doth not resist you should be referred to God; as if He had said, God permits you to go on in this way at present, but He will shortly awake to judgment, and destroy you as enemies of truth and righteousness." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 5:6, "This may either refer to the condemnation and crucifixion of Christ - meaning that their conduct towards His people had been similar to the treatment of the Saviour, and was in fact a condemnation and crucifixion of Him afresh; or, that by their rejection of Him in order to live in sin, they in fact condemned Him and His religion; or, that they had condemned and killed the just man - meaning that they had persecuted those who were Christians; or, that by their harsh treatment of others in withholding what was due to them, they had deprived them of the means of subsistence, and had, as it were, killed the righteous. Probably the true meaning is, that it was one of their characteristics that they had been guilty of wrong towards good men. Whether it refers, however, to any particular act of violence, or to such a course as would wear out their lives by a system of oppression, injustice, and fraud, cannot now be determined. Some have supposed that this refers to God, meaning that He did not oppose them; that is, that He bore with them patiently while they did it. Others suppose that it should be read a question - 'and doth He not resist you?' meaning that God would oppose them, and punish them for their acts of oppression and wrong. But probably the true reference is to the 'just man' whom they condemned and killed; meaning that they were so powerful that all attempts to resist them would be vain, and that the injured and oppressed could do nothing but submit patiently to their acts of injustice and violence. The sense may be either that they could not oppose them - the rich men being so powerful, and they who were oppressed so feeble; or that they bore their wrongs with meekness, and did not attempt it."

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 50

 Warning to the Rich Part 3

James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. KJV

The Apostle James continues his discourse of the unsaved rich men 🚹 and women 🚺 who have used others for their gain of filthy lucre with these sobering words, "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." (James 5:5) (KJV). Note: "The writer's of the New Testament wrote often to warn God's people to be not like those of the world 🗺 who did such things as exploit other human beings made in the image of God to enrich themselves, for example here is what the Apostle Peter wrote to those men who would become Pastors or Shepards of God's flock, 'The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.' (1 Peter 5:1-4) (KJV)." The little English phrase in James 5:5 'Ye have lived in pleasure' is translated by the Greek word truphaō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to indulge in luxury: - live in pleasure. The little English phrase 'been wanton' is translated by the Greek word spatalaō (used only one other time in the entire New Testament) meaning to be voluptuous, that is, displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses: - live in pleasure, be wanton. The little English phrase 'ye have nourished' is translated by the Greek word trephō meaning (as used here) to cherish; be fond of; be attached to; hold dear; treasure. The little English word 'hearts' is translated by the Greek word kardia meaning (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind). The little English phrase 'of slaughter' is translated by the Greek word sphagē (used only a couple of other times in the entire New Testament) meaning (as used here) not the butchery of animals for food, but instead [figuratively] of men's destruction or slaughter for others personal enrichment. In other words, these people the Apostle James speaks to and speaks of are not at all interested in other people being able to provide for themselves and their families, for they are only concerned with using anyone to enhance the gratification of their greedy senses to indulge themselves here in the facade, false, and fake heaven they construct and build for themselves here on the earth 🌎 by using people as slaves to manufacture their goods or services by cheap labor so that their wealth will grow and grow and grow. Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Timothy on this matter, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10) (KJV). This also speaks to the phony, pretending, pirates who are the purveyors of the false gospel of prosperity to unsuspecting souls (many of whom are seeking to worship the One True God Jesus Christ). They are the ones who are being prospered by swindling or running a con game for the receiving of filthy lucre/money 💵 to themselves, who by the way are the only ones living the prosperity gospel because they have conned many souls into sending them money 💵 expecting God to multiply ✖ it many times over. These men 🚹 and women 🚺 the Apostle James speaks of and speaks to have their conscience's seared as with a hot iron, as the Apostle Paul declares to Brother Timothy with these words, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2) (KJV). The reason for their departure then we see is their listening 👂 to demons instead of God the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. The devil 😈 has but one plan only and that is to get people to disbelieve the Word of God, for that is what he did at the very beginning with Eve (Genesis 3:1-7) and this is what he continues to do from then until now.

Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of James 5:5, "The second feature in the iniquity of the rich is the voluptuous and prodigal life which they lead themselves, at the very time that they inflict such hardships upon the poor. 'Ye lived delicately on the earth, and took your pleasure; ye nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.' The aorists should perhaps be translated as aorists throughout these verses: 'Ye laid up your treasure…ye lived delicately,' etc. rather than, 'Ye have laid up, ye have lived,' etc. The point of view is that of the Day of Judgment, when these wealthy sinners are confronted by the enormities which they committed during their lives. But it is a case in which it is quite permissible to render the Greek aorist by the English perfect. 'On the earth' may either mean 'during your lifetime,' or may be in contrast to 'entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.' All the while that the cry against their iniquity was ascending to heaven, as an accumulating charge that would at last overwhelm them, they were living in luxury on earth, thinking nothing of the wrath to come. It was the converse of the old Epicurean doctrine, so graphically described by the late Laureate in 'The Lotus-eaters.' There it is the gods who 'lie beside their nectar' in ceaseless enjoyment, 'careless of mankind,' who send up useless lamentations, which provoke no more than a smile among the neglectful deities. Here it is the men who revel in boundless luxury, careless of the Righteous God, whose vengeance they provoke by persistent neglect of His commands." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 5:5, "Another sin here mentioned is sensuality and voluptuousness. You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, James 5:5. God does not forbid us to use pleasure; but to live in them as if we lived for nothing else is a very provoking sin; and to do this on the earth, where we are but strangers and pilgrims, where we are but to continue for a while, and where we ought to be preparing for eternity - this, this is a grievous aggravation of the sin of voluptuousness. Luxury makes people wanton, as in Hosea 13:6, According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Wantonness and luxury are commonly the effects of great plenty and abundance; it is hard for people to have great plenty and abundance; it is hard for people to have great estates, and not too much indulge themselves in carnal, sensual pleasures: 'You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter: you live as if it were every day a day of sacrifices, a festival; and hereby your hearts are fattened and nourished to stupidity, dulness, pride, and an insensibility to the wants and afflictions of others.' Some may say, 'What harm is there in good cheer, provided people do not spend above what they have?' What! Is it no harm for people to make gods of their bellies, and to give all to these, instead of abounding in acts of charity and piety? Is it no harm for people to unfit themselves for minding the concerns of their souls, by indulging the appetites of their bodies? Surely that which brought flames upon Sodom, and would bring these miseries for which rich men are here called to weep and howl, must be a heinous evil! Pride, and idleness, and fullness of bread, mean the same thing with living in pleasure, and being wanton, and nourishing the heart as in a day of slaughter."

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…