James Expounds on Faith Volume 41

 The Warning Against Worldliness Part 3

James 4:5-6 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

In Volume 40 we learned from the Apostle James that our Father in Heaven will actively work against any of us His adopted sons and daughters who pull away from His loving arms and open up our affections to this easy, empty, and evil world system run by the devil, for when we do such a thing we become enemies of our own Heavenly Father. The Apostle James now continues with his ⚠ warnings to us by not only reminding us who we belong to and whom are affections most surely belong to, but that our Helper (John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26) and Comforter is Himself  jealous for all of our affections to be upon Him, therefore, we now read these words from the Apostle James to us, "Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:5-6) (KJV). Let us examine four (4) key words in this verse 5, first (1) the little phrase 'in vain' which is translated by the Greek word kenōs (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning vainly, that is, to no purpose: - in vain. The second (2) English word 'spirit' or 'Spirit', for it should be capitalized because it refers to God the Holy Spirit and it is translated by the Greek word pneuma (meaning as used here) (divine) God, Christ's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The third (3) English word 'dwelleth' is translated by the Greek word katoikeō meaning to house permanently, that is, reside (literally or figuratively): - dweller, inhabitanter. The fourth (4) English word 'lusteth' is translated by the Greek word epipotheō meaning (to yearn); to dote upon, that is, intensely crave possession: - (earnestly) desire (greatly), (greatly) long (after), lust. Therefore, let us summarize our findings herein, we see that we who have been born again (John 3:3-8) and made new creatures in our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) have received His Holy Spirit within us (Ephesians 1:13) and He (God the Holy Spirit) yearns for, that is, desires strongly and persistently all of our affections and our surrender to His leading and guiding us into all truth. He (God the Holy Spirit) intensely craves complete control over all of our thoughts 💭 so as to lead us into that which is the good and perfect will of God the Father for our lives daily, as it is so wonderfully written by the Apostle Paul to the believers @ Rome with these words, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) (NKJV). God the Holy Spirit lives within us permanently and His desire is not to be grieved by us because when we do we sadden Him and He then withdraws His power from our daily lives because we have yielded not to Him, but instead to another (the world 🗺) and it is not His will, want, or way to force us to yield to Him, but He waits patiently for our repentance (the changing of our minds about our conduct and behavior and the turning back to Him and allowing Him full control within our inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩). The world, our flesh or old nature, and the devil are all three (3) our enemies and not our friends, therefore, when we begin to befriend the world 🗺, we then make ourselves the enemy of the very One who loves us so much that He earnestly and greatly desires all of our affections and longs for us to give complete control to Him always for His Joy 😂 and for our good. Amen!!!

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 4:5-6, "This verse is exceedingly obscure. We cannot tell what Scripture St. James refers to; many have been produced by learned men as that which he had particularly in view. Some think Genesis 6:5 : 'Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' Genesis 8:21 : 'The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.' Num_11:29 : 'Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake?' and Proverbs 21:10 : 'The soul of the wicked desireth evil.' None of these Scriptures, nor any others, contain the precise words in this verse; and therefore St. James may probably refer, not to any particular portion, but to the spirit and design of the Scripture in those various places where it speaks against envying, covetousness, worldly associations, etc., etc. Perhaps the word in this and the two succeeding verses may be well paraphrased thus: 'Do ye think that concerning these things the Scripture speaks falsely, or that the Holy Spirit which dwells in us can excite us to envy others instead of being contented with the state in which the providence of God has placed us? Nay, far otherwise; for He gives us more grace to enable us to bear the ills of life, and to lie in deep humility at His feet, knowing that His Holy Spirit has said, Proverbs 3:34 : God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Seeing these things are so, submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, who would tempt you to envy, and he will flee from you; draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.' I must leave this sense as the best I can give, without asserting that I have hit the true meaning. There is not a critic in Europe who has considered the passage that has not been puzzled with it. I think the 5th verse should be understood as giving a contrary sense to that in our translation. Every genuine Christian is a habitation of the Holy Ghost, and that Spirit excites strong desires against envy; a man must not suppose that he is a Christian if he have an envious or covetous heart. But He giveth more grace - A greater benefit, than all the goods that the world can bestow; for He gives genuine happiness, and this the world cannot confer. May this be St. James’ meaning God resisteth the proud - Sets Himself in battle array against him. Giveth grace unto the humble - The sure way to please God is to submit to the dispensation of His grace and providence; and when a man acknowledges Him in all his ways, He will direct all his steps. The covetous man grasps at the shadow, and loses the substance."

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 40

 The Warning Against Worldliness Part 2

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Remember in our very first study/commentary (Volume 39) on the warning ⚠ of the Apostle James with worldliness in the Church ⛪ of Christ or the Body of Christ, we defined worldliness as equalling the concern with worldly affairs to the neglect of spiritual needs. Therefore, we now have the Apostle James comparing the worldly believer to that of an unfaithful wife to her husband or an unfaithful husband to his wife, as it is written with these words, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4) (KJV). The Church ⛪ of the Lord Jesus Christ is His Bride, therefore, He is in the process of purifying her to be ready for Him when He returns to take her up 👆 into heaven to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Again as I did so in Volume 39, so shall I remind myself and every 📖 reader that the Apostle James is writing to believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, these are words of warning ⚠ that they and we believers today and of every era and generation should not ignore and be ignorant of the reality that we belong to Christ as His redeemed bride and that He is God who knows all that we do and sees all that we do and even knows our thoughts afar off, that is, the thoughts we have not even yet 🤔 thinked, remember the words of the Psalmist King David when he wrote this, "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your Hand shall lead me, And Your Right Hand shall hold me." (Psalms 139:1-10) (NKJV). The English word 'friendship' in James 4:4 is translated by the Greek word philia (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) and it means simply fondness or having affections for something or someone; to like or even love something or someone. The English word 'enmity' used in James 4:4 is translated by the Greek word echthra which means hostility; by implication a reason for opposition: - enmity, hatred. Henceforth, when we are fond of the world 🗺 to such an extent that we neglect our intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ and focus much, most, or many of our time ⌚ and attention on the shiny trinkets that are fading away instead of the eternal love 😍 and care and spiritual blessings we have in Him, then we make our Father in Heaven agitated, annoyed, and even angry 😡, for we put ourselves in the position of being His adversary or enemy and from that position (if we refuse to repent and turn around or turn back to Him) we can only expect to receive His judgement, as the 📝 writer of Hebrews so demonstrably declared with these words, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31) (NKJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 4:4, "Not who were literally such, but in a figurative and metaphorical sense: as he is an adulterer that removes his affections from his own wife, and sets them upon another woman; and she is an adulteress that loves not her husband, but places her love upon another man; so such men and women are adulterers and adulteresses, who, instead of loving God, whom they ought to love with all their hearts and souls, set their affections upon the world, and the things of it: these the Apostle addresses in the following manner; know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? that an immoderate love for the good things of the world, and a prevailing desire after the evil things of it, and a delight in the company and conversation of the men of the world, and a conformity to, and compliance with, the sinful manners and customs of the world, are so many declarations of war with God, and acts of hostility upon Him; and show the enmity of the mind against Him, and must be highly displeasing to Him, and resented by Him: whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God; whoever is in league with the one must be an enemy to the other; God and mammon cannot be loved and served by the same persons, at the same time; the one will be loved, and the other hated; the one will be attended to, and the other neglected: this may be known both from reason and from Scripture, particularly from Matthew 6:24." Here also is what John Wesley said of James 4:4, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses - Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Know ye not that the friendship or love of the world - The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, or courting the favour of worldly men, is enmity against God? Whosoever desireth to be a friend of the world - Whosoever seeks either the happiness or favour of it, does thereby constitute himself an enemy of God; and can he expect to obtain anything of Him?"

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 39

 The Warning Against Worldliness Part 1

James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Despite the reality of our being born again of incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23) and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13) there remains within our inner man 👨 our old 🧓 nature which we have the responsibility to put off , that is, to hold back and avoid fulfilling the desires of our old man 👨 because of what Christ has done for us on the Cross as the Apostle Paul declared to us with these words in his letter ✉ to the Roman believers, "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) (NKJV) and also these words, "Likewise you also, reckon (consider, calculate, and count) yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:11) (NKJV), however, when we do not believe ourselves to indeed be dead to sin then we can and will allow or relinquish control of our inner man or woman away from the Holy Spirits control back to our old man 👨 still within us. Only when we walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16), that is, our new man 👨 who has been created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24) can we be pleasing to our Father in Heaven and do His will while we sojourn here on the earth 🌎, for we have the responsibility to yield to God the Holy Spirit because He will never force us to do so. Having said all of this, the Apostle James was well aware of the internal war in our inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩, so he wrote these words to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad (scattered Jewish converts to Christ) and to we believers today and of every era and generation, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:1-3) (KJV). Let us remember that James is writing these words to believers, therefore, what I detailed above is and has been and will always be vital to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man/woman, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13), that is, where there is not yielding constantly to the Holy Spirit in any individual believer or group of believers, then various wars, fightings and conflicts will occur and divide, dissolve, and decimate unity and maturity in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle James is in attack mode with his language here because he wants his point to be clear and without misunderstanding. Worldliness equals the concern with worldly affairs to the neglect of spiritual needs. We must still live in the world 🗺 because we are not yet in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ, however, we must never allow ourselves to love this world and the things in it (above our love for Christ Jesus our Lord and what His will for us is), for when we lust for the temporary things that are passing away we forfeit the spiritual blessings that are ours right now even in our pilgrimage down here (Ephesians 1:3), remember what the Apostle John said, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17) (NKJV). The build up of envy and jealousy within a body of believers or the desire to have the position or status of another believer in the body causes these wars to be fought and it fosters hatred for one another that is murder in the heart. The lust for things and for authority and power will drive away unity of the faith and replace it with strife leading to confusion which will kill any desire for, duty for, and declartion for evangelism, which is the number one thing our Lord Jesus Christ commanded the early Apostles to do (Matthew 28:18-20). Even the prayers of the envious and jealous soul are not granted because our Lord Jesus knows that they are from a wrong motive not to use for His Glory, but to satisfy the fleshy and worldy lust of the petitioner. Actual words prayed by such a believer to God, "Lord bless me with the success of this conference or gathering by filling the offering plates to overflowing that we may do more for You Lord. Amen". Here is what the real prayer should sound like from such believers as James speaks of, "God bless me with more money so I can get more temporary stuff to make myself feel big and important and build my earthly kingdom larger and larger for my glory. Amen".

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 4:1-3, "The Jews were a very seditious people, and had therefore frequent wars with the Romans; and they were a very quarrelsome divided people, often fighting among themselves; and many of those corrupt Christians against whose errors and vices this epistle was written seem to have fallen in with the common quarrels. Hereupon, our apostle informs them that the origin of their wars and fightings was not (as they pretended) a true zeal for their country, and for the honour of God, but that their prevailing lusts were the cause of all. Observe hence, What is sheltered and shrouded under a specious pretence of zeal for God and religion often comes from men's pride, malice, covetousness, ambition, and revenge. The Jews had many struggles with the Roman power before they ere entirely destroyed. They often unnecessarily embroiled themselves, and then fell into parties and factions about the different methods of managing their wars with their common enemies; and hence it came to pass that, when their cause might be supposed good, yet their engaging in it and their management of it came from a bad principle. Their worldly and fleshly lusts raised and managed their wars and fightings; but one would think here is enough said to subdue those lusts; for, 1. They make a war within as well as fightings without. Impetuous passions and desires first war in their members, and then raise feuds in their nation. There is war between conscience and corruption, and there is war also between one corruption and another, and from these contentions in themselves arose their quarrels with each other. Apply this to private cases, and may we not then say of fightings and strifes among relations and neighbours they come from those lusts which war in the members? From lust of power and dominion, lust of pleasure, or lust of riches, from some one or more of these lusts arise all the broils and contentions that are in the world; and, since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is therefore the right method for the cure of contention to lay the axe to the root, and mortify those lusts that war in the members. It should kill these lusts to think of their disappointment: 'You lust, and have not; you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain, James 4:2. You covet great things for yourselves, and you think to obtain them by your victories over the Romans or by suppressing this and the other party among yourselves. You think you shall secure great pleasures and happiness to yourselves, by overthrowing every thing which thwarts your eager wishes; but, alas! you are losing your labour and your blood, while you kill one another with such views as these.' Inordinate desires are either totally disappointed, or they are not to be appeased and satisfied by obtaining the things desired. The words here rendered cannot obtain signify cannot gain the happiness sought after. Note hence, Worldly and fleshly lusts are the distemper which will not allow of contentment or satisfaction in the mind. 3. Sinful desires and affections generally exclude prayer, and the working of our desires towards God: 'You fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. You fight, and do not succeed, because you do not pray you do not consult God in your undertakings, whether he will allow of them or not; and you do not commit your way to him, and make known your requests to him, but follow your own corrupt views and inclinations: therefore you meet with continual disappointments;' or else. 4. 'Your lusts spoil your prayers, and make them an abomination to God, whenever you put them up to Him, v. 3. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.' As if it had been said, 'Though perhaps you may sometimes pray for success against your enemies, yet it is not your aim to improve the advantages you gain, so as to promote true piety and religion either in yourselves or others; but pride, vanity, luxury, and sensuality, are what you would serve by your successes, and by your very prayers. You want to live in great power and plenty, in voluptuousness and a sensual prosperity; and thus you disgrace devotion and dishonour God by such gross and base ends; and therefore your prayers are rejected.' Let us learn hence, in the management of all our worldly affairs, and in our prayers to God for success in them, to see that our ends be right. When men follow their worldly business (suppose them tradesmen or husbandmen), and ask of God prosperity, but do not receive what they ask for, it is because they ask with wrong aims and intentions. They ask God to give them success in their callings or undertakings; not that they may glorify their heavenly Father and do good with what they have, but that they may consume it upon their lusts - that they may be enabled to eat better meat, and drink better drink, and wear better clothes, and so gratify their pride, vanity, and voluptuousness. But, if we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them; whereas, if we seek any thing that we may serve God with it, we may expect he will either give us what we seek or give us hearts to be content without it, and give opportunities of serving and glorifying him some other way. Let us remember this, that when we speed not in our prayers it is because we ask amiss; either we do not ask for right ends or not in a right manner, not with faith or not with fervency: unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and this we may be sure of, that, when our prayers are rather the language of our lusts than of our graces, they will return empty."

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 38

 Heavenly Godly Wisdom vs  Earthly Devilish Wisdom Part 3

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Finally, the Apostle James concludes this contrast of earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom by declaring to us what the true wisdom from above that rains down from the Father of Lights 🚥, remember these words from Chapter 1, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:16-17 (NKJV). As we reflect on and remember these words, we see how the Holy Spirit is bringing this concept around full circle 😶 so as to give us distinguishing marks or methods or manners that reveal whether or not the wisdom that is being displayed or declared or demonstrated comes from our Father of Lights 🚥 or from the enemy of Him and of we His adopted children 🧒, so James declares this to us, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:17-18) (KJV). Let us breakdown brick by brick what the Apostle James has just spoken to us; first the wisdom from above is 'pure' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hagnos which means properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure. In other words, our Father in Heaven will never give us any knowledge of Himself and the wisdom to 🚶 walk in or after His guidance that will lead us into unclean actions or immodest behavior that would disrespect others or cause them harm or hurt, for example He would never tell us to have sex with another one of His adopted son's wife, fiancé, or girlfriend because concerning our relationship to our brothers and sisters in Christ here is what He declares to us as His will for us to 🚶 walk in, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10) (NKJV).

The wisdom from above is 'peaceable' which is translated by the Greek word eirēnikos meaning pacific, that is, promoting peace ✌; by implication salutary, that is, tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health, desires to do know physical hurt or harm to another if at all possible (only if moved by self-defense): - peaceable. The wisdom from above is 'gentle' which is translated by the Greek word epieikēs meaning appropriate, that is, (by implication) mild: - gentle, moderation, patient. The wisdom from above is 'easy to be intreated' which is translated by the Greek word eupeithēs meaning good for persuasion, that is, (intransitively) compliant: - easy to be intreated. The wisdom from above is full of 'mercy' and this English word is translated by the Greek word eleos meaning compassion (human or divine, especially active): - (+ tender) mercy. The wisdom from above is full of good fruits and without partiality and without hypocrisy and this English word 'hypocrisy' is translated by the Greek word anupokritos meaning undissembled, that is, sincere: - without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned. So, we see then that God's wisdom promotes peace ✌ amongst brothers and sister's 'in Christ' and also the rest of humanity and is mild and gentle not the instigator of fights or conflicts or wars and His wisdom persuades humanity at large into peace ✌ and it should be the desire of every adopted son and daughter of His to be compliant to His will of peace ✌ amongst the body of believers, for Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15) (NKJV) and He said this is my commandment, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) (NKJV); this love for one another must be done without pretense and with sincerity and must seek only the good for one another and to do no harm or hurt to another brother or sister 'in Christ' physically or spiritually, for to do that would be to hurt our Lord Jesus Christ personally, remember when our Lord Jesus said this to Saul who is now Paul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4) (NKJV). Therefore, we must desire, demonstrate, and determine to do as the Apostle Paul said with these words, "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." (Romans 14:12-13) (NKJV). Peace is a by product of truth, mercy, and righteousness, as it is 📝 ✍ written with these words from the Psalmist one of my favorite verses of Scripture, "Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed." (Psalms 85:10)(NKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 3:17-18, "We have the lovely picture of that wisdom which is from above more fully drawn, and set in opposition to this which is from beneath: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, etc., James 3:17-18. Observe here, True wisdom is God's gift. It is not gained by conversing with men, nor by the knowledge of the world (as some think and speak), but it comes from above. It consists of these several things: - 1. It is pure, without mixture of maxims or aims that would debase it: and it is free from iniquity and defilements, not allowing of any known sin, but studious of holiness both in heart and life. 2. The wisdom that is from above is peaceable. Peace follows purity, and depends upon it. Those who are truly wise do what they can to preserve peace, that it may not be broken; and to make peace, that where it is lost it may be restored. In kingdoms, in families, in churches, in all societies, and in all interviews and transactions, heavenly wisdom makes men peaceable. 3. It is gentle, not standing upon extreme right in matters of property; not saying nor doing any thing rigorous in points of censure; not being furious about opinions, urging our own beyond their weight nor theirs who oppose us beyond their intention; not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper. Gentleness may thus be opposed to all these. 4. Heavenly wisdom is easy to be entreated, eupeithēs; it is very persuadable, either to what is good or from what is evil. There is an easiness that is weak and faulty; but it is not a blamable easiness to yield ourselves to the persuasions of God's word, and to all just and reasonable counsels or requests of our fellow-creatures; no, nor to give up a dispute, where there appears a good reason for it and where a good end may be answered by it. 5. Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits, inwardly disposed to every thing that is kind and good, both to relieve those who want and to forgive those who offend, and actually to do this whenever proper occasions offer. 6. Heavenly wisdom is without partiality. The original word, adiakritos, signifies to be without suspicion, or free from judging, making no undue surmises nor differences in our conduct towards one person more than another. The margin reads it, without wrangling, not acting the part of sectaries, and disputing merely for the sake of a party; nor censuring others purely on account of their differing from us. The wisest men are least apt to be censurers. 7. That wisdom which is from above is without hypocrisy. It has no disguises nor deceits. It cannot fall in with those managements which the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere and open, steady and uniform, and consistent with itself. O that you and I may always be guided by such wisdom as this! that with Paul we may be able to say, Not with fleshly wisdom, but in simplicity and godly sincerity, by the grace of God, we have our conversation. And then, lastly, true wisdom will go on to sow the fruits of righteousness in peace, and thus, if it may be, to make peace in the world, James 3:18. And that which is sown in peace will produce a harvest of joys. Let others reap the fruits of contentions, and all the advantages they can propose to themselves by them; but let us go on peaceably to sow the seeds of righteousness, and we may depend upon it our labour will not be lost. For light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart; and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."

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 37

 Heavenly Godly Wisdom vs  Earthly Devilish Wisdom Part 2

James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James now declares clearly to us what earthly/devilish wisdom looks like as it is manifested or made visible inside the inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩 of individual believers within a group of people who are followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he writes with these words, "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:14-16) (KJV). The English word 'bitter' is translated by the Greek word pikros meaning (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), that is, acrid (literally or figuratively): - bitter. The English word 'envying' is translated by the Greek word zēlos meaning (as used here) properly heat, that is, (figuratively) 'zeal' in an unfavorable sense, jealousy, as of a husband, or an enemy, malice): - emulation, indignation, jealousy, zeal. The English word 'strife' is translated by the Greek word eritheia meaning properly intrigue, that is, to plot something harmful; scheme in an underhand manner  and (by implication) faction, that is, a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue: - contention and contentious, that is, involving or likely to cause controversy, strife, that which  brings about bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension. So, then we see what the Apostle James is so vehemently warning these Jewish converts to Christ at the early stages of the Church ⛪ of Christ of things that would hinder, harm, and hurt the Church ⛪ internally, but more importantly destroy its effectiveness for winning souls to our Lord Jesus Christ, for this was and still is the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride 👰 the Church ⛪, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23) (NKJV). Concerning bitterness here are two 2⃣ warnings from the Word of God that must be heard and heeded, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;" (Hebrews 12:14-15) (NKJV) and also "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." (Ephesians 4:31) (NKJV).

The Word of God has these ⚠ warnings about envy and strife, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:26) (NKJV) and also "A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones." (Proverbs 14:30) (NKJV) and also "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy." (Romans 13:13) (NKJV) and also "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;" (1 Corinthians 13:4) (NKJV) and also "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." (1 Timothy 6:3-5) (NKJV) and also "I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:2-3) (NKJV) and lastly these words written by the Apostle Peter sums up what the attitude, aim, and actions of the true believer should be out of love for our Lord Jesus Himself and love for our brothers and sisters 'in Christ', "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 2:1-3) (NKJV). The Apostle James calls these things that permeate a Church ⛪ 🌎 earthly/worldly wisdom that is devilish, meaning it is not from above, that is, from our Lord Jesus Christ, but instead it is demonic influence trying to worm its way into the Church ⛪ of Christ to divide it and in so doing render it completely ineffective for spreading the Gospel of Christ/the Gospel of Grace into all the world 🗺, for the way the devil tries to cause problems is by dividing those who are desiring to honor God over what the truth of the Word of God actually is (Genesis 3:1) which is how humanity became seperated from God in the first place and the enemy continues doing the same thing in order to keep non-believers from hearing the true Gospel and Word of God and to render believers from being effective in proclaiming said truth by fostering the English word 'confusion' which the Apostle James uses and this word is translated by the Greek word akatastasia meaning instability, that is, disorder: - commotion, confusion, tumult. The Apostle Paul rebuked the chaos that was festering in the Church ⛪ @ Corinth with these words, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the Churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:33) (NKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 3:14-16, "We have the glorying of those taken away who are of a contrary character to that now mentioned, and their wisdom exposed in all its boasts and productions: “If you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, etc., James 3:14-16. Pretend what you will, and think yourselves ever so wise, yet you have abundance of reason to cease your glorying, if you run down love and peace, and give way to bitter envying and strife. Your zeal for truth or orthodoxy, and your boasts of knowing more than others, if you employ these only to make others hateful, and to show your own spite and heart-burnings against them, are a shame to your profession of Christianity, and a downright contradiction to it. Lie not thus against the truth.” Observe, 1. Envying and strife are opposed to the meekness of wisdom. The heart is the seat of both; but envy and wisdom cannot dwell together in the same heart. Holy zeal and bitter envying are as different as the flames of seraphim and the fire of hell. 2. The order of things here laid down. Envying is first and excites strife; strife endeavours to excuse itself by vain-glorying and lying; and then (James 3:16) hereupon ensue confusion and every evil work. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion, and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such disorders raise many temptations, strengthen temptations, and involve men in a great deal of guilt. One sin begets another, and it cannot be imagined how much mischief is produced: there is every evil work. And is such wisdom as produces these effects to be gloried in? This cannot be without giving the lie to Christianity, and pretending that this wisdom is what it is not. For observe, 3. Whence such wisdom cometh: It descendeth not from above, but ariseth from beneath; and, to speak plainly, it is earthly, sensual, devilish, James 3:15. It springs from earthly principles, acts upon earthly motives, and is intent upon serving earthly purposes. It is sensual indulging the flesh, and making provision to fulfil the lusts and desires of it. Or, according to the original word, psuchikē, it is animal of human - the mere working of natural reason, without any supernatural light. And it is devilish, such wisdom being the wisdom of devils (to create uneasiness and to do hurt), and being inspired by devils, whose condemnation is pride (1Timothy 3:6), and who are noted in other places of scripture for their wrath, and their accusing the brethren. And therefore those who are lifted up with such wisdom as this must fall into the condemnation of the devil."

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 36

 Heavenly Godly Wisdom vs  Earthly Devilish Wisdom Part 1

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. KJV

The Apostle James now turns from his discourse about the speech/tongue of the man who would declare the truth of the Gospel and of the entire Word of God (James 3:1) to where that man receives his wisdom from above or below. James begins with these words, "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." (James 3:13) (KJV). In the question asked at the beginning of this verse, the Apostle James uses the little English phrase first 'is a wise man' which is translated by the Greek word sophos meaning clear and wise in a most general application, that is, discerning and exercising good judgement in practical matters. Next the Apsotle used the little English phrase 'endued with knowledge' which is translated by the Greek word epistēmōn (used the one time only in the New Testament) meaning intelligent, that is, possessing sound knowledge and exercising good judgement and being able to reason to a high degree. The Apostle James next declares to these Jewish converts to Christ Jesus our Lord then and to all of us who belong to Him today and from every single era and generation that the men who are to venture into the teaching of the Word of God must not just be intelligent 🧠 having sound knowledge and be discerning and able to reason, but he must show out of a good (valuable and virtuous) conversation these traits in reality. The English word 'conversation' used here is translated by the Greek word anastrophē meaning behavior or conduct, that is, the manner of acting or controlling one's self. In other words, the Apostle James earlier just went through a very long discourse of how vile and volatile the tongue 😝 of man can be unless it is yielded to the control of God the Holy Spirit, so now he declares that the man who would be a teacher of the Word of God must not only yield to God his tongue 😝 but also all of his behavior and conduct that it would be a life or more properly a lifestyle that is pleasing to God not only in public view, but also in private, for the Apostle James surely here is drawing on the words written by the Apostle Peter that read, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:13-16) (KJV). This the Apostle James says must be done with 'meekness of wisdom' and the English word 'meekness' is translated by the Greek word prautēs which means mildness, that is, (by implication) humility: - meekness. In other words, it is as it is written for us by the Psalmist with these words, "The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way." (Psalms 25:9) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 3:13, "Who is a wise man. Meaning, not in things natural and civil, or merely moral, but in things spiritual: and he is a wise man, who is both wise to do good, and wise unto salvation; who has learned to know his own ignorance, folly, and stupidity; for the first lesson in the school of spiritual wisdom is for a man to know that he is a fool: and he is a wise man who considers his latter end, thinks of a future state, and what will become of him in another world; and who builds his faith and hope of eternal salvation on the sure and only foundation, the rock Christ Jesus; and who takes up a profession of religion upon principles of grace, and with views to the glory of God, and, upon mature deliberation, reckoning the cost, and what he must expect to meet with; and which he holds fast, without wavering, and yet does not depend upon it; and who walks circumspectly, and with wisdom, towards them that are without; and who observes both providences and promises, for the encouragement of his faith; and keeps looking to the mark for the prize, preferring heavenly things to earthly ones. And endued with knowledge amongst you? as he is, who is endued with the knowledge of himself; of the impurity of his nature, and the plague of his heart; and of his impotency and inability to do any thing that is spiritually good of himself; and of the imperfection and insufficiency of his righteousness to justify him before God; and of his lost state and condition by nature, how deserving of the wrath of God, and obnoxious to the curses of the law; and how miserable he must be without the grace of God and righteousness of Christ: and who is also endued with the knowledge of Christ, so as to see a fulness, suitableness, and ability in Him as a Saviour; so as to love Him, approve of Him, as such, and trust in Him; which knowledge is always practical and soul humbling; and the least degree of it saving; and though it is imperfect, it is growing, and will at last come to perfection: now such a man is a Gnostic, in the best sense; for this question is put with a view to the Gnostics of those times, who valued themselves upon their knowledge, and despised practical religion and godliness: hence it follows, let him show out of a good conversation his works, with meekness of wisdom; such an one ought to perform good works, and he will perform them; and it is right in him to show them forth, that they may be a means of others glorifying God upon the sight of them; and that they may be evidences of the truth of faith in themselves to others; and that they may be for the imitation of others; and that they may put to silence, and stop the mouths of false accusers, and adorn the Gospel, and recommend religion: and these should be shown forth 'out of a good conversation'; not in a single act or two, but in a series and course of living; which may be said to be good, when it is ordered aright, according to the word of God, and is honest among the Gentiles, and upright and holy; and is as becomes the Gospel of Christ, and is worthy of the calling of God to grace and glory; and when it is influenced by the grace of God: and the works shown out of it, and in it, are done in faith, from love in the strength of Christ, and are directed to the glory of God: and all this should be 'with meekness of wisdom'; in a wise and humble manner, without trusting to, and depending upon, such works for justification and salvation; and without glorying in them, and boasting of them; acknowledging the deficiency and imperfection of them, and his own weakness in the performance of them; and ascribing them to the power and grace of God, by the assistance of which they are performed."

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 35

 Taming the Tongue 😝 Part 6

James 3:11-12 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Next the Apostle James gives for us a few examples or illustrations of why our tongues 😝 should not be used to bless our Father in Heaven and then turned around and be used to curse men or women here on the earth 🌎 and this the Apostle James does for us by asking these 🙋 questions, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3:11-12) (KJV), which all require a negative response because it is not possible for these things to occur in nature, therefore, how much more should we be vigilantly aiming to crucify our flesh as the Apostle Paul writes to us with these words, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:13) (NKJV), of which our tongue 😝 is one of our members, and Paul goes on to say these words in this same Chapter of Romans to us, "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness." (Romans 6:19) (NKJV). Our holiness (even now as we sojourn on the earth 🌎) is our Lord Jesus Christ determined, designated, and direct desire for each one of us whom He has redeemed, regenerated, and resurrected from spiritual death. WE have a responsibility to to yield ourselves to God the Holy Spirit and not to grieve Him because none of this is possible for any of us in our own human strength 💪, therefore, when we yield we receive supernatural power from Him enabling us to 🚶 walk or live as God the Father wants us to as His children 🧒 which also brings about the peaceable fruits of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11) within our inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩. The Apostle Paul also wrote these words to the Church @ Corinth, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!" (1 Corinthians 6:15) (NKJV) and also these words to the Church @ Colossae, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5) (NKJV). We can see how all of these commands from God to us through the letters of Paul the Apostle and James the Apostle are given to us to form us into the image of Christ, just as a blacksmith takes a useless piece of iron and heats it up in the fire 🔥 and then bends it and molds it and shapes it into something that is now a useful and beautiful piece of art. Our tongue 😝 is one of the most unruly of our members that we presented always as an instrument of unrighteousness that we must now allow the Power of the Holy Spirit to help us present it as an instrument of righteousness, and not keep falling into the pattern of blessing God our Father and then cursing men 🚹 and women 🚺 made in His image, this is a hard thing for me, therefore, I am speaking to myself mostly. Amen!!!

F. B. Meyer said these words of bridling the tongue 😝, "It is much easier to teach people what they should be and do than to obey our own precepts. Even the best of us stumble in many respects; but our most frequent failures are in speech. If we could control our tongues, we should be masters of the whole inner economy of our natures. The refusal to express a thought will kill the thought. Let Christ bridle your mouth, and He will be able to turn about your whole body. Let Him have His hand on the tiller of your tongue, and He will guide your life as He desires. A single spark may burn down a city. The upsetting of an oil lamp in a stable led to the burning of Chicago. Lighted at the flames of hell, the tongue can pass their, vitriol on to earth. Man cannot tame the tongue, but Christ can. He goes straight for the heart, for, as He said long ago, the seat of the mischief is there." Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of James 3:11-12, "Words of prayer and words of cursing come from the same lips. No doubt these hot tempered, and sometimes ferociously religious, Jewish Christians, to whom James speaks, had some among them whose portraits James is drawing here. ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth!’ is a strange sequel to ‘Blessed be He, the God of our fathers.’ But the combination has often been heard since. To Deums and anathemas have succeeded one another in strange union, and religious controversy has not always been conducted with perfect regard to James’s precepts. Of course when the Apostle gibbets the grotesque inconsistency of such a union, he is not to be taken as allowing cursing, if it only keeps clear of ‘blessing God.’ Since the latter is the primary duty of all, and the highest exercise of the great gift of speech, anything inconsistent with it is absolutely forbidden, and to show the inconsistency is to condemn the act. Further, the assertion that ‘salt water cannot yield sweet’ implies that the ‘cursing’ destroys the reality of the verbal ‘blessing God.’ If a man says both, the imprecation is his genuine voice, and the other is mere wind. The fountain is deeper than the tongue. From the heart are the issues of life. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and clear, pure waters will not well out thence unless the heart has been cleansed by Christ entering into it. Only when that tree of life is cast into the waters are they made sweet. When Christ governs us, we can govern our hearts and our lips, and through these our whole bodies and all their activities." Lastly, here is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 3:11-12, "The Greek word means 'opening, fissure,' such as there is in the earth, or in rocks from which a fountain gushes. Fresh water and salt, James 3:12. Such things do not occur in the works of nature, and they should not be found in man. Such a thing is impossible in nature, and equally absurd in morals. A fig-tree bears only figs; and so the tongue ought to give utterance only to one class of sentiments and emotions. These illustrations are very striking, and show the absurdity of that which the Apostle reproves. At the same time, they accomplish the main purpose which he had in view, to repress the desire of becoming public teachers without suitable qualifications. They show the power of the tongue; they show what a dangerous power it is for a man to wield who has not the proper qualifications; they show that no one should put himself in the position where he may wield this power without such a degree of tried prudence, wisdom, discretion, and piety, that there shall be a moral certainty that he will use it aright."

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…