JAMES, THE WORLD’S PASTOR
Today’s Reading: James 3-5
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here you can see the ruins of what some consider to be the Pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem. This is the southwest corner of the Temple Mount. It may have been to this height which Satan brought Jesus in the time of Jesus’ temptation. Jesus, the Man, did as James said. He submitted to God, resisted the devil, and the devil fled from Him! According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, James was executed by the authority of Ananus, High Priest, by being thrown off of this pinnacle.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: James 4:7, 5:16
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you…Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 3 focuses on that “little member that boasts great things,” the tongue. James has a definition of a “perfect man” as “one who does not stumble in word” (the tongue). It’s encouraging to note that James is human as he says, “We [includes himself] all stumble in many things.” James tells us that “No man can tame the tongue.” So-o-o do we just give up!!! Never!!! Our key verses have the answer as to how not to be “hung by the tongue!” Firstly, “Resist the devil.” Secondly, “Confess.” Thirdly, “Pray!” Fourthly, we should daily present our bodies (that would include our tongues) as living sacrifices, “Holy acceptable to God!” (Romans 12:1).
James 4 exhorts us to “Lament and mourn and weep!” When is the last time we experienced this depth of sorrow over our sins? “Repent” was in the first recorded words of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2) and Jesus (Matthew 4:17), as well as in Peter’s response to the question he was asked on the birthday of the Church! (Acts 2:37-38). Pastor James teaches, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up!”
James 5 will spill over into my PERSONAL WORDS section below.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I ask for Your free gift of grace so I may learn daily to give over to You all the members of my body, in particular, that unruly member, the tongue. Thank You, Jesus, for the gift of Your brother, James, as a Pastor to the Church of all times and all places. I pray for these mercies from Your most gracious hand, in Your Name, Jesus, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
James 5 – I always look for words which are repeated such as “be patient” (twice). This blog is intended to help “establish” our “hearts” (5:8). May it be so for us all! Now I encourage everyone to read again James 5:13-16. The Pastor gives the protocol for a joyful, clean and healthy life. In my years as a Pastor, I put this into practice constantly. Every Sunday the Elders and I would offer to pray over anyone desiring healing. We would place olive oil on those asking for anointing. Many testified to God’s healing power. When I began travelling as an Evangelist in the 1970s, I would insist that Pastors and Elders be involved in praying for the sick. For a period of five years, from about 1972 to 1977, I would ask who in the congregation had a medically documented healing. If so, I asked people to stay behind to tell me about it. I discovered approximately 40 people who had confirmation from their doctors which attested to a miraculous cure. I asked each one, “Who prayed for you and where were you prayed for?” Of course many said that people everywhere were praying for them. Then I would ask them, “Were you prayed for and anointed with oil by your Pastor and the Elders of your local Church?” In 100% of these cases the answer was, “Yes!” For this reason I discourage people from traveling many miles to be prayed for by an evangelist. The evangelist’s job (like Billy Graham) is to get people to believe in Jesus for the salvation of their never-dying souls. The job of the Church is to do as Pastor James instructs us. Amen! Amen! and Amen!!!
Yours, as an Assistant Pastor to James, Jerusalem’s first Pastor,
David
P.S. I’ve personally experienced God’s power to heal when I was a 19-year-old college student. I was prayed for by fellow students, and as the Doctors would not allow me to be moved from my dorm room, two Pastors/Teachers came into my room. They prayed fervently because the medical doctors had told them that I would be “carried out feet first,” or in other words, they expected me to die. I don’t have room here to give the details, but it’s sufficient to say that as they anointed me and laid their hands on my head, my 105+ fever dissipated. I was delirious, but at the same time it was like a beautiful cooling shower was falling on me. I got up, dressed, got in my ’47 Plymouth car, and drove to the hospital Emergency Department. I announced that I was well and that God had healed me. I did elect for surgery which would make it impossible for the same thing to happen again. I benefited from God’s healing power and from the good works of skilled medical practitioners. James is my very, very Senior Pastor! Amen again!!!
for some reason the song AMAZING GRACE comes to my mind! You can Google it and listen and enjoy!
Praying for Mary Stewart that her spirits are high and that she feels comforted knowing Jesus Christ as her Saviour!
Ger I pray you are feeling better! Blessings to all!
Amen, David! Blessings dearest fellow saints!
“I don’t place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 ISV
Lord I Offer My Life To You, Hillsongs United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLGBfv4xaM
“All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I’m making them yours
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Bridge)
What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we’re living
That’s what we give to you, Lord
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life.”
Amen Beverlee!! Me too “I offer my life to You Lord!”
Amen, Irene!! 😀
Learned anew the truth that Pastors and elders are to be praying together for the sick in church, as they come into agreement. Thank you for the song, Beverlee. Yes, I am feeling better now Sah. Thank you for your concern and for all of your prayers, fellow saints.
Great Words and guidance by the Apostle James!!
I joined my prayer with you in agreement,Pastor David. Your commentaries and guidance daily are received and truly appreciated. Thank you and may Our Lord continue strengthen for His Glory.
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
The following some sayings about…
THE TONGUE: “The boneless tongue, so small and weak can crush and kill,” declares the Greek. “The tongue destroys a greater horde,” the Turk asserts, “than does the sword”. A Persian proverb wisely says “a lengthy tongue, an early death. Or sometimes takes this form instead, “don’t let your tongue cut off your head.” “The tongue can speak a word whose speed, the Chinese say, Outstrips the steed.” While Arab sages this impart, “the tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.” From Hebrew wit this maxim sprung, Tho’ feet should slip, ne’er let the tongue.”
The sacred writer crowns the whole: “Who keeps his tongue, doth keep his soul”.
“In a garden on an evening fair
We were alone, but He was there
How we missed Him I’ll never know
But His face never did show.
He was our God named Jesus Christ
And for our sins His life He sacrificed
But through death with its icy grip
Jesus made an astounding trip
In 72 hours Christ made it through death’s maze
and came to life again to live
’till the end of all day
And when we came out of the garden
on that evening fair
We knew we had met Jesus Christ there.”
By Emil Ochotta, age 12, at CFO Camp 1977
Beautiful, amen!!!
I prayed the same prayer as you David another thing I ask God is to
put a guard over my mouth , and my tongue so I will only say his words.
I loved the song Beverlee thank you
Lianne Hogg
Bless you, Lianne. I pray for the same for myself, that the Lord will put a guard over my mouth, so I will only speak lovingly. Amen, dear sister-in-Christ!
I also prayed with tears in my eyes your prayer. Pastor David.
Thanks again everone for your prayers yesterday for my dear friend Elizabeth. She has had one treatment of chemo last Friday. Now she has a bad cold and I havn’t talked to her since Sunday. Will keep you all posted. Many blessings to you all. Eleanor M.
Eleanor please feel free to mention the Vitamin C, Zinc & Magnesium treatment to Elizabeth, I’ve seen miracles happen with this treatment, it is administered after chemo by a Naturopath…someone mentioned that there are other excellent treatments…it is a good thing to discuss with the doctor, Lord I pray that You will continue to bless Eleanor as she cares and prays for her friend Elizabeth and Lord I pray the Holy Spirit will enter Elizabeth’s heart and she will call the Name of Jesus to come and enter into her heart! Thank you Lord. AMEN
URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES SHOW THAT ALL THOSE LIVING IN MOBILE HOME PARKS HAVE HAD THEIR PROPERTY DEVALUED TO NEXT NOTHING!
PLEASE PRAY THAT THE OWNERS WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND GETTING THESE FIGURES CHANGED TO RELFECT THE TRUE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES!
PLEASE PRAY THAT THE STRESS LEVEL BE BROUGHT DOWN!
THANK YOU, IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AMEN
Dear Heavenly Father I pray in the name of Jesus, that you will intercede in this situation. I pray that the owners will be able to have this situation turned around and that they will get the true value for their homes. We know Lord that you are able to do anything. We thank you in advance for your answer, in your precious name I pray.
Sah I will mention to Elizabeth about the treatment you suggested. Eleanor M.
Amen Eleanor…I agree in prayer with you!!
thank you so much for your prayer!