St. Paul's Anglican Church, Okpoama Deanery

St. Paul's Anglican Church, Okpoama Deanery Saint Paul's Dearery, Okpoama Brass was founded in August 1912 and inaugurated Deanery in Oct 2010

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05/04/2024

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25/07/2023

Date: 2023-Jul-25

TOPIC: LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE
TEXT: Mark 10:35-45(NKJV)
10:35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."
10:36. And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
10:37. They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."
10:38. But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
10:39. They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;
10:40. "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared."
10:41. And when the ten heard [it,] they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
10:42. But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
10:43. "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
10:44. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
10:45. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

STUDY: Service is a fundamental aspect of leadership; it has been proved that leadership is not a title but a vehicle for service. The moment service is removed from leadership, what is left is an empty carcass. We live today in a world where everybody wants to be a leader without a focus on serving God and humanity. Some people detest receiving instructions from others rather they want to give out orders. This played out in our text today, when the two Sons of Zebedee, James and John, came to Jesus selfishly requesting Him to make them “... sit one at the right hand and the other on the left hand” in His glory (v.37). They were desperate for position without considering the cost and the feelings of others. The response of Jesus Christ made it clear that leadership should be seen as a tool of service and nota weapon of threat(vv. 42&43).
Beloved, the pathway to greatness in life is service. A responsible follower of Christ will always look for services to render in order to make the kingdom of God increase in all areas, not what to gain. The more service to God and humanity, the more you will be rewarded. Our attitude to leadership should be Christ-like. Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (v.45). Your position of leadership is not to oppress your subjects but build them up; it is to serve the purpose of God in the lives of His people. Jesus admonishes that we should not be like the gentiles whose aim in leadership is to make their followers groan; your leadership should build up the Body of Christ not tear it apart. Remember, you will give account of what you do with your God-given position. You are supposed to be a servant-leader, serving God and man faithfully.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me grace to serve faithfully in leadership in Jesus' name. Amen.

24/07/2023

Date: 2023-Jul-24

TOPIC: WHAT TYPE OF GROUND IS YOUR HEART?
TEXT: Mark4:1-20(NKJV)
4:1. And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat [in it] on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.
4:2. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:
4:3. "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4:4. "And it happened, as he sowed, [that] some [seed] fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.
4:5. "Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
4:6. "But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
4:7. "And some [seed] fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
4:8. "But other [seed] fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
4:9. And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
4:10. But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.
4:11. And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
4:12. "so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And [their] sins be forgiven them.' "
4:13. And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
4:14. "The sower sows the word.
4:15. "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
4:16. "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
4:17. "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
4:18. "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; [they are] the ones who hear the word,
4:19. "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
4:20. "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it,] and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

STUDY: The parable in the text brings before us the type of ground each human heart is with respect to our response to God's word. the seed falling on the wayside and devoured by birds as representing the heart that does not retain God's word because the devil immediately takes the word from such a heart. The stony ground represents the heart that rejoices at the entrance of God's word but which soon loses the joy as affliction or persecution arises. This happens because the heart is not rooted in Christ and cannot stand heat. The seed that fell among thorns and was choked represents the heart that allows the cares and worldly lusts destroy God's word in it. The seed that fell on good soil and yielded fruit represents every heart that receives God's word and perseveres to grow in Christ thus yielding fruits that bring glory to God.
Beloved, your heart is expected to receive and retain the word of God just like the good soil, and persevere to obey it. Your perseverance is expressed as you stick to His word despite afflictions and worldly lusts. As a child of God, you should not allow the cares of worldly things or afflictions to choke the life of God in you. You are to be on guard and not allow the devil deceitfully take God's word from you. To remain fruitful in Christ, participate actively in the things of God, even in your local congregation and fellowship consistently with heavenly-minded believers in Christ.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, make my heart a good soil for Your word so that I can produce fruits to Your glory, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!Inemo Akumosuote Joseph, Billions Wemi, Don John General, ...
10/07/2023

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Inemo Akumosuote Joseph, Billions Wemi, Don John General, Didi Jacob

10/07/2023

Date: 2023-Jul-10

TOPIC: LEARN TO BE PRUDENT
TEXT: Luke 16:1-18(NKJV)
16:1. He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
16:2. "So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'
16:3. "Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.
16:4. 'I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'
16:5. "So he called every one of his master's debtors to [him,] and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
16:6. "And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
16:7. "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
16:8. "So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
16:9. "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
16:10. "He who [is] faithful in [what is] least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in [what is] least is unjust also in much.
16:11. "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches?]
16:12. "And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
16:13. "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
16:14. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
16:15. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16:16. "The law and the prophets [were] until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
16:17. "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
16:18. "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from [her] husband commits adultery.

STUDY: One of the problems of the prodigal son as we read yesterday was lack of prudence; he squandered all he had. Today's text reveals the story of another man who lost his job because he was not prudent enough. He was accused of wasting his master's goods. This singular act made him lose opportunities and forfeit his employment. On the contrary, Joseph advised king Pharaoh and the Egyptians against wastage when the land would witness abundance for seven years. He advised them to save for the season of drought(Gen. 41:28-37).
Our society today is characterised by wastage of resources from the government down to individuals. Sometimes, projects are approved, funded and left undone. For some, mismanagement of fund is nothing to them as much as it is not theirs or does not affect their income. Meanwhile, it is important to note that if you fail to be faithful in managing other people's business or property, no one will give you your own(v.12). Do not mismanage the resources in your care. Accountability does not only mean you did not embezzle company money but also helps you to direct the resources available to achieve the desired goal. Therefore, learn to be prudent.

PRAYER: Lord, help me not to be wasteful but prudent in handling the resources in my care. Amen.

17/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-18
(Second Sunday after Trinity)
TOPIC: ABIDING IN GOD'S LOVE
TEXT: John 15:5-11(NKJV)

15:5. "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
15:6. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
15:7. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
15:8. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
15:9. " As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
15:10. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
15:11. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full.

STUDY: Our text today calls for us to abide in the love of the Father. As branches cannot bear fruits without abiding in the vine, so also, believers need to abide in the love of God, if they must bear fruits. To abide in the love of God means to be intimately connected to Him, who alone is the True Source of our lives. The love of the Father is rich, real, and very comforting. Oh, what a joy to be enveloped in the love of the father! Any man who genuinely knows the Father's love will long for an ever-abiding experience. Abiding in the father's love gives us the capacity to do all things through the power of Christ, who strengthens us.
Many are lost and confused because they are disconnected from the Father's love. The prodigal son left the love of the Father and wasted his life in a faraway country. He paid dearly for it, but thank God that he later returned and was received by the Father (Luke 15). Are you experiencing dryness in any area of your life? There is a promise of renewal if only you will return and abide in the Father's love just like the prodigal son. Remember, without Him, you can do nothing (v.5). God's love is boundless, abide in Him.

PRAYER: Lord, may l always abide in your love, in Jesus' name. Amen.

16/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-17

TOPIC: THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE
TEXT: James 5:1-20(NKJV)

5:1. Come now, [you] rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon [you!]
5:2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
5:3. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
5:4. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5:5. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
5:6. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
5:7. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
5:8. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
5:9. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
5:10. My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
5:11. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end [intended by] the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
5:12. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and [your] "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.
5:13. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
5:14. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
5:15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
5:16. 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.
5:17. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
5:18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
5:19. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
5:20. let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

STUDY: James addresses what should be the Christian's attitude in the face of oppression, discrimination and suffering, etc. He goes on to encourage believers to be patient and to persevere until Christ returns. Our patience will be tested through suffering, just as Job's was tested. He endured patiently and God blessed him bountifully afterwards. James advises on how to respond to different circumstances i. e. in times of suffering, pray (v.13); in times of joy, sing songs; in times of sickness, call the elders to pray(v.14) and the prayer of faith will heal the sick. We should also remain our brothers' keepers, and restore to faith anyone who wanders from the truth.
We should endeavour to be doers of the word and not just hearers. Whether rich or poor, we should live our lives to glorify the name of God and bring others to the kingdom. Let us continually run this race with all perseverance and patience because, Jesus is coming soon. Do not faint and do not grumble, pray and wait patiently for His return.

PRAYER: AlmightyGod, I put my trust in you. Thank you for the enablement to persevere, in Jesus' name, Amen.

15/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-16

TOPIC: DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD
TEXT: James 4:1-17(NKJV)

4:1. Where do wars and fights [come] from among you? Do [they] not [come] from your [desires for] pleasure that war in your members?
4:2. You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
4:3. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.
4:4. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
4:5. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
4:6. But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
4:7. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
4:8. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded.
4:9. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and [your] joy to gloom.
4:10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
4:11. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
4:12. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
4:13. Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit";
4:14. whereas you do not know what [will happen] tomorrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a v***r that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
4:15. Instead you [ought] to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."
4:16. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
4:17. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do [it,] to him it is sin.

STUDY: In today's passage, James warns against pride (vv. 8-10), criticism and arrogant self-confidence (vv. 7-13). James' primary reason for writing was to bring Christians closer to God. He illustrates the pitfalls and blessings for Christians who desire to develop a closer walk with God. James advises that we submit ourselves to God while resisting the devil too. He also mentions lust, adultery, murder, slander and pride. All of these hinder us from drawing closer to God. God resists such behaviour and blesses those who are humble and draw near to Him.
Dear children of God, let us take heed to our daily living. Just as there were conflicts in the days of James, so it is today, maybe even more. Humility is a conscious decision to remain under God's tutelage, knowing full well that everything that pertains to life comes from Him alone. Let us therefore remain humble under God and He will lift us up indue time.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I submit myself under your Lordship, draw me closer to your day by day. Amen

14/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-15

TOPIC: TAMING THE TONGUE
TEXT: James 3:1-18(NKJV)

3:1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
3:2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he [is] a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3:3. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
3:4. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
3:5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
3:6. And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
3:7. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
3:8. But no man can tame the tongue. [It is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
3:10. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
3:11. Does a spring send forth fresh [water] and bitter from the same opening?
3:12. Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
3:13. Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct [that] his works [are done] in the meekness of wisdom.
3:14. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
3:15. This wisdom does not descend from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, demonic.
3:16. For where envy and self-seeking [exist,] confusion and every evil thing [are] there.
3:17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
3:18. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

STUDY: In this chapter, we notice James becoming more specific about how the Christian's faith can be put in practical terms. If God has changed your heart through the new birth, the saving faith that He granted to you will inevitably show itself in a life of good deeds, but now, more specifically in the words you speak. Genuine faith yields to Christ's Lordship over the tongue. Like David prayed in Psalms 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”The tongue is one of the major battlegrounds of the Christian. Mastery of the tongue is a sign of wisdom, for the less one speaks, the fewer serious errors one will make. We need to master our tongues so that they can be used for blessing, not cursing.
As Christians, we need to take extra precaution when speaking. Our words should always be gracious, and seasoned with salt in order to bring forth blessing, rather than destructive words that bring division(Col. 4:6). The Holy Spirit has been sent into our hearts to guide our thoughts and words. Learn to daily fight this battle over the tongue and God will give you victory daily.

PRAYER: Spirit divine, anoint my tongue that I may speak words that will glorify your Holy name, in Jesus' name. Amen.

13/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-14

TOPIC: PUTTING FAITH TO WORK
TEXT: James 2:1-26(NKJV)

2:1. My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with partiality.
2:2. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
2:3. and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
2:4. have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5. Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
2:6. But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
2:7. Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
2:8. If you really fulfill [the] royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
2:9. but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
2:10. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point,] he is guilty of all.
2:11. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
2:13. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
2:14. What [does it] profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
2:15. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
2:16. and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what [does it] profit?
2:17. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
2:18. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
2:19. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!
2:20. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
2:21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
2:22. Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
2:23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
2:24. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
2:25. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent [them] out another way?
2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

STUDY: Our text today warns Christians against favouritism while encouraging us to act in faith. When Christians favour the rich to the detriment of the poor, they are guilty of discrimination. God is not partial, however there are times he defends the poor, not because they are poor, but because they are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom(v.5b). Similarly, God rejects the rich because of their tendency to trust in their wealth and oppress the poor(vv. 6-7). The text also discusses further the subject of faith which we learned of yesterday(see June 13,2023). It re-emphasises that faith without works is dead. We are saved by grace through faith. Good works alone do not save, but it is not enough to claim faith. There should be some evidence that proves your claim.
James encourages us to uphold the royal law, that is “love your neighbour as yourself' (v.8; Matt. 22:39) and also be a people of faith. Be careful about how you treat others no matter their status in society. In the body of Christ, we are ONE and shall give account of how we treated our brothers and sisters. Be guided to act in faith always because anything that does not proceed from faith in sin.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, forgive me for any form of discrimination I have exhibited and help me to love my neighbours as myself. Amen.

12/06/2023

Date: 2023-06-13

TOPIC: ACTIVE FAITH IN TIMES OF TRIAL
TEXT: James 1:1-27(NKJV)

1:1. James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
1:2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
1:3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
1:4. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
1:5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
1:6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
1:7. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
1:8. [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1:9. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
1:10. but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
1:11. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
1:12. Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
1:13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
1:14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
1:15. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
1:16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
1:17. 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.
1:18. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
1:19. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
1:20. for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
1:21. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
1:22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1:23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
1:24. for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
1:25. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it,] and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
1:26. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion [is] useless.
1:27. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

STUDY: James, in this letter, deals with how Christians should behave in the church and in society. In this first chapter, he emphasises that Christian faith will be tested, and when such testing arises, we should rejoice and be steadfast (v.12). As far as Apostle James is concerned, faith is a practical matter that expresses itself in daily life, and especially in how we respond to trials. Living the Christian life in the face of temptations demands wisdom(v.5). That is, the ability to distinguish good from evil, and truth from falsehood. Active faith is also a necessity if God must hear our prayers and enable us to face all challenges of life.
Christian living is a daily battle against temptations and one cannot WIN without faith and putting God's word into practice. James encourages Christians to be doers of the word and not just hearers. This is the only way to resist the devil and stand high above trials that may want to steal our joy.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith, help me to remain steadfast in trials in order to receive the crown of life. Amen.

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