Paul walked in a very close and intimate relationship with Jesus, and he was mightily anointed by God’s Spirit to preach the gospel to all men. His journey of faith came with a price of suffering mentally, physically, and spiritually. He was tested by God and, like so many other followers of Jesus, he was proven to be faithful to the end.

At one point in the scriptures, Paul elaborated on the specific accostings and brutal punishments he experienced by the enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul never would have survived such ordeals and trials if he didn’t believe that God’s grace and salvation were sufficient for such times in his life.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians and, speaking from his own experiences of trusting God unconditionally for His salvation in the moment, he said, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, 'at the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the Day of Salvation I helped you.' Behold now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation'”.

He also spoke these encouraging words, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” After all, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

How about you? Are you experiencing God’s salvation through Jesus and depending on Him for your salvation in every moment of your life?

The Psalmist wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

References: 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Philippians 4:11-13; Psalm 46:1

We continue with our last chapter…James 5. In this chapter, James teaches about the power and reassurance of faith. He challenges believers to examine the quality of their daily lives in terms of actions and attitudes. The end of the chapter encourages us on the triumph of faith.

Some have misunderstood James’ comments regarding the rich…as he tells them to “weep and howl for the miseries which are coming upon you." (Vs 1). James is not railing against riches; he is making the point that if someone is not of the Lord, even his riches will not help him when he dies. In comparison to the riches in Christ, the riches of men are like dust and rust…worthless.

He continues to impress on the reader the importance of faith (binding) in Jesus Christ. A summary of James 1-5 includes the major faith principles:

• Faith without works is dead
• Faith is more than mere words or knowledge
• Faith must produce/be visible
• Faith must inspire action and is demonstrated by obedience
• Faith endures trials and understands temptations (doesn’t allow us to consent to our lusts)
• Faith obeys the word of God
• Faith produces DOERS
• Faith harbors no prejudice
• Faith and favoritism cannot co-exist
• Faith controls the tongue
• Faith gives the ability for separation from the world and to resist the devil and draw near to God
• Faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord

What a God we serve. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

Previous Messages On James - If you missed the previous four messages on the Book of James, we have included the links below for your convenience.

A destiny awaits every soul that has been or ever will be born into this world. Thank God that He has given to all a free will to choose our fate. Every moment and every ounce of energy in a person’s life can be either spent running to God faithfully bound to Him through Christ Jesus bringing to pass eternal salvation— or running away from Him resulting in eternal death.

Sadly, multitudes are myopic and near sighted, and choose to live in the moment to experience the temporal pleasures and enticements, and yield to the temptations that Satan, the god of this world, has to offer them. These souls have been deceived to believe a lie and are undiscerning as Satan disguises and transforms himself as an angel of light.

Jesus explained that there are two ways of life, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

We have often heard the expression, “Run for your life,” and that’s exactly what the writer of Hebrews is saying,  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance (patience) the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

One thing remains for sure—to prevaricate is not an option!  To prevaricate means to stray from or evade the truth. The Latin root means to straddle. Doesn’t that sound familiar in today’s society?

Simply put, run to live or run to die!

2 Corinthians 11:14; Hebrews 12:1, 2; Matthew 7:13, 14

(Hear the entire message below.)

Jesus made a most profound invitation to all mankind when He said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my load is light.”

As we grow and mature in a life-imparting and spirit-led relationship with Jesus Christ, the old man with all the old ways, bad habits, worldly mindset and ideologies, must become things of the past and dead to us. We must let go and let God enable us to fret less and rest more in Him.

Someone has said that, “A dead man doesn’t get hurt.” I might add neither does a dead man fret, worry, doubt, and fear, nor is he anxious for anything. In fact, as believers we are to have this confession, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.”

David spoke these words to God’s people and said, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”

Remember, we can experience rest through commitment and obedience to Jesus Christ OR we can fret due to doubt, fear and unbelief. What do you choose?

See: Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 2:20; Psalm 37:5, 7

(Hear the entire message below.)

We continue with James 4. It is a fascinating chapter in which we are admonished as to what to avoid and then encouraged as to what to practice. It all comes down to our free will and the choices we make.

But I would like to encourage you not to be caught up so much with what Christianity is against, but to concentrate much more on what it is for! That way, you’ll be so busy doing the “do’s” that you won’t have time for the “don’ts”!

Sin is sin—God will deal with that. You concentrate on what God is for (Galatians 5:22-23):

• Christian
• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

Previous Messages On James - If you missed the previous three messages on the Book of James, we have included the links below for your convenience.

There are a number of long distance swimmers who cross the English Channel, or who try to swim from Cuba to the USA, etc. In order to do that, they need some help in conquering the sharks or else they will certainly be consumed.

With the Lord, we have the same help to “conquer the sharks” of life. Read Philippians 4:4-13 and you will see the first thing in this battle is to rejoice! It continues in relating how to pray, God’s peace, subject areas of the mind and learning to be content. If you don’t, you will certainly be lunch for some “spiritual shark”!

(Listen to entire message below.)