Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerShow your faith…Scripture:Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerShow your faith…Scripture:You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? (James 2:19, 20 NLT)Observation:There are many who believe that there is only one God. Even the devil and his demons know this and it scares them...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerShow your faith…Scripture:So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:17, 18 NLT)Observation:True faith produces good deeds....

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerShow your faith…Scripture:Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15, 16 NLT)Observation:When we know of Christians who are genuinely struggling and we just blow them off with kind words without...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerShow your faith…Scripture:What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? (James 2:14 NLT)Observation:Faith that does not produce holy living is not genuine faith and therefore can not bring anyone to salvation.Application:This passage is not saying that we are saved by works, it is...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (James 2:13 NLT)Observation:The first part of this passage shows the opposite side of the scripture that reads, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. Those who show no mercy will not obtain mercy and...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27 NLT)Observation:True pure religion will lead to a life of practical benevolence and it will keep us unspotted from taking part in worldly activities. If both of these things are a part of how we practice our...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. (James 1:26 NLT)Observation:The ability to control the tongue is one of the benefits of becoming a Christian. Those who claim to be Christians, but refuse to control their tongue are fooling themselves and their religious claims are...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. (James 1:21 NLT)Observation:”Get rid of all filth” – sin should be seen as disgusting, offensive, detestable filth. It is not just missing the mark, it is something that God hates. It ALL needs to be...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. (James 1:19, 20 NLT)Observation:This scripture would have us to understand not only that human anger does not produce the kind of people God desires us to be, but it also speaks of how anger can...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14, 15 NLT)Observation:The last part of yesterday's passage is here again so we see verse 15's context. My desires are what entices me and will drag me away from God if I allow them...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. (James 1:13, 14 NLT)Observation:Yesterday's scripture talked about us patiently endure testing and temptation. Some have taken principle to mean that God...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NLT)Observation:Key phrases here: “God blesses”, “patiently endures”, “afterward they will receive”, and “those who love him”. The if factor here is if we...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is...

Scripture – Observation – Application – PrayerScripture:Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4 NLT)Observation:We are encouraged to have a different attitude about...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. (Hebrews 13:20, 21 NLT)...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. (Hebrews 13:18 NLT) Observation: Simple message of our conscience is clear and we want to live in a godly manner with integrity in everything we do AND we know that we need the prayers of others to stay on the right track. Application: Even the greatest of apostles understood he...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. (Hebrews 13:17 NLT) Observation: The Lord Jesus Christ, as supreme head of his church, has ordered and ordained that there shall be officers of...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (Hebrews 13:15, 16 NLT) Observation: The key here is the last sentence, “These are the sacrifices that please God.” Those listed here are...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them. (Hebrews 13:8, 9 NLT) Observation: Important part of this passage, “do not be attracted by strange, new ideas”. Jesus is and will be the same as he has...

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer Scripture: Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 NLT) Observation: We need to remember what we were taught and those who taught us. Remember how they not only taught with the word of God, but they also taught with their lives and made a difference in our...