James - Chapter 1 ((JOY&TRIALS))

I recently read the book of James and was totally captivated by the content. It's amazing how we can read a book of the Bible over and over again and get new revelation every time. I went on to read 1 Peter but God drew me back to James to do an in depth study on it. I put together my revelation and thoughts I view as helpful. In this post I am just going to go through just chapter 1 of James and my "commentary" and "side-notes" within the verses. ((You can read along in your own Bible or can go to a website)).
**I am going through the process just as much as I state in anything within this post. I do not count myself "higher" than others but share my encouragement and knowledge within my writing.

[[1:2]] Be overly joyful in the hard times! ((Easier said than done..)) Usually means God is working something out of you and prepared to see what "feelings" are going to occur when  your next to the fire. Are you running to God in the good times or only the trials? Count it ALL JOY!

Perfect example of counting it joy in tough situations!

[[1:3-4]] Once again we see our FAITH is being tested. How bad do we want it? How much do we want to prove our love to Him? The outcome of our faithfulness is PATIENCE! A fruit of the Spirit... which is required and needed for everyday life. How can we minister to someone if we do not slow down and patiently watch and help them grow? If we allow this work to happen, such as: laying down our feelings, focusing on joy in our faith being tested in trials... THEN we will lack nothing!
Because we are focusing on Him and not self, we gain completion. Just to note: Patience is also without complaint. (Truly hard at times but He is who strengthens us).

Ultimate Patience...

[[1:5-8]] It is very important to not just ask God for something you hope may come. But we must ask IN FAITH & EXPECT God to move! If He feeds the birds, won't He feed you? 
(Matt. 6:26). If He gives gifts better than we could possibly give to our own kids, how much more will He give us? (Matt. 7:11). Verse 7 of James directly says it all... do not let us  "suppose" He will give but KNOW it. We must not go back and forth in disbelief and minister to others in the same matter. God HATES lukewarm and "double-minded" (someone who is like wave tossed to and fro). You are IN or you are OUT. You serve GOD or you serve this WORLD (the devil).

It seems to me He has provided well for the birds...

[[1:9-11]] "Let the lower man honor his position." The low should be proud of their title and count it joy in what they are presently stable in. If the rich man on the other hand fails to follow in humility, he will perish. As my wise YahYah says, "Don't be prideful IN your humility." WOW! Even in being successful, do not think about yourself in being arrogant or in being so arrogant that you're the best at being humble. PRIDE causes you to fall. 

Jesus is the prime example of humility

[[1:12-16]] Many times we say, "Why is God putting me through this?" or, "Why would God put that in front of me to tempt me?" Sometimes we can justify our actions in saying, "Oh well, God wouldn't tempt me with (insert) so that must indicate it is okay for me to partake in it." The WORD is TRUTH! And the word says He is NOT a tempter. James speaks in how we are only tempted when we open ourselves and doors up to this world. God does not put you in hard times for His entertainment nor does He want the enemy to win in obstacles through your life. BUT He does allow things to happen. He does not cause things to happen, He allows things to happen. Reasons because He will be glorified in the end of it, that it will become a testimony, that your faithfulness will shine through and prove love to Him. Once again, thankfully we are rewarded with the crown of life for enduring righteously! KEEP PRESSING! --Don't miss it.. it could be right around the corner..

**Sidenote: Looking for answers and a path? God may only reveal step by step because He knows you could not handle the future plans right now. If He gave you the fullness of it, you could possibly concentrate on way up there instead of the current journey you are on now, which is just as vital in getting you to the next step. 

Enduring temptation..

[[1:17-18]] There is no change or obscurity in God. He is constant, unmovable  and stable! The verse says, "Father of lights?" 
"Lights" in the greek in this verse is "phos" meaning (in Himself), unkindled and unquenchable. WOO! He is in Himself, pre-existent. He is "light/phos" That is awesome!
Next, In Gods PLAN, we were brought forth. Our existence did not bring Him by surprise! We were brought forth in His truth - faithfulness- a set event of what He knew was to  happen. He brought us forth in the means of salvation! We are the first fruits  the front most new and honored creations of creatures or mankind.
In some commentaries on these verses, the first fruits could mean: Jesus came to the Jews first- Jews being the first fruits. Then the creatures being the Gentiles. 
I see it as: He brought us forth in salvation as the church, being foremost in front of all mankind... which is a glorious and hard thing in the fact that the church will be judged FIRST. 
We are held accountable to the knowledge of what we obtain. 

**Sidenote: You're not 100% sure if the thing you want to partake in is okay or not okay? I would advise not to take part in the questionable situation. Reasoning because I would rather lean on the side of caution. I would rather NOT do something questionable and end up being okay in the end instead of doing it and having end up being in sin or negative behavior. ((We are held accountable for our knowledge.))
Example... If your three year old does something you say not to do out of curiosity and your 13 year old does the same thing when they have already been informed previously about this rule, who is going to be most held accountable and judged more harshly?...

Be a leader in your knowledge and bring others into righteousness.

[[1:19-21]] WE are called to be listeners and to have calm tempers with wisdom. 
Do you find yourself battling with anger? 
First I would suggest surrendering it to God (daily if you must). I would then find verses on how Christ views you and anger. Write them down on note cards,  keep them by your bedsides, your purse, or your pockets. Pull them out and read them out loud when you feel those angry thoughts and feelings being aroused. 
FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The Word builds us, reminds us, lifts us up, and influences us.
Do something about your struggles so you can be used even mightier!
Verse 20 says "the wrath of man" - It does not mean just the action of anger or abuse. When translated in the greek, "wrath" here means "the DESIRE and how one thinks in the mind (compared with punishment)." The one's who have negative and angry thoughts as well as abusive actions (wrath) etc, cannot produce RIGHTEOUSNESS (which IS God). 
Thus, not being able to be Christ like in this area. You cannot stand up rightly or in moral standing with enduring anger in your heart. ((Similar to how in communion you should not partake in eating the body or drinking the wine -blood, with bitterness in your heart. Being because the Word tells us to make things right with our brother.)) The Word is just and truth!
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Here are some verses & prayers you can speak over yourself when you feel any angry thoughts, emotions, or actions coming about:
((This is a POWERFUL act)).

John 14:27 - " Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
PRAYER: Peace He has left with me and has given to me, not as the world gives has HE given to me. My heart will not be troubled or afraid!

James 1:19 - "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath..."
PRAYER: I will be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger!

Ephesians 4:26 - "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.."
PRAYER: In my anger I will not sin, I will not allow anger to stay within me throughout my day or overnight. I will confide in Jesus to help me.

Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith."
PRAYER: I contain the fruit of the Spirit! I have the fruit of love, joy, peace, long suffering and patience, gentleness, goodness, and faith!

2 Timothy 2:24 - "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient..."
PRAYER: I must not bicker and quarrel, but I will be gentle and nice to others around me so I can use the patience He has given me and be able to minister to others.

John 4:24 - "Worship in Spirit and in Truth."
PRAYER: I will worship in Spirit and Truth!

Ecclesiastes 7:9 - "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools."
PRAYER: I will not be angry any longer because anger rests in fools and God has called me for a higher purpose!

1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
PRAYER: In my anger and frustrations, I will cast my cares upon You Lord! I do this because I know that you care for me!

Proverbs 25:28 - "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls."
PRAYER: If I don't control my anger according to the Word, I am broken and have open doors. I will confide in You God to help build me up in my frustration.

Ephesians 5:11 - "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
PRAYER: I will not open doors to the darkness around me through my anger or other unholy emotions and actions in my life. I will expose, confess, and turn from them!

Galatians 2:20 - "I am crucified with Christ; 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 gave Himself for me."
PRAYER ^Above

James 1:2 - "Count it all JOY."
PRAYER: I count it all JOY! All trials and emotions, I will press through and count all joy!

Proverbs 16:32 - "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."
PRAYER: I am better than the ones who are mighty and powerful when I am slow to my anger and in control of my emotions. I conquer mountains when I use the fruit of the Spirit!

2 Timothy 3:17 - "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"
PRAYER: God help me with this anger and emotions that I may be complete in YOU and equipped for all good works for Your GLORY!

Colossians 1:10 - "that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.."
PRAYER: I am in control of my emotions and anger so I may be worthy to walk in Your paths Lord, that I may be pleasing to You, and that I would bring forth fruit in EVERY good work and I will increase in the knowledge of You Father!

Anger is damaging.

[[1:22-25]] BE DOERS! What is the point of telling your friends, " I wish I could help!" When you really can- you are just being selfish about your own time. Better yet, what about on Facebook? Commenting: "Aww I'll be praying for you and your family." And then you don't even pray. Acknowledging a thought is NOT prayer. Asking God to turn a situation and having passion that God would move is prayer. Speaking to Him in joyful times and hard situations is prayer. Just feeling "sorry" for someone will not cut it. Equip yourself and MOVE! The Word says you will be BLESSED for doing so!

Care for others around you.

[[1:26-27]] Living in religion with do's, don'ts, and with rules and regulations is not what we are called to do. Being religious is just going through the motions and trying to be someone you are not called to be. We are to live in freedom, not bound up in chains by four walls of confinement and judgment. Break out of the box and impermeable ideas. Lean on the Spirit and how He would guide you, not unto man. ((Colossians 3:23// Romans 8:5)). Simply stated, we are to help the widows and orphans. We are called to love the unlovable,  help the helpless, and bring hope to the broken. We are called to LOVE one another. 

Love one another.