His Love Ministries
Episodes
Monday Nov 30, 2020
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ROMANS AND PAUL’S CREDENTIALS IN VERSE 1
Monday Nov 30, 2020
Monday Nov 30, 2020
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
Paul spent the winter of A.D. 56-57 in Corinth. There he wrote the Epistle to the Romans and
sent it by Phoebe (16:1-2) to the Roman church
PURPOSES FOR WRITING THE BOOK
Paul wrote this epistle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for several reasons. He wanted to prepare the way for his intended visit to the church (15:22-24). He evidently hoped that Rome would become a base of operations and support for his pioneer missionary work in Spain and the western portions of the empire that he had not yet evangelized. His full exposition of the gospel in this letter would have provided a solid foundation for their participation in this mission.
As Paul looked forward to returning to Jerusalem between his departure from Corinth and his arrival in Rome, he was aware of the danger he faced (15:31). He may have written the exhaustive exposition of the gospel that we have in Romans to set forth his teaching in case he did not reach Rome. From Rome his doctrine could then go out to the rest of the empire as others preached it. Paul may have viewed Romans as his legacy to the church, his last will and testament.
Another reason for writing Romans was undoubtedly Paul's desire to minister to the spiritual needs of the Christians in Rome even though they were in good spiritual condition (15:14-16). The common problems of all the early churches were dangers to the Roman church as well. These difficulties included internal conflicts, mainly between Jewish and Gentile believers, and external threats from false teachers. Paul gave both of these potential problems attention in this epistle (15:1-8; 16:17-20).
Paul also wrote Romans as he did because he was at a transition point in his ministry, as he mentioned at the end of chapter 15. His ministry in the Aegean region was solid enough that he planned to leave it and move farther west into new virgin missionary territory. Before he did that, he planned to visit Jerusalem, where he realized he would be in danger. Probably, therefore, Paul wrote Romans as he did to leave a full exposition of the gospel in good hands if his ministry ended prematurely in Jerusalem.
The great contribution of this letter to the body of New Testament inspired revelation is its reasoned explanation of how God's righteousness can become man's possession
VALUE
The Epistle to the Romans is, by popular consent, the greatest of Paul's writings. William Tyndale, the great English reformer and translator, referred to Romans as "the principle and most excellent part of the New Testament." He went on to say the following in his prologue to Romans that he wrote in the 1534 edition of his English New Testament.
"No man verily can read it too oft or study it too well; for the more it is studied the easier it is, the more it is chewed the pleasanter it is, and the more deeply it is searched the preciouser things are found in it, so great treasures of spiritual things lieth hid therein."
Martin Luther wrote the following commendation of this epistle. "[Romans] is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes."
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
To be impressed with the all-sufficiency of the gospel
This first sentence (vv. 1-7) implicitly sets forth the most fundamental facts of Christianity. In particular, it shows that the main facts of the gospel fulfill Old Testament predictions.
To see how God's wrath may be directed toward our society today
Outline of the Book of Romans
Righteousness of God Revealed or Doctrinal Section Chapters 1-8
Chapters 1-2 Condemnation
Chapters 3-5 Justification
Chapters 6-8 Sanctification
Righteousness of God Vindicated Chapters 9-11 or National Section – Israel
Chapters 9- Israel’s Election
Chapters 10- Reason for Rejection
Chapters 11- Future Restoration
Gods Righteousness Applied or the Practical Section Chapters 12-16
Chapters 12 - Spiritual gifts
Chapters 13- Relationship to Government
Chapters 14-15 - Gray Areas or Doubtful Areas
Chapters 16 - Closing
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Friday Nov 27, 2020
30 SECOND DEVOTIONAL JAMES 1:19-27 BE SWIFT TO HEAR
Friday Nov 27, 2020
Friday Nov 27, 2020
Hi, I'm Marty McKenzie with His Love Ministries. James 1:19-27 says that we should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. That we need to lay aside all sin and receive the truth that is able to save our souls. Many of us are like the man who looks in the mirror, we see that something is wrong, but don’t do anything about it. We are not only to be hearers of the Word, but doers. He says if we are not doers and our faith is not expressed by good works, we are deceiving ourselves and are not saved. So where do you stand?
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
JAMES 5:19-20 RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
James 5:19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 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.
As James comes to the close of his epistle, he stresses the importance of restoring those who wander from the truth:
Restoring straying saints is a responsibility given to ALL who are truly the children of God
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
Yet, it is a responsibility that is so easy to neglect, and in most cases IS neglected!
The purpose of this lesson is two-fold:
To impress upon our minds the importance of engaging in this work of restoring straying saints
To suggest how we should carry out this important work
THE CONDITION OF SAINTS WHO HAVE STRAYED FROM THE TRUTH
They are in danger of physical DEATH! - Ja 5:20
1John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death.
RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS REQUIRES SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES...
PEOPLE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL
Ga 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Unqualified personnel need not apply for this work
1) They might best work on themselves first, so they can help others Mt 7:3-5
A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS - Ga 6:1
A CONSTANT SENSE OF SELF-EXAMINATION - Ga 6:1
If we are not careful, we can easily fall into the same fault!
A WILLINGNESS TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS - Ga 6:2
Which involves an expense of time and energy to help the weak to overcome their faults
Our responsibility is not fulfilled by simply pointing out our brother's faults!
HUMILITY
2Ti 2:24-26 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WORD - 2Ti 2:24
We must be able to teach and apply God's Word to the situation
For it is important that they respond to GOD'S word, and not just to OUR views or opinions!
PATIENCE (longsuffering) - 2Ti 2:24
The same kind that we receive from God for our faults
And Paul showed towards the church at Corinth 2Co 1:23-2:3
Of course, if repentance is not forthcoming, we can wait for only so long 2Co 13:1-2 his will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."
2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare——
A SINCERE DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE
Both at the time of rebuke - cf. 2Co 2:4
And at the time of repentance - cf. 2Co 2:6-8
IT REQUIRES THE PROPER PROCEDURE...
The proper procedure is outlined by Jesus in Mt 18:15-17
1) Go to the person first
2) Then take others, if necessary
3) Then tell it to the church, if necessary
If he won't hear the church, withdraw any association that might appear to give approval to their behavior cf. 1Co 5:1-13; 2Th 3:6-15;
Ro 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
CONCLUSION
The work of restoring or correcting saints may be unpleasant at times, but it has the potential for great joy!
Both in heaven: "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Lk 15:7)
And in our hearts: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 Jo 4)
It comes down to this...
Do we really love God?
Do we really love our straying brethren?
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
30 SECOND DEVOTIONAL ROMANS 1:25-32 OUR SOCIETY IS IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF SIN
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Romans 1:25-32 says because we worship things rather than Him our society is in a downward spiral of sin. The crime rate for women in our country is rapidly growing upward, as our society forgets God, He leaves us to have our own way. Romans 1:26 says even the women are involved in homosexuality along with the men. When women fall to the same level of sin as men, our society has really left God to the point that even though they know that God will judge them they don’t care and they not only continue to sin, but egg others on to do the same thing.
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
JAMES 5:13-18 IS ANYONE SICK?
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 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. 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. 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. 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. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Are You Suffering
INTRODUCTION
Here we find guidance as to what to do during times of suffering and sickness
IN TIMES OF SUFFERING, LET US "PRAY" (13)
The word used refers to enduring hardness, to suffer trouble, endure affliction, to be afflicted
FOR WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY?
For the REMOVAL of the suffering, if it be the Lord's will
2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
For the STRENGTH to endure the suffering, if it be the Lord's will that we bear with it
1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
God may not always remove the source of our suffering; it may be for our ultimate good
Ps 119:67, 75 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word 71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. 75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
But at least He promises to help us endure it!
FOR WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?
Certainly for ourselves
But also for those who may be the source of our suffering
Jesus taught in Lk 6:28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you
IN TIMES OF CHEER, LET US "SING PRAISES" (13)
THE WORD "CHEERFUL"... means pleasantness, agreeableness
It suggests a state of mind free from trouble--the opposite of affliction--happy!
Consider the attitude of David, the sweet singer of Israel -
Ps 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,
David was a man after God's own heart, shouldn't we be also?
Ep 5:18; And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
WHY DON'T SOME CHRISTIANS SING PRAISES MORE OFTEN, MORE PASSIONATELY?
Hasn't God done enough in our lives to prompt us to praise Him with all one's might in song?
Fortunately, God is not concerned with how it sounds, but that it is coming from the heart, therefore all who can speak can and should sing!
Heaven is described in Revelation as a place where singing praises to God and Christ is an on-going activity
Singing praises to God is just as important as praying to God!
III. IN TIMES OF SICKNESS, LET US "PRAY" (14-18)
THIS PASSAGE IS DIFFICULT
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."
John 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
1Corinthians 11:29-30 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
There are two possible answers
This passage refers to MIRACULOUS HEALING and the elders were called because they possessed the gift of healing
Mk 6:13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
This passage refers to PROVIDENTIAL HEALING or God doing it through natural means
Lk 10:34 "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
James uses an example of God PROVIDENTIALLY answering prayer to show its effectiveness
1) God was indeed answering Elijah's prayer
2) But God did so, providentially, working through natural means
WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING, LETS MAKE THE APPLICATION...
In times of physical sickness, call for the elders of the church
You want the prayers of the "righteous" working in your behalf, don't you?
Notice: You are to call for them, not wait for them to call on you!
Have the elders pray with you...
1) In faith (trusting in the Lord's power to heal, if it be His will)
2) Fervently (with all your might)
In a time where hospitals were non-existent and physicians were rare, anointing with oil was a common treatment - cf. Lk 10:34
The sick should also confess their sins
Verse 15 makes it clear that sickness is not always the consequence of sin, but
But verse 16 and others (like 1Co 11:29-32) suggests that illnesses may be God's loving chastisement for sin, in an effort to direct us back to Him
CONCLUSION
We must be careful not to underestimate:
1) The importance of praise
2) The power of prayer
The importance of confessing our sins
To truly benefit from these three spiritual exercises, we need to be in a right relationship with God
Which involves being open to God's Word: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. Pro 28:9
And being a doer of God's will: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mt 7:21)
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
30 SECOND DEVOTIONAL JUDGMENT ALWAYS BEGINS WITH GOD'S PEOPLE
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Judgment always begins with God's people. God is in the business of raising children for eternity and expects us to be a credit to Christ on earth. He does not want us to bring reproach on the Bible, expects us to be an example to those without Christ and an asset to the cause of the gospel. God is sovereignly intervening into lives to bring us back to Himself. If we stand in the way of people coming to Christ, God will do something about that. We may be obstacles and cause some people who know us reject the gospel because they see we don’t show the reality of the Gospel’s power to change lives.
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Wednesday Nov 04, 2020
30 SECOND DEVOTIONAL DISASTER AND THE US BEING JUDGED
Wednesday Nov 04, 2020
Wednesday Nov 04, 2020
The United States has a blind spot when it comes to disaster. A report stated that ‘nowhere in the world is the rising number of catastrophes more evident than here.’ Every continent has seen an increase in weather-related disasters over the last 30 years, yet none surpasses our own. Yet despite an estimated $1 trillion in damage from these disasters, Americans have so far been unwilling to take the needed steps to head off an even worse future.” Get it? God’s telling us something. We’re not listening.. America is obsessed with the so called good life and we are Ignoring God’s warnings.
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
JAMES 5:1-6 WHEN GOD GETS ANGRY AT THE RICH OR THE TEST OF RICHES
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 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. 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 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. 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.
Compared to many people in the world, we are indeed blessed; in fact, in comparison with most people who live now and who have lived in the past, we are VERY RICH!
Now, it is important to stress that God does not condemn being rich...
Some of the godliest people in the Bible were rich
Job, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Barnabas, Philemon, Lydia
However, Christ does speak of the difficulty of the rich being saved Mt 19:23-26
And there are times when God is very angry at the rich, as in our text:
As we consider this passage more carefully, we will ask and answer four questions:
Who is James addressing in this passage?
What is in store for these rich people?
Why is God so angry at them?
What applications can we draw from this passage?
WHO IS JAMES ADDRESSING IN THIS PASSAGE?
ARE THEY CHRISTIANS?
Possibly, but unlikely for several reasons...
There is no call to repentance in this passage as he would for Christians Here there is only condemnation.
The brethren are not addressed until verse 7, in which THEY are told to be patient in light of what has just been said
They are not addressed as "brethren" as is often done in this epistle - Ja 1:2,19; 2:1,14; 3:1,10; 4:11
MORE LIKELY, THOSE ADDRESSED ARE RICH UNBELIEVERS...
Who had been oppressing the Christians - cf. Ja 2:6
This tirade of judgment is used to comfort the brethren who were being oppressed by them -Ja 5:7
The Lord has heard their cries - Ja 5:4b
Judgment is coming upon these rich oppressors
Therefore, the Christians are told to be patient
WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THESE RICH OPPRESSORS?
MISERIES THAT WILL CAUSE THEM TO "WEEP AND HOWL"! (1-3a)
So certain are these miseries to come, that James speaks of them already occurring!
Riches are corrupted
Garments are moth-eaten
Gold and silver are corroded
When this "corrosion" of their riches occurs...
It will serve as a witness against them
It will eat their flesh like fire
1) The anguish and misery of poverty usually affects the hardest those who were once rich!
2) When poverty strikes, it will make them "weep and howl" as though they were on fire!
THE MISERIES SPOKEN HERE MAY HAVE REFERENCE TO WHAT LATER OCCURRED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN 70 A.D.
Not long after this epistle was written, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans
Many of the rich Jews who had oppressed their Christian brethren literally "wept and howled"
They had failed to realize was that they had heaped up treasure "in the last days" (Ja 5:3b)
Like the man in the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:16-21), they thought they were laying up riches for their latter days
When in fact, it was the "last days" of the Jewish economy when they were so busy storing up wealth!
Like some today, who store up for retirement and then die before they retire!
Just as upon the rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31)!
III. WHY IS GOD SO ANGRY WITH THESE RICH PEOPLE?
BECAUSE OF HOW THEY GOT THEIR WEALTH...
Specifically, by withholding wages from those who had worked for them
Some people today get rich through dishonest schemes or unjust labor practices!
BECAUSE OF HOW THEY USED THEIR WEALTH...
They hoarded their wealth - 3b
They spent it on themselves with pleasures and luxury - 5 (fattening themselves like cows for the slaughter!)
They used the power that comes with wealth to oppress "the just" - 6
The manner in which they got their wealth and used it caused those who were oppressed to cry out, and the Lord heard their prayers
Now, God who is just is about to bring judgment upon these rich oppressors!
WHAT APPLICATIONS CAN WE DRAW?
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE OBTAIN OUR WEALTH...
To do so at the expense of others will bring God's wrath upon us! Deut 24:14,15
It is wrong to think that success can only come by stepping on others
This might be an appropriate place to add what we learn from Paul in 1Ti 6:9-10
It is not riches that are wrong, but the DESIRE TO BE RICH that is wrought with many dangers!
Riches are not wrong if they are the BY-PRODUCT of our endeavors, not the GOAL of those endeavors!
1) I.e., one may desire to be a doctor to help the sick, and receive riches as a by-product because of the value society might place on such services
2) But to enter such professions solely because one's goal is to get rich is wrong
So how do we obtain our wealth?
If we do it honestly and in compensation for a job well done, then God is not displeased
But if we do it by hurting others and by making wealth our primary object, then we are in danger of God's wrath!
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE USE OUR WEALTH...
To spend it on luxurious living when others are suffering...
Is exactly what James has described in this passage
Is an indication of the lack of the love of God - 1 Jn 3:17
According to the New Testament, the purpose of working is not to obtain wealth for our own gratification, but to help those less fortunate!
As commanded by Paul - Ep 4:28; 1 Ti 6:17-19
As exemplified by Paul - Ac 20:34-35
CONCLUSION
Living in the country and society in which we do, we have much for which to be thankful
But we also have much of which we need to beware:
We live in a society where it is quite easy to become wealthy
We live in a society where covetousness or the desire to be rich are not considered sins
We live in a society where heaping up treasures for our own gratification is considered an inalienable right!
-- It is easy to be influenced by these values!
Perhaps we need to ask ourselves constantly: Are we laying up treasure in heaven, or on earth?
Those who lay up treasure in heaven are those who use their wealth to do good and help the poor and less fortunate - cf. Mt 19:21; 1 Ti 6:18-19
Those who lay up treasure on earth are actually storing up for themselves miseries and wrath!
1) Miseries...when their wealth fails them in their time of true need
2) Wrath...from God in the Day of wrath that is yet to come
Have you begun to lay up treasure in heaven by obeying the gospel of Christ?
Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32
Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.
hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F
The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions