James Chapter 5

The first chapter of James states this epistle was written specifically to “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”.  By the time we get to this fifth chapter it should be obvious some if it applies to a broader audience. As you read the chapter below, feel free to ask yourself… has these things come to pass, does this speak of the present or is it still future?

James 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14  Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

As for myself, I keep asking… are the last days upon us? What more is to come? I have no answers as of yet… only questions.

All I can say is, if you are not ready for the return of the Messiah Jesus, what are you waiting for? While the time TO be ready as always been now – time has never been more of the essence.

God bless,

Andy

Psalms 127:1 This is what I read this AM

My regular reading – this is what came up. Make of it what you will.

Psalms 127:1   Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

PS: Here the word “LORD” is from the Hebrew “Jehovah” – more accurately translated YHWH. This is the proper name for our Heavenly Father. WE are His children.

According to E.W. Bullinger’s Companion Bible “they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” indicates the children negotiating or fighting.

Tomorrow I read Psalms 128. I have not memorized this passage nor do I remember what it says. It may be just as relevant or it may not.

God bless,

Andy