Thursday - Wholeness by Prayer & Action - James 5:13-20 - 2/23/17

James refers to someone who is incapacitated physically. Thus oil can represent both the medical & the spiritual spheres of life. Jesus Christ is Lord over both the body & the spirit.


The elders should be on call to respond to the illness of any members & the church should stay alert to pray for the needs of all its members.


"And the prayer of faith," does not refer to the faith of the sick person, but to the faith of the church. God heals, faith doesn't, & all prayers are subject to God's will. That is why God often waits for our prayers of faith before intervening to heal a person.


"Confess your faults" can be translated "Confess your sins." Christ has made it possible for us to go directly to God for forgiveness, but confessing our sins to one another still has an important place in the life of the church. In Christ's Kingdom, every believer is a priest to other believers. We must help others come to Christ & tell them of Christ's forgiveness.


The Christian's most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. Since God's power is infinitely greater than our own, it only makes sense to rely on it - especially because he encourages us to do so.


For more about the great prophet Elijah (Elias), read his Profile in I Kings 18.


Clearly the person who has slipped away is a believer who has fallen into sin - one who is no longer living a life consistent with his belief. Christians disagree over whether or not it is possible for people to lose their salvation, but all agree that those who move away from their faith are in serious trouble & need to repent. James urges Christians to help backsliders return to God. By taking the initiative, praying for the person, & acting in love, we can meet the person where he is & bring him back to God.


The book of James emphasizes faith in action. Right living is the evidence of result of faith. The church must serve with compassion, speak lovingly & truthfully, live in obedient to God's commands, & love one another. The body of believers ought to be an example of heaven on earth, drawing people to Christ through love for God & one another. If we truly believe God's Word, we will live it day by day. God's Word is not merely something we read or think about, but something we do. Belief, faith & trust must have hands & feet - ours!

Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois

Living Justly With Others .... 1/12/20124 Sunday School Lesson

Psalm/Tehillim 7 . Praise - Lord - sing . Proverbs/Mishle 11 . Romans 6 . God . righteousness - holiness . Everlasting Life - Eternal Life . Submit Yourself - Every Ordinance . Matthew 18 . Peter . forgive - 7 times - 70 x 7 - unlimited . Kingdom of Heaven . Certain King . 10,000 talents . Compassion . Same Servant . his Fellowservants . Hundredpence . Luke 6 . Judaea . Jerusalem . Tyre - Sidon . Healed . Unclean Spirits . Rejoice . Love . Love your enemies . Bless Them . Merciful . Judge Not . Fruit - Foundation - Rock . Sunday School Lesson . Promises

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Luke 6:17-31 (Background Scripture: Luke 6:17-36; Devotional Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35) for 1/12/2014.

The Sunday School Lesson is shared from Luke 14:7-18a, 22-24 (Background Scripture: Luke 14:7-24; Devotional Reading: Psalm/Tehillim 147:1-11) for 1/19/2014.


talents ... 1 talent (kikkar) weight-talent "of king" - 158 lbs - 1 oz. - 10 dwts - 0 grs.

pence ... The Roman penny is the 8th part of an ounce which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence half-penny.

Tyre ... an ancient city of Phoenicia (port of Crete), covering 100 acres on an island, & having two ports of 12 acres each; now a town of 3,000 inhabitants (Biblical Times).

Sidon ... capital of Phoenicia, a walled city of 10,000 inhabitants (Biblical Times).


Love ... agape (God's Love - Unconditional) .... philo (tender affection) ... eros (romantic type)





Promises: Psalm/Tehillim 7:10; Proverbs/Mishle 11:3,5,6,8 (The Upright Are Blessed & Prospered) .... Romans 6:23 (Eternal Life) ... Luke 6:22,23 (Joy, Rest & Peace) ... Luke 6:37 (Pardon for Iniquities & Sins) ... Prospered does not always mean wealth/material riches - but there were some in Biblical Times that did have wealth.


Luke 6:17-49 ... The great Sermon ... Luke 4:14-8:56 (The Return To Galilee)

Luke 6:17-31

Verses 17-20

Verse 17 ... Jesus Christ; Christ's Ministry; Christ Reception by Men, Followed by Multitudes

Verse 17 ... Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7

Verse 18 ... Miracles; Miracles In Ejecting Devils & Destroying Idols; Ejection of Devils

Verse 19 ... Jesus Christ; Christ's Ministry; Christ's Miracles





Verse 19 ... Matthew 14:36; Mark 6:56

Verse 20 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Steadfastness Rewarded

Verse 20 ... Matthew 5:3

(Matthew 5-7 ... Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)


Verses 21-323 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Steadfastness Rewarded

Verse 21 ... Matthew 5:6 ... Verse 22 (Matthew 5:11) ... Verse 23 (Matthew 5:12)

Verses 24-31

Verses 24-26 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Steadfastness Rewarded

Verse 27 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Prayer for Persecutors

Verse 27 ... Matthew 5:44

Verse 28 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Prayer for Persecutors

Verse 28 ... Matthew 5:44

Verse 29 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of The New Life; Meekness ... The Outward Man; body Clothed; Portions of Dress, Coat

Verse 29 ... Matthew 5:40

Verse 30 ... Trials & Persecutions; Conduct Under Persecution; Non-Resistance

Verse 30 ... Matthew 5:42

Verse 31 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of The New Life; Love to Man

Verse 31 ... Matthew 7:12





Monday - January 6, 2014 - Judged by the Righteous God - Psalm/Tehillim 7:1-17

An Appeal For Justice ... Psalm of Supplication: On account of affliction - Expressing trust in God - Professing the psalmists integrity ... Didactic (instruct/teach) Psalm: Showing the blessings of God's people & the misery of HIS enemies.


Tuesday - January 7, 2014 - The Righteous & Upright - Proverbs/Mishle 11:3-11

Moral virtues & their contrary vices ... vice(blemish/defect/wickedness)


Wednesday - January 8, 2014 - Enslaved to God - Romans 6:16-23

The Gospel for The World: 'The Righteous - By Faith Shall Live' ... Romans 1:18b-8:39


Thursday - January 9, 2014 - Living as God's Servants - I Peter 2:11-17

The Christian Civic Submission (I Peter 2:13-17) ... The Submission Of The Christian (I Peter 2:11-3:12)


Friday - January 10, 2014 - Forgiveness & Mercy - Matthew 18:21-35

Teaching: The Church ... Matthew 17:24-18:35


Saturday - January 11, 2014 - Blessings & Woes - Luke 6:20-26

Woe ... warning


Sunday - January 12, 2014 - Do Not Judge - Luke 6:27-42


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Edition Bible, Special Arrangement N.T, KJV, Zondervan Bible Commentary, Vine's Expository Dictionary of O.T. & N.T. Words, & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary 10th Collegiate Edition