21 Day Fast Day 18
Today is Week 3 day 18 of our 21 Day Fast, January 23,2024
My focus for today’s devotional is the from the Book of James. James is the brother of Jesus and was a strong leader of the early church. James gets right to the point and can almost sound harsh at times, but his reason was to make sure everyone was living properly before the Lord. Sorry to say that sometimes weak Christians can create their own idea of what they think the Bible should be saying. They pick what they like and dismiss things they don’t want to apply to them. This is very dangerous. Jesus is the Word made flesh. His yes is yes and his no is no. We can’t change the word to suit ourselves. We must change to become the word. “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”
In the last chapter of James’ epistle, he really shows his heart of compassion. He gives such a positive word filled with hope and encouragement. He speaks of praying when you’re suffering. Singing songs when you’re happy. Asking to be anointed with oil by the elders of the church when you’re sick. He ends by encouraging the people to rescue the backslider in order to save their soul from death. This is the call of God for all of us. My Mom was an amazing Christian woman who started a ministry to the local neighborhood kids called, The Cat Club. It was an acronym for Children After Truth. She had quite a following. These kids kept in touch with her as they grew up and would ask for prayer. My younger brother, Michael was of course part of that club and was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 7. He never turned away from the Lord and ended up in full-time pastoral ministry. What can we do to make a difference in our neighborhoods, not to mention our own homes and extended families?
James 5:13-20 (ESV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.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 one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
God bless you as you seek the Lord about what he’s encouraging you to do.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Ray
Keep reading these verses and let them sink deep into your heart!
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
My focus for today’s devotional is the from the Book of James. James is the brother of Jesus and was a strong leader of the early church. James gets right to the point and can almost sound harsh at times, but his reason was to make sure everyone was living properly before the Lord. Sorry to say that sometimes weak Christians can create their own idea of what they think the Bible should be saying. They pick what they like and dismiss things they don’t want to apply to them. This is very dangerous. Jesus is the Word made flesh. His yes is yes and his no is no. We can’t change the word to suit ourselves. We must change to become the word. “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”
In the last chapter of James’ epistle, he really shows his heart of compassion. He gives such a positive word filled with hope and encouragement. He speaks of praying when you’re suffering. Singing songs when you’re happy. Asking to be anointed with oil by the elders of the church when you’re sick. He ends by encouraging the people to rescue the backslider in order to save their soul from death. This is the call of God for all of us. My Mom was an amazing Christian woman who started a ministry to the local neighborhood kids called, The Cat Club. It was an acronym for Children After Truth. She had quite a following. These kids kept in touch with her as they grew up and would ask for prayer. My younger brother, Michael was of course part of that club and was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 7. He never turned away from the Lord and ended up in full-time pastoral ministry. What can we do to make a difference in our neighborhoods, not to mention our own homes and extended families?
James 5:13-20 (ESV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.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 one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
God bless you as you seek the Lord about what he’s encouraging you to do.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Ray
Keep reading these verses and let them sink deep into your heart!
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
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