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Manifesting God’s Love: Faith In the Lord of Glory; James 2:1

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The entire second chapter of James addresses two areas: the hypocrisy of partiality  or prejudice (James 2:1-13) and the life-altering alliance between faith and works  (James 2:14-26). In the first section, using the rich and poor as an illustration, James disassembles the sin of prejudice, as it existed among the congregation.

The Bridge Commentary consists of four sections: Definitions, Background, Questions, and Comments.  The Definitions section explains all significant Greek words found in all the verses of this passage. The Background section contains material which will help to frame the passage in it’s 1st century setting. The Questions section includes queries you may want to ask of the text. Finally, the Comments section contains observations of the verses sorted in word or phrase order.
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#S2-050: More of Why Renewing the Mind Is Important for Soul Development [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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One gentleman said he met a young man not long ago who dove for exotic fish for aquariums. He said that one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. 1 You can be a six inch Christian or you can become a six foot tall fully matured full grown believer. To expand, to grow, to develop you have to go bigger in your thinking. Get out of the small tank of worldly thinking and jump into the great ocean of the knowledge of God found in His Word.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here and Part 2 “Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development” here.

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Why is the Gold Fingered Man in the Book of James Important?

The Epistle of James

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The entire second chapter of James addresses two areas: the hypocrisy of partiality or prejudice (James 2:1-13) and the life-altering alliance between faith and works  (James 2:14-26). In the first area, using a real-life incident between a rich and poor man, James disassembles the sin of prejudice, as it existed among the congregation. In today’s post, we are going to answer several questions from the early part of James chapter 2. Among these questions, who is the gold-fingered man?

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#S2-049: Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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An unknown writer said, “This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.1 Romans 12:2 details for us the importance of renewing the mind with God’s Word. Why renewing the mind is important for soul development is what we’re looking at in this week’s Light on Life.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here.

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Knowing God as Your Unbiased Heavenly Father

The Epistle of James

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There is nothing you can to do make God love you more! There is nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is Unconditional, Impartial, Everlasting, Infinite, Perfect! 1 Impartial is the word for today. It’s the concept which the Word of God addresses and yet one in which the world constantly struggles to achieve. Prejudice and impartial behavior are headline news almost daily in our nation. It doesn’t have to be. Just look at your heavenly Father and emulate Him.

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#S2-048: Why It’s Important to Understand the Serious Power of the Soul [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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A Swedish doctor in a new book says he discovered the human soul weighs 21 grams. He placed beds of terminal patients on sensitive scales and saw the needle drop when the patients died, he says. 1 Twenty-one grams is roughly three-quarters of an ounce. Is this all the soul is, less than an ounce of your human make-up? In this week’s Light on Life Podcast, we are going to jump into this are of the human soul as we strive to understand it’s serious power.

This is part one of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part Two ‘Why It’s Important to Understand the Serious Power of the Soul‘ here.

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The Importance of Knowing Where Your Faith Lies

The Epistle of James

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On June 1, 1976, in a television interview with Reverend Adrian Rogers, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention and George Otis, director of High Adventure Ministries, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States spoke these words. “I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t call upon God, and hopefully thank Him as often as I called upon Him. And, yes, in my own experience there came a time when there developed a new relationship with God and it grew out of a need. So, yes, I have had an experience that could be described as “born again.” 1 Knowing where your faith and confidence lies is vitally important in these ‘darker days’ in which we live. This knowledge should not lie just in a ‘one time’ experience with God but in a day to day, situation by situation lifestyle. The believers James writes to, in his epistle, had their faith somewhere else. It’s helpful to be reminded of his counsel.

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#S2-047: How To Make Sure You Are An Instrument of Righteousness [Podcast]

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A college Sophomore was in need of a car and had a series of dreams one night and everything was in yellow, everything! Early the next morning he began to hit the used car lots, looking at one car after another. Finally he found God’s will for him: a yellow car, yellow inside and out. He didn’t even ask to drive it. He just bought it. Turned out to be a lemon. 1 Yellow in your dreams is hardly the way to acquire God’s will. Jesus knew what the Father’s will was for His life. One day Jesus began to share with His disciples some of that plan. He met with some resistance. What lessons can we learn from Matthews account of this encounter?

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Why the Glory of God Makes Prejudice Unlikely

The Epistle of James

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The entire second chapter of  the book of James addresses two areas: the hypocrisy of prejudice (James 2:1-13) and the life-altering alliance between faith and works (James 2:14-26). Prejudice, bitterness, segregation, hatred, disturbance, hurt, anger, and division rage between people. They rage in the hearts of husbands and wives, children and parents, students and teachers, neighbors and workmen, races and religions, denominations and organizations, neighborhoods and nations. Division in all its various forms is one of the greatest problems confronting the world. It is the most serious problem confronting men, for as long as men are divided from God and from each other, there is no hope of man’s ever being reconciled to God. God’s eternal purpose has been to create a new body of people, a people who will love Him and each other supremely. Note that this is what is known as the great mystery of Christ. 1 Using the rich and poor as an illustration, James disassembles the sin of prejudice, as it existed in the congregation.

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#S2-046: How to Recognize the Voice of Satan the Chameleon [Podcast]

The Believers Authority in Christ

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In some of the outlying areas of British Columbia, Canada, farmers have been plagued with wolves killing their livestock. Meetings have been held with farmers, environmentalists and concerned citizens in a move to solve the problem. The majority of the local people favored shooting or poisoning the marauding wolves. At one meeting a woman strode to the microphone, listed her impressive credentials and explained her solution. “Vasectomy is the answer,” she thundered. “Simply trap the wolves humanely, neuter the males and release them.” One grizzled old sheep farmer rose to his feet. “Ma’am,” he said in a gruff voice, “no disrespect meant, you bein’ an expert, but them wolves is killin’ my sheep, not makin’ love to ‘em.” 1 As funny as this story is, two-legged wolves in the church are a serious problem. Jesus addressed this problem and gave us some clues in how to recognize their potentially damaging threats.

This is part five of the Series entitled, ‘The Believer’s Authority in Christ’. You can find Part One ‘How to Terrorize the Terrorist Encore [Podcast]‘ here and Part Two ‘How to Stop Satan from Pushing You Around’ [Podcast] here, Part Three, ‘How You Can Overcome the Tools of Satan’ [Podcast],  and Part 4 ‘What Is the Greatest Tool in Satan’s Toolbox?’ [Podcast] here.

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The Spirit of the Lord in the Life of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus: Physician Heal Yourself

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As I shut the door of the office after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at His feet. I fell down at His feet, wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet in tears. I must have continued in this state for a good while. I returned to the front office, but as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any recollection that I had ever heard the subject mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to come in waves of liquid love; it seemed like the very breath of God. I wept aloud with joy and love. – Charles Finney 1 The Spirit of the Lord was active in the life of the great revivalist, Charles Finney. And, he is and can be highly active in your life. We can learn much about His activity by looking at the workings of the Spirit in the life of Jesus.