The Book of James - Chapter 4

Verse 1, where do fightings and strivings come from among you? Do they not come from your pleasures that battle in your members? 

And this is where all the problems come from! Because we confess to believe in Messiah but we will not obey what Messiah says about not being part of the world. It is the pleasures of the world from which all fightings and strivings come from. 

Verse 2-3, you desire, and do not have. You murder, and are jealous, and are unable to obtain. You strive and fight and you do not possess, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask evilly, in order to spend it on your pleasures. 

We strive and fight to own the worldly possessions but we should be striving for Yahuah’s possession, His Kingdom! Seek the Kingdom of Yahuah first, then (only then) whatever you ask of Me, I will give! His Kingdom is what we should be striving for, nothing else. We ask Father for help but we are not seeking His kingdom. Some people ask for a car or a house and the above verse says; you ask evilly, in order to spend it on your pleasures.  

Verse 4, adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity (hostile / friction / conflict) with Elohim?  Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim. 

Very strong words! Serving other gods is committing adultery towards Yahuah. Do not become an enemy of Elohim. 

Verse 5-6, or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the Spirit which dwells in us intensely crave unto envy? But He gives greater favour. Because of this He says, “Elohim resists the proud, but gives favour to the humble.” 

Do you believe the scripture (bible) is true! Then we need to see with our eyes! The Set-apart Spirit (Holy Spirit) will not let you crave after the world. “Proud” the enemy of Elohim!

 

Verse 7, so then subject yourselves to Elohim. Resist the devil and he shall flee from you. 

If we walk with Elohim, in His light then satan will not touch us or deceive us. 

Verse 8-9, draw near to Elohim and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners. And cleanse the hearts, you double-minded! Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up. 

We must be set apart people! We need to come out of the world because it will destroy! We need to clean our hearts, clean our house, and clean our lifestyle before we can come to Him. This is not an easy task but it must be done and it is going to cost a lot of weeping. 

Verse 10, brothers, do not speak against one another. He that speaks against a brother and judges his brother speaks against Torah and judges Torah. And if you judge Torah, you are not a doer of Torah but a judge. 

Help your fellow believer! Guide him according to the Torah, show him what is wrong in the eyes of Yahuah but be careful not to judge harshly. 

Verse 12, there is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? 

Only Yahuah is the judge! We need to show people the wrong they are doing. Example; when someone is cheating on his spouse (adultery). We should/must tell him/her it is wrong, referring to the scripture. Believers should not look pass sin, it must be shown out. Father will do the judging at the end of this age!

 

Verse 13-15, come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, let us go to such and such a city, spend a year there, and trade, and make a profit,” when you do not know of tomorrow. For what is your life? For it is a vapour that appears for a little, and then disappears – instead of your saying, “If the Master desires, we shall live and do this or that.” 

Again the proud issue! We strive after the world riches instead of asking Yahuah what He wants of us. 

Verse 16-17, but now you boast in your proud speeches. All such boasting is wicked. To him, then, who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

Proud is an abomination to Yahuah. Stay away from sinning! True believers: Do not be part of the world!

 Praise Yah!

The Green Tree

For the laws of these peoples are worthless, for one cuts a tree from the forest, work for the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They beautify it with silver and gold; they strengthen it with nails and hammers so that it does not topple - Jeremiah 10:3-4.

And you said, 'I am not serving you,' when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down a whore - Jeremiah 2:20.

Only, acknowledge your crookedness, because you have transgressed against Yahuah your Elohim and have scattered your ways to strangers under every green tree..... Jeremiah 3:13. 

The above verses are about people cutting a green tree from the forest, taking the tree to a high place, crafting into a shape, nailing into position, decorating the tree with silver and gold items.

The scripture talks about whoring under the tree which may mean that wickedness was made or placed under the tree to worship! 

The 2nd commandment says that we may not make a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above (stars, moon, sun etc.), or which is in the earth (animals, trees, stones, wood, men etc.) beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth (fish etc.) - Exodus 20:4-6.

Do not keep or make a moulded god for yourself - Exodus 34:17 & Leviticus 19:4.

Do not make idols for yourselves and do not set up a carved image or a pillar for yourselves and do not place a stone image in your land - Leviticus 26:1.

Do not make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure - the likeness of male or female, of any beast, of any bird, of any creeping creature or of any fish or the sun, moon and stars - Deut 4:16-19.  

Having a carved image of anything is not allowed, it is against Heavenly Father's will, so why do we have these images like the green tree in our houses every year.

Many people will be shocked at what I am about to say but my Father in Heaven’s truth must be known and you have the choice to accept or reject this truth. 

Christmas is thought by most to be a wonderful time, focusing the participants on giving, family togetherness and feasting on special foods. All of this is supposedly centred on the worship of Messiah Yahusha (Jesus).

Do the Scriptures (Bible) instruct us to do all this — no, it does not!

Why do people think that Christmas is wonderful? Most never reflect on why they believe what they believe or do what they do. We live in a world filled with customs, but few ever seek to understand their origin. We generally accept them without question. Most people basically do what everyone else does—because it is easy and natural! The most common justification that one will hear regarding Christmas is that people have replaced old pagan customs and intents by asserting that they are now “focusing on Messiah.” Many say that they are “honouring Messiah” in their Christmas-keeping.

Heavenly Father says that this is NOT acceptable to Him! Actually, He plainly commands against it! Keeping Christmas dishonours Messiah! He considers everything about it to be an abomination! Messiah said, “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew. 15:9). 

Christmas is not a command of Heavenly Father or Messiah—it is a tradition of men. Messiah continued, “Full well you reject the commandment of Yahuah, that you may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9). Every year, throughout the world, on December 25th, hundreds of millions do just that!

Heavenly Father Yahuah plainly commands, “Follow not the way of the heathen.” But most people do not fear Yahuah, and He allows them to make their own decisions.

 

Human beings are free moral agents—free to obey or disobey Father! But woe to those who ignore the plain Word of Yahuah! 

“The Christmas tree is from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period long anterior to the Christmas Era.” 

Did you know this—that the Christmas tree long preceded Christianity? Most aspects of Christmas are not referred to in the Bible.

Of course, the reason is that they are not from Heavenly Father—they are not part of the way He wants people to worship Him.  

The Christmas tree, however, is directly mentioned in the Bible - Jeremiah 10:2-5. This plain description of the modern Christmas tree is clear. Yahuah directly refers to it as “the way of the heathen.” Just as directly, He commands His people to “learn not the way of the heathen,” calling these customs “vain.” Verse 23 adds a remarkable and powerful statement: “O Yahuah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his [own] steps.”

Father must teach people how to live. Man simply cannot figure out Father's ways for himself.

There is no room in Jeremiah 10 to believe, as some have tried to suggest, that because these trees are powerless of themselves, it is not really forbidden to have a Christmas tree.  

Yahuah condemns the putting up of pagan (Christmas) trees with this plain Scripture command!

 

Please pray for Yahuah’s guidance if you are a believer and still celebrating Christmas. 

Praise Yah, He is the Creator!

Rejoice with singing

"Yahuah your Elohim (Almighty) is in your midst, is mighty to save. He rejoices over you with joy, He is silent in His love, He rejoices over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17.  

HalleluYAH, is that not wonderful, Father has joy and sings when we turn back to Him and became His Set Apart children.

He is in my midst, praise Him with a joyful heart. Singing the victory Psalms releases His power and might within your spirit.  

Remember, it is His joy, not yours, nor mine that brings the deliverance! So, sing with great enthusiasm to your King!  

Nehemiah 8:10, then he said to them, “Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom none is prepared. For this day is set-apart to our Yahuah. Do not be sad, for the joy of Yahuah is your strength.” 

Today! Are you overflowing with peace, joy, and expectation of deliverance through the coming of Messiah? 

Praise Yah with singing

Oh, clap your hands, all you people! Shout to Elohim with a voice of singing! For Yahuah Most High is awesome - Psalms 47:1-2.

Psalms 47:6-7, sing praises to Elohim, sing praises! Sing praises to our Sovereign, sing praises! For Elohim is Sovereign of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. 

My heart is firm, O Elohim, My heart is firm; I sing and praise. Awake, my esteem! Awake, harp and lyre!

I awake the dawn. I praise You among the peoples, O Yahuah; I sing to You among the nations.- Psalms 57:7-9. 

Sing to Yahuah a new song, sing to Yahuah, bless His Name, proclaim His deliverance from day to day - Psalms 96:1-2.

I sing of loving-commitment and right-ruling; to You O Yahuah, I sing praises, I act wisely in a perfect way, when do You come to me? I walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart - Psalms 101:1-2.

Give thanks to Yahuah! Call upon His Name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him - Psalms 105:1-2. 

Praise Yah! Oh give thanks to Yahuah, for He is good! - Praise 106:1.

Praise Yah! Praise, O servants of Yahuah! Praise the Name of Yahuah! Blessed be the Name of Yah, Now and forever! Psalms 113:1-2.  

Let’s praise and sing to Heavenly Father like David did. O, I love Him so much, my Saviour, my King. May your heart be full of singing and praises?

 

Be ready and prepared always. Praise Yah!

Wrath of Almighty

Many people (Christians) are taught that all you have to do to be saved is to confess that you believe in Jesus. After this confession you are saved and you cannot loose your salvation. It is said "Once saved, always saved!

People say they are weak, therefore they will always sin, sin cannot be prevented as we live in a sinful world, but grace is all we need to be saved. They say Jesus died for all sins, so, no matter what a person who believes does right or wrong they are saved by grace. 

For arguments sake, let’s look at 2 examples of people who profess to believe in Jesus and say they are saved.

First example: A married man goes with his work colleges to a strip show to watch naked girls dancing on poles.

He has no worries because the Pastor told him Jesus loves him and Jesus knows we are weak.... Actually what he says by going to the strip show is that he is not sinning, he is not doing anything wrong, he is only having fun, no harm done, and it is only naked girls.

His wife will not have a problem with him watching naked girls, as long as he does not touch the girl. 

Second example: A married woman, who attends church every Sunday, goes to town wearing a revealing top with most of her bosom hanging out.

Other men see her and lust after her and she in return flirts with them, thinking no harm is done it is just having fun.

Her husband loves her in the top and therefore approves of her walking in public with these revealing clothes. 

Both these two examples are people that believe in "Once saved, always saved." 

Many say Heavenly Father was strict in the Old Testament but in the New Testament His Son Yahusha (Jesus) came and changed all that into love. Love your neighbour and love Jesus.

After His death, He left us with love and grace. 

Is this what you have been taught? Is this what the scripture (Bible) says? 

I was taught in this way and lived this way most of my life. I believed and trusted the pastor/preacher that what he was teaching me was all true. 

Round about seven years ago I read/studied the Scriptures (bible) from the first book (Genesis) to the last book (Revelation), which took me 1 year and 3 months of study. I studied every single day and also making notes of important verses.

In doing so I realized after reading the complete scriptures that I was only taught half the truth. 

What does Heavenly Father say in His word about people who say they believe in him and still live in sin? 

Question: Were the 2 examples I gave of the married man going to a strip show and the married woman wearing revealing clothes + flirting acceptable in the eyes of Messiah Yahusha. 

Are they sinning?

 

Another question; what is love? If I love my wife, would I flirt with other woman or would I watch another woman's naked body.

Do I really love my wife if I do this!

What does scripture say about love!

Do you know that obedience is a love issue?

Messiah (Jesus) replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching/commands (His Word). My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching (His Word). These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." - John 14:23-24.  

What is His teaching? It's the Word, His living word, the Bible/Scripture that is His teaching. And Messiah says that His word comes from His Father. Yahuah does not change! 

If you love Him, then you will do His teaching. Obedience is a behaviour issue. 

Let's lock this down. We obey only if our behaviour conforms to the Heavenly Father's commands. We disobey if our behaviour does not conform to the Father's commands. 

Locking this down even further - ignorance is not an excuse. For the wrath of Yahuah (Heavenly Father) is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about Yahuah is evident within them; for Yahuah made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse - Romans 1:18-20.  

What these verses are saying is that Father has made sure that everyone will know what is right and what is wrong, this was given to all from the beginning of creation. We have no excuse in knowing what is right or wrong we are born with a certain amount of this knowledge of what is right or wrong....as time goes by we may suppress this knowledge or we become so used to sin and sinning that our consciences become insensitive but there is no excuse as His Word is available to everyone. The Word is the truth. 

The 2 examples above of the man and the woman.... They are out right fools!

 

Because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem (respect & admiration) Him as Almighty, nor gave thanks, but became self-centred in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened - Romans 1:21.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the esteem of the trustworthy (righteous) Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible (dishonest) man, and birds and 4-footed beasts and of reptiles - Romans 1:22-23. 

People became self-centred, everything is about self because they take Yahuah's respect and change the respect to them self and man. 

Heavenly Father says He will give them up for uncleanness (filth) in lust of their hearts, to disrespect their bodies among themselves, who changed the truth of Elohim into falsehood, and worshipped and served what was created rather than the Creator....... - Romans 1:24-25.  

Think of the 2 people; the man that went to the strip show and the woman that flirted and wore revealing clothes.

Father says He will give them the lusts (filth) of their hearts, because they changed Father's truth into falsehood. They will worship their self, their bodies, other bodies, idols, gold, silver, money, anything that was created by Elohim rather then the Almighty Father Himself. 

Almighty (Elohim) will give them over to the following: degrading passions; women sex with women or animals (scripture says, exchange natural relations for what is against nature), men sex with men (homosexuality), committing indecency (pornography, watch naked woman, wearing indecent clothes) and receiving back the reward which was due for their straying (drifting away) - Romans 1:26-27. 

Do you still think the 2 people (strip show & revealing clothes) are doing nothing wrong in Yahusha (Jesus) eyes? 

In the 2 examples I used above do you know why they think it is okay to still sin?

It's because Heavenly Father has given them over to their lust. Messiah will not be mocked! 

Messiah says in Romans 1:28, even as they did not think it worth-while to possess the knowledge of Elohim, Elohim (Almighty God) gave them over to a worthless mind, to do what is improper. 

You hear what Messiah Yahusha (Jesus) is saying, if you think His word/truth is not important for you and you carry-on living in sin, then He will give you over to worthlessness and wickedness to do all the lusts of your heart. 

This is what He says you will be given over too in (Romans 29-31); unrighteousness, whoring, wickedness, greed, evil; filled with envy, murder, fighting, deceit, evil habits; whisperers(suspicion/secrecy), slander (backbiting),haters of Elohim, insolent(abusive/insulting), proud(self), boasters(brag/talking big), devisers of evils, disobedience to parents, without discernment, covenant breaking, unloving, unforgiving, ruthless. 

Look at this list and ask yourself, have I been given over to this. 

I look at the list and ask the Spirit of Yahuah (Holy Spirit) to convict me of anything I am doing wrong. 

Listen to verse 32; who, though they know the righteousness of Elohim, that those who practice (sinning) such deserve death......... 

If you know the truth and you prefer anyway to practice in sin, then you deserve death. 

Messiah said in Matthew 5:28, anyone looking at a woman (or man) to lust for her (she is beautiful, I would like to sleep with her) has already committed adultery (sin) with her in his heart. 

Messiah is light (clean/righteous) and no darkness is in Him. 

The 2 examples of the married man watching a strip show and the married woman revealing her body and flirting with men are confessing Yahusha (Jesus) (the LIGHT) but partaking in darkness (sin) and Messiah says He is ONLY LIGHT, in Him is NO DARKNESS. 

These 2 examples of the people behaving unclean are according to the Bible not see the kingdom of Yahuah. 

Repent (turn away from sin) and be in light, the light of Messiah.

 

Praise Yah all the time!

The Book of James - Chapter 3

Verse 1-2, not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. For we all stumble in many matters. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body.

We all are called to be priests but some have the gift of preaching or teaching, given by Father.  Anyone having these gifts must ensure they teach from Yahuah’s word through His Spirit because if anyone misleads people away from the truth, that person will receive a higher judgement.

Verse 3-5, look, we put bits in the mouths of horses, for them to obey us, and we turn their body. Look at the ships too: although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends. So too the tongue is a little member, yet boasts greatly. See how a little fire kindles a great forest!

Just like a small rudder steering a ship, so is the small tongue steering people to or from the word of Yahuah. What we talk about to other people regarding Messiah will bring them to Him or lead them away. Be careful what you say! Think before you talk!

Verse 6, and the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Among our members the tongue is set, the one defiling the entire body, and setting on fire the wheel of life, and it is set on fire by Gehenna (death).

The tongue can kill or it can bring healing! The tongue can destroy a marriage, a friendship and even destroy your walk with Messiah. The tongue is like a fire, burning down everything in its path if not controlled. An uncontrolled tongue on fire is straight from the wicked one!

 

Verse 7-8, for every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly, evil, filled with deadly poison.

Every animal on this earth can be tamed by man or woman but the tongue is difficult to tame.

Verse 9-10, with it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of Elohim. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so.

The one moment we will say good things about people and then the next moment we will gossip about other people. With this same tongue we worship Elohim and we also talk bad things. As believers this should not happen! We cannot bless and curse from the same tongue, especially if we are followers of Yahusha Messiah.

Verse 11-12, does the fountain send forth the sweet and the bitter from the same opening? My brothers, is a fig tree able to bear olives, or a grapevine figs? So neither is a fountain able to make salt and sweet water.

An apple tree does not bear oranges, so too a believer does not curse when he should be blessing.

Verse 13, who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom.

As true believers in Messiah, we should only bear good fruit and this is shown by our behavior.

Verse 14-16, but if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed.

If a person is self-seeking (self-praising or likes to be praised by other people), proud, un-forgiveness and have bitterness, then this is from the devil and is wicked.

Verse 17-18, but the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The above verses are how true believers should react! With meekness, humbleness, kind, giving, gentle, compassion and bearing good fruit. Sounds easy! We can only do this through Messiah Yahusha and His Spirit living in us. Without Him, it is impossible. With Him, it is possible. There are 3 things we have to die to daily (1 John 2:16):

1)      The lust of the flesh (world entertainment)

2)      The lust of the eyes (covetousness)

3)      The pride of life (self-seeking)

The tongue plays a big role in the above list as to what we must daily die of.

1 John 2:15, do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Read this verse again and again, until you understand what Father wants from you. It is very clear!

Philippians 1:11, being filled with the fruit of righteousness (obedience), through Yahusha Messiah, to the esteem and praise of Elohim.

 Praise Yah always.