ASKING AMISS
JAMES 4: 1-3
JAMES, WHOM MOST BELIEVE TO BE THE BROTHER OF CHRIST, WAS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH. THE GENERAL THEME OF JAMES WAS TO ENCOURAGE AND CORRECT DISAGREEMENTS AMONG A DIVERSE POPULATION WITHIN THE CHURCH.
SOME SCHOLARS SUGGEST THE JEWISH POPULATION IN THE CHURCH ATTEMPTED TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST OVERTHROWING THE ROMAN OPPRESSION. THEY DESIRED THEIR INDEPENDENCE. THE POINT MADE BY THE WRITER IS THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS WERE NOT GOD’S THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
INSIGHT:
GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. HE WILL NOT RESPOND CONTRARY TO HIS WILL.
THE LORD’S PRAYER ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF WILL.”THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”.
THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS NOT TO PERSUADE GOD TO THINK YOUR WAY. PRAYING THIS WAY IS PRAYING FROM A SELFISH MOTIVE. THE PURPOSE IS TO ALIGN YOUR WILL WITH HIS WILL.
IF YOU PRAY MORE AND BETTER, YOU FIND THE CONFLICT WITHIN YOUR SOUL DISAPPEARING. THE SOUL IS THE SEAT OF EMOTION.
READ 1 JOHN 3: 18-22.
READ 1 JOHN 5: 13-15
APPLICATION: PRAY GOD’S WILL IN YOUR PRAYERS. HIS WILL ALIGNS WITH HIS WORD!
