Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Last week we examined James 1:3 and were instructed by the Holy Spirit we will face trials, not sent by God, but by Satan and the curse which is in the world. These trials will test God’s faith that resides in us by working Godly endurance, which is patience. James 1:4, which we will examine today, builds upon James 1:2-3.
James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
“Patience” is the Greek word “hupomone,” which means “properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to “remain (endure) under” the challenges.”
“Perfect” is the Greek word “teleios,” which means “perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character.”
“Work” is the Greek word “ergon,” which means “work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.”
“Entire” is the Greek word “holokleros,” which means “complete in all its parts, in no part lacking or unsound, complete, entire, whole.”
“Wanting” is the Greek word “leipo,” which means “leave behind, abandon), (a) I am wanting, (b) mid: e.g. with gen: I come behind (in a race), am left behind in, fall short of (some standard), am wanting in.”
“Nothing” is the Greek word “medeis,” which means “no one, none, nothing.”
As we summarize the meaning of the Greek words in James 1:4, we get “Let Godly endurance complete the work or task in all its part, that your Christian character may be full grown and in no part lacking or unsound, but whole, not falling short or lacking in anything (spiritual or physical).”
As the Holy Spirit teaches us through James, we can get excited and count it all joy because opposition, trials, tribulations, persecutions, and afflictions are an opportunity for promotion. It is the trying of our faith as James writes in James 1:3. God takes that which Satan means for harm, for bondage, to keep us in an impoverished mentality and gives us an opportunity to turn it to our good through His Word (Romans 8:28). We’re told by the Holy Spirit through Paul we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). This means we are able to receive the spoils of Jesus’s victory over Satan without ever having to fight a battle. Why? Because Jesus has already fought and won it for us.
Every barrier we break, every trial, tribulation, etc., we pass through victoriously is designed for our increase. God can promote us because we operated in faith to receive, regardless of the amount of time it takes. Success when faced by the opposition is when we listen to God’s revelation and not the world’s information. Information is vastly inferior to revelation. There is no spiritual component to information. Revelation is entirely spiritual because it is of and from God. Jesus tells us in John 6:63 the Word He gives us is Spirit and life. When we are in the process of receiving revelation, Satan will buffet us, shake us, try to get us into fear thinking things are falling apart. When we remain patient and Godly endure, God is able to promote us, elevate us, taking us to a higher level of revelation and operation. This is why we will be perfect and entire, lacking nothing if we follow God’s blueprint – The Word of God. I Peter 5:6-7 instructs us “how” we receive revelation: by humbling ourselves before the Father. How do we humble ourselves? It is not the way the world or religion teaches “humble.” Humility to God is when we cast all issues, problems, trials, tribulations, persecutions, etc., on God. We leave them at God’s feet. We can only do this by trusting in His Word and obeying it. We must quit dragging our problems around like a sad sack. Leave them with God and move out as the conqueror in Christ we are doing exactly what God’s Word instructs us to do.
I Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt [promote] you in due [at the appropriate] time:
7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
What usually happens when we encounter a trial, tribulation, affliction, or persecution is we automatically revert back to our muscle memory. Muscle memory is our muscles and nervous system reacting a certain way subconsciously based on a lot of training. For most Believers, when the trial hits, they run crying to the world or God. Both are wrong. And they spend all of their prayer telling God all about their problem, then asking God to resolve it. I’m going to be a bit harsh here, but there is a blessing of wisdom with it. If we’re whining and crying and complaining about the problem to God, HE CAN DO NOTHING FOR US. NOTHING. How is a Believer to come to God?
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
As a Believer, there is NO throne of judgement for us. There is only the throne of grace (unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor). God tells us to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace. Who is “us” in Hebrews 4:16? It is Jesus and you. Jesus comes with us in our prayers to the court before our Father’s throne of grace. He is our advocate, our lawyer, our intercessor.
Proverbs 15:23-24
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
When we come before the throne of grace, what are we to speak to God? Proverbs 15:23-24, above, tells us. WE DON’T COME TO GOD TALKING ABOUT OUR PROBLEM. We speak the solution to ourproblem from God’s Word. We say God, I thank You in the name of Jesus Christ Covid CANNOT live in my body because it is of the curse, and I’m under the Blessing. The Blessing says no plague, no disease, no sickness can come near to my body (Psalm 91). And, Father, you state You watch over Your Word to ensure it comes to pass. And Your Word says You cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Therefore, I cannot catch Covid. I come into the agreement with the Holy Spirit on Matthew 18:18 and bind Covid such that it cannot touch my family or me. If it tries to attack me, it will die the moment it touches my blessed body because as You say Father, my body is the temple for Your Spirit in me (I Corinthians 6:19). Everywhere I stand is hallowed and holy ground because You are in me. I am as Jesus is while I’m in this earth (I John 4:17). Thank you, Father I’m walking joyfully with Your blessings overcoming and overtaking me (Deuteronomy 28:2). In the almighty, all powerful, name of Jesus Christ, Who has authority and power over all Heaven, earth, and under the earth.
In closing, we will have to exercise coming to the Father with joy and speaking His Word, the solution, to our problems by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We’ve been well trained by the world and religion to come complaining, whining, and crying rather than coming boldly, as conquerors through Christ, to the throne of grace speaking The Word of joy. Remember, we are not going to a victory. We are coming from a victory. As God has taught me, we are victors coming from a victory going to a success. It takes continual practice. But if we’ll commit to it, and keep practicing it, eventually it will become natural for us to automatically go into joyful proclamation of God’s promises – His Word – to us for whatever mountain comes our way. What a mighty feeling of sweet relief when we reach this walk with Christ.
Walk mighty with the heart of the Lamb of God and the attitude of the Lion of Judah!
Much love in Christ,
Larry