Lessons from the Book of James—Bible Study series (download PDF)

The Apostle James wrote this book. It was addressed to the twelve tribes of the children of Israel scattered abroad. As Christians, we find some valuable

Meaning of James Chapter 1

Meaning of James 1:2-4

Verse 2 encourages believers to count it all joy when they go through trials. The life of a believer comes with many trials. These trials may be in the form of financial difficulties, marital problems, poor health, wayward children, workplace pressures, and business failures, among others. Therefore, the apostle James is instructing the believer to maintain his or her joy in the face of the numerous trails that life may bring his or her way.

The reason why James instructs a believer to remain joyful is because trials come to test his or her faith to make him learn to be patient (James 1:3). When a believer chooses to rejoice in the face of trials, this attitude enables him or her to remain faithful to his or her calling. He or she will not give up on God or backslide because of the trials. This helps the believer learn to persevere or endure the trials until the time God comes through for him. No trial lasts forever. In other words, trials have an expiry date. When a believer chooses to remain joyful and calm in the face of trials, his character is strengthened and he becomes perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4).

The Bible teaches us that Jesus endured shame up to the cross, where he died in order to redeem humanity from the curse of death. By his death on the cross, Jesus defeated the powers of darkness and is now in possession of the keys of death and hades (Revelation 1:18). By his death on the cross, Jesus paid for the sins of all humanity. Right now, God has given Jesus the name that is above every other name, and by that name, all knees must bow (Ephesians 1:20-22). Jesus achieved these victories by choosing to endure the shame of dying on the cross. By so doing, Jesus set an example for every believer to endure trials because at the end of the day, a reward will be forthcoming (Revelation 2:10).

In the Bible, we see God’s servants going through enormous trials before coming out victorious. These include Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-Nego, and many more. These men endured trials at some point in their lives, and at the end of it all, their patience paid off.

Meaning of James 1:5-8

This verse teaches that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God to give it to him. However, this person should ask in faith in order to please God. The Bible teaches that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, anyone that comes to God asking for anything but has no faith will not receive anything from Him (James 1:5-8).

During prayer, believers come to God with requests they want Him to address. Unfortunately, some usually do so with a ‘plan B’ in mind. In other words, when they pray about something, they usually have in mind another option just in case ‘God does not answer’ them in time. This kind of double-mindedness is strongly condemned in James 1:6-8. This teaches us to wholly surrender our issues to God and wait patiently for His answer without turning to the left or to the right in pursuit of other options (Proverbs 4:25-26).

Meaning of James 1:9-11

James 1:9 encourages the lowly brother to glory in his exaltation. This means that the lowly person should rejoice because, in spite of his current inadequate status, he is about to be promoted. The Bible teaches that exaltation neither comes from the East nor the West nor the South but from God (Psalm 75:6-7).

In the book of James 1:10-11, rich people are warned against making riches their main pursuit in this life. The Bible teaches that riches profit nothing in the day of adversity, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4). Despite being rich, some people still suffer from anxiety, depression, incurable ailments, loneliness, and stress. So being rich is no immunisation against the suffering that life brings our way. Thus, apart from amassing wealth, one should also strive to cultivate a good relationship with God in order to secure eternal life in the hereafter (Luke 12:13-21).

Mark you, I am not insinuating that it is a bad thing to be rich! On the contrary, it is a very good thing to be rich. A wealthy person can comfortably support God’s work. He or she can also reach out to the less fortunate members in the society and assist them (James 1:27). These are good works recognised by God and for which many will be rewarded (Galatians 6:9-10). So our life priority should never be the pursuit of riches per se, but instead, the pursuit of God’s kingdom and His righteousness should be our main objective (Matthew 6:33). 

Meaning of James 1:12

This scripture addresses the issue of enduring temptation. It teaches that the man who endures temptation is blessed. This is because, after enduring and overcoming every temptation that comes his way, he will receive a reward from God both while here on earth and in the life to come (Revelation 22:12). As a believer, the devil will tempt you many times to cause you to backslide. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness after the forty days and forty nights of fasting. Christ overcame him by the written word. Every time the tempter quoted the scripture in order to cause Jesus to fall, he replied using the words ‘It is written.’ This teaches us that, as believers, the only way to overcome the devil is by knowing what the scriptures say about us and applying them rightly in our daily lives (Matthew 4:2-11).

Meaning of James 1:13-15

These verses teach that we fall into temptation because of allowing our desires to overtake us. The scriptures tell us that when desire has conceived, it births sin, which subsequently results in death. Thus, the scripture is warning us against being enticed by our desires or lust, whose ultimate aim is to draw us away from God. Every believer must contend with and overcome the following enemies of our faith: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1st John 2:16). According to scriptures, the only way to overcome our desires is by walking in the spirit (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:1).

Meaning of James 1:17

This verse teaches us that the gifts, all the good gifts and perfect gifts that men possess, are from God. According to Ephesians 4:8-11, the gifts include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts are for equipping believers for the work of ministry and edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). This means that the gifts are not meant for showing off as people do.

In the book of 1st Corinthians 12:4-11, we also come across gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers. They include the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. In 1st Corinthians 12:28, we also come across two more gifts, including helps and administrations. All these are given to edify both the church and the individual.

I believe that apart from the spiritual gifts mentioned above, God also gives gifts to men to enable them to function effectively in their areas of work. These may include understanding of phenomena in different spheres of life, including mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, and literature, among other fields. For example, in Daniel 1:17, the Bible teaches that God gave Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. He also gave to Daniel understanding in all visions and dreams. These were gifts to understand mysteries. In addition, God also gave Joseph the ability to understand and interpret dreams (Genesis 40 and 41).

I believe that God also gives men gifts in the areas of music, sports, and arts, among many other areas. The Bible teaches that your gift will make you stand before great men (Proverb 18:16). So the gifts you see men exhibiting in different aspects of life, they have received them from above.

Meaning of James 1:18

This verse teaches that God has birthed us by His word so that we may become the first fruits of His creatures in matters of salvation. Only the word of God has the ability to clean us and qualify us to become His children. This word of God is actually Christ Jesus, as recorded in John 1:1-4. In John 6:63, Jesus told his disciples that the words he spoke to them are spirit and they are life. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he became the firstborn from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:23; Revelation 1:5). Thus, after the resurrection, we also shall become the first fruits of God (James 1:18).

Meaning of James 1:19-20

These verses teach the believer to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. These attributes are very crucial in our daily engagements with fellow humans. A person who is slow to speak is one who is a good listener. A good listener will always have time to digest what he has heard and give a satisfying, well-thought-out answer. In Proverbs 15:1, we learn that a soft answer turns away wrath, whereas a harsh word stirs up anger. When you do not take enough time to listen to someone, chances are high that you may answer in error.

A believer should not be a quick-tempered person. This is because the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Psalm 37:8 teaches us to cease from anger and forsake wrath. Proverbs 15:18 teaches that a wrathful man stirs up strife while one who is slow to anger appeases strife. Proverbs 16:32 teaches that whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty. When we are not easily provoked, it will be difficult to fall into sin caused by anger. Ecclesiastes 7:9 teaches us not to be hasty to get angry because anger rests in the bosom of fools.

The Bible teaches that it is ok to be angry, but we should not allow the anger to drive us into sin (Ephesians 4:6). In fact, the scripture says that we should not go to bed in that anger! This simply means that we should learn to let go of things that get us angry. The same applies to people who offend us; we should learn to forgive and let go of offenses. Jesus taught that offenses would always come our way (Matthew 18:7). Therefore, we should learn to let go. Psalm 145:8 teaches us that God is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. So we should emulate God. 

Meaning of James 1:21

This verse urges believers to shun evil deeds and instead embrace the word of God, which is able to save us. The evil deeds we are to shun include adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, revels, worship of demons, and lying. This is because those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 9:20; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15).

Meaning of James 1:22-25

This passage encourages us to be doers of the word of God and not just hearers. Many believers are good at listening to the word of God but poor at implementing what they hear. In Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus taught the parable of the sower. From this parable, we learn that Jesus is the sower; the seed is the word of God, while the place or ground where the seed falls is the believer. There are four types of places upon which the seed fell, that is, the wayside, the stony place, the thorns, and the good ground (Matthew 13:4-8). The places where the seed fell represent four types of believers, that is, the wayside believer, the stony-ground believer, the thorny-ground believer, and the good-ground believer (Matthew 13:19-23).

The first category is comprised of believers who fail to be fruitful because of their inability to understand the word they hear. The second category is made of believers who fail to yield fruit because of lack of roots in the word of God. The third category is made of believers who fail to yield fruit of the word they hear because they are more concerned about pursuing the cares and riches of the present world rather than seeking to know and fully understand the word of God. The fourth category is comprised of fruitful believers who, after hearing the word of God, understand it and apply it to their daily lives, hence yielding the fruit thereof.

So in James 1:22-25, the author is urging the believer not only to be a hearer but also a full implementer of the word they hear. He equates believers who fail to implement the word they hear to individuals who, despite observing themselves in a mirror, fail to make the necessary adjustment from what the mirror portrays of them. The apostle equates the word of God to the perfect law of liberty, which every believer should take heed to in order to receive blessings from God.

Meaning of James 1:26-27

These verses teach that true religion involves visiting orphans and widows in their time of need and helping them accordingly. According to the scripture, true religion also involves keeping oneself unspotted from the world. This means walking in the ways of God as stipulated in His word. This can only be achieved by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17). If we walk in the Spirit, we shall overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which are present in the world (1st John 2:15-17).

Meaning of James Chapter 2

Meaning of James 2:1-13

This passage addresses the issue of showing partiality in the body of Christ. In this regard, people who are doing well or who hold influential positions in the society receive preferential treatment when they attend church services. They usually get the best places to sit and are even given time to address the congregants. On the other hand, the not-so-well-to-do believers are usually handled carelessly, and their views are never sought in church matters.

The apostle James clearly states that this is wrong because most of the time the rich people oppress the poor. They also despise the name of Jesus Christ, by which we obtain salvation (James 2:6-7). He urges believers not to show partiality because God has chosen the poor to be rich in the knowledge of the word of the kingdom (James 2:5).

The apostle continues to say that discriminating against the poor goes against the commandment of God that requires us to love our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8). When we fail to keep this commandment, we fail in all the law of God. Thus, we become guilty of punishment. Thus, we should strive to treat all the brethren equally in order to fulfill the law of liberty given to us by God (James 2:10-12).

James 2:13 teaches us that those who are merciful shall receive the same from God, while those who fail to show mercy shall receive similar treatment.

Meaning of James 2:14-26

This passage teaches that we should mix our faith with works when it comes to lending a hand to others. It teaches that when we come across a brother in need, just speaking a word of faith is not enough if we are in a position to alleviate their suffering. Meaning, if we come across a brother who has no food, or no clothing, or no rent, or no school fees, or no fare, etc., where we can, we should help them. This is better than just dismissing them by telling them that God will come through for them. Yes, it is true; God will come through for them, but why wait for God to do something that you can do?! Is this not hypocrisy at its best?

So, in order to show both faith and works (James 2:18), we should always come to the rescue of others whenever we get the opportunity. The Bible teaches that we should continue to do good to all whenever possible and especially to those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:9-10).

James 2:21-23 shows us how Abraham mixed faith with works by offering Isaac on the altar. Despite the fact that God has stated it would be through Isaac that Abraham was to become a great nation. By choosing to offer Isaac, Abraham shows us that he had faith that with or without Isaac, God’s promise would not fail.

James 2:25 also shows us how a harlot named Rahab acted in faith by hiding the spies who had been sent by Joshua in the belief that they would spare both her life and that of her household members.

So James 2:26 concludes by stating that faith without works is dead. Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11 are also very instructive concerning this matter by stating that the just shall live by faith.

Meaning of James Chapter 3

Meaning of James 3:1-2

James 3:1 warns those who wish to become teachers of the word of God. It says that teachers of the word shall receive stricter judgment compared to non-teachers. This is because when you teach others not to steal, you as the teacher should not be a thief. If you teach others not to commit adultery, you should not be doing it. If you teach others not to covet, you should not be covetous. In short, whatever you do, you must ensure that whatever you teach is what you practice. Unfortunately, we fall short in many things because we are men (James 3:2).

Meaning of James 3:3-12

James 3:3-12 teaches about how the human tongue is a dangerous member in our bodies. Despite the fact that we can put bits in the mouth of horses and so be able to control them, it is not easy with the human tongue. Man has been able to tame great creatures, including lions, bears, elephants, dolphins, and many others. However, he has not managed to tame his tongue. Consequently, the tongue can light a fire that could consume an entire forest. This comes when we fail to control what comes from our mouths.

James 3:8 declares that the tongue is indeed full of poison. With it, we bless our God and Father, but with the same tongue, we curse fellow humans who God created in His own image (James 3:9). In other words, our tongue releases blessings on one occasion and curses on another occasion. So James 3:10 teaches that we should not allow this to happen. In other words, we should learn to bless others with our tongue instead of cursing them. That is why scriptures teach us to be slow to speak, swift to hear, and slow to anger (James 1:19).

James 3:11-12 teaches that the same spring cannot produce both fresh water and bitter water at the same time. It adds that a fig tree cannot bear olives while a grape vine cannot bear figs. Furthermore, the same spring cannot produce salty and fresh water at the same time. The lesson here is that we should always use our tongue to bring forth what is good and not evil, to bless and not to curse, to encourage and not depress, to praise and not to vilify, to build up and not pull down, to lift up and not to bring low, and so on. This is because death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). When rightly used, it will bring forth life; if wrongly used, it will bring forth death.

Proverbs 8:13 warns that God hates a mouth with a double tongue. Therefore, whoever has a mouth with a double tongue makes himself an enemy of God. For this reason, we should join the psalmist in his prayer to God to deliver him from a deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2-3). Proverbs 15:4 teaches that a peaceable tongue is a tree of life. So let us strive to have such a tongue.

Meaning of James 3:13-18

This passage teaches about the earthly wisdom versus wisdom that comes from God. Earthly wisdom is self-seeking, full of envy, sensual, and demonic (James 3:14-15). On the other hand, wisdom that proceeds from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, full of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

James 3:18 teaches that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the peacemakers. In his sermon on the mountain, Jesus taught that peacemakers shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). For this reason, Psalm 34:14 instructs that we should seek peace and pursue it. Isaiah 32:17 teaches us that the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever. In Mark 9:50, Jesus instructed his disciples to be at peace with one another.  

Meaning of James Chapter 4

James 4:1-6 teaches about the source of strife among brethren. Accordingly, the main source of strife between brethren is the desire for pleasure (James 4:1). In James 4:2, James refers to this desire for pleasure as lust. He goes ahead to state that the brethren have become captives of lust. This has resulted in envy, covetousness, fights, and murder among them (James 4:2).

This state of affairs has made it impossible for the brethren to receive answers for their prayers. This is because they ask for things so that they can fulfill their pleasures or lusts. So God cannot answer them because the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life are all enemies of God (1st John 2:15-17).

In James 4:4, the apostles clearly indicate that friendship with the world is enmity with God. Thus, whoever makes himself a friend of the world automatically becomes an enemy of God. We find similar sentiments echoed in 1st John 5:16. This teaches us that if we want to be friends of God, we need to shun the lusts that the world throws our way.

James 4:5 tells us the flesh is always at war with the Spirit of God who dwells in us. In order to overcome the desires of the flesh, the apostle Paul advises us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17).

James 5:6 teaches us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 6:17 teaches us that God hates pride. Proverbs 16:18 is very clear that pride comes before destruction. Proverbs 29:23 warns us that a man’s pride shall bring him very low, but those who have a humble spirit will receive honor. This means that if we desire to receive honor, we should learn to walk in humility.

Meaning of James 4:7-10

James 4:7 teaches that when you resist the devil, he will flee from you. This scripture teaches that if you stand your ground in the face of temptations from the devil, he will have no option but to leave you alone. In Matthew 4, the devil came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness after he had fasted for forty days and forty nights. Jesus resisted him by quoting scriptures. When the wife of Potiphar tried to force Joseph to sleep with her, Joseph fled, leaving behind his coat. When Job was going through trials, he focused all his hope on God, who later on delivered him. When David was going through persecution in the hands of King Saul, he continued trusting in God. After the death of Saul, he became king of Israel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. The king had them thrown into the burning fiery furnace. However, God delivered them, and they came out of the furnace unscathed by the fire. All these examples teach us that if we stand our ground, the devil will have no option but to leave us alone.

James 4:8 teaches that when we draw near to God, He draws close to us. This means that if we draw away from Him, He will be far from us. In Isaiah 1:18 God calls us to Himself so that we can reason together. Psalm 73:28 teaches us that it is good to draw near to God, to put our trust in Him, and declare His wonderful works. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls us to himself so that he can give us rest from our labors and burdens. Hebrews 10:22 instructs us to draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

James 4:8 also instructs us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts in order to have a right standing with God. In Psalms 24:3-4, we learn that only those with clean hands and pure hearts can ascend the hill of God. That means God only entertains in His presence individuals with clean hands and pure hearts. If you are double-minded, you cannot stand in the presence of God. Actually, James 1:6-8 has taught us that a double-minded person cannot receive anything from God.

James 4:9 instructs the believer to lament and mourn for their sins. God issues a similar instruction in Isaiah 22:12, where He calls His people to weep and mourn and to put on sackcloth and seek forgiveness for their sins. In James 4:10, the scripture teaches us to humble ourselves before God, and He will lift us up. In 2nd Chronicles 7:14, the Bible teaches that if God’s people will humble themselves, pray, and seek His face, He will hear them from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. This means we should learn to humble ourselves before God all the time so that we may obtain forgiveness of our sins.

Meaning of James 4:11-12

These verses teach us to refrain from speaking evil of one another and judging one another. This is because when we speak evil about others and judge them, we are actually speaking evil against the law and judging it. This puts us on a collision path with God. Only God is righteous enough to judge (Psalm 96:13; Psalm 98:9; Isaiah 33:22). As humans, we err in many things and are thus unqualified to judge others because we are also guilty of breaking the same law (Romans 14:10-13). In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus warned us against passing judgment on others.

Meaning of James 4:13-16

This passage teaches us to commit our plans to God and pray that He directs our steps in fulfilling them. This is because only God knows what tomorrow holds. In other words, after drafting our plans, we should always pray that the will of God prevail. Jesus instructed us to pray that the will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). So we should always plan with the mindset that God’s will take preeminence over all else. Proverbs 16:9 teaches that the heart of a man devises plans, but God directs his steps. In Jeremiah 10:23, the Bible teaches that the way of man is not in himself and that man cannot direct his own steps. Only God can do so. On a similar note, Proverbs 20:24 teaches us that a man’s steps are of the LORD, and so man cannot understand his own way.

Meaning of James 4:17

James 4:17 states and reminds us that if you know the right thing to do and then you fail to do it, that is sin. For example, if you are doing well financially and then someone in need approaches you for financial assistance, if you decline to assist the person, you have committed sin. If you awake in the middle of the night and then the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray, and if you ignore it and continue to sleep, that is a sin. If the Holy Spirit urges you to forgive someone who offended you in the past but you refuse to let go, that is sin. If you were supposed to attend a prayer service for prayers and chose not to, that is a sin. So, according to the Bible, knowing the right thing to do but failing to do it is sin.

This definition of sin is in a class of its own because it implies that committing sin is not necessarily doing evil things like sexual immorality, sorcery, or idolatry, among others.

Meaning of James Chapter 5

Meaning of James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6 warns the rich against mistreating their laborers by underpaying them. The scriptures say that the rich have accumulated a lot of gold and silver at the expense of their employees. In fact, the wages due to the laborers cry out to God, who has sworn to avenge (James 5:4). This teaches that it is wrong for one to underpay his employees. This means that, if at the start of the contract the employee was promised to be paid a certain amount of money, that is exactly what the employer should pay. James 5:5 condemns the rich for murdering the just in order to gain an economic advantage over them.

Meaning of James 5:7-12

This passage urges believers to be patient as they wait for the second coming of the Lord Christ Jesus (James 7:7-8). He illustrates this by the way a farmer patiently waits for the harvest after the first and latter rains. He urges them not to complain against each other. This is because murmuring and complaining are distasteful to God. When the children of Israel murmured against Moses in the wilderness, God punished them by sending fiery serpents among them (Numbers 21:6). So James urges believers to suffer silently without murmuring to keep God’s anger at bay.

He also urges them not to pass judgment against one another (James 5:9). He gives the example of the prophets of old who suffered persecution for speaking for the LORD (James 5:20). He also inspires them using the example of the Job, who underwent untold suffering but remained steadfast throughout that period (James 5:1011).

The Bible teaches us that we should give thanks in all things, whether good or bad, because this is the will of God (1st Thessalonians 5:18). God is pleased when our faith remains steadfast in Him despite the hardships that we face. When we maintain our cool during stormy situations in our lives, God rewards us by providing a way out of such situations. He then goes ahead to bless all those who endure trials and suffering (James 5:11).

James 5:12 cautions believers against swearing by heaven or earth. He instructs them to have a clear-cut yes or no answer when asked about anything. On the same note, Jesus taught his disciples to give a yes or no answer when asked about anything and not to swear by heaven or earth. He even told them never to swear by their heads because none of them could make his hair grow white or black (Matthew 5:33-37).

Meaning of James 5:13-18

James 5:13 teaches believers what to do when going through suffering. It teaches that, when one is suffering, he should pray. This is because prayer is a channel by which a believer can reach out to God and present his petition to Him. Prayers make God intervene in a believer’s situation, making it better for him.

James 5:13 also instructs believers to sing psalms when they are cheerful, that is, during good times. Through singing to God, the believer is showing gratitude to God for His mercies and goodness (Psalm 47:6; Psalm 59:17; Psalm 68:4). When our praises ascend to God, His blessings come down (Psalm 67:5-7).

Meaning of James 5:14-18

James 5:14-15 teaches that when a believer falls sick, he should call the elders to pray for him. According to James, the prayer of faith shall save the believer, and God will heal him. James 5:16 instructs believers to learn to confess their sins one to another. In other words, we should be our brother’s keeper. This means that we should bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

James 5:17-18 teaches that the unceasing prayer of a righteous man achieves a lot. In other words, when a righteous person prays consistently without ceasing, God hears and answers His prayers. The apostle James uses the example of the prophet called Elijah. At one time, Israel had fallen into idolatry, led by their king called Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. It is at this time that Elijah confronted the king and declared that it would not rain on the land until he said so. So there was a prolonged drought in the land for three and a half years. Then after Elijah had restored Israel back to the worship of the true God, he prayed that it should rain, and it did. Thus, the drought ended (1st Kings 18).

This means that if we walk in righteousness before God and then pray persistently, He will always hear us and answer according to His will (Luke 18). In Jeremiah 33:3, God calls upon us to pray to Him because He will hear us, answer us, and show us great things. Jeremiah 29:13 teaches that when we seek God with all our hearts, we shall find Him. Proverbs 8:17 teaches that those who seek God early will always find Him.

Meaning of James 5:19-20

James 5:19-20 encourages believers to learn to restore those who backslide to salvation. This is because when the sinner gets back to the right path, his soul is saved from death. Jesus gave the example of the good shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep in search of one lost sheep. After he finds it, he calls his neighbors and rejoices with them (Luke 15:4-5). 1st John 5:16 teaches that as believers, we should pray for brothers who fall into sin, and God will forgive and restore them.

I hope this is helpful.

God bless you.

Prayer to get born again

Are you willing to become born again? Say the following prayer sincerely:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness.

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.

I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.

I believe that you died and were resurrected in order for me to receive eternal life.

I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.

Come into my heart and baptize me with the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for saving me.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen!”

Congratulations, friend! You are now a born-again Christian!

Welcome to the family of God!