Love Fulfilled Ministry

Now, if any of you lacks wisdom ask God the one giving generously to all and not asking with reproach and it will be given him. Now, ask in faith without thoroughly judging for the one thoroughly judging is like a sea wave driven by the wind and tossed about . (James 1:5-6) Ask God for wisdom, without judging according to circumstances of this world but ask with the right mindset, in faith believing it will be done. Now picture what is happening here, there is a trial going on, endurance and wisdom are needed, and to have wisdom so to endure one must ask of God and ask in faith. This intrinsically connects receiving the wisdom of God with faith in overcoming the trial. Maturity, James writes is the outcome of the work of endurance and the fruit of maturity is wholeness, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-5).  Maturity produces a "lacking in nothing," thus the statement "if any of you lacks wisdom ask God" ties maturity to receiving wisdom from God. Certainly not a wisdo...

Now, asking in faith without doubting, for the doubter is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and blown about. For that person must not think that way because he will not receive anything from the Lord. *    The word doubt is διακρίνω, diakrínō , from diá, "thoroughly back-and-forth," which intensifies krínō, "to judge." With this definition, what is a double-minded man? James writes it is one who can not prove or discern the will of God because he is tossed about, going back and forth. *  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth if having faith and not doubting,  diakrínō , he will do that to the fig tree but even if saying to this mountain be lifted up and thrown into the sea, it will happen." *  So the double-minded man James speaks about sees the truth but goes back and forth, between belief and unbelief. What type of man can not discern the will of God? the natural man, which means that pertaining to the earthly life or soul; as distinguished f...

Therefore if raised along with Christ, seek that above where Christ exists, enthroned at the right hand of God. Mind of that above, not that of the earth, for you died and your life is laid up together with Christ in God. When Christ your life is brought to light then you also will be brought to light with him . * If you are raised with Christ, Paul writes, then seek that above. Paul writes part of me is raised and seated with Christ, He made us alive "and raised us up and seated us in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," *  What part of me has been raised with Christ? Surely, not my body, not until I die or Christ returns will my body be raised, resurrected. We are awaiting this salvation; the redemption of our bodies. *  Is it my soul? Peter writes there is a salvation of my soul, and this is the goal of faith that we are obtaining this salvation. *  So it is not our body or soul. In context, Paul is talking about putting off the old man and putting on the ne...