NanaRae

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? Wisdom. The same wisdom Solomon received is available to us today just for the asking. What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? Asking with unwavering faith that you might receive it. Unwavering, beleving that you can have it and God thinks you deserve it. How do trials help us receive this wisdom? Hopefully with deliverance from each trial you learn who your Deliverer is and through this knowledge you would gain wisdom.

Q3. (1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? I think trials move you from believing in God to believing God. There's a big difference. Even satan believes in God but he doesn't believe God or he wouldn't be trying to disrupt and destroy God's people, because if he believed God he would know he had already lost. So many Christians say I believe in God, but when push comes to shove and some crisis developes they try to help God fix the problem. My thoughts are that's doublemindedness. It's when that crisis arises and you don't just believe in God but you actually believe God and stand on his Word, no matter the outcome that you gain new armor. It's crucifying the flesh and trusting in God's will that he knows what's best for us that moves us away from doublemindedness. How do trials help us grow in faith? Practice makes perfect. We are to be striving for perfection (maturity) and each time we practice our faith by standing on God's Word as it says in Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, and accept the outcome as God's will that our faith grows.

Q2. (1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Because they don't truly know the essence of God. People see others do evil and automatically think since God made us He should deliver us. Because He doesn't deliver us in the way the human mind thinks He should we then blame Him for not meeting our expectations. Does God tempt us with evil? NEVER! James 1:13 says, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Does he tempt sinful people with evil? No, again see James 1:13 ... neither tempteth he any man. Why does he allow people to sin? Free will, plain and simple. We wake every morning and make numerous de cisions throughout the day. I pray 100% make the right decision but since we are human we are going to make mistakes. James 1:14 says, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own ****, and enticed. Why does he allow evil to exist at all? God did not create us for sin. He created us for life, love and to worship Him. When Adam and Eve sinned (were tempted by their own ****) in the Garden of Eden, sin came upon us and we have battled it since. So for God to remove the existance of evil He would have to remove us from His presence forever. To Miss Dee's questions; One thing that occured to me concerning the first part of the question is this: all my life I've heard that "God is sovereign", "God is on His throne" and "God is in ultimate control". God is sovereign, on His throne and in control. But He also blessed us with free will. Adam and Eve were only given one command in Genesis 3:16-17 (16) And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden though mat mayest freely eat (17) But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. We were never meant to die physically or spiritually but with this one act of disobedience man's sentence was pronounced. It was only through the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son that we were redeemed, but we still retained our free will. Without deeper study why wouldn't anyone believe that ALL things are from God? My thought to this question is spiritual blindness. They've not been taught the true Word of God. Before Bible study, asks sincerely for the Holy Spirit to open ones eyes before studying at it will be revealed. Maybe someone with understanding can approach the above question.

Q1. (1:2-4) What value have trials had in your life? Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? Or allowed God to refine you? How have you changed? I was a new Christian of 1 year when the attacks from satan begin. Has tried to rob me of both my sons, my nephew, my niece and my sister beginning in August 2002, through just this past week. The one thing I have learned in all this is just how good the Lord is. The one thing I was privileged to be shown through a vision was, though we may stand in the fire, if we will stand, and not jump out of it into the world, with worldly reactions, when we come through it we will have a new piece of godly armor in place. Imagine, if you will, the suit of armor that knights wore in the old days. Layer upon layer of metal protection. Those suits could be removed, but if we will stand in the fire and rely on GOD, we will receive a heavenly suit of armor to withstand all the fiery darts of satan as it says in Ephesians 6:13-18. I've changed in that, though the trials use to make me react in a worldly fashion, I now know who my Deliverer from the trial is and I can rely fully upon Him. God Bless and may your armor remain heavenly.

Hi, I'm Rae from middle Oklahoma. I'm a married 48 year old Mom with 2 sons, 30 and 27 and six grandchildren ranging from almost 8 to 1 month. This is my first online Bible study and I am looking forward to it. The Lord has led me to read and reread James several times in the last few months so when this was presented to me I jumped at the chance. The opportunity to share and grow spiritually excites me beyond belief.