God Will Bless You...If...

...we all want God's Blessings, but sometimes we must be in the proper context in order to receive them. We must remember what Galatians 6.7 tells us:

~ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows. ~

So here are two points James gives us in order to receive God's Blessings and to reap what we sow...

God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him. James 1.12 CEV

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget. James 1.25 CEV

James 2

Notes from James 2:

• No Favoritism - God's Kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. (2.1-7)

• Royal Rule of The Scriptures - "Love others as you love yourself." (2.8-11)

• All-or-None - God's commands are all-or-none, we can not pick and choose according to our liking. (2.8-11)

• We reap what we sow - (2.12-13)

• Demonstrate your faith through your action - "God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense." (2.14-18)

• Faith and works are interconnected - Faith expresses itself in works - our belief is demonstrated through our actions. We must have a child-like faith that leads to bold action. Abraham believed God and backed it up with action, led to Abraham being called "God's Friend." (2.21-24)

Main Idea of James 2: Seamless Unity of believing and doing. (2.25-26)

James 1

Notes from James 1 MSG

• Persevere and Endure. Don't look for the quick fix. Build and exercise your faith by overcoming challenges...this leads to maturity, proficiency, and development. (1.2-4)

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
~ James 1.12 ~

• Pray for Wisdom. Pray with the two B's (Boldness and Belief). God loves to answer this Prayer. (1.5-8)

• God does not trip us up. Our sin and lustful desires (which have a terrible snowball effect) trip us up. God is there to deliver us. (1.13-15)

• Stay On Course = No Distractions (1.16-18) and (vs 25)... (also see Ps 119.1). Every desirable (see Ps 34.4) and beneficial gift comes out of Heaven (1.16-18).

• God will Landscape us with His Word. (1.19-21)

• Act on God's Word (1.22-24). Our affirmation arrives through action. (1.25)

• Reach out. (specifically to the homeless and the loveless). Guard against corruption. (1.26-27)