NT Come Follow Me 47
Introduction:
“Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only” James 1:22
Which verses of scripture have meant a lot to you? Which ones have the Spirit born truth to and given you enlightenment?
It is interesting that James, the brother of Jesus, is the one who wrote the verse that helped to open this dispensation, James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Joseph Smith said that this verse “seemed to enter with
great force into every feeling of [his] heart” (Joseph Smith—History 1:12).
I’m so thankful that Joseph followed the counsel of James and asked of God. The
First Vision not only changed the course of Joseph’s life, it changed the
course of the world in our day. The testimony of this event is bringing many
people back to Jesus Christ.
James 1:21–22 As you learn and value
truth, set aside those things that turn you away from truth. Be a doer of the
word and not a hearer or reader only.
Personal Study: Who was James?
James was the son of Mary and the brother of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 13:55 Jesus had many siblings. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” Mark 6:3 ….”and are not his sisters here with us?”
Acts 12:17 James is again mentioned. 15:13 “James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me.” 21:18 Paul also associated with James.
Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.” James has been called as an apostle.
2:9 James, Cephas, and John taught the Jews, while Paul and Barnabas went to the Gentiles.
Personal Study: Patient endurance leads to perfection.
James 1:2–4 We are to be thankful for the trials that are given us that help us practice patience. “...the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Patience is a necessary practice for us on our path to perfection.
5:7–11 Be patient as you wait and work towards the Lord’s Second Coming. Job was patient. Jesus was patient in suffering for all of us, and His hands are stretched out still. We will be happy if we hold to the covenant path with patient and receive an eternal reward.
Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work, and Count It All Joy!
James 1:4 What would you say is the perfect work of patience? As we turn to the Lord and trust in His timing, He will help us endure and do those necessary and uplifting things.
Personal Study: Faith requires action.
Read about Abraham’s faith Genesis 22:1–12
Read about Rahab’s faith Joshua 2
James 1:3–8, 21–25 We need to remember that if we are seeking wisdom, we should want to follow it. It doesn’t help to be given wisdom from God and not allow that to make a change in us. If we continue in the truth we’ve found, He will continue to lead us along.
2:14–26 New light on faith and works. You can’t say you have faith in Jesus Christ if you aren’t developing the compassion He has. If you withhold blessings from the poor and say you care for your brothers and sisters, how can you say you have faith. Freely you have been given, freely give.
When people are hungry, if you are able to feed them, do so. Same with clothing or housing, and that is difficult. But that is love.
4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Learn to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
Alma 34:27–29 “…if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.”
3 Nephi 27:21 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do.”
James 2:23
“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto
him for righteousness.”
Personal Study: The words I speak have the power to hurt or bless
others.
In your reading, pay
attention to what James says about the things we say. How can I bless others
through the words I use and the attitude I display?
Doctrine and Covenants 108:7 “Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.”
Personal Study: As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I should
love all people, regardless of their circumstances.
James 2:1–9 Remember that we are all
children of the Most High God. We should not favor or be more courteous to
those who have more money or education, who dress more nicely or speak with
more eloquence. We should love our neighbors as ourselves.
Who can you treat more fairly? How can you change and give others a chance?
Yes, I have a specific person in mind.
Family Study: The
First Vision
Video: “Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision”
Share testimony of Joseph Smith’s mission. When has Heavenly Father answered
your prayers?
Family Study: Pure
Religion
Video: “True Christianity”
James 1:26–27 Pure religion has to do with learning to bridle your tongue. Don’t speak evil of others, and learn not to think or feel evil towards them as well.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Family Study: Remember
to Speak Kindly
James 3 Look for the object lessons.
verses 5–6 How can the tongue be like a fire that gets out of control?
verses 9–14 If you are striving to live by the sweetness of the gospel, don’t spew sour things from your fountain.
Family Study: Draw
Nigh to God
James 4:8 We need to draw nearer to God in times of temptation and trial.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Family Study: The
Priesthood is to Bless Others
Powers of the Priesthood President
Dallin H. Oaks taught that “parents should encourage more priesthood
blessings in the family.”
James 5:14–16 Priesthood blessings for the
sick; prayer of faith for the sick; sins forgiven with the faith to heal or be
healed; confess faults to one another and pray for each other, so you can be
healed. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/1?lang=eng
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God—Resist temptation—Be doers of the word—James explains how to recognize pure
religion.
Vs 1 The Lord's brother accepted Jesus as the
Christ. How can I do less?
Vs 2-4 There is a purpose
in being tempted and tried. Learn to be patient with yourself and the process,
and look to the Lord for the ability to overcome.
Vs 5-8 When you ask wisdom
from God, be willing to act on the answer you receive. Trust that you will
receive, exercise faith, then go and do.
Vs 12 Endure to the end,
and the Lord will crown you with Eternal Life.
Vs 17 Good and perfect
gifts come from our Father
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
Vs 21 Become more godly. Stop doing the things that grieve the Spirit.
How can I receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save my
soul?
Engrafted means that it is written in my mind and heart.
Vs 22 Be a doer of the word. Live what you say you believe.
26 If
any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and
undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in
their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/2?lang=eng
God has chosen the poor of this world who are
rich in faith—Salvation is gained by keeping the whole law—Faith without works
is dead.
Vs 5 Know that God is not a respecter of persons. He will make the poor
who are rich in faith heirs of the kingdom.
Love everyone.
Vs 7-9 Are you a Christian? Then live as such. Jesus
taught that the second great commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
If you have respect to persons, you are not living that commandment.
Vs 14-17 Faith is
sustained and confirmed by works. You cannot help fulfill the needs of others,
as a Christian, without being willing to give of yourself.
Vs 21-24 Abraham's was
justified through his faith and his works. He became a Friend of God by doing
those things asked of him, even when it was difficult. That's faith, to perform
the work. They are inseparable.
Vs 25 Rahab was justified
and saved by her faith and works as well.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/3?lang=eng
By governing the tongue, we gain
perfection—Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy.
Vs 2-4 Like a bit in a horse's mouth or a helm on a
ship, we need to learn to control our tongues. There are things that we should
not say; and there are important things that we should say.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
How can we learn to control our tongues? How can that in turn help us learn how
to control our thoughts and the intents of our hearts?
10 Out
of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send
forth at the same place sweet water and
bitter?
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among
you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/4?lang=eng
Wars are born of lusts—The friends of the world
are the enemies of God—Sin is failure to walk in the light we have received.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.
Work on your friendship with God.
Vs
6-10 Be humble, and you will receive
grace from God. Submit yourself to God, and resist the devil and those things
that pull you away from Him.
Draw near to God, and He'll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands
and purify your heart.
Don't be afraid to repent and feel sadness. Humble yourself before
the Lord, and He will lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy:
who art thou that judgest another?
Vs 13-15 Acknowledge your dependence
on God for life and movement. Then say about your plans,
“If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
If you know better, do better.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/5?lang=eng
Misery awaits the wanton rich—Await the Lord’s
coming with patience—The elders are to anoint and heal the sick.
Vs 7-8 Be patient in working righteousness unto the
coming of the Lord. He will come soon.
Vs 10-11 Remember the patience of the Lord for you. He suffered all and for
all, and He is full of tender mercy.
The prophets and the faithful saints also suffer affliction with
patience, waiting upon the Lord.
Vs 13-15 Turn to the Lord in every time.
Pray and sing and acknowledge His blessings.
Pray for the sick, and allow them to have the Elders anoint and
bless them in the name of the Lord.
Those who have committed sins, shall also be forgiven through the
faith they have in Jesus to heal or be healed.
Vs 16 Confess your faults to one another and pray for
one another. We need each others faith and prayers.
Vs 19-20 Missionary work is important for the teacher and the learner; souls
are saved, and sins are forgiven and forgotten.
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