But you and I are not to be like those whose souls are storing up wrath for the Day of Judgment. We called to a life of Holiness, Righteousness and right communication with the Father day seals that for us. The half brother of the Lord Jesus Christ - since they had the same earthly mother Mary - is the Apostle James. He, James, was one of Jesus' five half brothers and sisters who did NOT believe He was the Messiah until after the Resurrection. Jude is the other one. The proof of their salvation are the two New Testament Epistles that they wrote - The Books of James and Jude!
The Lord chose James to head up the main church - the one in Jerusalem and James is prominent in the early church right after Peter, John and Paul. He was the one who called for the first Council of the Believers to sort out the growing problem of the Judaizers telling new converts they had to live under the Law - even though Jesus set the captives free.
What most Christians do not know about James, apart from the facts that the evil pharisees murdered him, is that James was known as "Old Camel Knees"! That is right! James prayed so much to the Heavenly Father, through Christ the Lord, on his knees that he developed massive calluses on his knees! That growth of skin made his knees look like the tough outer skin of a camel...hence the name!
Do you and I have that kind of a prayer life? Are we on our proverbial knees, which is the position of submission? Of course, praying on your physical knees is wonderful but what the Lord wants most of all is a submissive heart....if the actual kneeling down for more than a few minutes distracts you from focusing on Prayer. If you and I are completely surrendered in our souls to the Will, Wonder and Way of Christ, our prayer life would reflect it - just like "Old Camel Knees" here!
I love the Books of James and knowing just how powerful this half brother of the King of Kings really was...knowing how rich his prayer life was...knowing that he gave all in the Service of that soon coming King, fires me up! Glory Hallelelujah!
In light of us knowing just how great this man of prayer and a true warrior, direct from the earthly (and heavenly) family of Jesus, the Apostle James was, please read and prayer through the following scriptures and see the associated word in bold, where the Spirit leads:
PRAY THE SCRIPTURES FROM JAMES 1 (NKJV):
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (COURAGE) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (PERSEVERANCE) 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (PROVISION). 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (GRACE). 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (STAYING THE COURSE). 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (KEEP ME FROM SIN).
19 So then,my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
HEAVENLY FATHER, I PRAY FOR THE WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, SPEECH AND A THOUGHT LIFE OF PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, EVEN IN THE FACE OF THE BOMBARDMENT BY A CORRUPT AND EVIL WORLD ALL AROUND ME. HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES AND TO WALK THROUGH THE FIRES AND TRIALS OF THESE DAYS, UNSCATHED BECAUSE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH ME, IN ALL POWER, HOLINESS AND PEACE. I WILL SPEAK WITH SEASONED SPEECH, TOUCH WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST, REACH OUT IN RESTFUL PEACE TO BE A JOY AND COMFORT TO OTHERS AND GENEROUS IN GRACE....BECAUSE YOU- OH FATHER OF LIGHTS HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THESE DAYS, BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME TO RETURN TO YOU. I PRAY TO BE A MAN OF CALLOUS KNEES FROM PRAYING LIKE YOUR SERVANT JAMES, AND FROM PRAYING SO MUCH WITH A SUBMITTED HEART TO CHRIST THAT I TOO, WILL BE KNOWN AS OLD CAMEL KNEES, IN JESUS' HOLY NAME, AMEN.
2 comments:
Oh my! Please do not add to the word of God
Cast a spell? That's Witchcraft!!! That's NOT of God!!!
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