Promises from Jesus by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2015, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 My other Bible was getting a little ragged so I ordered a new Bible on the Internet, and it came in the mail. A nice study Bible, with references in the margin, and the words of Jesus in red ink (with the other words in black ink). If you look at the words of Jesus, He has made many promises. Here is a passage of scripture from 2 Peter-- ___2 Peter chapter 1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue, 4 By which are given to us VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, so that by these you'll be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, 6 And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are in you, and are plentiful, they'll keep you from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice in vs 4--we have "very great and precious promises..." Of course Peter here may be talking about all the promises in the Bible. But in this book, we will focus on the promises from Jesus. In the Bible, most of the words spoken by Jesus, are in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and some in Revelation. But someone might say, "But what about all the words spoken from heaven to Moses?" Yes, the Lord spoke to Moses in Exo chapt 3, and many other times. ___Exodus chapter 3 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush, and he looked, and see, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here I am." 5 And he said, "Don't come near here, put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground." But there are two Lords, aren't there? For in Psalm 110:1 we read-- "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." The Lord said to my Lord. This is God the Father speaking to the Lord Jesus. God the Father will make Jesus' enemies Jesus' footstool. But when the Lord spoke to Moses, I'm not entirely sure which of the two Lords it was that spoke to Moses. And in my red letter Bible, I don't find red ink in the books of Moses. Of course, there's the possibility that some Bible scholars made a mistake by not putting red ink in Moses' writings in the red letter edition of the Bible. But for these Promises from Jesus, we'll focus on the New Testament books from Matthew thru Revelation. The following promises of Jesus are from the Book of Matthew: (The Sermon on the Mount is Matt chapt 5 thru chapt 7) 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they'll be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they'll obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they'll see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they'll be called the children of God. (chapt 5) When we give in secret, God rewards us openly. (chapt 6:3,4) When we pray in secret, God rewards us openly. (chapt 6:6) When we fast in secret, God rewards us openly. (6:17,18) When we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the things we need will be added to us. (6:33) 7 Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you, 8 For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? (chapt 7) Because we do the will of God the Father, we go to heaven. (7:21) We get what we believe for. (8:13) Our faith will heal us. (9:22) When we believe, we get what we believed for. (9:29) Before governors and kings, God will give us the words to speak. (10:18,19) By enduring to the end, we're saved. (10:22) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (10:30) Therefore don't be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows. (10:31) Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. (10:32) He that loses his life for my sake shall find it. (10:39) He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. (10:41) 28 Come to me, all of you that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you'll find rest for your souls. (chapt 11) For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (12:50) It is given to us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. (13:11) But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (13:16) The righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (13:43) We can get what we want by faith. (15:28) Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (16:19) For whoever...will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (16:25) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (16:27) ...for truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you'll say to this mountain, Move from here to that other place, and it shall go there, and nothing shall be impossible to you. (17:20) Whoever therefore shall humble himself like this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18:4) 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them. (chapt 18) We add to our treasure in heaven when we help the poor. (19:21) With God all things are possible. (19:26) 21 Jesus answered them, "Truly I say to you, If you have faith, and don't doubt, you'll not only do this that has been done to the fig tree, but also if you'll say to this mountain, Be removed, and be thrown into the sea, it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you'll receive." (chapt 21) The kingdom of God is given to us if we produce the fruits of it. (21:43) He that shall humble himself shall be lifted up. (23:12) He that endures to the end, shall be saved. (24:13) God will shorten the days for the elect's sake during the Great Tribulation. (24:22) If we do God's will, he'll make us rulers. (24:46,47) When we qualify for the Lord's sheep category, we inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. (25:33,34) When we help other Christians, it's the same as helping Jesus. (25:40) Jesus is always with us, even to the end of the world. (28:20) The following promises of Jesus are from the Book of Mark: If we follow Jesus, he'll teach us to fish for men. (1:17) When we do the will of God, we're Jesus' brother, and sister, and mother. (3:34,35) If we're receptive to the word of God, we'll produce fruit, some thirtyfold, and some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold. (4:8) It is given to us to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. (4:11) Our faith will heal us. (5:34) If we lose our life for Jesus' sake, and the gospel's, we save our life. (8:35) We'll become important if we'll be the servant of all. (9:35) If a Christian gives a cup of water in Jesus' name, he won't lose his reward. (9:41) When we help the poor, we're laying up treasure in heaven. (10:21) With God all things are possible. (10:27) When we make Jesus more important to us than house and family, we'll receive a hundredfold, and eternal life. (10:29,30) We'll be rewarded for ministering to others. (10:43) Jesus gives sight to the blind. (10:51,52) Faith moves mountains and gets us what we pray for. (11:23,24) When we're brought before rulers and kings, the Holy Ghost will give us the words to say. (13:9-11) When we endure to the end, we're saved. (13:13) The Lord shortens the days for the elect during the Great Tribulation. (13:20) The Lord gathers us. (13:27) If we believe and are baptized, we're saved. (16:16) 17 And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, 18 They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover. (chapt 16) Chapter 2 The following promises of Jesus are from the Book of Luke: The Lord gives us the extremely important word of God. (4:4) Jesus came to save sinners. (5:32) If you'll love your enemies, you'll be the children of the Highest. (6:35) If we forgive, we'll be forgiven. If we give, it will be given to us. (6:37,38) If we receive and do the words of Jesus, we'll come through the storms of life. (6:47,48) Our faith saves us. (7:50) It is given to us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. (8:10) If we listen right, more will be given to us. (8:18) If we hear the word of God, and do it, we are Jesus' mother and brothers. (8:21) Our faith heals us. (8:48) If we lose our life for Jesus' sake, we save our life. (9:24) Jesus gives us power over all the power of the enemy. (10:19) Jesus reveals God the Father to us. (10:22) If we ask, it's given to us, if we seek, we'll find, if we knock, it will be opened to us. (11:9) If we ask, God the Father gives us the Holy Spirit. (11:13) 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, don't be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say to you, whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God, (chapt 12) When we're brought to the synagogues, and before magistrates, the Holy Ghost will give us what to say. (12:11,12) 28 So then if God dresses up the grass that way, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 And don't seek what you'll eat, or what you'll drink, and don't be of doubtful mind. 30 For the nations of the world seek for all these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But rather, seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (chapt 12) If the Lord is pleased with our behavior, when he comes, he'll make us sit down to eat, and will serve us. (12:37) If we repent, the Lord won't destroy us. (13:3) If we humble ourselves, we'll be lifted up. (14:11) If we help the poor, we'll be repaid at the rising of the just from the dead. (14:13,14) There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. (15:7) Using money wisely can help us get to heaven. (16:9) And the Lord said, "If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this sycamore tree, Be plucked up roots and all, and be planted in the sea, and it will obey you. (17:6) Our faith will heal us. (17:9) Losing our life for Jesus will preserve it. (17:33) God will avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him. (18:7) 13 And the tax collector, standing far off, wouldn't lift up as much as his eyes to heaven, but struck his chest, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone that lifts himself up shall be brought low, and he that humbles himself shall be lifted up. (chapt 18) 29 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no man that has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who won't receive many times as much in this present time, and in the world to come everlasting life." (chapt 18) Faith heals us. (18:42) There's no more death when we get to heaven. (20:36) We possess our souls with patience. (21:19) Stay awake therefore, and pray always, so that you'll be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall happen, and to stand before the Son of man. (21:36) (And in the Psalms it says the Lord gives his beloved sleep.) We are witnesses for Jesus. (24:48) Jesus gives us the Holy Ghost. (24:49) The following promises of Jesus are from the Book of John: Getting born again puts us on the road to heaven. (3:3) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him won't be destroyed, but have everlasting life. 17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so the world through him would be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned... (chapt 3) Because we reap for Jesus, we receive wages and gather fruit that yields eternal life. (4:36) Because we hear Jesus' words, and believe on him that sent him, we have everlasting life. (5:24) We are taught by God. (6:45) Believers on Jesus have rivers of living water flowing out of their bellies by the Holy Ghost. (7:38,39) (When we talk, a muscle in the belly is used called the diaphragm. The diaphragm pushes against the lungs, causing air to flow out past the vocal cords and out the mouth. Thus, the physical act of talking originates in the belly. Pretty clever invention, the human body, isn't it? Thank you, Lord Jesus. When my younger brother was learning to talk, he heard someone say the word motorcycle. So, he tried to say that word. But it came out "man.so.I.ko." But with some good feedback from Aunt Dorothy or Mom or someone, he soon learned to correctly say motorcycle. Don't make fun of my brother. We all make some missteps when learning to talk, for that is the process of learning to talk. The Pastor's daughter at the No. Hollywood church, when she heard the song, "Bring Them In," used to say, "Bring the men." But we forgive you, Judy, pretty girl. And that's why some people are named "Bubba," including a famous golfer. A younger sibling had difficulty correctly pronouncing the word brother, so the older sibling was renamed "Bubba." If people call you "Bubba," then I guess that's your name. Not such a bad name, it seems to me. And you might even become a prize-winning golfer, Lord willing.) 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on him, "If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed, 32 And you'll know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (chapt 8) Jesus has made us free. (8:36) Because we are of God, we hear God's words. (8:47) Jesus gives us spiritual understanding. (9:39) Jesus gives us abundant life. (10:10) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, 28 And I give them eternal life, and they'll never be destroyed, nor will anyone pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (chapt 10) 25 He that loves his life shall lose it. And he that hates his life in this world shall keep it and have life eternal. 26 If any man serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, my servant will be there also. If any man serves me, my Father will honor him. (chapt 12) We believe in the light, so we're the children of light. (12:36) We know the teachings of Jesus, and we're made happy by doing them. (13:17) Because we love our fellow Christians, all men know that we are Jesus' disciples. (13:35) Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven. (14:2) Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We come to God the Father through Jesus. (14:6) 16 And I will pray to the Father, and he'll give you another Comforter, so that he will live with you forever, 17 Who is the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive, because it doesn't see him, nor know him. But you know him, for he lives with you, and shall be in you. (chapt 14) Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and live with him." (chapt 14:23) 26 But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he'll teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I give to you not like the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled, and don't let it be afraid. (chapt 14) If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you'll ask whatever you want, and it shall be done to you. (15:7) 10 If you keep my commandments, you'll remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy will remain in you, and so your joy will be full. (chapt 15) But when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatever he shall hear, he will speak. And he'll show you things to come. (16:13) ...Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he'll give it to you. (16:23) I have spoken these things to you so that in me you'll have peace. In the world you'll have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I've overcome the world." (16:33) God the Father keeps us through is name. (17:11) God makes us holy through his truth. His word is truth. (17:17) 22 And the glory that you gave I've given them, so that they'll be one, just as we are one, 23 I in them, and you in me, so that they'll be made perfect in one, and so the world will know that you've sent me, and have loved them, like you've loved me. 24 Father, I also want those that you've given me to be with me where I am, so that they'll see my glory that you've given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (Chapt 17) Because we are of the truth, we hear the Lord's voice. (18:37) Jesus gives us peace. (20:21) We're blessed because we believe in Jesus. (20:29) The following promises of Jesus are from the Book of Revelation: He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, that is in the middle of the paradise of God. (2:7) If we're faithful until death, the Lord will give us a crown of life. (2:10) ...He that overcomes won't be hurt by the second death. (2:11) He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I'll give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written that no man knows except he that receives it. (2:17) 26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him I'll give power over the nations, 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, they'll be broken to pieces like a potter's pottery, like I received from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. (chapt 2) If we keep our garments undefiled, we'll walk with Jesus in white. (3:4) He that overcomes, shall be clothed in white clothing, and I won't erase his name from the book of life, but I'll confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (3:5) 10 Because you've kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation that shall come on all the world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 See, I come quickly, hold tightly what you have, so that no man takes your crown. (chapt 3) If we overcome, the Lord makes us pillars in God's temple. (3:12) See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me. (3:20) To him that overcomes I'll grant to sit with me in my throne, just as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (3:21) Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John 3:3) To become a born again Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.