How to Receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost

With the Speaking in Unknown Tongues

Chapter 1

The benefits of being baptized with the Holy Ghost are quite significant. But step one in receiving the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is to become a Christian, if you're not already a Christian.

As we shall see later in this book, Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost. And Jesus knows very well who is, and who is not a Christian. He will not baptize anyone with the Holy Ghost who is not a Christian.

Sorry, no exceptions.

So, step 1: Become a Christian, if you're not already a Christian. In John chapter 3, Jesus said, “You MUST be born again.” This word “must” doesn't leave very much wiggle room.

Why MUST we be born again? Because that's the only way we can get to heaven.

Our lives on earth will eventually come to an end. Some die in their twenties. Some die in middle age. Some die as seniors.

When our lives on earth come to an end, we either go up to heaven, or down to hell, according to the teachings of Jesus, who doesn't lie.

And Jesus said most people go to hell in Matt chapt 7--

13 “Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there,

14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Jesus is saying that the majority of people go to hell. But you don't have to be part of that crowd.

To become a born again Christian, you say “Yes” to Jesus.

In Revelation chapt 3:20, Jesus said, “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.”

Here's a three word prayer to pray, “Jesus, save me!”

The Bible says, “All that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Joel chapter 2)

Another short passage about salvation is Romans 10:9,10--

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, 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.”

Jesus told his disciples ahead of time that the Comforter would be coming. The Comforter is another name for the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, or Spirit of Truth. All four names are used in the Bible.

In John chapter 14, Jesus said--

15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.

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.

18 I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.”

Jesus tells us more on the subject in John chapter 16--

5 “But now I go my way to him that sent me. And none of you asks me, Where are you going?

6 But because I've said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.

7 Even so, I tell you the truth, It's best for you that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Comforter won't come to you. But if I depart, I'll send him to you.

8 And when he has come, he'll reveal the sin of the world, and will show righteousness, and will show justice.

9 The sin, because they don't believe on me.

10 The righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you don't see me anymore.

11 The justice, because the prince of this world is judged.

12 I still have many things to say to you, but you can't cope with them now.

13 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.

14 He'll glorify me, for he'll receive of mine, and shall show it to you.

15 All things that the Father has are mine. That's why I said, he'll take of mine, and shall show it to you.”

Notice in verse 7, Jesus said the Comforter won't come until after Jesus departs. Jesus departed the earth after his crucifixion, death, and then resurrection on the third day, and then being seen by his disciples and more than 500 Christians.

Jesus went back to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

But in verse 7, Jesus is basically saying, “You're better off with the Comforter than to have me physically present on earth.”

This, of course, after all the teachings Jesus had completed on earth, and after all the miracles that he had done, and the demons he had cast out.

And Jesus had said, “I have many things to say to you, but you can't handle them now. The Comforter will fill you in.”

Then, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts chapt 2), that was the first time that Christians were baptized by the Lord Jesus with the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, with the speaking in unknown tongues (languages).

___Acts chapter 2

1 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all in agreement in one place.

2 And suddenly, a sound came from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And they saw split tongues like fire, and it rested on each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to speak.

5 And Jews were living at Jerusalem, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this news had spread around, the multitude came together and were amazed, because every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and surprised, saying to each other, "See, aren't all of these who speak Galileans?

8 And how is it that we hear every man in our own language in which we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those living in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, Jews and converts,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God."

12 And they were all amazed and were in doubt, saying to each other, "What does this mean?"

13 Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, "You men of Judea, and all of you that live at Jerusalem, know this, and listen to my words,

15 For these people aren't drunk, like you think, since it's only the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,

17 And it shall be, in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams,

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy,

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke,

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes,

21 And it shall be, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Old Testament Prophet Joel had foretold of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.

From the book of Joel, chapter 2:

23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the canker worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army that I sent among you.

26 And you'll eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God that has dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And you'll know that I am among Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and no one else, and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall occur afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions,

29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit.

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes.

32 And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered, for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, like the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Notice in verse 28, “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh...”

Chapter 2

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “You'll receive power after the Holy Ghost has come on you.”

With the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, you'll be a stronger Christian than without that.

If you have a tree in your back yard that needs to be cut down, you could go at it with a paring knife from the kitchen.

You could use a pocket knife with a three inch blade.

You could use a Boy Scout hatchet.

You could use a lumberjack's ax.

Or, you could pull the cord, and start up the engine on a chain saw, and have that tree down in perhaps ten minutes.

Having the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is rather like using a chain saw. You'll have more power.

Another benefit of praying in the unknown tongue is that you build yourself up on your most holy faith (Jude 20)

20 “But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ until eternal life.”

When we get things from God, we get them by faith. Strengthen your faith by praying in the unknown tongue.

Another benefit of praying in the unknown tongue is that we'll pray for things more effectively, and probably pray for things we didn't know we should be praying for, as in Romans 8:26--

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know what we should pray for as we ought to, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings that can't be uttered in articulate speech.

27 And he that searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Perhaps the devil is trying to do something that you are totally unaware of. But the Holy Ghost is aware. So if you'll pray in the unknown tongue you can pray about the thing you didn't even know to pray about in your native language.

We said earlier that the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost is Jesus. So says John the Baptist.

Now let's quote John the Baptist from the book of Matthew, and from the book of Mark, and from the book of Luke, and from the book of John.

“I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I am, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matt 3:11,12)

And he preached, "Someone mightier than I is coming after me, whose shoelaces I'm not worthy to stoop down and untie.

I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:7,8)

And as the people were in expectation, and all men pondered in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ, or not,

John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but someone mightier than I is coming, whose shoelaces I am not worthy to untie, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire,

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Luke 3:15--17)

And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him.

And I didn't know him, but he that sent me to baptize with water said to me, On whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and testified that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32—34)

So we see that Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost. You get it from Jesus.

Jesus said,

7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you'll 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?" (Matt 7:7—11)

So ask the Lord Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

“When you pray, believe that you receive the things you ask for, and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

But how will you know that the Lord has baptized you with the Holy Ghost?

The evidence of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the speaking in unknown tongues (languages). You'll speak in a language that you never learned.

How is that possible?

After Jesus has baptized you with the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost will give you the words to speak in the unknown tongue, and then you add your voice and speak out those words.

Probably most Americans are not familiar with the word kamsahamnida, a word from a foreign language.

But if I say to you, “Do you know the word kamsahamnida?” You could say, “I don't think I know the word kamsahamnida.”

You can speak that word without knowing what it means.

During my enlistment in the U.S. Army, they sent me to the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Kamsahamnida means Thank You in Korean.

Similarly, the Holy Ghost will give you words to speak in a language you don't understand, and then you add your voice and speak out those words.

I received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost at about age 13 or 14 at a Christian youth Summer Camp.

The camp may have been sponsored by the Foursquare churches, or maybe by the Assemblies of God.

At the camp, there was a class on the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. The teacher taught on the subject, and then at the end of his teaching, he asked, “Now who wants the Baptism with the Holy Ghost?”

Well, I certainly did, and I went forward to receive.

Seems like the teacher probably prayed a prayer for us candidates. BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE at that time.

When I got alone, I asked myself, “Now why didn't I receive today?” Almost immediately I decided that it was probably because I didn't exercise enough faith to receive.

So I said, “O.K. I choose to believe that when I go back to that class tomorrow, and when the invitation is given, I'll receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.” (or something close to that.)

And that's just what happened, because I had already said, the day before, that I would receive the next day. We Christians can speak things into existence, you see.

In the book of Genesis, it says that God made us in his image. We are made in the image of the God who spoke the worlds into existence, so we also have some power to speak things into existence.

I was sitting in the lobby of the building that I lived in in the city of El Paso, TX. A neighbor came in and started talking about people losing their benefits. I said, “That's not going to happen to me.”

He said something about glad that I had such confidence about the matter. It wasn't so much a matter of confidence, it was that I knew about speaking things into existence.

Sometimes a fear will come along. I think usually it's a demon that brings a fear, such as the fear of losing the wallet. Then I say, “The Lord's not going to let that happen.” I use my faith against that spirit of fear.

Then I command that spirit of fear to go in Jesus' name.

Chapter 3

Kenneth E. Hagin was teaching on the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. A lady was present in the service who wanted to receive, but she didn't receive.

After the service, Hagin went out to the parking lot. He saw that woman sitting there in her car.

The disappointed lady told Hagin she had driven like fifty miles to come to the meeting, hoping to receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.

Hagin said, “Well, when I prayed for you to receive, didn't you feel like some words were bubbling up and trying to come out?” (or, something like that)

The woman said, “Yes, and it was all I could do to keep from speaking.” The woman had the incorrect idea that when she received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, God would take control of her lips and tongue, and make her talk.

Hagin explained that no, God doesn't do that, the Holy Ghost gives you words to speak, and then you add your voice, and speak those words out.

The lady received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost with the speaking in unknown tongues right there in the parking lot.

I met Brother Jerry as he was passing out gospel tracts near the corner of 5th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California.

I asked Jerry whether he had received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. He said yes. I asked him whether he prays in a language that he never learned. He said no.

I told him, “Brother Jerry, if you don't pray in unknown tongues, then you have not yet received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost,” because the evidence of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the speaking in unknown tongues.

There is a TV Preacher affiliated with one of the Baptist denominations. I, too, believe in baptism in water, and was baptized in water at an Assembly of God church in my youth.

This fellow probably knows the process of becoming a Christian. But he teaches the false doctrine that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost has been done away with.

If the Baptism with the Holy Ghost has been done away with, how did I get it when I was about 13 or 14?

No, it hasn't been done away with, and I pray in unknown tongues about every day of my life.

We've seen how John the Baptist said that Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost.

Now let's look at Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So then, if Jesus was the baptizer with the Holy Ghost (and he was), and he's the same yesterday, today, and forever (and he is), then he still is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost, of course!

That TV Baptist Preacher needs to find out about that other Baptist Preacher, John Osteen.

In my book about John Osteen, I tell how, as Pastor of a Baptist Church, Osteen was studying his Bible on the subject of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.

Osteen reached the conclusion, “Well, what's wrong with it? It's scriptural.” So Osteen got the Baptism with the Holy Ghost from Jesus.

He began to share a little about it with some of his church people, and his church kicked him out.

Isn't that amazing! They kicked him out for getting something that Jesus wants every Christian to have!

But some of the people followed Osteen, and they started a new church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

Osteen has gone on to be with Jesus. After his passing, John Osteen's son, Joel Osteen became pastor of Lakewood Church.

They moved to larger facilities at Compaq Center near downtown Houston. Last I heard, they had thirty thousand members.

Seems like Osteen's original Baptist church had about 600 people. So then, Lakewood church has about fifty times as many people as that Baptist church that kicked John Osteen out.

But regarding that TV Preacher who incorrectly teaches that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost has been done away with, some might ask the question, “Why would the Lord let him continue as a TV preacher?”

I think this is probably a perfect example of the Parable of the Tares and Wheat from Matthew chapter 13.

The servants found tares (a kind of weed) springing up with the wheat they had planted.

Their lord said, “An enemy has done this.”

They said, “Do you want us to pluck up the tares?”

The lord said, “No, because you'll also destroy some of the wheat. LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST.”

Jesus explained the parable saying that at the harvest, at the end of the world, the angels would separate the good from the bad.

And surely, you must be aware that just because a Preacher is on TV, doesn't necessarily mean that he's teaching good doctrine.

But if we study the Bible for ourselves, then we'll see when Preachers are getting it wrong.

After you receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, it's not just a new feather to add to your hat, and then you forget about it.

No, the Lord gave you the Baptism with the Holy Ghost with the speaking in unknown tongues so that you would use it every day in your Christian walk.

It is one of our weapons that we use against our adversary the devil, and his demons.

We pray in our native language, and in the unknown tongue.

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Cor 14:14—16 says, “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit is praying, but my understanding is unfruitful.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Otherwise when you bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks...”

___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.