James....And Other Books of God's Word....Come To The Fore?

               It seems that the best of the best scholars believe that the book of James was written by James....the brother of Jesus. They also believe that the letter was written around 49 AD....or at least before the Jerusalem council. It thus appears that it was written somewhere around the time that Paul wrote at least his first letter to the Thessalonians.
               As I read through James today....not as in the previous forty years where I had read through countless times....I just keep getting the feeling that....like 1 & 2 Thessalonians....and so many of the Old Testament prophets....and even many of the Psalms....it seems to have an end of the end time....time release quality to it. In other words James seems to be focusing on a church that will have many trials ahead....and he's not focusing on doctrinal truths that we already know....but reminding us a number of times of how we should be acting.
               Here is an interesting verse....James 1:17...."Blessed in the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who....love him." This isn't systematic theology stuff. God's Word doesn't tell us in a doctrinal sense....love the Lord and you will be saved.....but James reminds the one who has saving faith....that therefore he will also love Jesus. This was an essence in many of Spurgeon’s sermons....do we....love Jesus....is He precious to us….or do we just assent to the truths?
               It is the same when he writes in verse 21...."....receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." It is not meekness that saves us….but we had better receive the truth with meekness….or it may very well not be sincere.
             The much debated passage over the centuries is from 2:24 to the end of the second chapter....where he writes in vs 24...."You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." But before that he scolds them with...."Even the demons believe and tremble." This is not a doctrinal dissertation. It is a wake-up call to those who already believe unto salvation. This isn't evangelistic either. That's why I'm seeing a last days....check the oil in your lamps type of exhortation.
             So all through his letter.....to the Jewish believers that were scattered....he is saying....stay humble and meek....be patient....the rich who hate God are going to get what is due them....pray fervently! If someone is straying....bring him back if you can. This is very Thessalonians....very Peter....very Jude. Unbeknownst to these men there would follow almost two thousand years....but the time would come that we would revert to a persecuted remnant.
             In the last few verses of this short five chapter letter.... James tells them that if they are sick....call for the elders....and the "prayer of faith will save the sick....and the Lord will raise him up." He talked about Elijah who...."prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months" (an interesting time period) So when we read this kind of stuff do we find ourselves saying something like...."that's a little higher than my pay grade?" Well...right now it may be....but I suspect that in those last seven years....or in a part of those last seven years before Jesus returns....that we may be doing a lot of things that we do not normally do today....but that were done in at the beginning!
             Many Christians today believe that they are speaking in tongues....I at one time believed that I spoke in tongues. I now know that that was not the case.....but then we may truly need tongues again in the last of the last days.
             Jesus told his disciples not to worry about what they were going to say when brought before governors and kings....(Matthew 10:18)....but that the Holy Spirit would give them the words...."For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:20) Well that sounds a little related to tongues to me.
             My point in this post is not doctrinal. John MacArthur believes and teaches confidently and often in the cessation of these type of gifts. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the other hand was not willing to limit the Spirit of God. Difficult times are ahead.....more difficult than we can imagine....we have our faith and are sure of our faith....and we have God's precious Word to us....and the Holy Spirit.
              It seems that demonic oppression and possession is increasingly evident today....as Jesus nears in His return....as it was when He walked throughout the land in His incarnation and ministry....as this spirit world of the demonic was stirred up. Well It would not surprise me if in like manner the Holy Spirit healed and spoke and guided in similar ways that He he had done when Jesus came the first time.