Kristi Burchfiel

Confession, others, and effective praayer. It may not seem that these should go together, but they do. The way to have effective prayer is indicated in James 5:16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.16.NASB As we recognize our sins and as we are confessing them to the Lord, there will be times that we have sinned against others and we need to confess our sins to them as well. People need to see and learn from our mistakes and real relationships are based on…

What role does prayer have in your life? Talking with God can have such amazing results, but do we see that and are we looking for it everyday? Read James 5:13-15. and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. James 5:15 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.15.NASB No matter what state or situation we find ourselves in, there is a prayer for that. Prayer is the answer to everything we feel, think, or do. When we are happy, we should be praising God through prayer. When we are sad and upset,…

Do your actions match your words? So often in today’s society, we use words quickly and occasionally thoughtlessly. Read what it says in James 5:12. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. James 5:12 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.12.NASB James has just been talking about how the wealthy should be acting and now he explains the importance of what everyone should be doing when it comes to what is said. Do we do what we say we are going to do? Or…

Endurance. God is faithful. That is who he is and is a characteristic of what makes him God. As a result, we can endure, knowing that he will always be faithful to us. Read James 5:9-11. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.11.NASB One of the wonderful things about reading God’s word is the fact that we can see examples of how God has worked and moved throughout history. We can read about faithful servants of his who endured through…

Be patient. No one has ever loved hearing those words because we only get told that when there’s something we really want to happen that isn’t happening as quickly as we’d like. Read James 5:7-8. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:8 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.8.NASB Are we excited about the coming of the Lord? Do we desire to see that as we go through the day. The people here did. James had to remind them to be patient and realize that He would return at the right time. Jesus is going to return, but are we excited for it and anticipating…

Our actions have consequences. The things that we do matter and we need to understand and anticipate the long term reactions for the actions that we take. Read James 5:6. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. James 5:6 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.6.NASB James has been talking to the wealthy individuals in the church. He has been explaining how they have misused their wealth as a way to gain power. Then he makes this statement. The wealthy people, by their actions, are the ones who put Jesus Christ to death. They were intimidated by his power and his authority in instead of seeking to…

What are we focusing on instead of Christ. James has been talking about the wealthy people and their focus and he continues. Read James 5:4-6. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. James 5:5 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.5.NASB People who are focused only on their wealth and their ability to enjoy pleasure in this life will miss out on what God has for them. God is not about our ease and pleasure. God is about His glory. He will allow us to go through situations that will enable us to better share and display His…

What will last? Many people are trying to build up a legacy of some kind that they can share with their children or grandchildren and often that includes riches or wealth. But how good is that? Read James 5:2-3. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! James 5:3 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.3.NASB James was reminding the people that they cannot find lasting fulfillment in the riches and wealth they obtain. The idea that gold and silver has turned into something worthless like rust…

“The rich people have it made.” I’ve heard that statement and similar statements by many people for many years. We live in a society that values having more of everything, but especially of material things. Read James 5:1. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. James 5:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.1.NASB James now begins to move into all the ways in which the rich and wealthy people of the day are misusing their wealth. They have been given a great responsibility and yet they have not glorified God with their possessions. Everything we have belongs to God. If we will view our possessions with…

What is sin? Its a word that we hear often in religious groups talking about bad stuff that people do, but sin actually is more than just the wrong things we do. Read James 4:16-17. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.17.NASB While sin certainly encompasses the wrong things that we do, according to this verse, it also is the things we know we should do but don’t. We can sin by our inaction. Seeing a need, a hurt, a problem, and not stepping in to help is wrong and is considered sin.…