Chapter 5                           

James: Chapters -1- -2- -3- -4- -5-
  5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl over the distresses and labors that are coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has become corrupt and your clothes have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their rust serves as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have treasured and stored up supply in the final days. 4 Consider the wage of the workmen who harvested your fields, that you did not pay them, as it cries out, with the cries of those who worked for you, and has entered into the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5 You lived in luxury upon the earth, and you lived in self-indulgence. You have nourished and fattened your hearts inside the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the one declared justly innocent; he does not resist you.

• 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, inside the presence of the Lord. Consider the farmer who awaits the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and latter rains. 8 You also be patient; strengthen your hearts, because the presence of the Lord is here (i).

9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. Consider the Judge who is standing before the doors. 10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke inside the name of the Lord as an example of long-suffering even in affliction. 11 Remember that we pronounce blessed and happy those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the outcome of the Lord, that the Lord is full of compassion and affection, and is merciful.

• 12 But above all things, my brothers and sisters, do not swear [promise with an oath], neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor any other oath. Let your “Yes,” be yes, however, and your “No,” no, so that you might not fall under judgment.

13 Is anyone among you suffering hardships? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him summon 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 will heal and make whole the one ailing, and the Lord will raise him up [out of sickness]. And if anyone has fallen short, it will be forgiven him as well. 16 Therefore, acknowledge your mistakes to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a just man energeoes effectively and prevails. 17 Elijah was a man just like us, and he prayed that it not rain, and it did not rain upon the earth three years and six months. 18 And again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you might wander from the truth, and someone should bring him back to himself, 20 know that in turning this one who has fallen short in the wandering of his way, you will rescue his soul [his story of self] out from death and will cover over a great many sins		  
 
Gospel Comments Notes
• Ruling Verse 6: We dwell only inside of the Presence of God inside the Most Devoted Place, for that is where God put us when we asked Jesus into our hearts (Covenant). As we rest inside of God, we do not expect quick results in our outward appearance or our human performance. We know that in-between being conceived of God and being made just like Jesus is the proving of our faith, the meaning of patient endurance inside His presence.

• Speak Christ: The words that we speak become binding to our souls and to the directions of our lives. We do not pledge allegiance to flags or swear oaths of commitment to monastic orders or to any human group. A sworn oath to some natural cause becomes an iron rule inside our hearts, directing the entire story by which we know ourselves. Those who are led by their oath cannot be led by the Spirit. Rather, as Paul and Jesus also said, let our simple words be the truth, and be not bound to this world. Friendship with the world must always disconnect our story of self from knowing the Father. 		i. Nowhere does God mean, or even say, “coming someday.” God and Salvation are always present, here and now. We live only inside of His presence.