New Focus Church

James' practical epistle concludes with a call to prayer for the sick in body and soul. As Christ's church and members of His spiritual body we are blessed and privileged to pray for and encourage one another as we make our way through the challenges of life.

Luk 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

Luk 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Luk 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luk 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luk 14:5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Luk 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Trials are hard to endure but they carry in them the seeds of spiritual blessing for men and women of faith. James is encouraging the Lord's people to exercise patience, trust in the Lord and use the experiences of hardship as opportunities to grow in grace and deepen our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

James tells the church that the Lord of Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts hears their cries for help and will come in power with authority to judge the wicked and redeem His people.

Luk 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

James encourages the Lord's people to reflect upon the fickleness of life and our own daily need of God's help. He speaks of time and how fast our lives are spent. These matters should create humility in our soul which will draw forth God's grace for our daily needs.

James calls for humility amongst the Lord's people that we might by faith draw help from God's hand for our daily troubles.

Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gives grace to His people sufficient for all our daily needs, even when we don't know what to ask for and pray for as we ought. James calls us to be humble in our requests, trusting the Lord who knows knows what we need better than we know ourselves.