James 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read James 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jas/2/1/s_1148001

Meditate on verses 17-18.

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works;

show me your faith without the works, and I

 will show you my faith by my works."

Salvation is through faith in Christ alone; there are no works to earn it. After you are saved, living in and through the LORD Jesus Christ, you will want to do the work of Christ with and for Him. Doing the work of Jesus is the natural outpouring of a life eternally changed by faith in the saving work of Christ on the cross. The work of Christ will be evident in a life changed by Christ.

What about you and those you love? Is there proof of salvation in your lives? If not, is it because you need to be taught how to walk with Jesus, or is it because you need to truly believe in Him, giving your life completely to your Savior? The demons believe and are scared to death of Jesus; yet, they are not even capable of saving faith that results in salvation and the work of God (v. 19). You are created much better than the demons; you have the blessed opportunity to walk eternally with the Creator and Savior of your soul.

Commit yourself completely to Christ by praying James 2:22. Pray for those you love to do the same, as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let my faith in You work with my works.

 As I work with You, Jesus, perfect my faith in You.

Please draw        to place their faith in You.

Let me see Your work in them.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

James 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read James 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jas/1/1/s_1147001

Meditate on verses 14-16.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished,

it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

James is a discipleship letter, addressing many areas of your walk with Christ. As you spend the next five days reading, meditating, and praying it, let the Holy Spirit use it to discipline you into more and more Christlikeness.

The letter starts with the reminder that life is a test. Enduring the test in the joy, strength, and wisdom of God, results in being made perfect and complete in Him (vs. 2-5).

This letter also teaches the sin path:

The Sin Path from James 1:14-15

Step 1 - Getting carried away—getting full of oneself

Step 2 - Enticed by lust

Step 3 – Lust conceives

Step 4 - Sin is birthed

Step 5 - Sin is accomplished—brought to completion

Step 6 - Death occurs—Sin ALWAYS ends in death—the death of relationships, reputation, influence, and sometimes, literal, physical death.

Sin is horrible! Learn to recognize the sin path at Step 1. As soon as you start to get carried away with yourself, get off the sin path and continue walking with Jesus.

Pray James 1:14-16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, keep          and me from being tempted to sin. 

Do not let us be carried away and enticed by our own lusts. 

Do not let lust conceive and give birth to sin in our lives.

Do not let sin be accomplished in our lives and bring forth death.

Do not let us be deceived!

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The Watchman on the Wall, 3 —Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/7/1/s_900001

Meditate on verses 1 and 7.

Woe is me!  For I am like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. 

There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, or a first ripe fig, which I crave.

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD;

 I will wait for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear me.

The first six verses of Micah 7 sound quite depressing and discouraging; they expound on the fact that life is hard.  The remainder of the chapter exults in the hope of God doing the miraculous in the midst of the difficulty.

Pray Micah 7: 7-9, 14-15, and 18-20 over difficult situations in your life and the lives of those you love, as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, as for _________ and me, we will watch expectantly for You;

we will wait for You, God, of our salvation. 

My God, You will hear us! 

Do not let our enemy rejoice over us.

 Though we fall, we will rise;

though we dwell in darkness, LORD, You are our light.

 LORD, we will bear Your indignation

because we have sinned

 against You, until You plead our

 case and execute justice for us.

 You will bring us out to the light, and

 we will see Your righteousness.

 Shepherd us, Your people, with Your

scepter, the flock of Your possession.

 Show us Your miracles!  Who is a God like You,

who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act

 of the remnant of Your possession? 

You do not retain Your anger forever because

You delight in unchanging love. 

Please have compassion on us again;

tread our iniquities under foot.

 Cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 

We desperately need Your truth and unchanging love.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/6/1/s_899001

Meditate on verses 3 and 5.  The LORD is speaking.

“My people, what have I done to you, and

 how have I wearied you?  Answer Me.

My people, remember now what Balak

 king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor

 answered him, and from Shittim to Gilgal,

so that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

The LORD wants His people to remember what He has done for them, so when they are tempted to whine and complain against Him, they will instead remember—remember how He  rescued—remember  how He saved—remember how He provided. Then when they remember and desire to give the LORD something to thank Him for all He has done, He wants, not thousands of sacrifices, but a kind and humble soul that wholeheartedly walks with Him (vs. 6-8).

What a beautiful chapter to take personally! Always remember what God has done for you; recall His faithfulness with your thoughts, words, and actions. Remembering God’s provision keeps you from discontentment and makes you a thankful person.

As you thank the LORD, give Him all of you by praying Micah 6:8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, You have told _______ and me what is good

 and what You require of us.  Help us to do justice, to love

 kindness, and to walk humbly with You, our God.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/5/1/s_898001

Meditate on verse 5a.

This One will be our peace. 

When the Assyrian invades our land….

Micah prophesied the Babylonian takeover of Judah and Jerusalem 100 years before it happened, and he prophesied the soon approaching Assyrian destruction of the northern kingdom Israel (v. 5). (Micah prophesied from 733-701 BC. Israel was taken captive by Assyria in 722 BC. Babylon took the first wave of exiles from Judah in 605 BC.)

In the midst of the destructive prophetic visions, God gave Micah the blessed visions of Messiah—Who is from eternity—Who will rule Israel— Who will shepherd His flock—Who is our peace (vs. 2-5). What relief and hope his words were to those who would listen! Let these precious Words of God bring relief and hope to your heart as well.

Pray Micah 5:2-5 in thanksgiving to the One Who is your peace.

“LORD Jesus, thank You for being born in Bethlehem

 Ephrathah, a place too little to be among the clans of Judah.

 Jesus, You are the One who goes forth from God

 to be ruler in Israel.  Your goings forth are from

long ago, from the days of eternity. 

When You were born, Your brethren began returning

 to the sons of Israel.  You arose to shepherd Your flock

 in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty

of the name of the LORD Your God.  And Your flock

remains because You are great to the ends of the earth.

 Jesus, You are our peace—thank You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/4/1/s_897001

Meditate on verse 2.

Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain

of the LORD and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us

about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.”

 For from Zion will go forth the law, even the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4 contains two sets of prophecies. The Babylonian exile was prophesied in verses 9-13; its fulfillment began approximately 100 years after Micah spoke God’s words. Verses 1-8 prophesy the restoration of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Israel was given a glimmer of hope before their Babylonian exile; a day is coming when wars will cease, and people will come to Jerusalem to be taught by the LORD (vs. 1-3). How the people must have clung to those words as they sat in Babylon in fulfillment of prophecy, grieving their sins and hearing about the destruction of Jerusalem and their beloved temple.

These are words for you to cling to as well. As surely as the LORD fulfilled His promise concerning the exile of His people, He will fulfill His promises to come again and establish His Kingdom. “And it will come about in the last days…nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war” (vs. 1, 3).

Pray for God’s Word to be fulfilled in your life and the lives of those you love before the last days by praying Micah 4:2 and 5 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, teach ________ and me about Your ways

 that we may walk in Your paths. 

We will walk in Your name, LORD

 our God, forever and ever.”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/3/1/s_896001

Meditate on verse 8.

On the other hand, I am filled with

 power—with the Spirit of the LORD—

and with justice and courage to make

 known to Jacob his rebellious act,

even to Israel his sin.

The LORD spoke through the prophet Micah, addressing the leaders and prophets of Israel. Israel’s leaders hated good and loved evil; they devoured the people like a bunch of piranhas (vs. 1-3). Sadly, God used these horrible leaders to punish the people for their horrific behavior (v. 4). The prophets were no better than the leaders, causing the people to wander from God because they did not speak the Word of God (vs. 5-7).

Thankfully, Micah was different. Filled with the power of God’s Spirit, he boldly spoke God’s Truth to people perishing for lack of it.

Let God make you a bold, Spirit-filled Micah, courageously teaching what God says about sinful rebellion (v. 8). Do not be tempted to ignore wicked behaviors in yourself and others, saying, “God is in our midst; calamity will not come upon us” (vs. 9-12). Christians must acknowledge the Truth of God’s Word and live accordingly.

Pray Micah 3:8 and 11b over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, fill ________ and me with power—with Your Spirit—and

with justice and courage to make known to ___________ his

rebellious act, even to __________ his sin.

LORD, make our rebellious acts and sin known

 to us before calamity comes upon us.

We will repent in Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Micah 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Micah 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/2/1/s_895001

Meditate on verses 1 and 3.

Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! 

When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands. 

Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am planning against this family

a calamity from which you cannot remove your necks,

and you will not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time.”

The Hebrew words for “scheme” and “evil” in verse one are chashab and ra’.¹ 

They are the same Hebrew words used in verse three, where the LORD says He is planning calamity, chashab ra’, against the family of those who scheme evil, chashab ra’, on their beds. ²

Hopefully these verses comfort you, knowing the LORD avenges those who plan evil against you.  Perhaps they convict you; if so, confess any evil thoughts or plans you may have.  Pray for those you love not to chashab ra’.  Determine not to walk haughtily, so the LORD does not have to inflict calamity on your family.

Use the words from Micah 2:1, 3, and 7 to pray over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let _______ and me scheme iniquity

and work out evil on our beds.  Do not let us harm others

 just because it is in the power of our hands to do so.

LORD, please do not plan calamity against my family.

  May we not walk haughtily.  Please remove our

necks from evil times. May Your Words always do

 good to us as we walk uprightly.

In Your name, Jesus~”

1.     Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/2/1/t_conc_895001

2.     Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mic/2/1/t_conc_895003