Who Was “Judas the Brother of James”?

Luke 6:16  And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

“Judas the brother of James”. When you read this verse, and you understand that Jesus also had two brothers by these names, it may be reasonable to believe these were Jesus’ two brothers. But then, we read in John 7:5  For neither did his brethren believe in him.

We now know that Judas (Jude) and James, the two brothers of Jesus, eventually did believe on Jesus as Lord and we know that God used both of these men to author books in the New Testament, which bear their names.

In our key verse, it is speculated that, since the translators apparently added the words “the brother”, which is indicated by these words being in italics, that Judas was actually the son of James.

If this were the case, it would read, “Judas of James”, as it actually does read when the italicized words are removed. According to one commentary, in the Greek this would be phrased “James’s Jude”.

Luke again phrases it the same way in Acts 1:13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Additionally, this Judas is also thought to be “…Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus” (Matthew 10:3) and “Thaddaeus…” (Mark 3:18).

So, rather than being “Judas the brother of James”, it seems this Judas, also known as Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus, was actually the son of James, “Judas of James”, or “James’s Jude”.

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Calling Those Things that Be Not As Though They Were (Part 2 – God’s Creative Word)

God’s Creative Word

           Genesis 1:3-4  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  (4)  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Darkness is not anything measurable because it is not substantive. It is simply the absence of light. When God’s word was spoken, the light came and the darkness just disappeared.

Many people of God have the darkness of lack in their lives when God has given them access to His creative word to bring the light of abundance. I’m not talking about that fake “name it and claim it” stuff. I’m talking about “Get saved, live right, and learn God’s word so you have access to be able to name it and claim it. Then, wait on God to bring it”. There’s a difference between those two. One is blind and lazy faith while the other is true and intelligent faith.

See and Say

Most people have to see before they say, and by then all they can say is “Thank you, Lord” because it is right there. Paul also addresses this in Romans 8:24 …hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Rather than having “say and see” faith, they have “see and say” faith.

It is like that children’s toy See -n- Say. You pull the string or handle and it says, “The cow goes…mooooooo”, and they say, “Yep, that’s a cow right there and it does go mooo. Wow, God! Thank you for this cow that goes “mooo”. I see it right here”.

That is the way they are with things in their lives. Rather than calling things into their lives that aren’t there yet, they usually wait to say, “Thank you Lord” only after a blessing comes to their lives.

But, there are lots of things that could be there that never will be because God looks to us to use His word to bring it to our lives. Romans 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Of course, this will only work for those who are actively serving God.

Are you actively serving God and using His word to create in your life?

In the next post, we’ll talk about using God’s word to create!

Calling Those Things that Be Not As Though They Were (Part 1 – It Shall Be Given)

Romans 4:17…and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Paul writes about Abraham a few times in his writings. Here and in Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed…

In both places, he speaks of the same event; the promise of God to Abraham and the faith of Abraham that was counted to him for righteousness.

While Abraham had to grow into this level of faith, he eventually did get to a place where his faith in God was powerful! We can learn from the life of Abraham about what it looks like to have the kind of faith that “calleth those things which be not as though they were” and we can let God develop that kind of faith in our lives as well!

Give and it Shall Be Given Unto You

Giving is a form of calling God’s blessings into your life!

We are told in Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Some people will never have because they never give, of if they do give, it is with the wrong motivation. They may give, but rather than giving to give, they give to get. They may give in order to get their way by using their money as leverage, to gain advantage with their money, or so they can get blessings from God.

While there are blessings that come with our giving, there aren’t as many people who will give simply because they love God enough to obey Him and believe in that to which they are giving.

God calls His people to give so He can use them as a conduit (delivery system) of blessings. While you are allowing God’s blessings to flow from Him through you to others, you’ll get some of those blessings in your own life too.

Solomon writes in Proverbs 11:25 …he that watereth shall be watered also himself. There have been times where I’ve been blessed and able to give large financial offerings and gifts. Then, even after doing that, I’ve also been through financially difficult times where I couldn’t do that anymore.

When I had it, I wanted to let it flow through me. When I didn’t have it, I still did what I could through giving of my time and talent, but I looked at that time as an opportunity to show God I’m still going to obey Him and do right without depending on the money.

Sometimes, God allows those tough times just to see where you are and to teach you not to depend too heavily upon it for your happiness. We are reminded in God’s holy word in Psalms 62:10 …if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. And in Proverbs 23:5 …for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. While going through difficult financial times, I still use that time to call God’s blessings back into my life while I’m waiting. This brings us to our next section.

In the next part we’ll talk about God’s creative word!

Three Parts to the Prophecy of Isaiah 61

In Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  (2)  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  (3)  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

This prophecy is broken up into three major parts:

1) Isaiah 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  (2)  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD…

This is when Jesus came to this world the first time to make a way of salvation from the penalty of sin, to preach good tidings, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty and the opening of the prison of sin to them that are bound in it.

2) Isaiah 61:2  …and the day of vengeance of our God…

This is when the Lord will put all rebellion and sin out of this world and into the Lake of Fire and take vengeance on the adversaries of God and then purify the earth by fire.

3) Isaiah 61:2-3  …to comfort all that mourn;  (3)  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

This is when the Divine Government of God will be upon the Earth forever and all of creation will finally be eternally at rest from the effects of sin.

In case you’re wondering where we are in all this, we’re still in part 1.

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Other Little Ships (Devotional Reading)

Mark 4:35-36  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  (36)  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

A Godly life in Jesus Christ is like a mighty ship. It’s going somewhere and it has a purpose. But, a life without Christ is like a little ship.

There are those who are in the ship with Jesus, and then there are those who are on their own ship because they want to stay independent from Jesus. They want to follow Him from a distance.

Don’t be just one of the other little ships because there are storms coming and, if you’re not completely onboard with the Lord, the storm is going to wipe out your ship!

–Bread in the Wilderness Devotional Readings

After You Were Illuminated

Hebrews 10:32-36  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions

The word “illuminated” is the Greek word photizo. It means to enlighten; to give light; to make someone to see; to brighten up. The English word “light” is used some 95 times in the New Testament, but only 11 times in this form. Luke, the beloved physician, uses two separate Greek words for “light” in Luke 11:36  If thy whole body therefore be full of light (photeinos – the physical light itself), having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light (photeinos – the physical light itself), as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light (photizo; to enlighten; to give light; to make someone to see; to brighten up).

Paul said we “were illuminated” (photizo; given light; made to see; brightened up) and because of this we are not of them who are still in darkness, because, as Luke says, we are “full of light” (photeinos; actual light), and this is possible because, as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9 (God has) …called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (Greek phos; the light of fire). So, we are called out of darkness into light and we are called out of coldness into fire!

It’s good for Christians who have been serving God for a while to remember the early days of their Christian walk when all they wanted to do was serve God. It didn’t matter how long the prayer meetings were or how late they were.

It didn’t matter how many people laughed at us because we went to church on Saturday night and not to the places we used to go! If anything, their mockery just added fuel to our fire. We realized that this world is temporary and fake. We were illuminated to the fact that we “have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance”.

Have you lost sight of that light? Have you lost the heat of that fire? We can still seek the Lord while He may be found and allow ourselves to be full of His light once again!

And Hath Seen in a Vision a Man

One of the many ways God may speak to us is by direct revelation, meaning a direct message right to our hearts. An example of this is when God spoke to a man named Ananias about another man named Saul in Acts 9:11 – 12 – …behold, he (Saul) prayeth, (12) And hath seen in a vision a man…

In addition to speaking directly to our hearts, God can also give us a vision of what He wants us to know. This is not necessarily the same kind of vision Saul received, but more in the way Ananias received his message…through direct revelation.

Do you need an answer to a situation? Bring it to the Lord in prayer and then meditate upon it and wait for the Lord to develop the answer in your mind. You may be surprised at the clarity and assurance with which the answer comes to you!

God may give you the entire answer, or only part of it. He may speak immediately, or He may wait. God reveals to us what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants!

The Lord wants to reveal more to us than we may think He does! Both a clear answer and special opportunity were given to Ananias while he was praying!

God still looks for those who will prayerfully seek a relationship with Him, for it is with them that He will share what it is that He is doing!

Bread in the Wilderness (Devotional Reading)

Mark 8:4 KJV — And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

These disciples didn’t even realize they were talking to the One who had fed MILLIONS in the wilderness during the time of Moses.

Before allowing too many doubts to arise in our hearts, let’s remember who it is we are talking to when we pray!

The Only Unifying Government (Devotional Reading)

Though many throughout history have tried and failed to bring unity among all nations, the only place this has ever truly succeeded is in the Body of Christ.

It has only succeeded because of the power of God to help us truly love one another!

John 13:35 (KJV) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Isaiah 9:7 (KJV) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…