Question 104: Can we find out the Lord’s will in everything by His Word? F. S. D.
The Word of God teaches us what our manner of life should be in all things, and leads us in dependence upon God, in submission to His will, and in obedience to His Word, but our path itself is found in waiting upon the Lord. Prayer is needed to find out God’s will for us from day to day. In prayer He lays upon our hearts what we should do, and gives us confidence that in some way he will open a door for us. In Acts 16:66Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, (Acts 16:6), we find Paul and Silas forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia. In the 7th verse they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not; that is, He hindered them from going. Then, in verses 9 and 10, Paul gets a vision that shows him they are to go to Philippi. So that in these few verses we get various ways of guidance from the Lord.
It is waiting upon God in prayer that gives us true guidance, but when we are guided of God it is always in ways consistent with His holy Word.
Question 105: Is James’ Epistle addressed to the Jews? If so, is it to them all or just to the Christian Jews? E. N. Y.
Answer: James recognizes and addresses the twelve tribes, though scattered.
The Christians are not yet separated from them in his epistle.
The truth in it is what is needed for practical life, and while speaking mainly to the Christians (James 2:11My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (James 2:1)), he also speaks to others, walking in wickedness (James 5:1-61Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. (James 5:1‑6)).
The truth as to practical righteousness applies at all times and to everyone.
Answer: All that is painful and trying to us can be called tribulations. We do not glory or boast that we have tribulations, but in what they work in us. The exercise of heart is to produce in us the blessed fruits of patience in submission to the will of God. This gives us experience of what God is for us, and hope which ever points us on to a blessed future; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.