JAMES 1
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
TESTING:
Cognate: 1383 dokímion– what is found approved (genuine) after testing, focusing on the inevitable results of thiS.
FAITH:
Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).
PRODUCES:
2716 katergázomai (from 2596 /katá, “down, exactly according to,” intensifying 2038 /ergázomai, “work, accomplish”) – literally, “work down to the end-point,” i.e. to an exact, definite conclusion.
ENDURANCE:
5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, “under” and 3306 /ménō, “remain, endure”) – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to “remain (endure) under” the challenges He allots in life
HEBREWS 11
By Faith We Understand
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Original language:
Is now Faith of hoped for assurance, of things the conviction not being seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
FAITH:
4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, “persuade, be persuaded”) – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith.
Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).
HOPED:
1679 elpízō (from 1680 /elpís, “hope”) – to hope, actively waiting for God’s fulfillment about the faith He has inbirted through the power of His love (cf. Gal 5:6 with Heb 11:1)
ASSURANCE:
5287 hypóstasis(from 5259 /hypó, “under” and 2476 /hístēmi, “to stand”) – properly, (to possess) standing under a guaranteed agreement (“title-deed”); (figuratively) “title” to a promise or property, i.e. a legitimate claim (because it literally is, “under a legal-standing“) – entitling someone to what is guaranteed under the particular agreement.
CONVICTION:
Cognate: 1650 élegxos (a masculine noun) – inner conviction focuses on God confirming His inbirthing of faith (“the internal persuasion from Him,” see 4102 /pístis). See 1651 (elegxō)1. a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested.
SEEN:
991 blépō – properly, to see, be observant (watchful). 991 (blépō) suggests “to see something physical, with spiritual results (perception).” That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert)
The Parable of the Sower
MATTHEW 13
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
UNDERSTANDS:
4920 syníēmi (from 4862 /sýn, “together with” and hiēmi, “put, send”) – properly, put together, i.e. join facts (ideas) into a comprehensive (inter-locking) whole; synthesize.
4920 /syníēmi (“put facts together”) means to arrive at a summary or final understanding (complete with life-applications). Accordingly, 4920 (syníēmi) is closely connected with discerning and doing “the preferred-will of God” (2307 /thélēma)