David Hathaway

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to e...

James 5:5-10 speaks about the judgment awaiting the wealthy who have exploited the poor, as well as the patience and endurance of the righteous in the face of suffering. James advises the righteous to be patient in their suffering, like farmers waiting for the harvest. He encourages them to stand firm in their faith, despite the injustices they face. He praises the prophets who spoke in the name o...

'If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.' (James 4.17.) James 5:1-6 focuses on the condemnation of the rich who exploit the poor and warns of the impending judgment they will face. 'Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver ar...

In the final verses of chapter 4, James is calling for humility, repentance, and dependence on God in all aspects of life, urging believers to live in accordance with His will rather than their own selfish desires. He advises humility before the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and authority over our lives. Encouraging believers to allow God to lift them up in due time. 'Draw near to God and He...

James exhorts believers to examine their motives, prioritise humility, resist worldly influences, and submit to God in order to receive His grace and protection against temptation. 'You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be...

James 4:1-3 addresses conflicts and desires within the Christian community. The passage starts with James asking why there are fights and quarrels among them, attributing it to their desires for pleasure that wage war within themselves. He highlights that these desires lead them to covet and not obtain what they want, leading to conflict and even murder. James points out that they don't have becau...

This passage highlights the importance of controlling the tongue, seeking wisdom, and living in accordance with godly principles to promote peace and righteousness. 'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the t...

James 3 underscores the importance of controlling our speech, recognising the profound impact our words can have for good or for ill. I’m speaking over you power, blessing, healing! Speak it out! If you believe it and speak it, and don’t doubt in your heart, you will have power with God, and God will begin to work! Jesus said it! We’ve got to begin to understand the positive! Too often we fill our...

In these verses, James addresses the issue of controlling one's speech. He starts by cautioning that not everyone should be eager to become teachers, as teachers will be judged more strictly. James then uses the analogy of a bit in a horse's mouth and a rudder on a ship to emphasise the power of a small instrument to control a much larger entity. In the same way, the tongue, though a small part of...

Genuine faith is demonstrated through actions and works. James argues that faith without deeds is dead and compares it to a body without a spirit. James uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to illustrate that faith is validated by the deeds it produces. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son and Rahab's actions in hiding the spies show that their faith was alive and active. Ultimately, James...

In this episode, David teaches from James 2.5-13, NIV. Believers should avoid showing favoritism, treat all people with love and equality, and recognise the significance of mercy in their interactions with others. 'Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But y...

'My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,...

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does n...

In James 1.9-14, David teaches a powerful message about the blessings that come to those who endure trials with steadfast faith. The passage emphasises what true wealth is; asserting that the humble and lowly are exalted in God's kingdom. As believers face various challenges, the call to persevere stands as a pathway to receiving the crown of life promised to those who love the Lord. Join David in...

In these opening verses, James provides us with a profound perspective on trials and wisdom, which guide us through life's challenges and uncertainties. James 1:1-5 begins with James introducing himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He addresses the twelve tribes scattered abroad and encourages them to view their trials as opportunities for joy. James explains that enduring tri...

Jesus tells His disciples that those who believe in Him will do the works that He has been doing and even greater works. He assures them that whatever they ask in His name, He will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jesus encourages them to ask anything in His name, and He promises to do it. This passage underscores the significance of faith and the role of prayer in the Christian...

In John 14.1-3, Jesus comforts His disciples, assuring them not to be troubled and expressing that in His Father's house are many rooms. He promises to prepare a place for them and declares that He will come back to take them with Him, emphasising the eternal nature of their connection. This message explores the significance of these verses, delving into the themes of trust, hope, and the ultimate...

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ (John 14:1-4, NIV.) We are fa...

When there is a crisis in our lives our only hope is Christ, our only strategy is prayer. You – we – have to get an answer from God! When Jesus was on the earth, people asked Him direct for what they wanted. – We have to do the same, but through prayer. We have to learn again the power and effectiveness of prayer. We also have to learn how to get an answer to our problems. 

Mark 11 is so revolutionary, so powerful, it has changed my life! Jesus saw a fig tree full of leaves and He came hoping to find some figs (v13). But He found nothing but leaves. So many Christians are like that fig tree – you can see them in some Christian conventions – all show, all leaves, a lot of shouting, a lot of noise, a lot of emotion. But no fruit, no result, nothing but leaves! This is...

‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...’ But Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6:18, at the dedication of the new temple asks, ‘But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…!’ Yet Jesus did come, Emmanuel, ‘God with us’ and now today even more so because Christ dwells not just with us but in us after we are ‘born again’. Our b...

All my Christian life, I’ve not only wanted to pray – I learnt to pray as a child – but I wanted to know how to get an answer to prayer, how to find power with God, so that when I pray, God will answer. God wants us to come to Him for help because of our relationship – He is our Father. The Bible is very clear: through Jesus Christ, you and I have direct access to God!  In Luke 11, when Jesus had...

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have...

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate t...

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, fo...