James - Part 4 [Notes]

You’re invited to join us for to "James," a five-week series through the five chapters of James. This letter to early Christians is packed with practical truths to help us learn and live our faith every day. Whether it’s standing strong in trials and temptations, using our words to build others up, or serving and sharing with those in need, this series will help equip us for an everyday faith that grows our relationship with God and others.

Takeaway: God has given us what we need to disarm out spiritual enemies.

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world  is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously (In other words, don’t you realize the God is you is jealous because you love this world instead of him)? But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?  
– James 4:1-12 (HCSB)

The three main enemies and the three main solutions

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.
– James 4:1-3 (HCSB)

Apparently, the believers James wrote to were at war with each other over positions in the church, many of them wanting to be teachers and leaders. When they studied the Word, the result was not edification, but strife and arguments. Each person thought that his ideas were the only right ideas and his ways the only right ways.
– W. Wiersbe

The war in the heart [was] helping to cause the wars in the church.

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.
– 1 Peter 2:11 (HCSB)

Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?
– James 4:4-5 (HCSB)

[The world is…] the organized Satanic system that is opposed to God and hostile to Jesus and His followers; it also refers to the non-Christian culture including governments, educational systems, and businesses.
– HCSB

Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.
– 1 John 2:15-17 (HCSB)

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
– Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!
– James 4:7-8 (HCSB)

Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
– 1 Peter 5:8-9 (HCSB)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
– Ephesians 6:10-13 (HCSB)

The three main enemies and the three main solutions:

• We need to “crucify” the sin nature and rely on the life-giving power of Holy Spirit who lives within us.
• We need to overcome the world by renewing our minds through the Word and renewing our love for God
• We need to overcome Satan by saying no to him and saying yes to God, as we put on the armor he provides.

Take You at Your Word // So Much // I've Witnessed It // Ain't That Like Jesus // It Is Well

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