Am I an enemy of God?

Yesterday

We tried to answer the question: if someone is a ‘friend’ of Christ, can they be a ‘friend’ of the world too?

Today

We will LOOK at who is an enemy of God in verses 4-6.

Open GODcha to the Book of James.

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You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!

 

Let’s Pray

OH Lord, you brought us here today, thus we ask that You quiet our hearts to hear You speak to us. Help us to understand Your Truth in order to live it. Thank you!

 

LOOK at What God Says

Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.

What will you do first?

READ God’s Word

Read James 4:1-6  asking the 5W’s and H.

Engage now>

Practice makes perfect!

 

Let’s LOOK at James 4:5 and concentrate.

Can believers be hostile toward God, meaning be enemies of God?

 

Unlock the Meaning 

Let’s unzip hostility and enemy.

Understand God’s Words

Hostilityéchthrafrom echthrós, enemy. Enmity, hatred, hostility (Luke 23:12; Rom. 8:7; Gal. 5:20; James 4:4).

 

Enemyechthróshatred, enmity. Hostile, inimical. In Rom. 11:28, enemies, in contrast to beloved.

 

LOOK at Other Truths About

Hostility Toward God/Enemies of God

Hear God Speak!

1. What do you understand about hostility, hatred, toward God?

a. Romans Chapter 8 is a contrast of ‘life in the Spirit‘ versus ‘life in the flesh‘.

The mind set on the flesh is hostile (hates, at enmity) toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:5-9)

 

bEnemies of God are those whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.(Phil 3:18-19)

THINK: Believers are those who are ‘according to the Spirit‘ and DO NOT set their mind on the flesh, but their mind is set on the things of the Spirit; on things above, (Col 3:10).

LISTEN…

 

Am I living in the Spirit, or in the flesh?

What is my mind truly set on? 

Respond to God…LIVE it out!

 

2. If a person is an enemy of God, what are they an enemy of?

a. They are enemies of righteousness. (Act 13:6-10)

 

b. They are enemies of the cross of Christ. (Phil 3:18-19)

 

3. Are believers enemies of God?

Believers once were enemies of God. (Rom 5:10); (Col 1:21) 

Remember (Rom 8:5-9), believers are of ‘the Spirit’ not ‘the flesh’ which is at enmity w/God.

 

4. What will God do with His enemies?

a. God will bring vengeance on His enemies. (Deut 32:41)

  

b. God is jealous, avenging, wrathful, reserving His wrath for His enemies. (Nah 1:2)

 

c. God’s enemies will be slayed. (Luk 19:27) 

 

d. God will make His enemies a footstool. (Luk 20:43); (Heb 10:13)

 

What Did We LEARN

Sum Up It Up!

We LEARN:

If one loves the world, then they are in conflict with God.

Friendship with the world makes one a personal enemy of God.

 

We must understand – Believers, those with genuine faith:

Are NOT hostile toward God, righteousness, or the cross of Christ.

CANNOT be enemies of God.

CANNOT love the world and be friends with God.

THINK and REASONFrom all God says about His enemies, can one with true genuine faith be His enemy?

Commune With God

LISTEN…

To GODcha’s #4d LIVE Question.

Am I a friend of the world, thus an enemy of God, in conflict with God?

Why would I want to be an enemy of God?

Don’t I want to be a friend of God?

Respond to God…LIVE it out!

 

Let’s continue. . .

READ God’s Word

Let’s continue in James 4:5.

Consider Context:

We are looking at the person who loves the world, who is an enemy of God,

And now James tells us what this person’s attitude toward Scripture is.

NOTE: Scripture says‘ is the usual NT way to introduce an OT quote. But the quote that follows isn’t found anywhere in the OT, making this a difficult verse.  Scholars say it is a composite of general OT teaching.

Understand: There are a few possible interpretations for verse 5.

The following are a couple interpretations which fit the immediate context of James 4:1-6 that deal with man’s relationship with God.

The question is: Is James referring to the Holy Spirit (which would be his only reference in the book) or to the spirit of man?

1. The (NASB) reads: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell  in us”?

Describing the Holy Spirit, imparted to us by God at conversion, (Act 5:32); (1Co 3:16); (Rom 8:11),  who yearns enviously, jealously, for our total loyalty and devotion to Christ.  Indicating God’s unwillingness to share man’s affections with the world.

This would mean that it would be inconceivable for believer’s to continue to live in accordance with their own sinful desires and passions.

 

2. The (KJ) reads:The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

Describing the human spirit, imparted at creation, longs for, lusts after the enjoyment of the world’s pleasures, even to the point of jealousy. (Gen 2:7); (Job 32:8); (Ecc 12:7) 

This would mean that the natural man’s spirit (before conversion) lusts, desires, to the point of envy, jealousy. This describes fallen man.

www.Preceptaustin.org.

 

We see: Whatever the interpretation, if you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God, and James is saying you disregard what Scripture says as a whole.

Understand: James is rebuking some of his readers, by asking if they think the Scripture lacks effectiveness, is useless, is of no purpose or is unable to produce results.

Understand: God is a jealous God, (Exo 34:14); (Gal 5:17), who longs for His creation, man, who love the world, to love Him!

 

Engage With God

LISTEN…

To GODcha’s #4e LIVE Question.

Am I foolish thinking Scripture speaks to no purpose and lacks effectiveness?

Respond to God…LIVE it out!

 

Keep LOOKING . . .

READ God’s Word

What is the solution in James 4:6?

How does James conclude what he is saying?

Do you see the contrast

v6 But, God gives more grace. . .

Who does God give grace to?

 

Therefore, it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.””

This will be our next stop, but for now. . .

 

“It is right for the church to be in the world; it is wrong for the world to be in the church. A boat in water is good; that is what boats are for. However, water inside the boat causes it to sink.” Harold Lindsell

 

That’s a Wrap!

What an awesome privilege to be in God’s presence and hear His voice to us through His Word and Spirit!

Meditate on the danger of being a friend of the world! 

According to James such ones do not have true genuine faith.

Have a heart to heart with your Creator!

Keep Your Discovery

Don’t forget to record what You have learned and your conversations with God.

You might put the Definitions and Cross References next to these verses in your hardbound Bible.

You will be so glad you did!

 

Turn What You LEARNED into a Prayer

Perhaps. . . 

GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, we know those of us with true genuine faith were once Your enemies, enemies of the cross and righteousness because we were friends with the world! And it was while we were Your enemies that You saved us by faith in Christ. Because of your good pleasure You brought us forth out of this world, out of spiritual death, causing us to be born again, thus our minds are no longer set on the flesh, but we live according to the Spirit. Thank you that there is no way we who have been redeemed could be Your enemies, because we are Your friends. As we examine ourselves, if there is anyone who is with us today who loves the world, is motivated by the lust of their flesh and eyes, and the pride of life, help them to understand the conflict within and with others is because of their conflict with You. Help them come to faith in Jesus and be Your friend, not friends of this world. We ask this in Jesus name! Amen!

 

Your doing great!

Next: we will unfold the next paragraph James 4:6-10.

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