How many true friends do you have? One we know that each of us have (as a born again) is our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We think of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "I am a Friend of God" songs. Abraham was a friend of God. The way that you and I can confirm that we are friends of God is by relating to Him openly and by eliminating sinful attitudes and actions from our lives!
Once you become a child of God, your friendship with the Lord requires continuous nurture. Talking with Him and worshiping and serving Him are vital. Without those, we are showing little interest and are NOT developing our relationship with Him.
James is a serious teacher with serious situation that he addresses. He addresses the Christians' worldly behavior...they were friends with the world rather than with God.
James deals with conflict amongst the believers...disputes and quarrels, temporary flare ups and ongoing hostility. He landed on the thought...the battles and skirmishes came from CRAVINGS WARRING WITHIN. Cravings - longings for pleasure- lustful passions that could be sensual in nature or could be ambitions for money or power. Do you have an intense desire for what you do not have?
James clarifies - hatred and contempt are spiritually tantamount to murder. Many times these characteristics come out of coveting. - jealousy, spite, and envy.
Believers did not receive because they did not ask in prayer. They had wrong motives and methods.
One who is not faithful to the Lord is labelled as an adulterer. To love the world, world things, leads to separation from God and adultery by being unfaithful to the Lover of souls!
Friendship with the world is revealed in our lives by the places we go, what we read, what we listen to, what we view (tv, movies, etc.)
Our God is an awesome God in all things! - He is a JEALOUS God. Unlike a jealous spouse, He does the opposite - in His jealousy He gives more grace!!!!! Grace is the desire and power (from the Lord) to do what He longs for us to do. PRIDE vs HUMILITY continues to be the central issue. Dependence on the flesh/PRIDE. Dependence upon the Lord/ Humility. Humility is COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO GOD! - yieldedness!
SUBMIT TO THE LORD - by deliberate choice. REBUKE the enemy and he will fless. You must speak outloud! He is unlike God. He cannot read your thoughts, so tell him.
Self confident is arrogance - end result is PRIDE. Do not teach your children self confidence - rather HIM confidence!
Don't count on tomorrow, don't presume! In making plans, be sure HE lays the plans. Don't make a mess and then ask Him to bless. We have no guarantees about tomorrow - the future. Our lives are like a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. When we lay our plans without His leading, we are acting in a self sufficient way - counting out our flesh sufficiency. Life's un certainty should lead us to depend upon Him - and Him alone!!
BEING A FRIEND OF GOD INVOLVES:
1. Reject worldly behavior and eliminte atittudes that lead to trouble between us and others. 2. Submit and draw near to Him and eliminate attitudes and actions related to pride. 3. Recognize taht He alone is Judge and eliminate from your life all judgmental criticism of others.
4. Seek His will before you make decisions or plans and eliminate attitudes and actions that relate to arrogance.
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