Category Archives: Lordship of Jesus

James: Friendship With the World… It’s a Spiritual Affair!

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“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

An adulterous affair will destroy a marriage. We are meant for a relationship of oneness with our spouse that no one else is invited to participate within. This is true of our spiritual relationship with God. “Friendship with the world…” or adopting the world’s “values and priorities, which are contrary to God’s.”(Berean Study Notes – Bible Hub) is “enmity against God.” Or “the quality of being an enemy.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

When we desire to live according to the ways of the world and chase after sin, we are choosing to pursue other lovers (spiritual adultery). Our love for God is less than our love for our selfish desires. We may wear the label of “Christian”, but our actions display the opposite. This simply will not work!

God “jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell within us.” (James 4:5) He desires for us to live in an intimate relationship with Him. He will not have competing lovers.

Is God the desire of our lives or are we consumed with chasing everything else?

James: I Am The Problem…

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(This week we are reading James 4)

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Self focus is deadly!!! It produces fights and quarrels with others. It leads us to atrocious sins.

The self focused person wants what they want when and how they want it. Their theme is “it’s all about me…” But when we live our lives focused on us and our desires, we cannot receive from God. That is because our motives are wrong. Our desires are set on getting what we want — our pleasures.

If our lives lack peace and God feels distant, there is one phrase that will describe the root of what is going on. It is worthy of saying it out loud so understanding can come. “ I am the problem…” I need to get my eyes off of me and onto God who holds everything I need.

Life is not about me at all. It is all about Him!!! If my desires are set on Him, if I ask God for His provision from a heart that is surrendered to Him entirely, totally, and completely, if my life is all about God, I will dwell in God. His peace, joy, and love will fill my life.

“I am the problem” can be changed to “Jesus is the answer.” He is to be our lives. That is the only way to live as we were created to be.

James: God’s Wisdom vrs. The World’s

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(Today is James 3) 

“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.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wisdom is the correct application of what we know. God is all-wise. He knows everything, because He is all knowing. His knowledge is complete, and He has the correct application for all the knowledge He possesses.

God’s wisdom is described in verse 17. 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s wisdom will be on display in the our lives when we truly know Him. What we know we will act upon as we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit. We will act humbly with deeds that produce good fruit.

However, if we are focused on our self, ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will be all about our own ways — self focused. We will know, or experience, our desires, our wants, our ways… this is far from experiencing the benefits of God’s Wisdom. What we experience will be the outcome of the world’s wisdom — “earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” “Disorder and every evil practice” will abound.

God’s Wisdom vrs. the worlds. Life vrs. death…What will we choose to pursue?

James: “Screen Door on a Submarine”

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“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today is James 2)

Faith without works is useless!

God has given each of us “a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) This is the capacity to believe, but we must act on it! Our actions “complete” our faith.

We can say we “believe there is one God.” (verse 19) And James says that is “Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.” The question is: “what are we doing with what we believe?”

If we truly believe that we have a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ came and died then resurrected from the dead in order to set us free from sin, do we live like we believe it?

Abraham believed God and the Scripture says, “It was credited to him as righteousness.” (Verse 23) He was put into right standing with God and He was known as “God’s friend.” He had a personal relationship with God. This relationship was reflected by his willingness to obey God no matter what the cost of obedience may be.

If you and I have faith and believe what God says, then we will act accordingly. In short, we will do it!

Coming to God in faith is just the beginning of what God wants to do in our lives. He wants to consume us! He wants us to receive His Word — what He says. He wants us to believe it to be true. He wants us to act upon it in obedience.

There’s a classic song by Rich Mullins that I am going to attach. Listen to its words and consider. Do I act upon what I believe? Or do I have a “screen door” on my spiritual submarine?

James: The Word — God’s Measuring Stick

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(Today is James 2)

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Word is the law that gives freedom. (James 1:22-25) It is the truth!

The Word judges. It is the measuring stick by which we must take every thought, every teaching, every decision and lay it up beside to examine, distinguish, and decide if they are according to God’s perfect will for us. When we “speak and act” according to what we see in the Word we will live in freedom. But if we refuse we will live in error which is a life of captivity.

Through Jesus, God has displayed His mercy towards us. We are placed in right standing with Him. When we receive Christ, His Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us. The Holy Spirit will empower us to “speak and act” as God desires.

We need to know the Word so that we know God’s will for us. As we see what God wants for us in His Word, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us power to obey. Whatever our circumstances may be may we place them against the measuring stick of the Word. So we may judge correctly what we need to say and do. This is how we can live free — filled with God’s joy, love and peace!

James: Do What It Says!

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(Today is James 1) 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In America, we have ample opportunity to “listen to the word.” We can download the Bible to our phones. We can freely attend church without fear of persecution. We can tune into countless podcasts that talk about the word. We have Christian TV, Christian Radio, Christian entertainment —movies, concerts, etc.

We could listen to and or attend every single thing I have mentioned and walk away unmoved by it. Why? Because we refuse to act upon what we have heard.

This is not the relationship that God desires for us to have with Him! 

“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are to “look intently” and to “continue in” the Word. We are to “not forget what we have heard, but DO IT.”

Our encounters with God’s Word are to be taken into our heart and His Word is supposed to make a change in our lives. The Life the Word produces through our obedience is supposed to eradicate the death our sinful choices have brought. The Truth we are receiving is supposed to expose the lies. The Word will produce freedom where captivity to sin has abounded. The Word will bring blessing in all we do.

Why do we choose to stay in the pattern of our own ways when we hear the Word speaking the way to go?

Don’t merely listen to what the Word is saying! Do IT!

James: Cleaning House

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(Today we read James 1)

My daughter in law is a minimalist housekeeper. At first her way of doing things seemed a little extreme to me. If she doesn’t use something, she gets rid of it from her house. She doesn’t hold onto very much stuff “for a rainy day…” Her house is clutter free, easy to keep clean, and refreshing.

I’ve been living at my current home for 17 years. I have not adopted her mindset when it comes to stuff… There have been times when my husband and I contemplate getting a dumpster to get rid of the extras. Life would be a little easier if we did. 

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

James tells us that God has good things in store for us. “Every good and perfect is from above…” God desires that righteousness is produced in us. Which is “Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

In short, we need to “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent…” Repentance is the equivalent of cleaning out the spiritual clutter of our spiritual hearts. It is making room for the “Word planted in you, which can save you.” The word “Save” here in the Greek means, “To save, heal, preserve, rescue.”

God wants us to be full of Him — His Word! He wants to save us from our destructive patterns, heal us from our hurtful past, and rescue us from the sin that destroys us.

What is it that we need to “get rid of…?” Holding tightly to our ways, our thoughts, and our desires (i.e. sin) leads only to death, darkness, destruction. 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s time to take our “spiritual clutter” (sins) to the dumpster of repentance and get rid of all the moral filth we have been living in!

James: Sin’s Birth

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(Today we read James 1)

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sin is a choice. It doesn’t just happen. We know the good we should do, but we don’t do it. (James 4:17) There is a progression towards sin and death.

  1. Evil desire — i.e. lust. Longing for what we know is wrong.
  2. Enticement — temptation. Baited. Satan schemes against us. He looks for ways to get us to fall into his sinful traps. He places these lures before us with the desire for us to go after them.
  3. Sin — a voluntary turning from what is right.
  4. Death — Sin separates us from God. God is life. Sin keeps us from His life.

The truth is what we decide to listen to matters. Our evil desires/ lusts are fed by our selfish choices. Our selfish choices are fed by our thoughts.

In Jesus we can live victoriously over sin. He gives us a new heart that desires to follow Him and obey. He has given us His Word that renews our mind to think His thoughts. 

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God has created us to desire. He wants to be our one desire!

Don’t be “dragged away” by choosing to listen to the old lustful desires of your self life. Focus on Jesus and His Word. Let Him be the One Thing you long for!

Philippians — Servants and Saints!

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Good morning!!
I have been feeling prompted to switch gears on what I am studying in the Bible and present another way of digging deeper in the Word to you all.

I LOVE the Book of Philippians that is in the New Testament! I wanted to invite you all to join me in an in depth study of Philippians in April.

Each week we will read one chapter each day. I would encourage you to take notes and reflect on what God is speaking to You through His Word.

This is going to be AWESOME!!

Philippians is a book that has a lot that is said about Joy. Joy is the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good. Jesus, and His promises in His Word, are that Good!

Paul wrote this book while he was in prison/ under house arrest — chained to a Roman guard. His circumstances did not determine His Joy! Jesus did!

Each Monday we will start with a new chapter. So today let’s start with Chapter 1.

Post a general summary statement below of what God is showing you!

Here’s mine for today:

Servants and saints! That is what sticks out to me in the first two verses. Paul said he and Timothy were servants — in the Greek, slaves — of Jesus. A person who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who has no will of his own, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another. Is Jesus my Lord/ Master? Is my will subject to Him and His Word, or am I calling the shots?

Saints — God’s holy people — Set apart for God. He was writing to people whose lives were devoted to God alone! Am I entirely, totally, and completely set apart for Jesus? This is God’s desire for us!

When we are His we will experience His grace and His peace that comes from Him! (Verses 1-2)

Show Us The Father — Everything We Need, True Life!

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Today is Mark 10:1-31.

A rich young man ran up to Jesus as He set out on a journey one day. Although the man had everything he could ever need, he knew he was missing something.

He asked Jesus a question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him. “You know the commandments.” This was a true statement. A Jewish man of Jesus’s time would have memorized them, but Jesus began to list them off to the rich young man. The man pointed out to Jesus, “all these I have kept from my youth.”

Then it seems that Jesus switches gears, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor…” However, Jesus pointed out the greatest commandment that the man had missed — The Shema: 

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As a Jewish man, he had customarily repeated this verse twice a day, everyday. Jesus was right, the rich young man knew te commands, BUT he had not observed them all. He loved his wealth more than God, Himself.

Jesus offered him the opportunity to follow Him, the very God who gave the life the rich young man desired. But he “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

The disciples observed the interaction. Afterwards, Peter said something that should be the prayer of our heart, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”

God wants all of us! Total surrender!

When He is all we seek, we will find Him to be all we need!

Whatever we give up, Jesus said we will receive back “a hundredfold” of His provision. And we will also receive the one thing the rich young man longed for — “eternal life.”

Knowing Jesus, is Knowing Our Heavenly Father. THIS is Knowing Life! 

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬