spiritual battle, Resist the Devil (James)

The book of James is very clear and practical.

We live in a fallen, sinful world, so there will be tests and trials that we go through.  We will sometimes suffer the consequences of that fallen world, and the consequences of other people's sinful behavior.

And we were born with a sinful nature.  So while believers are still on earth, we will still struggle with falling into temptation and the consequences of our own sinful behavior,

Temptation comes from our own lusts, as well as from demonic activity.  Temptation itself is not a sin.  It is acting on that temptation that is the sin.  And it is completely our choice to sin or not to sin!

None of this is God's fault!  God only gives good gifts!  When we look to Him for help, He will help!!!...

(James 1:12-18)  Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

I've used the chair illustration a few times, so I'll use something else.  In advertisements, we often see celebrities saying, "I believe in this product!"  But sometimes they are only being paid to say that.  Their statement would only be true if they actually consistently used the product and saw the results.

God helps those who believe in Him.  Belief in God is more than just a cerebral recognition that God exists, and that Jesus and the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity.  Belief is actually putting our faith and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior.  Belief in Him is following His directions - and using Him as our strength and wisdom and guidance, etc. - because we know that what He says is right and true and actually works!...

(James 2:14-20)  What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 

A friend to the world is an enemy to God!

I know some people think this is such an extreme statement.  They'll even joke about, "It's good to be a little bad."  Even Oprah exclaimed in one of her shows that God would never be jealous!

Now, remember that God is always present.  And as believers, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, because we have accepted Jesus' work on the cross - a sacrificial love that goes beyond anything - and we have committed our souls to Him and have a personal relationship with Him!  We have chosen to make Him our Lord and Savior of our lives!

So let's put this in human terms.  Let's say you and your spouse are out for the evening to celebrate your anniversary.  And your spouse starts flirting with someone.  And that someone is enjoying the game, knowing that there's a chance to put a wedge between the both of you.  They will not stop - unless and until your spouse completely ignores them and puts all the attention back on you.

Are you jealous?  You should be!!!  Any sort of attention like that is only meant for you!!!...

(James 4:1-10)  What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

From this we see:
- God does not tempt us, and God is not tempted by evil (1:13)
- the demons believe that God is one, they know who Jesus is (2:19)
- submit to God! and resist the devil and he will flee from you (4:7)

Personal experience:  my husband and I have a strong, committed relationship that works - because we are committed to WORKING at keeping the relationship strong!  And let me tell you, it is work!

We had been married for about a year when we attended a wedding of one of my husband's work friends.  Naturally we sat at a table with other work friends.  And I know my husband was just being polite;  but during the meal there was a woman who saw the chance to play a game.

It was very obvious - to me - that she was playing a game, because every so often she'd look my way and gloat, because my husband's attention was completely on her.  And she was doing things with her hands that were quite suggestive.

So when the music started playing, I cheerfully said to my husband, "Come on!  Let's dance!"  And while we were on the dance floor, I asked him if he realized what he was doing.  He had no idea.  But after I explained how he had been ignoring me and playing into her game, he apologized, and for the rest of the evening we had fun.

Not that we ignored the people around us, but the appropriate amount and the appropriate kind of attention was dispersed.  And so, the other woman had to look for another source of entertainment.  I'm not saying she was the devil, but her intentions were certainly not pure.

Today's takeaway:  some temptations are in our face, while others are subtle and deceptive.  Either way, they will disappear from our sight when we keep our eyes on Jesus and work on our commitment with Him...

(Psalm 37:1-40)  Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord sustains the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they will have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures, they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, but those cursed by Him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing.

27 Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
32 The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; for the man of peace will have a posterity.
38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.