James 4:1-8 - Can this Be Done in Todays World?

[Faith.Man]

James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
James 4:2 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.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:4 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.
James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [NASB]

In a positive way, how do you put James 4:1-8 in practice in your life? It's difficult not to be caught up in the things of this world; family, work, hobbies, illnesses, politics and world events, etc. If we keep Jesus foremost in our thoughts and actions, is that enough? Is this what being led by the Spirit all about?

 

[Tigger45]

Wow! Just reading those scriptures help refocus me. It's like looking into a mirror and examining who you really are as a Christian. And I think that's the point. Sometimes one of those verses will jump out at me and I know exactly what I need to work on at this point and very minute of my life. Sometimes it's a different verse that I see in a whole new light. God is awesome!

 

[SoulBap6]

Jas.4

[1] From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
[2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
[3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Fighting among Believers evil desires, more possessions, Grabbing at what we want, Higher status more recognition, Greed and destructive competitiveness. Instead ask God to get rid of our selfish desires and trust in God to give us what we really need


[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Sanctification we our to live in the world but not of the world

[5] Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
[6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The cure for evil desires is humility, We realize that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap substitutes for what God has to offer

[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

God and Satan are at war, we don't need to wait until the end to see who wins. Satan tries to win us over to his evil cause

Following Jesus Christ keeping his commandments focus on the lord and not on the world. It is easy to fall into Satans trap, remember Jesus is our example, be more like him will help you even in this day and age to be sanctified from this world as the song goes turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the eyes of his glory and grace. God be praised!

 

[weariedsoul]

Amen, humility is what many of us lack. We talk about love all day but not humility. We say that love is the key but that takes humility. We want to get closer to God and to grow spiritually but we must humble ourselves for this to happen. God resists the proud.

 

[motherprayer]

Yes! To every poster!

We must live without attachment to our material belongings, which causes a war between flesh and spirit. I have found that the best way to avoid this is to always focus my thoughts on God's higher plan for my life. I may not "have" a lot physically speaking, but I REFUSE to allow that to hurt my richness in Spirit!

 

[Yahu]

In a positive way, how do you put James 4:1-8 in practice in your life? It's difficult not to be caught up in the things of this world; family, work, hobbies, illnesses, politics and world events, etc. If we keep Jesus foremost in our thoughts and actions, is that enough? Is this what being led by the Spirit all about?

To be led by the Spirit you have to learn to hear His voice. Scripture says My sheep hear my voice.

IMO the best way to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is by the gift of tongues in your prayer closet. That is one of the main purposes of the gift of tongues. It teaches you to hear that voice. It also allows the Holy Spirit to pray through you for aspects of your life beyond your understanding. That is how it brings personal edification.

 

[weariedsoul]

To be led by the Spirit you have to learn to hear His voice. Scripture says My sheep hear my voice.

IMO the best way to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is by the gift of tongues in your prayer closet. That is one of the main purposes of the gift of tongues. It teaches you to hear that voice. It also allows the Holy Spirit to pray through you for aspects of your life beyond your understanding. That is how it brings personal edification.

Gods voice is heard in scripture already. The holy Spirit leads me by that scripture and i know that voice when i hear it, its not a voice that speaks words exactly, it is the silent voice in my heart that directs me. That voice that urges me to ask forgiveness of someone i have wronged for example.

Not all have the gift of tongues, so its not needed to hear the leading of the HS.

 

[Yahu]

Gods voice is heard in scripture already. The holy Spirit leads me by that scripture and i know that voice when i hear it, its not a voice that speaks words exactly, it is the silent voice in my heart that directs me. That voice that urges me to ask forgiveness of someone i have wronged for example.

Not all have the gift of tongues, so its not needed to hear the leading of the HS.

I never said it was necessary. I said IMO it is the best way to learn to hear that voice. Yes, the Holy Spirit can also bring passages of scripture to life for a situation in your life. That is another way.

The baptism of the Spirit just gives the Holy Spirit a stronger presence within a believer. That also helps the Spirit to bring more scripture to life. Tongues is the least of the spiritual gifts but it does have a purpose in our life but we are called to desire prophecy so the Holy Spirit can bring a message directly to a situation in our life or congregation. That is the best form.

Here is an example. My sister-in-law was struck down with colon cancer. Many times they tried for healing with no effect. Then she was confronted with the root of the problem with a 'word of knowledge'. She was harboring bitterness and anger over a family situation. She then repented of the root problem. She is now cancer free. Sure there are scriptures that address that problem but she didn't acknowledge it was her problem until it was confirmed through others hearing the Holy Spirit's direct voice and then repented.

My sig is also a prophetic word that had a great impact for not only the girl it was given but an entire college campus and several congregations. It also brought one of the hearers to salvation. Hearing the Holy Spirit through scripture can influence a single individual while a prophetic word can effect many people at once.

 

[OldStudent]

Verses 1-6 are characterizations of our depravity. Verses 7 & 8 are the answer and defense against it.

I would like to bring some things to the table for your consideration. I get a kick out of the “if” in 1 john 2:1: “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Sin is an option – we don’t have to go there. But if we do we have an advocate with the Father.

There is a fascinating item in the old tabernacle. Between the altar of burnt offering and the tabernacle was the laver. The laver was made of the looking glasses of the women. This furnishing could take a high polish. It also contained water for cleansing. As a person approached the laver any smudges or dirt was readily apparent. So it is when see look into the life of Jesus. Contained within the laver was water – Jesus the water of life. Appropriating the w/Water made one clean and ready to face the tabernacle. The laver, looking at oneself, was used in passing – not a point of long focus.

One of the tools of Satan is that we focus on James 4:1-6 and he’s got us.

I have been working a couple of experiments. I made a deliberate statement to myself and as a request of God. He wakes me when I am to spend time with Him. I rarely stay in bed to the alarm. I am awakened in sufficient time to have rested enough (or He supplies the quality of rest). Sometimes He tosses in some bonus time in the night.

Another tool is a motto when something I ought not mess with is in front of me: “I don’t have time for this.” Generally God, family, and a selection of projects surround me so I can just say, with His prompting and enabling from the morning setup, “I don’t have time for this” and move on. Yes, verses 7 and 8 can still work today.

 

[RomansOneSixteen]

I try and keep God in my thoughts 24/7 and retain him in my thoughts when I stray.
I am a new believer so of course I am still caught up in some wordy antics, but hopefully, through the grace of God through the Lord, I will slowly be changed by the Spirit of truth.

 

[weariedsoul]

I try and keep God in my thoughts 24/7 and retain him in my thoughts when I stray.
I am a new believer so of course I am still caught up in some wordy antics, but hopefully, through the grace of God through the Lord, I will slowly be changed by the Spirit of truth.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.