James
Chapter 4
Vs. 1 James asks the group of believers Why is all this fighting among you?
Then James tells them It is because of desires of the flesh.
What are the desires of the flesh that make men fight? Usually someone wants something they do not have. So they try to take it. They plan ways to get it.
Vs. 2 James says men will kill to get what they want. Yet, they still do not get what they want.
James said, One of the reason you do not have something, is because you have not asked God for it. And when you ask God for it, He does not give it to you because you just want it for your own selfish pleasure.
Vs. 4 James says they are guilty of adultery. Your friendship with the world make you an enemy of God.
If your aim and goal is to enjoy the pleasures of this world then you are not a friend of God.
What do you think the scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit that God has put in us, wants us to be faithful to Him.?
Back in Old Testament times, the people of Israel began to worship idols instead of the true God in heaven. God looked upon that as Israel not being faithful to Him.
God told Israel that for them to worship an idol is like a wife not being faithful to her husband. God told them it was like adultery.
Now, James is telling the group of believers that for them to keep going back to doing sinful things—-pleasures of the world, for them to be trying to get more riches, for them to be thinking so much about trying to get more things, to do all the things non-believers do is being not —faithful to God.
Their prayers ask for things that are things to make them happy, or more comfortable, or richer. They are prayers that are for things to them happy.
God is not answering those kinds of prayers for them.
God will answer our prayers for us to have what we need. But He does not promise to give us whatever we want.
Sometimes, God gives us what we want.
God is not Santa Claus giving us everything on our list. God is a Father who sees what we need and what is best for us.
Vs. 7 James tells them Submit yourself to God. Give yourself to God. Submit means be willing to come under his authority, and his will.
Then, resist or stand against the devil or temptation and the devil will flee (go)
from you.
Many people quote (say) the last part of this verse about resist, stand against the devil and he will go from you, but they do not tell the first part of this verse that says
Submit to God.
People get themselves into places of temptation and then they try to resist temptation but it is very hard to do.
You can not go into a bar and think you can resist the temptation to drink. You can not stand in the devil’s area and resist him and tell him to go. That is the devil’s area and he is there to stay.
You need to keep yourself under the will of God. You need to keep yourself in areas that are not the devil’s places.
Do not get yourself into doing something with someone that will take you into temptation to do sin.
Do not be kissing and loving on someone and put yourself into temptation that will make it hard to stop loving or you will sin and do wrong.
Do not be around a group of young people that are doing wrong things and think you can resist temptation to join in. (drinking, drugs, partying, gangs, watching dirty movies, videos)
Be wise. Avoid places of temptation. Think ahead. Think of what the end will be.
Submit put yourself under God keep yourself close to wanting to please God then it will be easier to resist the devil and tell him to go.
Vs. 8 Draw close pull close come close to God and He will come close to you.
Clean your hands, stop doing wrong things. Make your heart pure ask God to forgive you. Do not be “double-minded” meaning you can not make up your mind to serve God and be faithful to God or keep going back to old sins.
Vs. 9 Be sorry for what wrong you have done. James tells them to let them have sorrow for their wrong doing. Not fun and laughter—think seriously about your wrong doing.
Let your soul be heavy for a time to see how wrong you have been and how you have been a sorrow to God.
Vs. 10 Humble yourself before God. He will forgive you and lift you up again.
Vs. 11-12 Do not speak bad things against others. Do not criticize and condemn. This is not for you to do. God is the judge. Let Him judge others. Your job is to obey God and do right. Let God take care of others and judge them, or punish them.
Vs. 13-14 Do not be saying you will do this or do that tomorrow. Meaning in a proud, bragging way, or in a sure, confident way, that shows pride or determination in your own power.
You do not know what will happen tomorrow. You can not control tomorrow.
You need to say If the Lord wills—I will do this tomorrow.
Some of you are boasting are proud and say this and that like you have the power to make it happen. Life is like steam and then it is gone. Do not be so proud in yourself and your plans.
Vs. 17 Remember to him that knows to do good and does not do it
to him it is sin.