FLEE THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH-DON'T BEFRIEND THE WORLD (28 OF 29)
by John Barnett
This content is part of a series.
Flee the Lusts of the Flesh-Don't Befriend the World (28 of 29)
Series: Christ Our Refuge
John Barnett
Our God is jealous this morning. He loved us, bought us, found us, drew us, cleaned us and now lives within us by His Holy Spirit. Have you thought deeply about what it means to have a Jealous God living in you? Have you thought about what would offend someone who loved us so much that He wants us to be utterly loyal to Him?
So what could be the worst place we could find ourselves as believers this morning?
The answer comes in James, the very first New Testament letter written to Christ's Church--it is getting drawn away from our loyalty to our God, acting like the world by cultivating its desires, and becoming God's enemy.
How can a believer do such a thing? We become an enemy of God when we become friendly with the world.
Listen as James, our Lord's earthly brother, writes to believers and warns them of this dreadful condition he calls 'friendship with the world'. Open there with me to James 4.
• James 4:1-8 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit 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. NKJV
Look closely at verse 4. ...
Series: Christ Our Refuge
John Barnett
Our God is jealous this morning. He loved us, bought us, found us, drew us, cleaned us and now lives within us by His Holy Spirit. Have you thought deeply about what it means to have a Jealous God living in you? Have you thought about what would offend someone who loved us so much that He wants us to be utterly loyal to Him?
So what could be the worst place we could find ourselves as believers this morning?
The answer comes in James, the very first New Testament letter written to Christ's Church--it is getting drawn away from our loyalty to our God, acting like the world by cultivating its desires, and becoming God's enemy.
How can a believer do such a thing? We become an enemy of God when we become friendly with the world.
Listen as James, our Lord's earthly brother, writes to believers and warns them of this dreadful condition he calls 'friendship with the world'. Open there with me to James 4.
• James 4:1-8 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit 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. NKJV
Look closely at verse 4. ...
There are 18193 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
