Download... June 20, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JAMES 4:1-10
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.
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.
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.
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.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Whether unrighteous or righteous,.... strife does not produce happiness. We can learn from this.
Verse 4 God has some enemies in this world, for not everyone chooses to be His child. Verse 7 Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil! Verse 8 Draw nigh to God. Verse 9 Speaking here of those with a knowledge, and who were “striving” with those who did not seem to submit to God. Never mind those, but “mind” that You are fully submitted to God. There are conditions amongst people today, (verses 9 & 10) that requires a “mourning” for, to enable those to draw nigh to God humbly. A need to turn any mind-set of laughter to one of a heaviness, and sorrow so we might examine our hearts and minds to ensure it is completely humbled to God’s will and word. We then in example,.. can hopefully cause others to also examine their hearts. Nonetheless self examination can help us avoid being a “stumbling block” to others.
Proverbs18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
I must be friendly towards others, to gain friends. If you say "I have no friends," is it because You are not friendly? You might in error perceive this notion as in all being against you. It is a wonderful reminder that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. God wants to be your friend, but friendliness is a two-way street. He wants us.. to be His friend also. Friendship with God is Not just an everyday casual effort, but a genuine special “something” to pull you closer to Him. You need “something” to pull yourself in to God. God is the one who will then stick closer than a brother. Show those same qualities toward Him, and beware taking God for granted. Again, be His friend, for friendship requires our investment also. Sometimes God's children may get weary and “wobbly”. If you don’t look out,.. the devil can over take you as a roaring lion. I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Satan is looking for those weary, weak, and young ones.
A more graphic example would be to consider for instance a herd of zebras, with their mesmerizing stripes all moving as one. But when, and if, one becomes weary, weak, or separated from the rest, it becomes an easier prey to a lion as the predator. Likewise when a child of God gets weary and pulls away, they become more potential prey to the enemy’s captivity. Depending also on the training of our children, they can be strong, or subjected more to the “pitfalls of life.” Too many “untaught” lives are more uncomprehending of the “right” way. All of us need to learn to stay alert spiritually, to find whatever we can, to pull ourselves closer to the Lord. It is each individuals responsibility, to draw nigh to God.
In a foreign place Br Goble had visited in recent times, he was asked what we do (in the church). When explained the blank look on their face, revealed their complete incomprehension. Too often people are so distanced from God (even the "religious"), that their relationship with Him is broken,.. if it had existed. This is partly the results of the “tug and pull” of mere religion. That increased disengaged comprehension or interest, of the things of God,.. and His friendship. A total lack of understanding. This spirit unfortunately dominates our present “world.” Hence the importance to seek and find something to draw and pull our-self closer to God.
In an example pulled from our galaxy, the sun has very little impact on the distant “planet” Pluto, rendering it a cold. Conversely Mercury in it’s relative closeness, is impacted with heat. Are you a “Pluto’ (cold), or a “Mercury,”hot” from the sun (God’s impact)? You will get colder and colder towards God, if you do not find something to pull you in closer to Him. Doing otherwise, will find yourself “drifting.” You must examine your heart, to “work out your salvation.” Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For the cause of the gospel, you must show yourself friendly, which often requires a working effort.
Exodus 3: 1-5 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Something “drew” Moses in. In this case,.. a burning bush. Likewise we can draw ourselves in close enough, that we will be “standing” on holy ground, being unlike the planet Pluto distanced in coldness. From time to time we need that "burning bush" to keep us on holy ground. Each individual needs to find that “burning bush experience.” “Something” to draw or pull us in. What is that burning bush? It is conviction, a revelation of our needs, and examination of our responsibilities. When people forget their spiritual convictions or responsibilities, they will spiritually die. Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Societies without God project a discontentment and debasement. For societies that function primarily in a “me” mentality, lack a true recognition of God.
Too often today society tries to discourage a necessity to be dependent on God. When people cut out God,.. God cuts out people. If God has redeemed or pulled you out of some “pit,” ..don’t ever forget it! It is just as important today, as when He did that for you! Any righteousness that has been given, is never of our self but only from God, although it does require our devotional efforts. Satan wants us to think our spiritual efforts don’t matter anymore. That is foolishness, for we need to always find “something” to pull our soul closer to God. We cannot continue with any sinful practices we had before we were saved, and hope to maintain a closeness with God.
Each one of us is accountable to find that something to keep or pull our self nearer to God. Often that something is to use the spiritual sword (Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:) to rid our lives of any hindrances to pulling closer to God. Hindrances are often the destructive tools and “daggers” of bitterness, strife,etc., that you must separate from with the power of forgiveness. Our closeness to God entails us to find ourselves that Friend,.. that sticks closer than a brother.
Pastor Br D Goble told of one who had kept the cultivation of keeping a friendship, without a return of those efforts from the other. Finally this person declared, “if my efforts are to continue, it needs to be a two way street.” This is vital to keep in touch. Why is God any different? God wants to be our friend, and not to be ultimately only a bystander. With any efforts in friendship, there needs to be that email, letter, call, visit, etc., to keep a true friendship.
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Show yourself friendly,.. most importantly to God. Can people laugh with you, (not necessarily at)? Can you cheer them up? God wants us to be able to be that friend, as He is for us. Take Him your thanksgiving! He brought you to church this morning!
One reason people often stay in a depressed or unhappy condition is because of unthankfulness. Start being thankful for All those things God does and provides for you in so many myriad of ways. Br D Goble has been ill, and not fully recovered in strength, yet thankful for being able to function. He recalled to our minds that unique young man (Nick Vujicic) born without arms, and legs, yet who does many of the same everyday routines we could never imagine doing with those same limitations. That young man goes about in a positive manner, testifying to many for God, as the power of his testimony, in other words with thankfulness. It involves pulling closer in friendliness to God with whatever we can. In addition as Moses and the burning bush, we need to hear the “thunder and lightning”, in order to find that something to pull in our-self closer to God. God wants to be your friend. Ask God forgiveness for your sins. God does have that requirement that you be justified and saved From your sins,.. for His friendship.
