The following are points of emphasis from our study of the Book of James (Chapter 4):
1. The church is made up of wheat (children of God) and tares (false believers).
2. This mixture produces conflict.
3. At the root of the conflict is lust for worldly pleasure.
4. False believers are unsuccessful in their struggle with lust.
5. Contentment, freedom from lust, results from a relationship with God.
6. False believers demand that any such relationship be on their own terms.
7. Such terms always return to desiring self above God.
8. False believers outwardly profess God but inwardly pursue self.
9. False believers are at war with God and are enemies of God.
10. The human spirit, the inner person, is bent on evil.
11. The pursuit of worldly lust is evidence that faith is not genuine.
12. The grace of God is more powerful than the lust for sin.
13. The grace of God is reserved for the humble.
14. The humble man is enabled by God to submit to God.
15. A child of God is under the lordship of Christ.
16. A false believer is under the lordship of Satan.
17. There is no middle ground pertaining to one's lordship.
18. "Drawing near to God" means submitting to His lordship.
19. The redeemed heart longs for communion with God.
20. Communion with God requires confession of sin.
21. Confession of sin requires deep lament (sorrow and misery).
22. Our lament leads to our mourning.
23. Our mourning leads to our weeping.
24. A false believer laughs at their inner sin.
25. The judgment against others by false believers leads to their own judgment.
26. God alone saves the repentant soul.
27. Making plans without considering God marks the false believer.
28. Life is a vapor, and only God knows our future.
29. A child of God submits his plans to God (the lordship of Christ).
30. Sins of omission (making plans without God) leads to sins of commission (executing plans against God).
John Dee Spicer
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About Me
I started the Daily Journal in 2000. I sent it as an email to a few friends (it was a round number, either 10 or 20, I can't remember exactly). It has grown over the years, primarily due to those original few forwarding it to others. During this time, I have journaled through Genesis, selected Psalms, the Gospel of John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter's letters. (These are the books I can remember for sure this morning, anyway.) I don't have seminary training and don't claim to have special wisdom. Rather, I simply desire that others develop a love for God's word. There is only one interpretation for any Bible passage, and I will rely on the wisdom of scholars through the ages (at least those at my disposal) to help with that one interpretation. I will also attempt some practical application. Somewhere along the way I started sharing some funny things my kids would say, and this became known as "Heard 'Round the House." I will continue to share these priceless nuggets as my kids provide material. The "Daily" Journal is a bit of a misnomer, since I only do it Monday through Thursday. I don't do it on Friday because I attend a 6 am Bible Study. I don't do it on the weekends because so many received it at work (I may revise this approach since I have gone to the "Blog" format). I do read my Bible on a daily basis, and strongly recommend a chronilogical daily Bible - you will read the Bible completely each year, and the events unfold in a historical fashion.
