Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

James 4:4 – 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.

These people to which James was referring were not those that deny God. Those that openly sin, saying they welcome following their own lusts and desires that will lead them to damnation.

This verse was aimed at those within the church. Those that at one time professed and may actually have been grafted into the Vine that is our Lord Jesus Christ. However, now they no longer bear fruit.

Adulterers – G3432 – moichos – apostate, adulterer

1. Apostate – someone who has given up their religion
2. Apostasy – an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith

I want to key in on following and obeying. Why is that? The answer comes from Matthew:

Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

When following, when obeying. We are staying true to these two commandments which come from the Old Testament. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18) This explains why verse 40 exists. It is reaffirming what Christ stated in chapter five of Matthew:

Matthew 5:17-19 – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Many that profess to being “Christian” have destroyed the laws of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. They use the excuses like for example that these laws are under the old covenant. Yet Christ says this about that mentality:

 Luke 16:16-17 – “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Therefore, Jesus Christ makes it very clear that the laws that were not removed by Him going to the cross. That is making sacrifices. Are still active and true if they do not violate that second commandment.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Would you enslave yourself? The answer is no. Subsequently, slavery is against the laws of Moses. Even though they were originally in them.

But back on track.

So, following and obeying all the teachings within the Bible that pass the litmus test of Matthew 22:37-40 shows not only yourself, but the world about you that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and so are not an enemy of God.

Yet there are those that will deny this, will argue, and complain that what was just stated is the Truth. This is the first indicator as to identifying who are the enemies of God.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 – If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

This leads us to the next clues as to who are the enemies of God. For within these verses are descriptions that leads us to the verses that are to follow:

Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I want you the listener and reader to note an important verse that precedes these verses:

Galatians 5:18 – But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

This is a clear statement. That if we behave in the following manner:

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

We work within the laws of Moses. Yet if we live in the sins lists that come from the flesh. Those that live this way are answerable to the laws of Moses, which affirms what Jesus Christ Himself said, that the laws are not destroyed, just fulfilled. Then those that chose to ignore the laws and do not follow or obey them can be considered enemies of God.

What other evidence is there of who are those that are the enemy of God?

1 John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

These verses when taken in concert with the first verse we discussed today says volumes. Therefore, let us repeat it:

James 4:4 – 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.

So those that seek after wealth, fancy houses, new cars. Bigger and better. They are actually enemies of God. No matter what they say their affiliation is. For their true love is their want for what will get them what they truly desire.

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

“You will be devoted to one and despise the other.”

It is a plain statement.

If you are devoted to God, you will not desire what money gives you. You will despise luxuries. You will not seek after bigger, better fancier.

You will downsize. If you have wealth, it will be given to charities in need. To people in need.

Most will reject this. Most will scoff at this. Most will be in bewilderment and shocked.

Revelation 3:15-18 – “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

Yes, I used these verses on purpose. Does it make those that want to reject this, scoff at this and are shocked by this stop.

It should. This is not me speaking these are not my words. This is the Bible. This is God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

It amazes me how people wish to reject the Bible just because what is being said goes against how they were raised and told their entire lives. That would imply that all they have learned and been told is a lie. That their parents, their pastor or minister had it all wrong.

If the Bible says one thing yet all you do goes to the opposite than what is the truth?

The Bible or how you have lived?

People say they are “Christian” yet reject that which goes against what they desire what they are devoted to. This causes conflict within people. For centuries they have been told that to succeed is to gain that which is within this world. However, this is opposite of that which the Bible tells us to seek after.

Matthew 6:19 -21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Where your treasure is makes you a follower of Christ or an enemy of God. it is just that simple. It is black and white. Hot and cold. Sheep or goats. There is no middle ground. There never has been. People can’t keep chasing after both. They all must chose a side, and they must now do something about it.

Why?

Because Christ is soon to come and what follows that first appearance is something all wish to avoid, but most will not.

Why?

Because they chose to be God’s enemy instead of Christ’s follower.

God Bless