In my last post on July 15, 2018, I mentioned that I, personally,
have problems with forward, vain, and profane speech. Over the years, I have tried to do better in
my own strength. However, I learned to swear early and proficiently, and I have always
been a smart-aleck and a know-it-all. It
has only been in the last four years, after the Lord dealt with me, that I have
been able to get rid of the outward profanity and forward speech. I still struggle with profane self-talk, and I
still “backslide” into being a wiseacre. The Lord calls me on it, though, and I
confess and yield to Him.
After continuing to admonish us about our pride and the
desires of the sinful nature, the Holy Spirit speaks again through James to
tell us how to have victory:
What is
the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?
Is
not the source your pleasures that wage war in
your members?
You lust and
do not have; so you commit murder.
You
are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.
You
do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,
so that you may spend it on
your pleasures.
You adulteresses,
do
you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?
Therefore whoever
wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do
you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He
has made to dwell in us"?
But He gives a greater
grace. Therefore it says,
"GOD IS OPPOSED TO
THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and
he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and
He will draw near to you.
(James 4:1-8 NASB)
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