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| JAMES LESSON #7 By this time you�re asking, �Are we ever going to get back to James?� Yup � just for a minute, then we�re back to Job and Ephesians for another day. Turn to James 5:11. It�s not how you start the race, it�s how you finish it. Remember that. READ James 5:11 We�re going to talk a lot about �battlegrounds� as we get into chapter 2-3 of James but before we go there I want to show you who you are. There are specific tactics and specific conditions that the enemy will use to defeat you. Remember this: He will ALWAYS start with �disappointment.� ALWAYS. THAT is where it begins. How you handle �disappointment� will determine how long and to what length you hurt. That is a whole lesson in itself, and I�m not going there right now � so for now, just remember, �disappointment� is where it starts. The conditioning that will happen around you will come from two specific directions. First, the enemy will work very hard to cause you to forget who God is and what His character is like. Second, the enemy will work very hard to cause you to forget who YOU are � and THAT, is where we�re going today. Turn to Ephesians 2. And you were dead (born that way) in your trespasses and sins, In which you formerly walked (you grew up and lived it out) according to this world: (you conformed to whatever desire you had � desires of the flesh-things your body craved, desires of the eyes- things you saw, and the pride of life �positions, status, power etc.) � -according to the prince of the power of the air � who�s that? Satan of the spirit that is now working where? In the sons of disobedience. (Make a note that unbelief and disobedience are the SAME THING) -Among them � them who? �the sons of disobedience- we too ALL � circle that word- that means EVERY human being- FORMERLY lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh (what ever our bodies crave, we give it- no restrictions: ) and of the mind(whatever I think is truth, is truth � fit in, run with the crowd, conform) and were by nature children of wrath-why? Because God HAS to judge sin: there is no option: even as the rest. BUT: little word, big changes ahead: mark that word: BUT GOD: Being rich in wrath? Is that what it says? Nope- Being rich in mercy- Why? Because of His great love with which He loved us (that�s what you trust) Number that as #1 �in terms of a �GOD DID� list for �ME� � #1) HE loved me. Even when we were dead in our transgressions, (when we were against him, didn�t know Him, didn�t want Him) HE � #2) made us alive � how? In isolation? In abandonment? No- TOGETHER with Christ �when Christ was raised from the dead, the minute I accept that gift, SO AM I. ( by grace: UNEARNED FAVOR: He loves me, just because He loves me, because He does � end of discussion. #3)�by grace, you have been saved) from what? A) the penalty of sin (which is death) B) the power of sin (which means you now have the Spirit of God dwelling in you and can say �NO� to sin) C) and someday, the presence of sin (heaven) And raised us up with Him, where? #4) And seated us �with� Him in the heavenly places, how? In Christ Jesus. What in the world are �heavenly places?� It�s the supernatural realm of God- where God has His domain: Where good and bad angels have access: Keep your hand there and look at Ephesians 6:12 For our �struggle� (from the Greek word �pale� which means to throw to the ground and pin down) is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness where? In heavenly places. Now go back to Ephesians 2:7 in order that, In the ages to come (time future, and eternity) He might show (put on display for everyone to see) the surpassing riches of His grace (His favor- that we don�t deserve) in kindness toward us (where will it be displayed?) in Christ Jesus. (notice that God has a plan here) Now flip back to Ephesians 1:3 to see what else He�s done. I want you to know WHO YOU ARE- if there�s one thing I forget on a regular basis, it�s WHO I AM. (some sheep are dumber than others ok?) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing where? In the heavenly places � how? In Christ. Just as He chose us in Him � Him who? Christ- WHEN? Before the foundation of the world, WHY? That we should be holy (Greek: Hagid: set apart) and blameless WHERE? Before Him. IN LOVE � He predestined (Greek : prohorizo: to mark before hand) us � He marked us out for what? ADOPTION: How? Through Jesus Christ to whom? HIMSELF: Ok- let me put you into context here. Paul is writing a letter to the believers in Ephesus. In Roman culture the adoption process had specific regulations : ADOPTION: 1) Adoptio: of someone who comes under the legal authority and power of the adopter a) The old �potestas� is removed: the old �paternal (father) power� is removed from authority b) b) The power of the �new paternal (father) power� is established in the following way: 1) all old debts are cancelled 2) the new Father owns all acquisitions (purchases) 3) the new father controls all personal relationships 4) the new father has the right to discipline the son 5) the new father is held liable for the actions of the adoptee 6) the new father and the adopted son each owe reciprocal duties of support and obedience to the other That�s what He�s done so far: Now jump to verse 18: I pray that 1) the eyes of your heart may be enlightened why? So that you may KNOW (the key in winning is knowing the truth and standing in it) 2) what is the hope of His calling-(the promise of heaven) �3) what are the riches of the glory (to give Him a proper evaluation-give a true reflection of who He is) of His inheritance in the saints (What�s His inheritance? ME � the adopted kid) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power (resurrection power- raising us up with Christ-freeing us from the power of sin so we can say no and actually live �NO!�)-toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He (GOD) brought about how? IN CHRIST-when He (GOD) raised Him (JESUS) from the dead and seated Him (where?) at His right hand in the heavenly places � WHERE IN THOSE HEAVENLY PLACES? FAR ABOVE: note that- All rule: (that�s spiritual, and physical) and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named (they used many magical names in Ephesus) not only in this age, but also in the one to come. (that�s forever) And He put ALL THINGS where? In subjection (to bring under control and authority over) where? under His feet and gave Him (JESUS) as head (commander) over all things (to whom?) the church - who�s that? ME- Which is His body: (He�s the head- we�re the body right?) Right. The fullness of Him who fills all in all - He completely fills us with HIMSELF - Question: If He is the head and we�re the body, in this �battle� we�re engaged in between God, Satan and us � where are we seated? What�s �our� position? Take a look at your body. Does your head sit someplace different than the rest of your body? No. When we�re in the fire the enemy will work VERY hard to �condition our thinking� so that we forget who we are: ADOPTED SONS � and what our position is: Verse 21: Above all that is: WE have authority over the enemy. The only way the enemy has authority over us, is if we give it to him. Big question: How do we give it to him? We�re going to talk about that more in James chapter 1. For now, I want you to remember that the enemy will always strike first with DISAPOINTMENT. Second, he will work hard to make sure you forget who God is and what His character is like. Third, he will work hard to make sure you forget WHO YOU ARE, and what AUTHORITY belongs to you. We�ll be working a lot more on how we give the enemy permission in our lives, and on how we make sure he never has it. Take a look over your last week and note the moments you began to waver spiritually: you will ALWAYS find DISAPPOINTMENT as the number one move � remember that and watch for it. We�re going to talk about how to block that � it�s not easy, but war never is. Until we get there I want you to continue to remind yourself that you are an adopted HEIR � we�ll look at all you�ve inherited later: Remember your POSITION � when the enemy fires disappointment at you � and TRAIN your eyes and ears to stay FIXED on the deep deep love that God has for you � -let God say �no� -let His hands do what they need to do -don�t be distracted by what you don�t understand -don�t EVER try to �figure God out� -just TRUST HIS HEART ��.. loving you - grow strong. Robin � copyright 2001 Jim and Robin Hibschman |
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