Sunday, June 28, 2020

What does the Bible mean when it says, "The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to [is filled with] envy."? (James 4:5).



We become the temple of God when we turn our hearts away from the world of sin, and give our love to Jesus. We take on His name when we are baptized in Jesus name. Our sins are washed away. We receive His promise when we are filled with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Our loyalty is to Jesus who died for our sins and washed them away by His blood. Our love is for Jesus, for He filled us with His Spirit.

The Bible says,

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world [the things it offers you]. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust [desire for what is evil] of the flesh [carnal nature], and the lust of the eyes [desire to sin stirred by what we look at], and the pride of life [boasting of position and material possessions], is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:15-16 KJV

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with [makes you an enemy of] God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” – James 4:4

"Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth [forbidden desire] to envy?" - James 4:5 KJV

If we allow sin into our life, we are letting the world into our temple. When this happens, the Bible speaks of this as spiritual adultery. We have become unfaithful to Jesus. His Spirit that is in our temple becomes filled with envy (jealousy) because we have let the world in. (Numbers 5:11-31).

The Bible has a solution to our failure in our relationship with God. Here are the next verses - James 4:6-10:

"But he giveth [even] more grace [to stand against such evil desires]. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth [opposes] the proud, but giveth grace unto [favors] the humble.

"Submit [humble] yourselves therefore to [before] God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

"Draw nigh [come close] to God, and he will draw nigh [come close] to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded [for your loyalty is divided between God and the world].

"Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep [let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief.]: let your laughter be turned to mourning [Let there be sadness instead of laughter], and your joy to heaviness [and gloom instead of joy].

"Humble yourselves in the sight of [before] the Lord, and he shall lift you up [in honor]." - James 4:6-10 KJV

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