THE NATURE OF THE SPIRIT WITHIN
James 4:5
Now and then I come across a verse of Scripture that is translated in a variety
of ways in different versions of the Bible. This can be confusing because it
seems to me that the translators make the text say what they want it to say
rather than what it is really saying.
One of these texts is James 4:5. Here are a few variations to illustrate my
point.
James 4:5 CEV
[5] Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, “God truly cares about the Spirit he
has put in us”?
James 4:5 NIV
[5] Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for
the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
James 4:5 NLT
[5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is
passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
James 4:5 GNT
[5] Don’t think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, “The spirit
that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires.”
Since Scripture is meant to be taken seriously, what sense can we make of a
verse that differs from version to version. Do you get my point? With this
variation in translation, what truth can we understand from this text?
Perhaps we might find the real meaning if we go back to the context. When I was
exploring the meaning of the words in the Greek text, I came across some words
that might be clues to the meaning.
Kenos… to no purpose
Phthonos… envy, spite, ill-will
Epipotheo… long for, desire greatly, crave, lust
Katoikeo… inhabit, dwell in, implying permanent residence
Pneuma… wind, breath, vital principle, mental disposotion
When we put the meaning of these words together, they seem to echo what James
was writing about in the first two verses.
James 4:1-2 NLT
[1] “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come
from the evil desires at war within you? [2] You want what you don’t have, so
you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you
can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you
don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
In the context, James admonishes believers for quarrelling and fighting within
the fellowship of the church. “There’s war going on in the body of Christ
because of jealousy, even leading to murder to get what someone else has.”
What is the root of this outrageous behaviour? “Evil desires at war within
you!” This is the age-old issue of war between the old nature driven by
sinful desires and the Holy Spirit who leads us in righteousness.
Paul addresses the same issue in his letter to the Galatians.
Galatians 5:13-17 NLT
[13] “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and
sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use
your freedom to serve one another in love. [14] For the whole law can be summed
up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] But if you are
always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one
another. [16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be
doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The sinful nature wants to do evil,
which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us
desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two
forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out
your good intentions.”
Paul and James are saying the same in slightly different ways.
Despite the variety of interpretations, the King James Version comes closest to
the meaning of the Greek text.
James 4:5 KJV
[5] Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in
us lusteth to envy?
James is explaining the reason for the “evil desires at war within
you” that produce the conflicts between people. It’s the spirit in us
(corrupted by sin) that drives us towards envy.
Envy, in turn, wants to eliminate the one who causes us ill-will towards
him/her.
In the context, then, we must ask, how can the Holy Spirit in us have an
attitude of ill-will and cause us to lust after what someone else has? Since
there are no capital letters in the ancient Greek text, “Spirit” here
can either mean Holy Spirit or our spirit.
We must, therefore, understand that James was focusing on the evil desires in
us that drive us to want to harm others to get our own way.
This is an issue that New Testament writers, especially Paul, address at length
because our old sinful nature has such a strong influence and powerful pull
against our new nature in Christ. This struggle is not a periodic skirmish but
a daily ongoing war against the flesh. If we give in to its dictates, there
will be both temporal and eternal consequences.
So, we are urged to call, constantly, on the Lord to overcome the world, the
flesh, and the devil, our three arch and mortal enemies, because Jesus overcame
them for us.
Our victory comes through faith in Jesus.
1 John 5:4-5 NLT
[4] “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this
victory through our faith. [5] And who can win this battle against the world?
Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
and the discipline of dying daily to the flesh so that we can live daily to God
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:12-13 NLT
[12] “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do
what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates,
you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds
of your sinful nature, you will live.”
Jesus stated bluntly,
Matthew 16:24-26 NLT
[24]” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my
follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
[25] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up
your life for my sake, you will save it. [26] And what do you benefit if you
gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your
soul?”
That’s the question we must all answer.
Monthly Archives: December 2023
A GLITCH IN TIME SAVES LIVES
A GLITCH IN TIME SAVES LIVES
Sometimes, things happen that have no other explanation except… but GOD!
I am an avid fan of “Air crash investigations” screened on DSTV
daily. A recent account of a near-fatal crash caught my attention.
Piloting an unfamiliar aircraft, the captain inadvertently put the plane into a
steep dive, heading straight for the ocean at a terrifying speed.
This pilot had trained on an aircraft that was programmed to disable the
autopilot, but the model of aircraft he was flying at the time was the only one
in that series that did not have this facility. He was unaware of this
difference, hence, in a moment of crisis, he tried to pilot the plane out of
danger manually by acting in the opposite way to the autopilot which overrode
his actions.
As the aircraft was careening towards the ocean, seven seconds before crashing,
the plane suddenly responded to his manual control. He was able to pull the
aircraft out of the dive and land safely at the designated airport.
How did this happen? After many hours of careful investigation, the FDR (Flight
Data Recorder) revealed a momentary glitch in the autopilot computer that
allowed the captain to recover the plane’s dive and gain altitude away from the
ocean.
The only explanation (of course, the investigators did not verbally acknowledge
this) is that God intervened. How else could the timing have been so precise to
the second?
Trouble is that most people, passengers and crew, would probably have
“thanked their lucky stars” for their “lucky” escape from death.
How often does God not intervene with a well-timed miracle of which we are even
unaware, let alone acknowledge as His mercy!
Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us sound advice as we navigate a treacherous voyage
through life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
[5] “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths
straight.”
A picture on Pinterest puts like this…
“Those who leave everything in God’s hand will eventually see God’s hand
in everything.”
FREELOADER OR SON
FREELOADER OR SON
Two kinds of people occupy the seats
of the church’s meeting place. There are passengers, opportunists, and
free-loaders, or beloved, blood-bought children of God. Those who come to get,
sit tight in their chairs, hearing but listening to nothing. Others come to
give… love, care, and support for their fellow believers.
Jesus describes the freeloader…
Mark 4:11-12 NLT
[11] “But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, [12] so that
the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn
nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they
will turn to me and be forgiven.’ ”…
and warns the hearer,
[24] Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you
listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even
more. [25] To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be
given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they
have will be taken away from them.”
This is a serious warning to every person who hears the Word preached, Sunday
by Sunday.
James 1:22-25 NLT
[22] But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise,
you are only fooling yourselves. [23] For if you listen to the word and don’t
obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. [24] You see yourself, walk
away, and forget what you look like. [25] But if you look carefully into the
perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget
what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”
We must decide whether we are in this for the ride or whether we are in this
for the prize.
PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for the power of your Word. You promised that your Word will
never be unproductive because you send it out to accomplish your will, even to
harden the hearts of those who refuse to listen to you.
Father, please help me never to be an unproductive hearer. What you have spoken
is my hope for the future. Give me listening ears and an attentive heart so
that I may also be one who does your will with patience and perseverance.
REVELATION 21 AND 22
And finally the consummation of the ages, described so beautifully by John in his vision of the new Jerusalem.
REVELATION 21 AND 22
In the final glorious vision, at the close of history,
As I gazed with trembling wonder at the awesome Deity,
I,
John, heard a voice like thunder pealing from the heavenly throne:
‘Twas the Alpha and Omega reassuring all His own.
“It is finished!” cried the Father, “Let the thirsty come and drink:
There is water in abundance; come and kneel down at the brink
Of the mighty, living River flowing from the throne of God;
You may quench your thirst forever from my ever-living Word.
Everyone who wins the battle ‘gainst the evil in their life
Will inherit all the blessings and will be the bridegroom’s wife:
I will be his God forever; he will always be my son,
And, together, we will revel in the vict’ry Christ has won;
But for cowards and unfaithful, for idolaters and thieves,
Those who would not come to Jesus, over whom the Spirit grieves,
There’s the fiery lake of sulphur, place of misery and gloom;
Unbelief has sealed forever their eternal fate and doom.
Then an angel called me to him and invited me to see
All the glory and the beauty of the Bridegroom’s wife-to-be.
In a vision I was taken to a towering mountain peak
Where I saw a sight so wondrous ‘twas impossible to speak;
There I gazed upon the city coming down from God above,
Filled with glory from the Father, wrapped in majesty and love;
Like a glowing, flashing jewel, sparkling like a precious gem
With twelve pearly gates to enter, with twelve angels guarding them;
On each gate a name was written, of the tribes of Israel,
On foundation stones recorded the Apostles’ names as well.
Then the angel who had called me, in his hand a measuring rod,
Calculated the dimensions of the city of our God:
Length and breadth and height were equal, gates and walls were high and strong.
What the purpose of a city with its walls as high as long?
Reader, do you see the wisdom that resides in God’s great plan?
For the city is the temple, so that God can dwell with man.
Streets of gold like purest crystal, gates of pearl and walls of gem,
Corporate man the perfect temple, dwelling place of God in them!
There’s no sun or moon to shine there; God’s own presence is the light;
For God’s glory fills the city; there is never any night.
Gates stay open, never closing; nations stream from far and near;
Nothing evil or immoral, no dishonest person there;
Only those who trust in Jesus, written in the Book of Life,
These
alone who, all together, are the Bridegroom’s precious wife.
Down the middle of the city flows a river, deep and wide;
‘Tis the Spirit, He, life-giving, rises like a swelling tide,
Coming from beneath the threshold of the throne room of our God.
On its banks, in rich profusion, trees of life grow in the sod,
Bearing fruit with monthly freshness, healing leaves on every stalk;
In God’s city no more evil; only those with holy walk.
In the glory of this city, God will reign there with the Lamb;
Saints will worship Him forever, bringing glory to His name.
Standing there in adoration, they will see Him face to face,
All earth’s strife and struggles over, heaven gained because of grace.
Once again the angel called me, reassurance in his tone,
“Take this message to the people – Jesus says, “I’m coming soon!”
Soon there’ll be complete fulfilment – every word that’s spoken here
Will come true as you have seen it, for the time is drawing near:
Blessed forever are God’s people who are robed in radiant white,
Garments washed in God’s forgiveness; He has given them the right
Through the gates to enter heaven, feasting from the Tree of Life,
Jesus’ arms outstretched in welcome, claims at last His radiant wife.
As I gaze in awe and wonder at the scene before my eyes,
Voices like the peal of thunder, beckon me towards the prize.
“I am Jesus, Root of David, I’m the Bright and Morning Star;
I am Alpha and Omega; come to me just as you are.”
Spirit and the bride are calling, “Ev’ry one who’s thirsty, come!
Freely drink the living water, He alone the Lovely One.
Hear the voice of Jesus calling, “Listen, church, I’m coming soon.”
“Yes, we hear you. Come, Lord Jesus. Come and take your people home.”
MATTHEW 6:9-13
Jesus taught His disciples a so-called pattern prayer. In the simplicity of this prayer we find the heart of our relationship with the Father and our trust in Him for the basic elements of our lives.
MATTHEW 6:9-13
Jesus sat down on the hillside;
His disciples gathered round;
He had many things to teach them —
Simple things, and yet profound.
“When you pray unto the Father,
Don’t be like the hypocrite,
For he loves to pray in public,
Wanting man’s praise, every bit.”
“Go into your inner chamber,
Close the door, pray secretly:
Talk to God, He is your Father;
He’ll reward sincerity.”
“For God knows you, He will answer
Every cry wrung from your heart;
He will give you grace and wisdom
As you quietly come apart.”
“God desires your submission,
For He knows your deepest need.
He will satisfy your longing
If
you let Him take the lead.”
“Do not mutter like the heathen,
For they think they will be heard
For their mindless repetition,
Piling word on empty word!”
“Pray like this,” the Master told them,
“Come to God as He has shown,
Through the courts with adoration,
Boldly to His holy throne.”
“Let the words that I have taught you
Be the pattern for your prayer:
Simple words, yet as you pray them
God will meet and bless you there.”
“Abba, Father, dearest Daddy,
What a joy to come to you!
You’re a father to your children,
Ever faithful, ever true.”
“Can there be a heart more tender,
Overflowing with pure love?
Can there be a Dad that’s kinder
Than you, Father God above?”
“Let your rule of peace and justice
Grow and increase on the earth;
Let your kingdom come in power,
Bringing people to new birth.”
“As your will is done in heaven;
Holy angels haste to do
Gladly, joyfully, your bidding,
For they trust and honour you…”
“So, dear Father, let your people
Do your will down here on earth:
Let your glory, shining through us,
Mirror everywhere your worth.”
“Father, as I kneel before you,
Trusting you to meet my need,
Give me, daily, bread from heaven;
Body, soul and spirit feed.”
“Daddy, how I need forgiveness.
Wash me, cleanse me from my sin;
Let the precious blood of Jesus
Make me pure and whole within.”
“If I gladly free my brother
From the debt he owes to me,
Only then will your forgiveness
Take my debt and set me free.”
“Keep me from the hour of testing;
By myself I cannot stand.
Lest temptation’s lure ensnare me,
Hold me in your powerful hand.”
“Cover me with your protection;
Save me from the devil’s snare;
Keep my feet from slipping, stumbling:
Of his wiles make me aware.”
“Lord, to you belongs the kingdom;
Yours the pow’r, the glory too!
Joyfully I kneel in worship,
Lift your name and honour you.”