
Message Notes
Friendship with God
Sunday | August 7th, 2022
Past Ray Parascando
Ray@crossroadsny.org
About James & Today’s Passage:
- Author is the Brother of Jesus
-Prominent role in leading the Jerusalem Church
-Written to encourage people to grow in their faith
-Parallels to the Sermon on the Mount
-Provides a clear message on how to have friendship with God.
1.
James 4:1-4 / ESV, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Mindset of God’s Friends:
Attitude
Application
Actions
Key Words:
Conflict: macho
Passions: hēdonōn
Friendship: philia
World: kosmos
John 15:14 / NLT, You are my friends if you do what I command.
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you..”
Romans 8:6 / NLT, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
2.
James 4:5-7 / ESV, “Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Factors in trusting God daily:
+ Time, Mark 1:35
+ Talents, Ephesians 2:10
+ Treasures, Acts 20:35
James 2:23 / ESV, “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.”
3.
James 4:8-10 / ESV, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Psalm 25:14 / TLB, “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.”
My next steps
Read: James
Memorize: John 15:14; James 4:8
Focus on building my friendship with God
Return Next Sunday for Service! (9 am, 11 am, & 6 pm.)