“AN ENEMY OF GOD!”

 James 4:4                    (ESV)

“[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.”

The words we sometimes use are often NOT emphatic enough to describe what was the jest of the original text.  Another translation of the verse above says “disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God”!  

Our physical eyes generally become weaker as we age.  However, our SPIRITUAL EYES can only SEE what is being revealed to them by the HOLY SPIRIT.  We can CHOOSE to limit what is being revealed to us, but GOD can ORDAIN for us to BE STILL if HE needs to???  Our ability to CHOOSE is ONLY through the GRACE OF GOD!!!

Being “AN ENEMY OF GOD” is an identity that every person is born with!  We don’t have to have a “disdain” for GOD.  But the journey we are on OUTSIDE OF CHRIST definitely has “its rewards”, and it is an extremely gruesome scenario (Matthew 13:41-42)!  

“Friendship” with THIS WORLD is NOT something that I CHOOSE to relish!  As a matter of fact, having ENMITY WITH GOD is something that I would give my life to avoid!!  The ONLY WAY, according to SCRIPTURE, to avoid being “AN ENEMY OF GOD” is to have JESUS CHRIST living inside of us!!!

“HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE SCRIPTURES?”

 Matthew 21:33-46                    (ESV)

“[33] “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. [34] When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. [35] And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. [37] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [38] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ [39] And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. [40] When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” [41] They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

[42] JESUS said to “them” (v. 45 ...the Chief Priests and the Pharisees…), “”HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE SCRIPTURES”: 

    “‘The stone that the builders rejected

        has become the cornerstone;

    this was the LORD’s doing,

        and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

    [43] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of GOD will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. [44] And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, IT WILL CRUSH HIM.”

[45] When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard HIS parables, they perceived that HE was speaking about them. [46] And although they were seeking to arrest HIM, THEY FEARED THE CROWDS, because they held HIM to be a prophet.”

Within the past month or so the WORD ‘CHOSEN’ has become almost CONTINUALLY in my Bible Study material.  The Chief Priests and the Pharisees were more than likely NOT part of the ‘CHOSEN’ as JESUS asked them “HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE SCRIPTURES”?  

How could even a non-Believer assume that the Chief Priest and the Pharisees were NOT part of the hierarchy of the CHURCH?  They were in the leadership of the “temple” at the time and were heavily involved in the rituals of the Jewish hierarchy.  But the HEAD OF THE CHURCH, JESUS THE CHRIST, plainly asked them “HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE SCRIPTURES”???

JESUS would soon be tried and acquitted by Pilate.  But in John 19:6 it is written “When the Chief Priests and the officers saw HIM, they cried out, “Crucify HIM, crucify HIM!” Pilate said to them, “Take HIM yourselves and crucify HIM, for I find NO GUILT IN HIM.”  The Chief Priests and the Pharisees had JESUS delivered over to them to be crucified!  Pilate didn’t do the horrendous deed!

The leaders of the temple (Chief Priests and the Pharisees) were so foreign and removed from THE WORD (as NAMED in John 1:1) that they had THE WORD put to death on a cross!!!  But THE WORD overcame death, hell and the grave THREE DAYS LATER!!!  The Chief Priests and the Pharisees SHOULD HAVE known this day was coming!  Don’t you imagine that “HAVE YOU NEVER READ THE SCRIPTURES” will ring in their ears for eternity???

“AH, STUBBORN CHILDREN!”

Isaiah 30:1-5                    (ESV)

Do Not Go Down to Egypt

    [1] “AH, STUBBORN CHILDREN,” declares the LORD,

    “who carry out a plan, BUT NOT MINE,

    and who make an alliance, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT,

        that they may add sin to sin; 

    [2] who set out to go down to Egypt,

        without asking for MY DIRECTION,

    TO TAKE REFUGE IN THE PROTECTION OF Pharaoh

        and to SEEK SHELTER in the shadow of Egypt! 

    [3] Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to YOUR SHAME,

        and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to YOUR HUMILIATION. 

    [4] For though his officials are at Zoan

        and his envoys reach Hanes, 

    [5] everyone comes to shame

        through a people that cannot profit them,

    that brings neither help nor profit,

        but shame and disgrace.”

HOW SHAMEFUL!  The CHOSEN RACE (1 Peter 2:9) OF GOD ancestry had spent 430 years enslaved to the Egyptians before GOD delivered them from their captors in Exodus 14.  Just plain COMMON SENSE should have precluded HIS CHOSEN from reverting back to the torture and captivity of being enslaved by the enticements of “this world”???  

But isn’t that what the United States of America is doing?  The celebration of 250 years of freedom and independence is set for July 4, 2026, that is IF we make it that far!  THE WORD OF GOD has been WRITTEN as a reminder of precisely what GOD has provided for humanity since HE CREATED us.  But, INVARIABLY, we have to be “re-educated” to OPEN our EYES to SEE the TRUTH of what man’s decisions can do to infiltrate GODS PLAN!  

But I am STILL NOT SEEING the TRUTH that GOD is trying to get across to me!  The ONLY person that I am responsible for is me!  Surely I also carry a responsibility for my wife and offspring, but they ultimately have to make the decisions for themselves!  ALMIGHTY GOD has given mankind a LIMITED lifespan, and we don’t have the capacity to extend it one iota!  We MUST come to the point where our EYES are OPENED to SEE TRUTH, and react accordingly!!!

It is as if GOD is saying to me, “AH, STUBBORN CHILDREN”, how many times do you have to be REMINDED? From the FLOOD in the Genesis, to the Exodus from captivity, through MANY other instances, GOD has continually DELIVERED HIS CHOSEN through atrocities and destruction!  Yet, APPARENTLY we HAVE NOT seen the LIGHT?  How long before HE SAYS FOR THE FINAL TIME, “AH, STUBBORN CHILDREN”!!!

“GO, AND THE LORD BE WITH YOU!”

 1 Samuel 17:31-37                    (ESV)

“[31] When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. [32] And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” [33] And Saul said to David, YOU ARE NOT ABLE to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” [34] But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And WHEN THERE CAME A LION, OR A BEAR, and took a lamb from the flock, [35] I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. [36] Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, FOR HE HAS DEFIED THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD.” [37] And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “GO, AND THE LORD BE WITH YOU!””

My wife and I were BLESSED with tickets to watch a production entitled DAVID recently.  It is a recounting of the life and times of a mortal man who was known as “a man after GODS OWN HEART in 1 Samuel 13:14.  In my early years, one of the first BIBLE accounts I remember is how David defeated Goliath AFTER he was in the field perfecting his art with a “sling”.  The initial act of the total production is entitled DAVID SENT TO THE FIELDS.  

David was a young teenager at the time he was SENT TO THE FIELDS, but he was CHOSEN BY THE ALMIGHTY, so his age wouldn’t play a factor the outcome of his life.  

King Saul must have been “apprehensive” to approach Goliath because of the SIZE of his foe, Goliath?  But David KNEW in his heart that the enemy could never be victorious over his CREATOR!!!  

David was CONFIDENT that Goliath NO MATCH for HIS GOD!  But how did he KNOW???  He had ALREADY struck down lions and bears and he KNEW that “this uncircumcised Philistine” would be no different!  And just as he predicted, he SLEW Goliath with a sling and a stone!!!

The crux of the entire matter is that not only King Saul, but NO ONE ELSE trusted that a sling and a stone could save the nation of Israel from its adversaries!  Their vision was clouded by their enemy, but David was SEEING GOD as HE TRULY was!!  We need to have our EYES OPENED to SEE that we need to “GO, AND THE LORD BE WITH YOU” has NEVER been defeated….AND NEVER WILL BE!!!

SELF DENIAL

 

“DO NOT!”

 Proverbs 3:5-6                    (ESV)

    “[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

        and “DO NOT” lean on your own understanding. 

    [6] In all your ways acknowledge HIM,

        and HE will make straight your paths.”

When I opened an insurance office in 1994, a dear friend of mine made me a FAX COVER SHEET with Proverbs 3:5-6 on it.  Little did I understand that ALMIGHTY GOD would use those verses from those days forward to gently mold me into a vessel that TRULY depends upon HIM for everything……even the very air that I breathe (Isaiah 42:5)!!

 

On this LORDS DAY, I am reminded that placing any other entity ABOVE THE LORD is SO VERY counterproductive to my SPIRITUAL growth!  Assistance from humanity can be helpful, but HEARING from THE LORD is something that CANNOT be DUPLICATED!!!

“DO NOT” become accustomed to hearing from ANY OTHER voice than that of JESUS!!!  There is “….no other NAME GIVEN…” (Acts 4:12), so “DO NOT” search for anything else!!!

“WALK BY THE SPIRIT!”

Galatians 5:16-17                    (ESV)

“[16] But I say, “WALK BY THE SPIRIT”, and YOU WILL NOT gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH ARE AGAINST THE SPIRIT, and THE DESIRES OF THE SPIRIT ARE AGAINST THE FLESH, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

These verses were in the Bible recently at church.  “The enemy” has been mostly portrayed as an infinite being rivaled only by OMNI CHARACTERISTICS of HOLY GOD!  

Whenever THE CHOSEN OF GOD EYES are OPENED to SEE what ONLY can be SEEN by DIVINE INTERVENTION, we are BLESSED by HEAVEN above!  We “WALK BY THE SPIRIT” only because GOD has delivered us to the TIMING where we can SEE what HE has CALLED us to do !  “The enemy” has no power to alter or change what GOD has ORDAINED in our lives.  Like the Apostle Paul, I am the “chief” (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV) of sinners!  But JESUS CHRIST has CALLED me to “ WALK BY THE SPIRIT”, so I will “WALK BY THE SPIRIT”!!!

“EVEN A FOOL!”

 Proverbs 17:27-28                    (ESV)

    “[27] 

    Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

        and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 

    [28] 

    “EVEN A FOOL” who keeps silent is considered wise;

        when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

“FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL!”

 Colossians 1:9-10                    (ESV)

“[9] And so, from the day we heard, WE HAVE NOT CEASED TO PRAY FOR YOU, asking that you may be “FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL” in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to HIM: BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK AND INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD;”

“ALL THINGS!”

 John 1:3-4                    (ESV)

“[3] “ALL THINGS” were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. [4] IN HIM WAS LIFE, and the LIFE was the LIGHT of men.” 

After being SO CLOSE to death in 2007, my “perceptiveness” has DRASTICALLY changed!  Formerly I was “hurrying” through life with seemingly no time to appreciate the things in life that truly were a MESSAGE from GOD.  

This morning I was “scrolling” through social media accounts and I saw a picture of a mom and her 20 year old son who was currently a United States Marine.  The very next picture on my feed was a picture of a baby with these words, “Made in the Image of God.  No child should be aborted.”  Yet nowadays this society seems to have the mentality that LIFE is brought about by human acts, whether planned or unplanned!!

The Book of John is one of my favorites in the entire BIBLE!  Verses three and four of the opening chapter states that JESUS was BEFORE “ALL THINGS”, and that “ALL THINGS” were CREATED for HIM and by HIM!  Humanity isn’t capable of CREATING a life, and in reality CANNOT end a life WITHOUT GODS DIVINE interaction.  When we SLOW DOWN and realize that our CREATOR IS in CONTROL of “ALL THINGS”, only then is it possible for our EYES to SEE precisely what JESUS CHRIST has PLANNED for us!  

WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL!  When our EYES are OPENED and we are able to SEE things with DIVINE INTERVENTION, ONLY THEN can our MINDS understand what GOD HAS PLANNED for our lives!  We are ALL mortal beings, encumbered with the parameters placed on our lives by OUR CREATOR!  We are able to SEE “ALL THINGS” ONLY WHEN HE OPENS OUR EYES!!!

“1 Timothy 1:15”

 1 Timothy 1:15                    (HCSB)

“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of FULL acceptance: “CHRIST JESUS came into the world TO SAVE SINNERS"—and I AM THE WORST OF THEM.”

“YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU!”

 Luke 7:36-50                    (ESV)

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

“[36] One of the Pharisees asked HIM to eat with him, and HE went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. [37] And behold, A WOMAN OF THE CITY, WHO WAS A SINNER, when she learned that HE was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and STANDING BEHIND HIM at HIS feet, weeping, she began to wet HIS feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed HIS feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee WHO HAD INVITED HIM saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, HE would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” [40] And JESUS answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

[41] “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And HE said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave ME no water for MY feet, but she has wet MY feet with her tears and wiped THEM with her hair. [45] You gave ME no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss MY feet. [46] You did not anoint MY head with oil, but she has anointed MY feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And HE said to her, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “WHO is this, WHO even forgives sins?” [50] And HE said to the woman, “”YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU”; go in peace.””

When the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES explicitly tells you that “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU”, HE doesn’t need to repeat HIMSELF to validate HIS Message!  JESUS “should have” been readily identifiable for anyone whose EYES had been OPENED.  Yet this Pharisee (a “supposed” man of GOD) could NOT SEE JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD, even though HE was sitting in his own home!  

But what about being baptized following her transformation?  And what about walking the aisle after her profession of FAITH?  No, she even hid behind HIM (Luke 7:38) when she washed HIS feet with the tears of her being permitted to wash the FEET of the ONE WHO had CREATED her!  This Pharisee was so caught up in identifying the “perceived” faults of this young lady that he FAILED to SEE that she was CHOSEN, something that he apparently didn’t have???

Being CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD is a JOY and PRIVILEGE that FEW people will ever realize!  It isn’t because we are special, but we are CHOSEN before we were even born!  Not because we are PERCEIVED as spiritual giants, but because GOD CHOSE me!  JESUS CHRIST KNEW that I I was going to SERVE HIM, because HE freely bestowed upon me the FAITH I needed to BELIEVE in HIM.  “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU” is TOTALLY because HE CHOSE me (Ephesians 1:4) BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!!!

 

“ALL THINGS!”

 John 1:3                    (ESV)

“”ALL THINGS” were made through HIM, and without HIM was not ANY THING made that was made.”

HE CREATED “ALL THINGS”!!!  Mankind doesn’t have any capability of CREATING NOTHING, because “without HIM was not ANY THING made that was made.”!!!

“THERE IS A FRIEND!”

 

Proverbs 18:24                    (ESV)

    “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but “THERE IS A FRIEND” who sticks closer than a brother.”

There are many things that stand out in life as MEMORABLE.  Of course, most everyone has heard about the Brain Hemorrhage I experienced on July 09, 2007.  I resembled a toddler for the longest, needing my wife to gently “hold my hand” through many difficult moments.  

Probably the most difficult times in my life was in early October following the Brain Hemorrhage.  My wife woke me up and informed me that one of my dearest friends had been killed in a bicycle accident the day before!  It took me a while before it could sink in and become a reality.  

Phillip Shane McDougal was an extremely kind and compassionate man.  He was barely 35 years old and he was always thinking of others rather than himself.  His wife was battling cancer at the time, yet he took time from his duties as a husband, father, and business owner to carry his Brain Damaged friend to lunch a week or so before his accident.  

JESUS CHRIST shown through my friend Phillip. Although my friend was VERY compassionate, the reason for this was WHO was living through his actions!  My prayer is that I will carry on like Phillip, but mainly to show others that “THERE IS A FRIEND”, and HIS NAME is JESUS CHRIST!!!

“DO YOU NOT FEAR GOD?”

 Luke 23:39-43                     (ESV)

“[39] One of the criminals who were hanged railed at HIM, saying, “Are you not the CHRIST? Save YOURSELF and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “”DO YOU NOT FEAR GOD”, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, FOR WE ARE RECEIVING THE DUE REWARD OF OUR DEEDS; but THIS MAN HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG.” [42] And he said, “JESUS, remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom.” [43] And HE said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with ME in paradise.””

It is with ENLIGHTENED INTEREST that at this particular moment in HIStory that “two thieves” were hanging on crosses in the midst of THE SON OF GOD.  One’s EYES were OPENED to SEE JESUS, while the other “railed”, or HEAPED ABUSE, on the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!  

These five verses (one paragraph) of the events that took place “that day” gives us a VERY TELLING description of the JUDGMENT of humanity!  Some of humanity understands that we have NO HOPE without DIVINE intervention in our lives!  Others can only see things with their EARTHLY EYES, a perspective of what we are gaining from our own experiences!

When our EYES are DIVINELY OPENED by JESUS, we can SEE that we are BROKEN, in NEED of our SAVIOR!  We have NOTHING to offer HIM, we can only BEG for HIS MERCY!!  

“DO YOU NOT FEAR GOD” should be the most obvious question in my feeble mind!  Just like the CHOSEN thief on the cross, I have NOTHING to offer THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, but HE HAS CHOSEN me to SEE my NEED for a SAVIOR!!!

“GOD CHOSE!”

 1 Corinthians 1:27-31                    (ESV)

“[27] But “GOD CHOSE” what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; “GOD CHOSE” what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] “GOD CHOSE” what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that NO HUMAN MIGHT BOAST IN THE PRESENCE OF  GOD. [30] And because of HIM you are in CHRIST JESUS, WHO became to us WISDOM from GOD, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the LORD.””

There is a song performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir entitled USE ME. One strong phrase of this song says IF YOU CAN USE ANYTHING LORD, YOU CAN USE ME!  I have listened to this song for several years with the Brain Hemorrhage in my mind PRAYING that GOD could USE ME for HIS GLORY!!!

Figuring out precisely how GOD was going to “work things out for HIS GLORY” (Romans 8:28) has been my prayer, ESPECIALLY during the past 18 years.  Attempting to do enough in the business GOD gave me never produced the results I prayed to receive.  Accepting that GOD might have allowed me to “do what I wanted” might have been THE PLAN all along?   Arriving at the point to where I had no choice but to do what “GOD CHOSE” could have been THE PLAN all along!!!

Remembering August 2007 is a humbling, painful and joyful time.  As I progressed through the Rehabilitation Hospital I was just ecstatic to be alive!  Then I was presented the opportunity to repurchase the business I had sold three years earlier and I “thought” that must have been GODS PLAN for my life??   Assuredly, I could never have been able to buy it back without HIS INTERVENTION.  

I often returned to the Rehabilitation Hospital for reunions held by the management of the hospital.  It reminds me where I would be outside of the GRACE of GOD!  “GOD CHOSE” to cause a blood vessel in my brain to “spring a leak”!  “GOD CHOSE” to place me in a drug-induced coma for 17 days!  “GOD CHOSE” to keep me unemployed for almost two years!  And “GOD CHOSE” to have the new owner to drive to our business two years before we sold it to him.  

The second verse of the song USE ME is about a shepherd boy that “GOD CHOSE” to be used for HIS GLORY!  If GOD can use the least, I am a perfect candidate to be a servant that “GOD CHOSE” for HIS GLORY!!!