Sunday School Lesson October 2, 2022
Subject: Faith on Display in Facing the Enemy
The Point: You can stand triumphantly in Christ over sin, the world, and Satan
The Passages: James 4:1-10
Study The Bible: James 4:1-3
1). The sinful nature is self-centered and keeps us in conflict.
- What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?
- You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask.
- You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Lasting truths from: James 4:1-3
* Conflicts will arise when we allow our sinful nature to control us.
* The evil desires our sinful nature stirs up can break relationships with others.
* We must pray with the right motivations in order to find God’s purpose.
2). The world is hostile to God.
James 4:4-5
- You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.
- Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?
Lasting truths from: James 4:4-5
* Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.
* We cannot be friends with the world and friends with God.
* God jealously desires our allegiance.
3). You can stand against Satan only as you submit to God and draw near to Him.
James 4:6-10
- But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.
- Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
- Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Lasting truth from: James 4:6-10
* God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
* God wants us to submit to Him and draw near to Him.
* Deep humility and repentance will prepare us for godly renewal and restoration.
Live It Out
As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions:
- What part of your sin nature tugs at you the most? What do you see as your biggest point of conflict with God’s purpose?
- Make a list of the world’s important values and of God’s important values. How does James encourage us to avoid compromise with the world?
- Read James 4:6-10 and reflect. Ask the Lord to cleanse your heart of whatever impurity He sees there, and to help you stand for Him and against sin, the world, and Satan.
Closing Prayer:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name Amen.”