spiritual warfare and demonic activity

In my classes, we are discussing these issues right now. Some of my students get a little freaked out about it. James' command [echoed by Peter in 1 Pe 5.7-9] to "resist the devil" in Js 4.7 is not a theoretical, spiritual antidote for tough times. James wants believers to actually do it.

So, how does that work? What does it look like to "resist the devil"?

I'm showing them this lecture/talk that I think helps to biblically answer the how-to question when dealing with demonic activity. Some of the stories are intense and downright crazy, but Driscoll's thoroughly biblical approach is what must be noted.

HEBREWS, JAMES, FAiTH, and MATURiTY

Both the writer of Hebrews and James talk about faith in a very distinct way from Paul. For the writer of Hebrews, faith is that which must be maintained for the people to have vital and true endurance, especially in the face of religious and political pressure. The 18 instances of "by faith" in Hebrews 11 are historic examples for the people to be encouraged by [Heb 12.1-2].

James sees faith in a similar light. James shows that sincere and persevering faith will manifest itself. That's how it happened with Abraham. He believed in Gen 15 and then "proved" his belief in Gen 22. James says that faith "produces" endurance [1.2-4]. This verb for "produces" comes from the same Greek root as the noun for "works" in Js 2.14-26. The same is true for the "effectual" doers of Js 1.25.

But what is the purpose of the lasting faith of Hebrews and the working faith of James? Why do the biblical writers exhort their audiences to these ends?

The purpose of these differing emphases on faith is Christian maturity, fulfilling how God desires for you to live. This is seen in that the same root is used in Heb 5.9, 5.14, 6.1, 7.11, 7.19, 7.25, 7.28, 9.9, 9.11, 9.26, 10.1, 10.14, 11.40, 12.2, 12.23 and in Js 1.4, 1.4, 1.15, 2.22, 3.2, 5.11.

For the Hebrews, they shouldn't have been drifting away [2.1-4]; they had need of endurance [10.36]. For the scattered 12 tribes, their faith needed to work with works for this maturity [2.22].

For us, we are liars if any one of us thinks we are outside these two needs: persevering maturity and/or evidential maturity. Lord, thank you for the grace in Hebrews [13.25] and James [4.6].

every good and perfect gift is from above

Including, in my book, Snapper riding lawn mowers that people just "feel led" to give to you.

These are the kind of things that make my prayer life burst at the seams with gratitude.

THOUGHTS ON JAMES [chs 1-3]

James seems to have two passages that are "seed" passages. Meaning, the content and ideas from these certain texts are seen budding and sprouting at other places in James. These two passages are 1.2-7 and 1.19.

The ideas of trials, joy, persistent faith, wisdom, and doubt in 1.2-7 are all further discussed as James continues.

James' three exhortations in 1.19 are likewise foundational: be quick to hear; slow to speak; and slow to anger. They are all immediately returned to in 1.20-21, 1.22-25, and 1.26-27. However, some believe that 1.19 helps to shape the train of thought for the next few chapters: correctly hearing the word [ch 2], the difficulty of controlling the tongue [ch 3], and the damaging effect of angry speech [ch 4]. I was helped here by William Baker.

The thing about the flow of thought that is downright convicting is that once James concludes his discussion on faith and works in ch 2, he then moves into a discussion on the tongue and how it "is set on fire by hell itself" [3.6]. Those ideas aren't far from one another in his mind. Essentially, my faith should evidence the worth of the object of my faith. One of the ultimate ways it does this is by what comes out of my mouth. That stings a bit.

Lastly, I love Js 1.5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God." Meaning, you all lack wisdom. I also love Js 3.13: "Who among you is wise and understanding?" Meaning, there is none who needs stunted growth in wisdom. So, James gives an excellent comparison between the earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom [3.14-18].

Earthly wisdom is first cousins with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition; it is arrogant; it cooperates with demons and is exercised in the context of disorder.

Heavenly wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, full of good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy.

a ministerial kick in the teeth

Maybe these are a few reasons why "not many of you should become teachers, my brothers" [Js 3.1]. I convictingly perused through these this morning in a Puritan book of quotes I have. Both Richard Baxter and Charles Spurgeon also have poignant considerations about pastoral ministry. This book is at the most $7. Tis worth every penny and would probably look good beside your bed or on your toilet.

• He that is more frequent in his pulpit to his people than he is in his closet for his people, is but a sorry watchman [John Owen].
  
• The doctrine of a minister must credit his life and his life must adorn his doctrine [Jean Daille].
  
• Ministers are not cooks, but physicians and therefore should not study to delight the palate, but to recover the patient [Jean Daille].
  
• Brethren, it is easier to declaim against 1000 sins of others than to mortify one sin in ourselves [John Flavel].
  
• Three things make a preacher - reading, prayer, and temptation [John Trapp].
  
• Unholiness in a preacher's life will either stop his mouth from reproving or the people's ears from receiving [William Gurnall].
  

THOMPSON FAMiLY UPDATE

Normal people generally write about normal stuff in the blogosphere. Here's my attempt at that because things at the Thompson apartment are good, but much change is either here or in seed form [and we're not pregnant yet, Christina].

I just started a new job. I'm painting. It's $10 an hour flat rate, no taxes out, and I can work as many or few hours as I want. Good times. All we do is talk about music, sports, women, politics, Jesus, and theology. There's also this ghetto sub shop down the road where you can get a 6-inch, a bag of chips, and a drink for $3.99. It'll bless you. I love some painting, but it's a reminder that God has wired me in another way. I guess we'll find out what that means.

We also have dear friends of ours that just got the official word that they are moving to China this summer. This is terribly upsetting because we'll miss them, but even sweeter because they're being obedient to the Spirit's call. We love you guys.

Our pet fish, Dishrag Wilberforce Thompson, is recovering from a pretty bad medical condition that he has had for several weeks. He's a trooper. Along this line, the mighty Sara needs her wisdom teeth out and a little more belly healing, but doing so much better than a couple months ago.

Our purchase of this Macbook is equally amazing and time-sucking. I suppose we're making up for all the lost time we had with no internet. I can't wait to learn Garage Band on here.

Lastly, we have begun house-hunting. Mine and Sara's lease ends in July. It would be great to be in a house by then and everybody who gives a flip enough to read this can come and help us move in! The more we have talked about it, looked at actual houses, discussed essentials, discussed price range, etc, etc, etc.... the more it hits me that buying a house is first and foremost a spiritual decision. How this truth is excluded from all seminary curriculum befuddles me.

We have to be good stewards; it's not our money. We have to think about what it is God has for us ministry-wise in 10 years. We have to think about raising up little crazy Thompsons. We have to keep in mind that "the Son of Man had no place to lay His head." He will provide. But we are drowning under the wake of capitalism, suburbia, materialism, and pseudo-spirituality. The last thing I want to do is feed one of those monsters. I think flippantly going about this can do just that. In the end, we want to be lights in this world with loose grips and yet gratitude to what we have been given. So,

We need James 3.17 wisdom and He has promised to give it.

romans 8, SONSHiP, and [imago Dei]

If we were created in God’s image and somehow fallen man still maintains some of that image [see Js 3.9], then what part of the image of God was lost by our fleshly father Adam in the Garden? He wasn’t conceived by normal, fallen, human means and neither was Jesus. So, I think that what was lost in the Garden has something to do with humanity’s sonship to God.

In whatever way we fell in Adam, one thing is sure, Jesus is complete in that way. This is the backdrop to what Paul says in Rom 5.12-21. Perhaps this must also be in view to rightly understand Rom 8.29. Here, Paul says that all those whom God predestined, He did so for them to be conformed to the image of Jesus. He says this because it exalts Jesus’ Sonship and makes those who were not God’s sons into His sons by adoption [Rom 8.15, 23]!

So, I think Paul supports the fact that in the fall, man’s sonship with God was lost. James appears to be on board with this. He says that with the tongue “we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God” [Js 3.9]. See the implication. Additionally, in losing sonship, somehow we also lost moral uprightness. I’ve yet to ponder how the two are connected. “When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” [Gal 4.4-5].

NT FAiTH

Faith in ROMANS is the key to how someone becomes right with God. That is precisely what Paul was articulating in chapters 1-4. We are justified by faith alone, apart from works of the Law.

Faith in HEBREWS is what grants us endurance to stay right with God. We are not of those who shrink back, but of those who persevere [10.35-39] in "the assurance of things hoped for" [11.1].

Faith in JAMES is the conduit for good works in the Christian life. This is why faith without works is useless [Js 2.20]: because faith is descriptive of the life of a Christian and not just of the hoop one jumps through to become a Christian.

So, why is it so hard to see that these three do not contradict one another but are instead inextricably linked as a whole. Different situations call for preaching and teaching faith in different ways. But without this framework, legality, Antinomianism, and the faith healing prosperity gospel are "crouching at our door" [Gen 4.7]. Furthermore, none of this is ever divorced from the Holy Spirit graciously and sovereignly working in sinners "as He wills" [1 Cor 12.11, 18] to draw us, sustain us, empower us, and cause to serve the King for the kingdom.