ANCHORED
LIFE GROUPS
JAMES 4:1-9
READING
Matthew 6:24
1 John 2:15-16
Romans 12:2
Galatians 2:20
MEDITATION
"My heart is prone to wander Lord,
I feel it" are words from Robert
Robersons hymn 'Come thou
Fount". These words could also
serve as description of us. In order
to fan the flames of love for Christ
spend time quietly writing and then
pondering a list of his attributes
and his actions in your life. Spend
time thanking him for being who he
is.
PRAYER
Father, reveal any thinking in my
life that betrays a total love for
you and then cleans me from within
that I might live without in a
manner that is glorifying to you
and a benefit to my family,
fellowship, and friends. My chief
end is to enjoy you by glorifying
you. Reveal and remove anything
that would keep me from my hearts
desire.
ACTION  jealousy and grace? What role do these two attributes play in rescuing and restoring
1) If the spirit has revealed spiritual
adultery in your life repent now and
seek accountability from your
fellowship.
2) Spend time increasing you
appreciation of Christ and His work
in your life by meditating on these
things.
Faith | Hope | Love
TRUE RELIGION IS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
How can you be a friend of God? First, people may respond, "This is a nonsensical
question. How can you befriend someone that doesn't exist?" Second, and more
common, is the notion that we can be friends with God on our own terms. These
people think that we can be in a relationship that is akin to a negotiated settlement.
God gets some of you but not all of you. The Bible teaches neither one of these.
Instead, it teaches that friendship with God is the result of belonging to God. Frankly,
saving repentance includes the renunciation of your assumed right to yourself. It's as
though you handed over the title-deed of your life when you responded to the gospel
(Romans 6:6). Friends of God are people who have become the possession of God.
Why such an absolutist line from God? Because he knows that the sin separating us
from Him is also working death in us. Sin = death (Romans 6:23). We may not always
be wise enough to perceive the danger that sin represents to our lives. Like a faithful
friend, God will pursue, restrain, correct, and rebuke us until we learn to let go of the
very thing that seeks to kill us. It's at this point that identifying spiritual adultery
becomes easiest.
When we listen to, think like, or act according to the world, we are saying to Jesus
that we have two loves. We are asking Him to be ok with it, and to accept us as we
are. The problem is that we are saying that Jesus should love us while we love the sin
that killed Him! That God should respond in judgment and condemnation is not an
inappropriate thought. But watch what God does in response to your spiritual
adultery. When God sees your temptation by worldly affection, His jealousy is aroused
by inexhaustible grace in a mission to save you.
This is why we sing, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and this is why we call him
"the friend of sinners."
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 
1) Using the language in James 4:1-6, construct a description of spiritual adultery.
Who is a spiritual adulterer? What do they do? Why do they do what they do?
2) What is friendship with the world, and why is it inappropriate for the believer?
3) Think of all the attributes of God. Why do you think that James zeroes in on
us?
4) "Let go and let God" is not a Biblical concept if it's understood as renouncing
personal responsibility. James 5:7-9 gives a list of responsibilities we have in
preventing, confronting, and correcting spiritual adultery. Discuss how to "do" the
Word and what hinders believers from obeying the commands found here.