That. He says, listen, don't you ever blame God. As a matter of fact, don't blame the devil. Don't blame the world because the greatest enemy is not our external enemy, the world, not our infernal enemy, the devil. The greatest enemy is our internal enemy, the flesh.
You're listening to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford, junior senior pastor of the Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm Steve Hiller. Glad you're with us as we continue a message called the Inner Me Enemy and pastor, this is at least the second day that we've opened the show by talking about the fact that the flesh, who we are in the inside, is our greatest enemy. So we can't get away with saying, the devil made me do it.
That's right. We can't. You know, here's what I found that I cannot get away from me. Because wherever I go, I take me with me. And so it's like, yes, my thought life, my actions, you know, and I and I realize that I'm the product of some things, of my environment, of my education, of, you know, who God has made me as a person. All those things come together and they make me, me. And I realize that one of the hardest things for me to do is to control me. That's why I must submit to the
Spirit of God to control me. Galatians 220 I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. It's the exchanged life where I understand I have the power of God operating in me. You know, I use this illustration all the time, but I love it. On the sea bottom there's a sea snail, moves very slow, just fish food and has a big shell and so
fish will come. He goes in the shell doesn't do any good. They suck him out. Boom. Empty shell. But then sea crabs, they love those shells, so they'll come and occupy them. Now you have a living thing in a dead thing and it takes over the dead thing. Now, when fish think it's a snail, guess what happens? It moves faster than the snail ever could. Yeah, and sometimes
the fish get eaten because it's a crab. And it has the the pinchers, the pinchers, and they grab the fish and eat the fish where the fish thought it was getting a free meal, it actually gets eaten. That's Jesus Christ in us. He gives us that power to do what we ordinarily could not do in this dead shell of humanity. That's why we have to crucify the flesh.
Amen. Well, we could spend more time unpacking that, but let's do that by listening to today's message. We're in James chapter one as we continue the enemy. Enemy here is Pastor Ford.
You may have a story about the pastor who was late for a meeting, and finally he decided can't find a parking space. So he double parked. He wrote a little note. He said, I'm late for a meeting. Forgive us our trespasses. Well, the beat cop came around and and saw the note, read it and everything, and then he gave him a ticket. And this is the note that he wrote in response to the preacher's note. Being a cop on this beat for ten years, if I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. Lead
us not into temptation. Why? Oscar Wilde said it best. He said I can resist everything but Tim tation. As a matter of fact, one person put it this way. Uh, lead us not into temptation. We do alright finding it for ourselves. Amen. Amen. And so there are five sources to our test. Five sources to our test. Let me give them to you. I'm going to drop. I'm not going to push them. There are five different areas in which a test can come. First of all, there's the
sovereign source. That is that Yahweh God does test us. Now, we've seen in the text already he does not tempt us to do evil. But what does he do like he did with Abraham in Genesis 22? It said God did test Abraham, and the word literally means to approve the value of something. So God was allowing Abraham to see how much faith he really had when he had him offer up Isaac. You said, well, what was he trying to approve? Here's the question. Just just real quick.
Here's the questions that God was asking him to answer when he told him to offer up Isaac. Number one. Will you obey me when you don't like what I'm telling you to do? That's question number one. Now, just don't think he's talking to Abraham. Whenever God allows us to be tempted, he's asking us that question to Will you obey me when you don't like what I'm telling you to do? Number two, will you obey me when
you don't understand what I'm doing? Question number three will you obey me when you don't like what I'm doing? Question number four. Do you love me more than Isaac? Because often we pray for something and God gives it to us. And then that takes his place. I said, I'm going to drop him, not push him. I really want to push him. I really do, you know, because you got you ask God for that house. Now you can't come to church because you're so busy cleaning it.
You ask God for the car. You ask God for the husband. You have God for the wife. You ask God for the job. Now you're so busy with overtime you don't even have time to come to Bible study anymore. You know, on and on it goes. So then, question number five. Do you love me more than the pagans love their God? Because what they would do is give the fruit of their womb, the firstborn they would sacrifice to their God. So God is a source of tests.
The sovereign source. Here's the second. Here's the second. We know it very well. The satanic source. I mean, the devil is on us like white on rice, like duck on a June bug like flies on stink like grits on Al Green. You heard what the teacher wanted to test the kid. He said if the devil would come to get one of us, which one would he take? He said, well, he take me. Why would he take you? Because he already got you. And so God tests us to build us up. But the devil to break us down.
God test us to purify. We already saw that, uh, James chapter one two through four, but the devil to pervert us. And so we need to understand that there's the sovereign source of test. Uh, there's the satanic source. Here's the third source. Here's the third source, the secular source. It's called the world. And does anybody remember how we define world? What's the word world? Cosmos from which we get the word. What? Cosmetics. So what is the world?
It is that orderly, arranged system that leaves God out, that it has glamour and glitz and glow and glory and gold, but all of it is at the expense of our fellowship with God. So we've got to be like Moses, who who denied the pleasures of Egypt so that he could serve God. Here's the fourth source, the situational source. What do you mean, Cause and effect. Natural cause and effect. That God says I let it rain on the just and the unjust. That there are certain
things that come natural that we can't avoid. Here's the fifth one. The one we're talking about, the self source. That is the flesh. That's what we've been talking about, the old sin nature. And we need to know that the old nature knows no law, and the new nature needs no law, because the new nature impetus is the Holy Spirit. So then what we looked at was James chapter 113 through 16. And here's what we saw that he says, listen, don't you ever blame God. As a
matter of fact, don't blame the devil. Don't blame the world because the greatest enemy is not our external enemy, the world, not our infernal enemy, the devil. The greatest enemy is our internal enemy, the flesh. So he says, every man is drawn away of his own lusts when he is enticed. So we looked at the inception of sin starts on the inside. That the devil can't make us do anything. Nobody can make us do anything. We do it because we want to do it. Amen. So
the inception of sin. Then he showed us about the reception of sin. Then he told us about the deception of sin. Then he told us about the conception of sin. And so he says, listen, listen, that when you engage in sin, you have a sin, baby. That's what he's trying to tell us. So don't blame God. It's you. Now, yes, Satan can tempt our flesh and he'll tell us this. It's okay to listen to. It's okay to look at. It's okay to be at. It's okay to go to. It's okay to do this or that or okay. It's
not going to hurt you. And my favorite. This will be the last time. Oh, man. I'm glad somebody relating to me on this. Uh, you know, because remember the last time you did it before this last time you did it, you said it was the last time you was going to do it. Do you remember that? And now you're doing it again. Why? Satan knows he can't make us. But if he can instigate us, if he can just get it started, the flesh will finish it. No, no, the flesh will finish us. So he knows one drink
can start you back down the road to alcoholism. He knows one snort of cocaine or or or one puff of crack or heroin addiction can get you started again down that road. One drag on a blunt can get you started with the reefer again. One pull of the slot machine, uh, one throw of the dice and you back to being a gambling junkie. One visit to a porn site can reignite your internet porn addiction. One 900 number can start you back on the road to phone sex. So all sin is based on us being drawn away
of our own lust. So the question we've been answering is this one that Paul said in Romans 724, O wretched man that I am, who can deliver me from this body of death? Now how many remember the word picture? Body of death? Anybody? Do you remember the word picture? What does it mean? But where did Paul get this? That's right. That's exactly right. Thank you. Smiley, that what would happen is this. If you had premeditated murder, you murdered somebody and you planned to do it. Here was
your sentence. When you were convicted, the dead body of that person would be strapped onto your back forever. So what would happen? The purification from the death is seeping into your body, and now your body is absorbing that death so that ultimately, because you're carrying the dead person, you're going to die. Boy, what an analogy that since we are the ones is us, we're killing ourselves when we submit to the old sin nature as it begins to take over us. We who have life die now,
not in our relationship, but in our fellowship. And some of us can say Amen. Or if we can't, we can say, oh, oh my. You say, well, what does it do? There's a plant called the Matador plant. It's in South America. Let me show you how it works. It starts off as a little plant, and, uh, it it wraps itself around the base of a tree. You ought to Google this. This thing fascinated me. And then it will continue to wrap itself around the tree. And no matter how tall the tree is, it will continue
to grow. When it reaches the top, by the time it reaches the top, the tree has already been sucked of its life by the matador plant. Then the matador plant blooms flowers at the top of the dead tree. That's a perfect picture of my sin nature and what it does to me.
Hurley is a vivid picture, isn't it? You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. A message called the enemy. Enemy. And we're going to get back to this teaching in just one moment. Hey, I want to let you know. Treasure truth is listener supported. And that's exactly what it sounds like. We depend on those who listen to this radio program or podcast to give and support the ministry, because there's no huge church or denomination or anything like
that behind this program. The financial needs really are met by those who listen giving. And so if you're benefiting from Pastor Ford's teaching, you know, I've often asked you, would you let us know that? But another way you can let us know that is to give financially. Now we need single one time gifts and ongoing monthly gifts. It's everybody who listens, doing something that will allow us to cover the production costs and the airtime for this program.
So to give your gift, simply come to our website. It's Treasure Truth radio.org and click on the link that says make a donation. You'll find that on the left side of the homepage. Again, that's Treasure Truth radio.org and make a donation. Once again, here is Pastor Ford.
All it takes is one little thing to open the door. Come on, say it with me. Because first the devil gets a Toehold. Then the toehold becomes a foothold and the foothold becomes a chokehold, and the chokehold becomes a stronghold. Come on, say it again. First the devil gets a toehold, then a foothold, then a chokehold, then a stronghold. And so here, now we're saying, okay, then what is it that's necessary now? This is amazing to me. Why is it amazing to you? You say everything is amazing. You
in the Bible. Here's why. It's amazing to me. Because you look at Paul's writings and he'll tell you things like, you want to overcome sin, you got to be filled with the spirit. Amen. Why? Because that gives us power over sin. How filled should we be? Come on, everybody, say it. So filled that if a mosquito flew in here and bit one of us, It fly out singing there's power in the blood, right? But this is unique because now he says, okay, let me okay, okay. Let
me stop, let me stop, let me stop. Let me stop. Is anybody in here like me? When I do something wrong the first time, I look for the lightning bolt out of heaven. I know God's going to get me. And I'm focusing so much on this thing that it becomes a preoccupation that I'm trapping myself and don't even know it because my focus is on it. Because I know I'm not supposed to be doing it. But by putting my focus on it, I'm bringing it to, okay, let me see if I can get you with me
on this one. Then anybody ever walk past a sign on a bench that said wet paint? Is there anybody like me that just had to see if it was still wet? That's what you need to learn about our children. If we say, don't be getting involved in sex, don't be getting involved. And that's all we do. We going to peak there. Why are they so, you know, interested in me knowing that that's all I ever hear. I don't know about you, but I. I found out, and, you know, it was almost too late. The best way
to get your kids to do something that's. Tell them they can't. The best thing to do to keep them from doing what you don't want them to do is tell them they can. Anyway, so here it is. He's saying, listen, let me tell you how to do this. He said, there are three aspects about God that are to catch your attention, that will help you to overcome the tendencies of our sinful, fleshly inclinations. Here they are. He says the gifts of God. You see that the glory of
God and the grace of God. Now we looked at the first one. But but I want to point out then, that James is profound here. What do you mean? Look at what he's telling us. He says, look ahead. See the conclusion. So you look to God. Why do you look to God? You look ahead to see the conclusion. Why he's talking about the judgment of God. Uh, he says, don't err. My beloved brethren. Don't get it twisted. Don't get it wrong. Hey, hey, you. You have to give
an account to God. But then he says, look around. Verse 18. See the consistency. God is good. Focus on the goodness of God rather than your own faults and failures. And then he says, look inside. Verse 18, see the conversion. Now we've dealt with the gifts of God. Let me fill it in for those who are not here. Uh, Roman numeral one. He says, look, here's how you overcome it.
The first aspect of God that helps you to overcome your sinful tendencies is the gifts of God he talks about in verse 17, every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. So he says three things about the gifts I can only give them to you. We already talked about them. He talks about the measure of the gifts. He talks about the motive of the gifts, and he talks about the
manner of the gifts. So the measure, the motive and the manner. Let's move on. Let's finish it. The second focus we ought to have on God the Father is the glory of God, the glory of God. Listen to what he says, that every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Paul, what are you trying to tell us here? He's saying, listen, listen, listen. Here's what you need to do. God wants us to
worship him based on who he is. And so when we understand who he is, we understand what we need to do in response to who he is, because that's what worship is. Let me see if I can get you with me. He says two things here. You can write them down. The glory of God in His creation, the glory of God in his character. I submit to you that why he wants us to. In the words of the song, anybody remember it? It came out of
hymn books. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Hey, show me folk who had the right response to worship, and I'll show you folk whose sinfulness dealt with itself. Okay, let me give you a couple examples. Isaiah chapter six. In the year that King Uzziah died, I also saw the Lord high and lifted up, and his train filled the earth. And the cherubim and seraphim hollered, Holy, holy, holy!
He sees a worship scene. And what does he do? Immediately he falls on his face and he worships. Now he's got the right perspective of God. When he gets the right perspective of God, he then gets the right comprehension about his self. It falls in line. In other words, the closer we come to him, he's called the father of lights. Okay, I've done this so many times. I think I've told you a couple times, too. Uh, but this is embarrassing. Uh, I, uh, you know, dressed to
the nines. I'm getting ready to head down, Moody. And I don't like to be late. I know, but anyway, I'm on my way down there, and somebody cuts me off on Dan Ryan. And, you know, I think something. I don't say it. I hit the break room. Then I looked down. I got a dark brown shoe and a black shoe. Because I wear Stacey's. And so I have blue, black and brown all the same style. I had a dark brown shoe and a black shoe. I had to be late because I had to turn around
because I wasn't going there with it. Now here's here's the. When I was in the house getting ready to go, it was dark. When I went to the garage, there was a little bit of light, but not enough to make a contrast. But when I stepped out into the brightness of day, then I saw what was wrong with me. You get.
It?
This is treasure truth with Pastor Ford. A message called the enemy. Me and me. And we're going to continue this message on our next broadcast. If you want to make sure you don't miss it, come to our website right now and sign up to begin podcasting the program. Or you can download the Moody Radio app. They're both free, and it makes it really convenient for you to listen
on the go whenever it fits your schedule. Well, this is the fifth part of the series, and if you've missed any of the previous broadcasts, you can always go online to our website and catch up there. Simply come to Treasure Truth radio.org and stream the program through your computer or mobile device. You can also download the MP3 or order a copy of this broadcast on CD. Again, to get started, come to Treasure Truth radio.org. Well, thanks
for listening today. Thanks also to our producers, Amy Rios and Ryan McConaughey. For Pastor Ford, I'm Steve Hiller. Treasure truth is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.