James 3 Commentary
Bitter envy and selfish ambition are described as, “earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” Our thoughts can be demonic! Saints who argue that a man’s thoughts can only exist in two spaces base their argument on this scripture.
Your thoughts are heavenly or demonic; spiritual or unspiritual; holy or earthly. There is no land between. Demonic thoughts may be described as thoughts of demons, for demons, or by demons. “Unspiritual” means the thoughts are not of the Holy Spirit. “Earthly” means the thoughts are not of Heaven – not having God’s throne as their source.
Saints think demons are far from them! They also think demon possession is a myth. Check if you can break free from bitter envy and selfish ambition. Then you aren’t demon-possessed!
Some saints think of 3 spaces for thoughts. They can be heavenly – every saint’s ambition, or they can be human – a neutral position, a place of truce, or they can be demonic – the undesirable position that the saint fights.
The introduction of the neutral space means the saint is inactive defensively and offensively. The devil loves it!
Look at football, for example. It should be neutral in many people’s minds. But the power to draw people into religiosity and addiction reminds us of a lack of freedom associated with satanic operations! Yes, many items are neutral in infancy. Water them and encourage them to grow and you become a slave. Then you know they aren’t as innocent as they claim.
Or, think of a gun in the hands of a police officer. We feel safe. But the same weapon in the hands of a criminal? We are dead scared! The mind in the hands of demons is sinfully scandalous! When demons play it safe, in low gear to avoid detection, in gear nevertheless – a little anger here and a little pride there, the human mind won’t feel insecure. Instead, the human mind feels secure enough to call it neural ground! What a scandal!
Think of the untamable tongue!
There are two places; left or right. No single place is both at the same time. You won’t have figs and grapes from the same tree!
This chapter invites the saint to ponder the consequences of a double life. We can only be one thing! Check yourself. Decide to keep quiet. If you won’t keep quiet, then know you have another entity issuing orders – higher orders than yours! This entity that won’t obey you and works against the values of Heaven must be resisted in the power of the name of Jesus!
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