10.19.25 Light & Darkness Have No Fellowship

Devotional

Day 1: Submit to God and Resist Worldly Influences

When faced with the pressures and temptations of the world, believers are called to make a clear choice: submit themselves fully to God, resist the devil, and draw near to the Lord. This is not optional advice but a line drawn in the sand, challenging each person to examine their loyalties and motives. The double-minded person, unstable in all their ways, is contrasted with the one who humbles themselves before God, seeking His grace and cleansing. The call is to purify hearts, reject compromise, and pursue intimacy with God, knowing that as we come near to Him, He will come near to us. [00:17]

James 4:7-8 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore 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, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to compromise with the world, and what would it look like today to submit that area fully to God and resist the devil’s influence?

Day 2: The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

Within every believer, there is a constant battle between the desires of the flesh and the leading of the Spirit. The outcome of this battle depends on which side is fed and nurtured—feeding the flesh leads to acts that separate us from God, while feeding the Spirit through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship produces the fruit of the Spirit. The acts of the flesh are obvious and destructive, but the Spirit brings love, joy, peace, and self-control. The call is to intentionally choose to walk by the Spirit, starving the flesh and strengthening the Spirit’s influence in daily life. [03:13]

Galatians 5:16-23 (ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Reflection: Which “wolf” are you feeding more—your flesh or your spirit—and what is one practical step you can take today to strengthen your walk by the Spirit?

Day 3: Refusing to Compromise with the World

God’s people are repeatedly warned not to blend in with the world or compromise their faith for the sake of acceptance or comfort. The story of Joshua’s challenge to Israel—“Choose this day whom you will serve”—reminds us that compromise leads to spiritual decline, loss of God’s protection, and the normalization of what was once detestable. The church and individual believers must stand firm, refusing to dilute God’s standards or move the boundaries of truth, even when pressured by culture or fear. [07:10]

Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection: Where have you seen the temptation to compromise your faith for acceptance, and how can you take a stand for God’s standards in your context today?

Day 4: Be Separate—Do Not Be Yoked with Unbelief

Believers are called to be in the world but not of it, refusing to form binding partnerships that would compromise their faith or blur the line between light and darkness. Paul’s admonition to “come out and be separate” is a call to maintain integrity, avoid situations that divide loyalties, and resist the blending of Christianity with other belief systems. This separation is not about isolation but about preserving the witness and holiness of God’s people, so that the church remains a lighthouse—stable, trustworthy, and uncompromised. [17:36]

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (ESV)
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Reflection: Are there any relationships or partnerships in your life that are pulling you away from wholehearted devotion to Christ, and what boundary or change might God be calling you to make today?

Day 5: Stand Firm in Sound Doctrine and Prayer

In a time when many are turning away from sound doctrine and seeking teachers who tell them what they want to hear, believers are charged to preach the word, endure hardship, and remain faithful to Christ. The church must not mold God to fit cultural preferences but uphold the truth, correct, rebuke, and encourage with patience. Prayer, confession, and mutual support are essential for healing and spiritual strength, as the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. [20:08]

2 Timothy 4:1-5; James 5:13-16 (ESV)
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Reflection: Who can you pray with or encourage in faith today, and how can you help uphold sound doctrine and spiritual support in your community?

Sermon Summary

James 4:7-8 calls for a radical submission to God and a deliberate resistance to the devil, promising that as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. This is not a gentle suggestion, but a clear line in the sand—a call to reject compromise with the world and to pursue holiness with sincerity. The root of so many conflicts, both personal and communal, is the unchecked desire within us, a selfishness that, if left unaddressed, leads to division, strife, and ultimately spiritual barrenness. The world’s wisdom and the Spirit’s wisdom are at odds, and we are constantly faced with the choice of which to feed: the flesh or the Spirit.

The church is meant to be a lighthouse, a steady guide pointing to God’s unchanging standards. Yet, when the church moves the boundaries of what is holy and unholy, it loses its credibility and power. Compromise—whether in personal life or in the church—dilutes the witness of Christ and opens the door to confusion, syncretism, and even idolatry. The American church, in particular, has often blurred the lines, sometimes out of fear of cultural backlash, sometimes out of a desire to be accepted by the world. But the call remains: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” The faithfulness of God is not found in compromise, but in steadfastness to His Word and His ways.

We are warned not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, not to blend the truth of Christ with the philosophies or religions of the world. True compassion is not found in diluting the gospel, but in boldly proclaiming salvation through Christ alone. The temptation to create a God in our own image—a permissive, passive, culturally-acceptable deity—is strong, but it is a form of idolatry. Instead, we are called to remember the power and holiness of the living God, who judges, redeems, and calls us to repentance and prayer.

In the end, the invitation is to return to prayer, confession, and mutual support within the body of Christ. Healing, forgiveness, and restoration are found not in compromise, but in humble submission to God, honest confession, and the powerful, effective prayers of the righteous. Let us draw near to God, resist the devil, and stand firm in the unchanging truth of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is ongoing, and the outcome depends on which we choose to feed. Feeding the flesh through selfish desires leads to instability and spiritual defeat, while feeding the Spirit through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship strengthens us to walk in holiness. The choice is daily and deliberate, shaping the trajectory of our lives. [03:58]
2. Compromise with the world, whether in personal conduct or church doctrine, erodes the foundation of faith and witness. When the church moves the boundaries of truth to accommodate culture, it loses its authority and becomes irrelevant, like a lighthouse that no longer marks the shore. True followers are drawn to clear standards, not shifting sands. [12:42]
3. Syncretism—the blending of Christianity with other religions or philosophies—creates confusion, not compassion. While we are called to love our neighbors and witness to them, we are not called to dilute the gospel or partner in ways that compromise the uniqueness of Christ. The most loving act is to point others to salvation in Christ alone. [16:32]
4. The fear of man leads to the creation of a “plastic Jesus”—a God molded to fit cultural preferences and personal comfort. This is idolatry, and it leaves people spiritually empty. Instead, we are called to fear the Lord, who is powerful, holy, and unchanging, and to stand firm in His truth even when it is unpopular. [19:36]
5. Restoration, healing, and spiritual power are found in humble submission to God, honest confession, and prayer within the community of believers. The church is called to be a place of prayer, support, and accountability, where the presence of God brings forgiveness and transformation. This is the path to true spiritual vitality. [24:04]
** [24:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Submitting to God and Resisting the Devil
[00:34] - The Double-Minded Man and Inner Conflict
[01:09] - Selfishness: The Root of Strife
[01:42] - Friendship with the World vs. Friendship with God
[03:13] - Walking by the Spirit, Not the Flesh
[03:43] - The Two Wolves: Feeding Flesh or Spirit
[05:19] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[06:07] - The Church as a Lighthouse
[06:38] - The Danger of Diluting Doctrine
[07:10] - Joshua’s Challenge: No Compromise
[08:30] - What Was Once Detestable Is Now Acceptable
[09:15] - Modern Examples of Compromise
[11:55] - The Need for Absolute Standards
[12:42] - The Mobile Lighthouse: Shifting Standards
[13:31] - From New Age to Christ: Personal Testimony
[15:34] - The Dangers of Syncretism
[17:36] - Do Not Be Yoked with Unbelievers
[19:36] - The Plastic Jesus: Idolatry in the Church
[20:26] - Paul’s Charge: Preach the Word
[22:21] - The Power and Holiness of God
[23:12] - Drawing Near to God in Prayer
[24:04] - Call to Prayer, Confession, and Healing
[24:33] - Closing and Group Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 4:7-8 (ESV) — > Submit yourselves therefore 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, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23 (ESV) — > But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (ESV) — > Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?... Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you...

Observation Questions

In James 4:7-8, what are the two main actions believers are called to take, and what promise is attached to each?
According to Galatians 5, what is the ongoing conflict inside every believer, and what are the results of feeding either the flesh or the Spirit? [03:13]
What does Paul mean when he says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” in 2 Corinthians 6, and what reasons does he give for this command? [17:36]
In the sermon, what metaphor is used to describe the church’s role in the world, and what happens when the church “moves the lighthouse”? [12:42]

Interpretation Questions

Why does James use such strong language (“double-minded,” “adulterous people”) when talking about friendship with the world? What does this reveal about the seriousness of compromise? [02:12]
The sermon talks about the battle between the flesh and the Spirit as “feeding two wolves.” What does it look like in daily life to “feed the Spirit” instead of the flesh? [03:43]
How does compromise—either in personal life or in church doctrine—affect the credibility and witness of the church, according to the sermon? [12:42]
The sermon warns against creating a “plastic Jesus” to fit our preferences. What are some ways this can happen in modern Christian life, and why is it considered idolatry? [19:36]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is ongoing, and the outcome depends on which we choose to feed.” This week, what is one specific way you can “feed the Spirit” (through prayer, Scripture, or fellowship) instead of the flesh? [03:58]
Have you ever felt pressure to compromise your faith or values to fit in with a group, workplace, or culture? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now in light of James 4:7-8? [02:26]
The church is called to be a lighthouse with clear standards. Are there areas in your life or in our church where you see the “lighthouse” being moved to accommodate culture? What would it look like to stand firm in those areas? [12:42]
The sermon warns against syncretism—blending Christianity with other beliefs. Are there any “blended” ideas or practices you’ve noticed in your own life or in the wider church? How can you guard against this? [16:32]
The idea of a “plastic Jesus” is making God into someone who never challenges or corrects us. Are there ways you have tried to make God fit your preferences or comfort? What would it look like to let God be God, even when it’s uncomfortable? [19:36]
James 5:16 calls us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other. Is there something you need to confess or ask for prayer about this week? How can our group support each other in honest confession and prayer? [24:04]
The sermon ends with a call to prayer, confession, and mutual support. What is one step you can take this week to draw near to God and to others in the church for encouragement and accountability? [24:04]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does resisting the devil require from believers?

How does friendship with the world impact spiritual standing?

Why is biblical standards crucial for church integrity?