How to Still the Battle Within. James 4:1-6

Transcription

1 How to Still the Battle Within James 4:1-6

2 James 4:1-5 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or

3 James 4:4-6 do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

4 Romans 7:15, 18, 24 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing Wretched man that I am. (ESV)

5 Strong Language Quarrels (polemos) Fights (machē) Both military terms which mean war and battle. It s a take no hostages attitude.

6 Living life without a Godly focus will Destroy Your Relationships What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have (4:1-2)

7 Strong Language Passions (hēdonē) and Desire (epithymeō) Hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure is the main goal in life and it seeks instant gratification. Not just simple enjoyment, but immediate pleasure at all costs.

8 Living life without a Godly focus will Destroy Your Prayer Life You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (4:2-3)

9 Several Problems We don t pray We ask for the wrong things We ask with the wrong motives

10 Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

11 Matthew 6:9-10 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

12 Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. (ESV)

13 Questions About Our Prayers Do I only pray when I need something from God? Do I really need what I am asking for? Am I asking for special treatment from God? Is what I am asking for in the best interest of God s Kingdom? Is it His will that I receive this request? What do I plan to do if God grants my request? Have I been living in such a way that God will be pleased to honor my request?

14 Living life without a Godly focus will Destroy Your Relationship with God You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (4:4)

15 Strong Language Adultery (moichalis), Enmity (echthra), & Enemy (echthros)

16 James 4:5 The spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely. (NIV) That God jealously longs for the spirit that he made to live in us. (NIV, footnote #1) That the Spirit he caused to live in us longs jealously. (NIV, footnote #2) He yearns jealously over the spirit that he made to dwell in us. (ESV)

17 James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)

18 Realize The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences.

19 Realize The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences. The Christian life is not the ability to live life perfectly, but humbly accepting that we need God s grace which God gives generously.

20 Realize The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences. The Christian life is not the ability to live life perfectly, but humbly accepting that we need God s grace which God gives generously. God s grace will be extended to the humble, not the proud.

21 How to Still the Battle Within Submit yourselves, therefore to God. (4:7)