Life Between Sundays #8: True Repentance Sunday, February 26 th, 2012 James 4:1-10

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1 Life Between Sundays #8: True Repentance Sunday, February 26 th, 2012 James 4:1-10 Intro: Welcome! Welcome guests. Sign in on the fellowship pads. FPU keep it up. Spring Break Mission Work. Opening Image: You ve seen the commercials for CARFAX, the company that pulls up the history of a car? Their pitch is quite simple the outside appearance of a used car doesn t tell you anything. That car could have been in 3 accidents and simply have a fresh coat of paint. Their whole marketing pitch is built on the idea that you don t know the whole story. And if you make a wrong diagnosis, you will make a wrong conclusion (buy a junk car!). What is true of cars, is true of everything you don t get the whole picture from appearance. Think about dating someone: would you want to propose simply based on looks? No! That would be terrible you don t know their personality or character or passions. Would you want a doctor to cut you open for surgery after only looking at you once? No! If he s cutting out a mass but hasn t done a scan to know what it looks like, you re in trouble. NEED: What is true for car-buyers, daters, and doctors is also true for religions. If a religion gets the diagnosis wrong, then its solution will be off. Most religions in the world see our primary problem as behavioral. In other words, we are good people who just need new patterns, words, and activities. If we will get in the right crowd and listen to the right music, we will live differently. But this doesn t go far enough. We can have the best environment and still be immoral. James, the book we ve been studying, was written to Christians living in the 1 st century. They believed in Jesus and gathered with other Christians but struggled to live out their faith. Sound familiar to anyone this morning? They struggled with life between Sundays. James has been coaching them on trials, foolishness, discrimination, their words, conflict. He has been asking them to grow up, to move on, to change. Subject: But James is a good pastor he knows that giving commands is not enough. His congregation doesn t just need motivational stories or updated commands. They need transformation. Without it, they will continue to struggle with inconsistency. Like his first audience, we need the same not behavior modification, but genuine life-change. As we enter James chapter 4, God pulls back the veil and opens our eyes to our real needs. We learn about God s long-term solution to our immaturity and inconsistency. But first, let s remember the context James chapter 3. In 3:1-12, James talked to us about our tongues and how they life up or cause conflict. In 3:13-18 (last week), we learned about wisdom, either producing peace or strife. TEXT: Let s read James 4:1-10

2 Preview: James is getting to the root of our issues & giving us hope for real transformation. He does that by getting below the surface, going beyond the physical, and giving us a plan for change. 1- Getting Below the Surface: the sin beneath the sin (4:1-3) James wants to get below the wars and fights to the source of those fights. He is giving us insight below the actions & words to the root of those actions & words. There must have been conflict among the believers that James was writing to just like us! He wants them to know that the source of the conflict around them was actually within them. Say it with me: I am the problem! James is getting to the depth of our issues. Not primarily external, but internal. He says that our actions/words come from cravings within you. What kind of cravings is he talking about? He tells us verses 2 and 3. We murder (hate), we covet (want what others have), we have wrong motives, evil desires. Each of these is a heart condition that results in a pattern of behavior. Illustration: conflict early in my marriage morning talker & my anger. How would James address that issue? Why was I having conflict with my wife? Because of my selfishness and immaturity of heart. Not only am I the problem, but my primary problem is below the surface (within). As long as I try to just fix the outside, I want get to the root issues. You see that James says you ask with wrong motives. This is key what is this? They were asking in prayer but asking God with the wrong motives thus hindering prayer. The behavior was fine, but the motivation of the heart was selfish for my own pleasure. The Bible addresses us on two levels the sin we commit & the sin beneath the sin we commit. What do we mean by this? The sin beneath the sin is the wrong motives of the heart. Pride, hatred, selfishness, idolatry all sins beneath the external sins. The way we talk about this reality at HCBC is to talk about how people actually work. The core of a person is the belief system not what they say they believe what they believe. Our beliefs then shape our values what is important and unimportant to us. Our values then shape our actions/words what we say & do always reflect what we value. Our actions/words over time turn into character traits the kind of person we are. I have shared this many times before but I want you to see it here in James 4. The reason we have conflicts among us is because we have conflicts within us. If this is true, it is not enough to confess & repent of our actions/words, though important. We must also confess & repent of the sin beneath the sin. James first shows us what is going on inside of us. Now, he shows us what is really going on around us. 2- Going Beyond the Physical: the separation because of the sin (4:4-6) We can see the physical consequences of our sin all around us. But James wants us to know this is not the ultimate reality which is spiritual. You and I are not just physical creatures. We have souls & are created to relate to God. So what is going on a spiritual level when we sin based on wrong motives & selfish desires? James calls us Adulteresses! Wow very strong language. We ve cheated on God. Remember he is talking to Christians, those who have believed on Jesus as Savior. The bride of Jesus Christ (the church) cheats on their Spouse every time they sin against God. In a marriage relationship, adultery is devastating breaking ultimate trust in a marriage.

3 And this is what James says is happening spiritually when we sin hurting our Maker. Beyond this, he describes us as being hostile with God & His enemies when we live like the world This is strong language that shows the separation that sins causes. Not that our sin can cause us to lose our relationship with God, but causes distance with God. This is important: if you are a Christian, you are a real, daily relationship with the Living God. And you are either moving closer to the Lord or drifting away from Him. James wants us to see this ultimate spiritual reality sin is not just horizontal; it is vertical. So, how does God respond? Does He abandon us or leave us or cut us off? NO! Verse 5 tells us that the Spirit in us yearns for us jealously. This is great news. This means that God is jealous for His people. He will not share His glory with another. He wants what is best for His people which is that we would enjoy Him first & most (worship) And when we are not doing that, he is after us as His children. Praise God! This is not new to James. Deuteronomy repeatedly says that God is a jealous God. Meaning that will not allow His people to worship another god. He will grab your attention. How does God jealously pursue us? We learn in verse 6 that God gives greater grace. This is incredible. God pursues us by His amazing grace to change us. With our idolatry and spiritual adultery, we don t deserve God s love or forgiveness. But you know what? God s grace is sufficient! He can reach you wherever you are today. Is this greater grace automatic to you when you mess up? No. Listen carefully. James says this grace comes to the humble and not to the proud. (vs. 6) God s greater grace that restores our distance from God is for those who admit their sin. Not just their external sin, but their heart-sin as well (see point 1). If you remain proud and don t see that you need grace, you won t get it. But the moment you humble yourself before God, He will meet you with abundant grace. So how does lead us into a plan for real change? 3- A Plan for Real Change: submit to the Savior (4:7-10) Based on the depth of our problem & the offer of God s grace to those who repent What should we do? We have two choices according to James in these last four verses. Choice # 1: We can pull away from God and submit to the devil. o If you get proud & arrogant and don t think you need God, He will oppose you. o And God is not opposing you for your harm, but for your good. o He will humble you. He has humbled me brutally painful process. o But absolutely necessary. He will show you your need for Him. o When you are walking in pride, you are submitting to the devil. o The Greek word for devil is diabolos, which means to separate. You see his plan? o To separate you from God and keep you on your own. o When you pull away from God, you are giving Satan reign in your life. Choice # 2: We can draw near to God and resist the devil. What does this mean? o You humble yourself before God and express your need for His help daily. o You resist the lies of Satan that would deceive you and excuse your sin. o But most of all, you repent truly, genuinely, deeply before the Lord. o Look at vs. 8 - drawing near to God means to cleanse your hands & purify your heart. o Repent of what is on your hands (actions/words/attitudes) that need to change. o But also repent of what is on your heart (sin beneath the sin not treasuring God). o This an emotional experience see vs. 9 - because it cuts to the core.

4 Now what happens when you do this humbly drawing close to God? First, God draws near to you. Awesome! God does not leave you to fight alone. Second, the devil flees from you. This is a great hope for each of us. Listen closely: every Christian has been given the ability to overcome Satan. Third, God exalts you (vs. 10). He lifts you up and provides for your needs. Conclusion: I believe as I have studied this chapter (and now preached it for the second time), that these 10 verses area actually a re-telling of the gospel of grace. It is a reminder that we all need the gospel today. If you are not a Christian, I hope you hear in this passage the truth that you cannot reform yourself by willpower alone to be the man or woman God desires you to be. Our problem is far too deep. You need a Savior. The real question for you is whether you are going to humble yourself before God, confess your need for Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior and Lord, OR if you going to try to do this all on your own. Forgiveness and freedom are available to you if you will repent and believe. If you are a Christian, I hope you hear in this passage the truth that you cannot reform yourself by willpower alone to be the man or woman God desires you to be. Our problem is far too deep. You need a Savior. The real question for you is whether you are going to humble yourself before God, confess your need for Jesus Christ and depend on Him to deliver you from your sin, OR if you are going to try to do this all on your own. Forgiveness and freedom are available to you if you will repent and believe. Do today what God is calling you to do. Amen.

5 James (HCSB 2009) 1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. 4 Adulteresses! Don t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world s friend becomes God s enemy. 5 Or do you think it s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously? 6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

6 James (NA27) Πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν; οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν, ἐκ τῶν ἡδονῶν ὑμῶν τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν; 2 ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε, φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν, μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε, οὐκ ἔχετε διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς, 3 αἰτεῖτε καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετε διότι κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε, ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε. 4 μοιχαλίδες, οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου ἔχθρα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν; ὃς ἐὰν οὖν βουληθῇ φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου, ἐχθρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καθίσταται. 5 ἢ δοκεῖτε ὅτι κενῶς ἡ γραφὴ λέγει πρὸς φθόνον ἐπιποθεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα ὃ κατῴκισεν ἐν ἡμῖν, 6 μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν; διὸ λέγει ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. 7 ὑποτάγητε οὖν τῷ θεῷ, ἀντίστητε δὲ τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ φεύξεται ἀφʼ ὑμῶν, 8 ἐγγίσατε τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐγγιεῖ ὑμῖν. καθαρίσατε χεῖρας, ἁμαρτωλοί, καὶ ἁγνίσατε καρδίας, δίψυχοι. 9 ταλαιπωρήσατε καὶ πενθήσατε καὶ κλαύσατε. ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν. 10 ταπεινώθητε ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς. Other Scriptures: Psalm 37:7-9 1 Peter 5:6-9 Ephesians 6:13 2 Corinthians 7:10 Luke 6:25 Luke 18:14