James: Hands-On Christianity…. James 4:1-10

“There is nothing I love as much as a good fight.” We are born with a “cannot loose kind of attitude.” We are born with a “cannot loose kind of attitude.”

James 4:1a…. “What causes fights and quarrels among you ?...” [TNIV] “What causes fights and quarrels among you ?...” [TNIV] “Among you”… refers to Christians! “Among you”… refers to Christians!

… “fights” (machesthe) is the general term for an entire war. … “fights” (machesthe) is the general term for an entire war. …“quarrels” (polemeite) refers more to individual battles. …“quarrels” (polemeite) refers more to individual battles.

James 4:1b…. “…. Don't they come from your desires that battle within you ?” [TNIV] “…. Don't they come from your desires that battle within you ?” [TNIV]

The Greek term for “desires” (hedonon) means “pleasure or passion.” The Greek term for “desires” (hedonon) means “pleasure or passion.” It’s a neutral term that, depending on the context, can refer either to evil or good desires. It’s a neutral term that, depending on the context, can refer either to evil or good desires.

of this unchecked, COMBATIVE DESIRE. of this unchecked, COMBATIVE DESIRE.

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” [TNIV] “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” [TNIV] James 4:1a….

Effect #1…. Killing with our thoughts Effect #1…. Killing with our thoughts We allow ourselves to calculate ways to assassinate someone else’s character.

Fights and quarrels…. Effect #2…. Wounding with our words Effect #2…. Wounding with our words

We’re too busy fighting. We prefer to slog things out rather than surrender the situation to God. We’re too busy fighting. We prefer to slog things out rather than surrender the situation to God. Effect #3…. Failure to pray Effect #3…. Failure to pray

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” [TNIV] “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” [TNIV] James 4:3….

“Their requests were legitimate, but the reason for making them was illegitimate. They want only to satisfy their own cravings, pamper their own passions. …. Commentator

…. God’s glory, God’s service, consideration for other people – none of these things entered into their thinking. Such prayers are an insult to God.” …. God’s glory, God’s service, consideration for other people – none of these things entered into their thinking. Such prayers are an insult to God.”

James 4:4…. “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God?” [TNIV] “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God?” [TNIV]

In the NT, the Greek term for “world” (kosmos), is ordinarily used to mean “the world apart from God.” In the NT, the Greek term for “world” (kosmos), is ordinarily used to mean “the world apart from God.” It signifies a self-centered, Satan-controlled philosophy that is hostile toward God. It signifies a self-centered, Satan-controlled philosophy that is hostile toward God.

means handling conflicts by fighting, pushing, and demanding until you get exactly what you want, when you want it. means handling conflicts by fighting, pushing, and demanding until you get exactly what you want, when you want it.

What does results in? It creates hostility toward God – living according to the world’s standard … an act of rebellion. It creates hostility toward God – living according to the world’s standard … an act of rebellion.

It brings enmity against God.

“To have a warm, familiar attitude toward this evil world is to be on good terms with God’s enemy. It is to adopt the world’s set of values and want what the world wants instead …. “To have a warm, familiar attitude toward this evil world is to be on good terms with God’s enemy. It is to adopt the world’s set of values and want what the world wants instead …. Commentator

…. of choosing according to divine standards. The person who deliberately “choose …. to be a friend of the world” by that choice “becomes an enemy of God.” …. of choosing according to divine standards. The person who deliberately “choose …. to be a friend of the world” by that choice “becomes an enemy of God.”

James 4:5…. “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” [TNIV] “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” [TNIV]

The solution is the power of the Holy Spirit. The solution is the power of the Holy Spirit.

“God claims us entirely for Himself. No alien relationship, such as friendship with the world, will be tolerated by Him. He wants the undivided devotion of every human heart.” quoted….

James 4:6…. “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed?’ ” [TNIV] “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed?’ ” [TNIV]

Greater grace is the principle. Greater grace is the principle.

When you find the going gets tough, God’s grace is available for you as you turn to Him! When you find the going gets tough, God’s grace is available for you as you turn to Him!

2 Corinthians 12:9…. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” [TNIV]

James 4:7-8…. “ 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” [TNIV]

We are to cease fighting and SURRENDER our wills to His control. We are to cease fighting and SURRENDER our wills to His control.

We are to RESIST the prompting of the god of this world that tells us to assert ourselves, which often leads to conflict. We are to RESIST the prompting of the god of this world that tells us to assert ourselves, which often leads to conflict.

We are to to STAY CLOSE to God by developing a loving companionship. We are to to STAY CLOSE to God by developing a loving companionship.

We are to CLEANSE OURSELVES from any moral defilement that may have created enmity between ourselves and others or God. We are to CLEANSE OURSELVES from any moral defilement that may have created enmity between ourselves and others or God.

James 4:9…. “Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.” [TNIV]

James 4:10…. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” [TNIV] “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” [TNIV] James sum up his advice on how “fights” are stopped.

“Humble yourselves” says yes to the Spirit’s prompting and surrender to God, letting Him do your fighting! “Humble yourselves” says yes to the Spirit’s prompting and surrender to God, letting Him do your fighting!