How Are You Asking? James 4:1-3

Asking Evaluate how you ask things of GodEvaluate how you ask things of God –From God's perspective –What kind of relationship do you have with God? –Do you talk to God at all? –When you do, what do you talk about? –Do you ask only to satisfy your desires? –When you ask of Him, are you seeking God's approval for what you already plan to do?

James 4:1-3 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? 2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

A Continuation of James 3 –If bitter envy and selfish ambition have filled man's heart – 3:14,16 –If his guiding principle is earthly wisdom that is unspiritual and devilish – 3:l5 –If he has alienated himself from God – 3:16 –Then he promotes "disorder and every evil practice" – 3:16 –Result – fights and quarrels – 4:1-2

The Problem Lust = desires of the fleshLust = desires of the flesh –How do you recognize lust? –How do you recognize Flesh? –Flesh  hself –Sin sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sInsIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn sIn Sin hinders our prayers!Sin hinders our prayers!

The Question - v. 1a James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you?James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? –Fights = polemoi = a battle with weapons, an armed conflict The struggle between powers, both earthly and spiritualThe struggle between powers, both earthly and spiritual –Quarrels = machai = fighting, but without weapons, personal conflicts

The Question - v. 1a Things come to a state of warThings come to a state of war –Open skirmishes break out –Sides are chosen –Positions are dug in –These conflicts are quarrels among believers! We cannot brush aside James's questionWe cannot brush aside James's question –When they do happen, are we wise enough to understand why? –Do we know their source?

The Answer - v. 1b Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? –Fights and quarrels are caused by the people's cravings or "pleasures" Pleasure = "hedone“ = English word hedonismPleasure = "hedone“ = English word hedonism –The philosophy that pleasure is the main goal of life –When everyone seeks his or her own pleasure, only strife, hatred, and divisions can result

The Battle James 1:14-15 warns us that our desires (epithumia) in general are the means of temptationJames 1:14-15 warns us that our desires (epithumia) in general are the means of temptation –The desires in James 4:1 are more specific –"desire" = a pleasure-motivated need, battling to be satisfied A battle withinA battle within –"strateuomenon" = warring –Strategies - a planned, raging battle –Fought between the desire to do good and the desire to do evil –Internal warfare - Romans 7:7-25

The Battle When we lose the internal battle we create conflicts on the outsideWhen we lose the internal battle we create conflicts on the outside –Competition for power, prestige, or possessions that promise to bring pleasure –The fierce competition drives people to shameful thoughts and actions –Result is they are unable to pray correctly!

Impact on Spiritual Life Desire for the pleasure's of the world always threatens our spiritual lifeDesire for the pleasure's of the world always threatens our spiritual life –Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not matureThe seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature –Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one anotherAt one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another

The Results - v. 2a James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. –The craving can become so strong that the people "kill and covet" (NIV) to obtain what they want –People are capable of killing in pursuit of desires or as a reaction to frustrated desires

From "wanting" to "murdering" Matthew 5:21-22 NIVMatthew 5:21-22 NIV –"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.‘ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 1 John 3:151 John 3:15 –Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. Killing is just a short step from bitter hatred!Killing is just a short step from bitter hatred! Desires, if not controlled, can lead to extreme violenceDesires, if not controlled, can lead to extreme violence –News stories - a person who claims to love another deeply, ends up murdering that person

The Root Causes - v. 2b-3 2b And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure The most common problems in prayerThe most common problems in prayer –not asking –asking for the wrong things –asking for the wrong reasons

Oranges

The Root Causes You do not have, because you do not ask GodYou do not have, because you do not ask God –Too many people just do not pray at all –They think God does not care or that He is not able! You desire the wrong thingsYou desire the wrong things Even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrongEven when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong –Almost as bad as not asking is asking wrongly –Some people attempt to manipulate God –Check your motive in asking! –Are you asking in God’s will for in trying to fulfill your own desires?

The Proper Motive for Prayer Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33 –But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you John 14:13-14John 14:13-14 –Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it Psalms 37:4Psalms 37:4 –Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart

How are you asking? What is your desire in asking?What is your desire in asking? –To seek God's Kingdom or His righteousness ? –To seek His glory? –To help others? –To satisfy self? James's message: "You don't have what you desire because you don't desire God"James's message: "You don't have what you desire because you don't desire God" –Until we look at all of life, including our strongest desires, from the perspective of God's plans and priorities for us, our life will be constantly frustrated by the awareness that we do not satisfy our desires