JAMES 4:1-10Everybody Wants Some, pt. 2…

JAMESKey Verse: But be doers of the word,

and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves- James 1:22 (NKJ)

Review- Selfish ambition comes from the influences of the world, the flesh and the devil. It leads to chaos internally and broken relationships externally. Wisdom from above leads to humble hearts and peace-making.

JAMES

3 Enemies: World, Flesh, Devil

Flesh: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?- vs. 1

Desires= Hedonon: “pleasures.” A life given over to the pursuit of personal pleasure.

JAMES

BToL: Internal conflict will always produce external conflict

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome- 1 John 5:3

My deepest desire tells me whether or not I belong to Jesus…

JAMES

So what’s the answer for someone who continually causes problems?

Why do these desires “battle within” us?

JAMES

You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures- vs. 2-3

JAMES

What do they ultimately want? Why can’t they get it?

Outside of God’s will, God’s ways, God’s purposes

 If I can’t ask God for it and trust

him, it’s probably not his will for me

JAMES

"If God answers every prayer just the way we pray it, he's no longer God"

JAMES You killkill and covet- vs. 2

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment’”- Matthew 5:21

“Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him”- I John 3:15

JAMESWorld: You adulterous people, don't

you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? - vs.5-6

JAMES

Why “adulterous”? World= Kosmos- system of evil

controlled by Satan

JAMES

Devil: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you- vs. 6-7

The devil controls the world system

The world entices the flesh (old nature)

The flesh creates chaos and destruction (internally and externally) in its addictive desire for pleasure

Therefore, the devil exerts great influence on the person who submits to the desires of the flesh outside God’s will

JAMES

Submit- get into your proper rank, know your place and keep it (military)

Submission brings obedience. Obedience brings blessing

Bonus Question: Will resisting the devil always work?

JAMES

Flee from sexual immorality- 1 Cor.6:18

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…But you, man of God, flee from all this - 1 Tim 6:10-11

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry- 1 Cor 10:14

JAMES

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry - Colossians 3:5

What are the biggest idols in America? Money and Sex

JAMESCome near to God and he will come

near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up- vs. 8-10

JAMES

Under God

Against Satan

Mournful Repentance