james: hands-on christianity…. james 4:1-10. “there is nothing i love as much as a good...
TRANSCRIPT
James: Hands-On Christianity….
James: Hands-On Christianity….
James 4:1-10James 4:1-10
“There is nothing I love as
much as a good fight.”
“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…. 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…. 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…. 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.
We allow ourselves to calculate ways to
assassinate someone else’s character.
Fights and quarrels….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…. 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. ….
“Their requests were legitimate, but the reason
for making them was illegitimate. They want only
to satisfy their own cravings, pamper their own
passions. ….
CommentatorCommentator
…. God’s glory, God’sservice, consideration for
other people – none of these things entered into
their thinking. Such prayers are an insult to
God.”
…. God’s glory, God’sservice, consideration for
other people – none of these things entered into
their thinking. Such prayers are an insult to
God.”
James 4:4…. 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 doesWhat does
results in?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.
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
….
CommentatorCommentator
…. 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…. 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.”
“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….quoted….
James 4:6…. 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 graceis the principle. Greater graceis the principle.
When you find the
going gets tough,
God’s graceis available for you
as you turn to Him!
When you find the
going gets tough,
God’s graceis available for you
as you turn to Him!
2 Corinthians 12:9….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]
“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…. 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]
“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
SURRENDERour wills
to His control.
We are to
cease fighting
and
SURRENDERour 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…. James 4:9….
“Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to
gloom.” [TNIV]
“Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to
gloom.” [TNIV]
James 4:10…. 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.
James sum up his advice on
how “fights” are stopped.
“Humbleyourselves”
says yes to the Spirit’s
prompting and surrender
to God, letting Him
do your fighting!
“Humbleyourselves”
says yes to the Spirit’s
prompting and surrender
to God, letting Him
do your fighting!