Gospel Bible Baptist Church

James 4:1-5

Introduction

Disagreements, misunderstandings, intrigues as well as contentions, conflicts, happen not only in the secular world but also within the church where brothers and sisters in Christ should be living in peace and harmony. It’s a strange thing that Christians are in strife with fellow Christians when the real enemy is Satan. If you look around you, you can see the saints are at war with each other, leader against leader, church against church, fellowship against fellowship. It’s a shame that the world watches these religious wars between so called believers.

I. The painful truth
A. Since the beginning of time there’s always disagreement. The famous families from Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, etc, have their own strife’s and misunderstanding sometimes even resulting in murder.
B. Even the disciples created problems for the Lord when they argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom (Lk. 9:46-48).
C. When you examine some of the early churches, you discover that they had their share of disagreements. The members of the Corinthian church were competing with each meeting, and even suing each other in court (1 Cor. 6:1-8; 14:23-40). The Galatian believers were “biting and devouring” one another (Gal. 5:15). Paul had to admonish the Ephesians to cultivate spiritual unity (Eph. 4:1-16); and even his beloved church at Philippi had problems: two women could not get along with each other (Phil. 4:1-3). Between Paul & Barnabas for John Mark. (Acts 15:36-40)
D. The sins committed by the unsaved can be committed also by Christians whom we sometimes trust fully. How many millions of people were broken hearted when Jimmy Swaggart fell into adultery. Abraham lied and so is Isaac. Jacob was a deceiver; Moses killed an Egyptian and David was a murderer and adulterer. Peter denied Christ thrice. I honestly think that if we say that we cannot do what they had done, we are just deceiving ourselves. (1 Jn. 3:15)

II. Wars or disagreements between the saints
A. Class wars (2:1-9). Here is that age-long rivalry between the rich and the poor. The rich man gets the attention, the poor man is ignored. The rich man is honored, the poor man is disgraced. How tragic it is when local churches get their values confused and cater to the rich while they ignore, or even reject, the poor. If fellowship in a church depends on such external things as clothing and economic status, then the church is out of the will of God.
B. Employment wars (5:1-6). Again, it is the rich man who has the power to control and hurt the poor man. Laborers do not get their wages, or they do not get their fair wages. In spite of our modern labor movement and federal legislation, there are still many people who cannot get a good job, or whose income is less than adequate for the work they are doing.
C. Church fights (1:19-20; 3:13-18). Apparently, the believers James wrote to were at war with each other over positions in the church, many of them wanting to be teachers and leaders. When they studied the Word, the result was not edification, but strife and arguments. Each person thought that his ideas were the only right ideas and his ways the only right ways. Selfish ambition ruled their meetings, not spiritual submission.
D. Personal wars (4:11-12). The saints were speaking evil of one another and judging one another. Here, again, we see the wrong use of the tongue. Christians are to speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15); they are not to speak evil in a spirit of rivalry and criticism. If the truth about a brother is harmful, then we should cover it in love and not repeat it (1 Pet. 4:8). If he has sinned, we should go to him personally and try to win him back (Matt. 18:15-19; Gal. 6:1-2).

III. The war within – James 4:11 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
A. War – The word “wars” literally means armed conflict, battle, but figuratively it means strife, conflict, quarrel. We get the English Word “polemic” from this Greek word “polemos”. It speaks of “a long-drawn-out resentment.” It is not speaking of a quick battle that erupts and is over in a little while. It is more of a long-drawn-out war.
B. The word “fights” means strife, “controversy,” or “quarreling.” There are many believers who live this way. They are always at war with someone, sometimes into open quarrelling and violent verbal talks causing intrigues and division within the church. Their weapon is the tongue. They never realize that when they start sowing discord and strife, they are committing sins that God hates. (Prov. 6:16-19)
C. Among you – “Wars” and “fights” on occasion take place between Christians. They engage in verbal brawls in church. People take sides with one group or another. (1 Cor. 1:12) (Pastor Laurena and Pastor Abante). 2 Tim. 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
D. Lust is also Covet, Concupiscence, and desire is the same in Greek and it is:

1. Sinful desire, a strong want for the possession of worldly things. Josh. 7:21, 1 Tim. 6:9-10.
2. Sensual desire connected with adultery and fornication (immoral)- Mt. 5:28
3. It comes from the heart. Mk. 7:22-23, Mt. 15:19. Fleshy desires come from the heart.
4. It is never satisfied – Eccl. 5:10
5. Forbidden. Ex. 20:17
6. The word translated lusts speaks of “sensual pleasure.” It comes from the word “hedone,” from which the word “hedonism” derived. It speaks of the practice of living for the satisfying of sensual, natural, and fleshly desires. We live in a pleasure-loving society. The philosophy of the day is “if it feels good, do it!” “Do it till you’re satisfied”

E. Take note of the phrase, the lusts that war in your members. This speaks of the war that rages in every Christian. The Holy Spirit is a continual conflict with our flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal. 5:17) The word lusteth that Paul uses here is different from the word lust that James used. The word lusteth speaks of a strong desire. Paul states that the Spirit and the flesh lust against each other, meaning they have opposite desires for us. The flesh wants us to succumb to sin while the Spirit wants us to live for Christ. Paul goes on to say that these are contrary the one to the other. The word contrary means to “oppose or confront.” The flesh dictates that we be one way and the Spirit immediately steps up and opposes the sinful nature and demands that we walk in the Spirit. The same word used here for contrary is translated “adversaries” in Luke 13:17 and 1 Corinthians 16:9. An adversary is an enemy or a foe. The flesh and the Spirit are adversaries—they are enemies one of another. They are not going to compromise and they will never be at peace. The battle rages as these two adversaries fight to gain ground in the Christian’s life. James identifies the cause of conflict as the flesh.

Illustration/Application:
The battle between good and evil is happening within us. The carton illustration in which a man is being dictated by a devil on his left side to do something that feels good while on the right side an angel is telling the man not to do it because it is sin is a very good illustration. This struggle continues until the day we die. Covetousness will cause us to murder Pr. 1:18-19. It is a serious sin which will cause the Lord to deny our prayers. Ps. 66:18. Achan coveted and he died together with his family (Joshua 7:21), Judas coveted for thirty pieces of silver, betrayed Christ and lost everything (Mt. 26:15). Good thing is we have a choice and for real Christians we have the Holy Spirit who will help us and guide us. (Isa. 30:21, Ezek. 36:27, Jn. 14:26).

IV. Unsatisfied Pleasure (James 4:2). James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
A. Ye lust, and have not… (James 4:2) This word lust means “to set the heart upon; long for; covet; or desire.” When a man allows himself to desire something. That desire will eventually dominate his thoughts to the point that he lives in a state of dissatisfaction. We live in an unsatisfied society. The flesh drives depraved man to lust after Possessions, Prestige, Prominence, Position and Perversion. But he is never satisfied, the more he gets the more he wants. The madness for more only enslaves and ruins lives and ends in defeat. After all the lust and desire, after all the heartache and hurt, James says, Ye lust, and have not. Lust never delivers what we want, it only brings more want and misery. Nothing of any lasting value comes from it. Jesus warned,… Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Lk. 12:15) Never is there any real or lasting satisfaction in possessions. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
B. James says, … ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (James 4:2b) Lust can lead to other sins including murder. Absalom is a good example of this in his attempt to kill his father for the Kingdom (2 Sam. 15-17). David also was guilty of the same thing. He had Uriah killed so that he could have his wife. Ahab’s desire for a vineyard resulted in the murder of Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-13). The idea is that covetousness results in deadly hatred and destructive behavior. You say, “Come on Preacher, I would never murder anyone.” How about all that hatred you have stored up in your heart. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15) James says, and cannot obtain. The word obtain means to “take hold of,” “make one’s own,” “grasp.” All the killing, fighting, and warring and they still couldn’t get their hands on what they were after.
C. James says, ye have not, because ye ask not. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on things. God delights in providing for us. Jesus said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7) Notice that it is necessary for one to ask in order to receive, but the people James was writing to weren’t asking.

V. Unanswered Prayer (James 4:3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
A. Some were asking, but they were asking for selfish reasons. Wrong motives. Why is it that we no longer see the great answers to prayer that we used to hear about. God still promises, Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jer. 33:3) However, sin is a roadblock to answered prayer. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalms 66:18) The greatest need of the day is revival, yet there is no revival. Sin has shut up the Heavens. God promises in His Word to revive those who meet His conditions. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14) This is a promise that great revivalists have claimed for years. Billy Sunday stood on the promises of God and saw great revival. D. L. Moody claimed the same promises and lived in revival. The same with George Whitfield, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, A. B. Earle, and countless others. Nothing has changed! There is only one question that needs to be answered. Are we willing to come on God’s terms?

VI. Another Enemy – James 4:4 James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
A. Our struggles are not only our fleshly desires but also the world system and Satan
B. James warns his readers of worldliness, their desires and attachments to it.

1. You cannot serve God and mammon. Mt. 6:24
2. We are exhorted not to love the world. 1 Jn. 2:15-17
3. James calls those who love the world adulterers and adulteresses.
4. In the Old Testament, Israel is presented as the wife of Jehovah (Jer. 31:32, Isa. 54:5) and if they worship idols of other nations, they have committed “spiritual adultery” or idolatry.
5. God is a jealous God, (Ex. 20:5) and if we turn away from Him to become worldly, we provoke Him to be jealous and angry.
6. Worldly people or people who are emotionally attached to the world. Those who longs and craves for worldly things becomes friends and therefore becomes enemy of God.
7. Worldliness manifests itself on prayer less life (James 4:2), and praying with wrong motives to satisfy your lusts (James 4:3).

VII. Grace (James 4:6)
A. But he giveth more grace… (James 4:6) That is the answer to our problems! More grace! This is not saving grace, as believers we already have that. Rather, this is more grace. This is not the grace that saves, but the grace that sustains. God’s grace enables us to do what God requires. Oliver Greene used to say, “What God demands, God provides.” Paul wrote to Timothy, … be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1) Such was Paul’s testimony. He knew what it meant to live by the grace of God. These words were penned by Paul thirty years after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road (Acts 9). For thirty years he had lived his life by the same grace that he was commanding others to live by. Paul had survived many trials and troubles by the grace of God. Even at the writing of these words to his young preacher boy, Paul was sitting in prison in Rome awaiting his execution. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16) Notice that the grace of God is available in time of need—any need! God’s people often fail because they focus on the problems of life instead of drawing upon God’s provision of grace.

VIII. The Solution – James 4:7-10
A. Submit your self therefore to God – to be under God’s command, surrender to God
B. Resist the devil – means to stand against Satan. No middle ground here. It’s either you are on Christ’s side or the devils. 1 Jn. 2:15-17
C. Draw nigh to God – come near or have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
D. Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts – repent from your sins. Only through real repentance can we have forgiveness from our sins.
E. Humble yourself – to bring yourself low in the presence of God. Show humility and remove pride from your heart. Only then will the Lord lift you up.

IX. Conclusion
As long as we are in the flesh, we will be involved in never ending battle between spirituality and carnality. It is an unavoidable fact that we live in the world and we need worldly things for our daily lives but it requires us to be careful and watchful to keep our affection away from them. Only by God’s grace we can do it and by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16). Victory against the world can only be achieved by faith in Jesus Christ. 1 Jn. 5:4.