New Page 1

BOOK OF JAMES

STUDY PART 16 - STRIFE FROM WITHIN

JAMES 4: 1-4 “(1) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (2) 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. (3) When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (4) You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

INTRO: From the spiritual mountain tops of heavenly wisdom and peace we experience, now we plunge into the valley of strife and trouble. When God sets on the throne of one’s life, there is peace and the fruits of righteousness and the fruits of the Spirit are in much evidence. However, when we just for a second allow Satan and the flesh to control our thoughts and actions, trouble is sure to follow from within. Our hearts and minds were focused in our last study time on “Wisdom From Above” in the last part of Chapter 3. We learned from this last study that to be controlled by wisdom from above leads to peace and good works. Tonight, in Chapter 4, it begins with some things which hinder my Christian life and disrupts life in the local assembly. As children of God, we are to seek an end to strife and contentions (Philip 2:1-3). We are to guard against worldliness and prayerlessness which holds back the cause of Christ.

I. The Root Of The Problem (Vs. 1) that deals with wars and fighting among believers… (1) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you--- The words “among you” brings this charge to the very doorstep of every believer. At times, the early church saints showed deep affection for one another. But, there were also times of bitter strife. Remember Paul spoke against this very thing in I Corinthians 3:3. KJ version in vs. 1 is “ What causes wars among you”. Wars referred to as arguments and disputes among the saints. It is so much better when differences arise to sit down in love and discuss our differences in a prayerful attitude. The word “fighting” could be translated to “brawling”. Satan delights in bitter jealousy which eats out the hearts of some church bodies. That which is not oiled by the Holy Spirit can so bring discredit to God and His nature. We are His representatives. Let’s look at the source of the trouble or the second part of verse 1b “don’t they (fights, wars, quarrels) come from your desires. We as Christians still have 2 natures—the old sinful nature from Adam and a new Spiritual nature in Christ by the Holy Spirit. These two natures are still at war against each other . When we are fighting with fellow Christians or brothers and sisters in Christ, isn’t that proof that our fleshly nature is on the top. A Believer may sit week after week under the ministry of God’s Work but like the hearer in the parable of the Seed/Sewer given by Christ, never brings forth or produces fruit (Matt 7:17-19). Choked by our fleshly desire and the cares of this world, this leads to a self pleasure seeking heart. This will lead to conflict and dispute in the church body. A disatisfied heart is never at peace with God or with man.

II. The Result Of Selfishness and Coveteousness- Vs. 2 -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. – The natural heart is never content. Notice carefully in this verse, “have not cannot obtain have not”. Satisfaction in things of this world is like a mirage. Seemly reached but always eluding the seeker causing much frustration. In Christ ALONE there is SATISFACTION. “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst”-John 4:14. In Christ, there is peace and contentment (Rom 5:1)(I Tim 6:6)(Phil 4:11)(Psalm 63:1). The second part of verse 2-“you have not because you ask not”, refers to our prayer life. Our prayer life is closely related to the problems set forth in verses 1 and 2. Instead of praying and asking God, wars and fighting were the means used to an end. Doesn’t scripture say that our heavenly Father stands anxiously awaiting to answer our prayers? In Matt. 7:7,8, we are to ask, seek, and knock. Look at John 16:24 and John 15:5.

III. Reasons for Unanswered Prayer (Vs. 3)- When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.—How many times have we prayed and asked, but God didn’t give us what we prayed for? Some prayers go unanswered because we ask selfishly for things to satisfy our own pleasures. Some prayers are answered in a way not pleasing to us because they contradict God’s will for our life. “We should pray according to His Will- I John 5:14,15. Prayer is NOT to control God, it is taking the place of submission to His Holy Will. As we talked about in early chapters of James, God in love withholds some of our petitions. Remember the illustration we used before, a loving parent doesn’t give a child some things harmful to him just because he begs. We have the promise that every good and perfect gift comes from above in James Chapter 1:17. We may be sure what is good for us will come down from the Father. So, we receive not because a) we ask not and b) our prayers are so self-centered toward our own gratification that God cannot in His faithfulness grant our request (Matt 6:33).

IV. Finally, God’s Enemies (Vs. 4)- You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? A`nyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.- KJ uses disloyal people. Disloyality brings strife and unrest. The original text uses only the word “adulteresses”. In scripture, unfaithfulness in a believer is liken to adultery of a wife toward her husband. Remember in the Old Testament, Israel fell into idolatry or worldliness and was called an adulterous wife. Again, scripture is consistent when Christ and the church are explained in marital language (Eph 5:25 and II Corith 11:2). Last part of vs. 4, friendship with the world results in being an enemy of God. The word “world” does not mean the world of created things, as the world of nature. The word “world” is used referring to humanity as a whole (John 3:16). God loves humanity and desires to see them saved. The word “world” also refers to this present world system or present evil age with Satan as its God. I John 5:19 “The whole world lieth in wickedness.” The world is evil and has no room for Jesus Christ. Christ died to save us from sin and the world (Gal. 1:4). Christ calls upon His won to separate themselves from the world (II Corith 6:17). Here, not to separate from people, but from the world of sin directed by Satan. This is a dreadful thought to contemplate the possibility of a believer placing himself into the position of being an enemy of God. Paul warns against the same thing in Phil 3:18 where he says “enemies of the cross of Christ.” This worldliness which breaks the sweet fellowship of God and His people can be summed up in all things which takes our first allegiance from Christ. (II Tim 4:10). Some may be like Peter who followed “afar off” (Luke 22:57). ONE CANNOT WALK IN SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND AT THE SAME TIME FOLLOW THE WORLD. (I John 2:15-17).

My question to you ? Are you at Peace with God as a result of walking with Him? If not, Christ stands ready to give you peace and contentment we have been talking about. As a Christian, be on guard against being a friend of the world and enemy of God. Remember, He must have first place in your heart, life, and mind.