INTRODUCTION #18
1. Open your bibles to James 4:2b (the 2nd part) thru verse 4.
2. In the words and phrases right ahead of this James refers to “wars and fighting’s” that go on in the lives of individuals and among members in local congregations.
3. James teaches that these personal and congregational struggles are primarily the result of lustful and covetous desires that are often so strong that they motivate us to let our feelings get completely out of control.
4. Some get so far out of control due to their lust and covetousness that they have desires to murder or kill others. 1 John 3:15 tells Christians that such uncontrolled passions classify us, in the sight of God, as being actually murders. We don’t have to physically commit the murder to be considered as a murderer in the eyes of God.
5. Along with teaching Christians the reasons behind such “wars and fighting’s” what else does James say that will help Christians overcome such un-peaceful problems?
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 4:2 (the last phrase) TEACHES THAT “WARS AND FIGHTING’S” COME BECAUSE CHRISTIANS NEGLECT TO PRAY.
1. Let’s read this last phrase from James 4:2, “Yet you do not have because you do not ask”.
(1) In James 1:5, James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Notice that God will give wisdom to all – any and everyone liberally – but only if they will ask for it on God’s terms and conditions.
(2) In James 1:17, James refers to God providing every good gift that man should ever need. Let’s read James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
(3) These verses let Christians know that if they are not able to prevent “wars and fighting’s” in their own personal life and in local congregations it is their own fault.
2. Christians can and should pray for the things they need physically and spiritually.
(1) However, it is not going to do them any good to pray for evil desires to be fulfilled.
(2) It may be that they did not pray, because the things they wanted were evil. God sends good gifts, not evil gifts.
(3) Satan will help one to do evil, but God will not.
3. The things men often want the most, do them the least good (or will do them much evil); and that which they need the most, they do not want and will not request.
(1) People with the attitudes and lustful desires and covetousness described by James are usually not going to ask for wisdom, patience, love, or the other spiritual traits.
(2) There are many unanswered prayers because the prayers go un-prayed.
II. SECONDLY, JAMES 4:3 TEACHES THAT MANY PRAYERS GO UN-ANSWERED BECAUSE THE WRONG THINGS ARE PRAYED FOR.
1. Let’s read James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
(1) Selfishness and wrongdoing shut the door of prayer. If a man’s prayers are for the things that will gratify his desires, his prayers are selfish. God will not answer selfish prayers. Selfish prayers are to ask amiss.
(2) Evidently, some Christians recognized this and did not pray.
(3) The correct way to pray is with the attitude of “not my will, but Thy (God’s) will be done” (Matthew 25:39).
2. To ask “amiss” is like asking God for help in winning a fabulous lottery prize! Playing the lottery is sinful; to ask God to help with it is foolish and wrong.
3. “That you may spend it on your pleasures” refers to one praying for the wrong reason and being guilty of having the desire to spend God’s gifts on one’s own pleasures.
(1) The Greek word, Dapanaô (spend), means to completely use up or squander.
(2) This word was used by Jesus to describe the prodigal son’s wasteful squandering of his inheritance. He went so far, that he wound up eating the food that he was feeding the hogs (Luke 15:13).
(3) The pleasures mentioned here are the same kinds as those mentioned in verses 1 &2. “Lusts and covetousness” cause personal and congregational “wars and fighting’s”. These are pleasures that God does not honor.
(4) However, unfaithful Christians and worldly people live for such pleasures. Far too many live for the thrill of the moment. They are continually guilty of trying to fulfill and gratify their fleshly lusts and intentions.
III. THIRD, JAMES 4:4 TEACHES THAT WHEN A CHRISTIAN LIVES A WORDLY LIFE THEY ARE GUILTY OF COMMITTING SPIRITUAL ADULTERY.
1. Let’s read James 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”.
2. When a Christian who is a member of the church, which is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:27), turns from obeying God to living the way he wants to live, he has committed spiritual adultery.
(1) “Adulterers and adulteresses” are used because in this figure of speech Christ is the groom and the church is the bride.
(2) When a Christian commits spiritual adultery and turns to the world, he becomes the enemy of God.
(3) “The friendship of the world” refers to living a life style that shows that one is opposed to God and disobedient to his will.
(4) The greatest relationship in the world is to be a faithful child of God.
(5) The worst relationship in the world is to be an enemy of God.
(6) If one dies as an enemy of God, he will be eternally lost.
(7) Turn to 2 Thess. 1:7-9. This passage teaches that one that never obeys the gospel will be forever separated from the presence of God. Let’s read 2 Thess. 1:7-9, “7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
3. The Greek word Kosmos (world) does not refer to the physical earth or universe but rather to the spiritual reality of the man-centered, Satan-directed system of this present age, which is hostile to God and God’s people.
(1) It refers to the self-centered, godless value system and customs of fallen mankind.
(2) The goal of the world is self-glory, self-fulfillment, self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, and every other form of self-serving, all of which amounts to hostility toward God.
(3) Turn to 2 Tim. 3:1-8. These verses give a good word picture of people making “the attitude of the ungodly world their friend.” Let’s read 2 Tim. 3:1-8, “1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.”
4. Let’s go back to James 4:4. Therefore, James continues, whoever wants (or “will be” KJV) to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(1) The Greek word Boulomai (“wants” or “will be”KJV) implies more than just wanting a desire or wish to be fulfilled. It carries the stronger idea of choosing one thing over another.
(2) Similarly, kathistçmi (makes himself) means to appoint, make, or ordain, also indicating conscious intent. Whether he recognizes it in his own mind or not, a person who wishes to be a friend of the world system has chosen to make himself an enemy of God.
(3) In his heart, his desire for the world supersedes any supposed positive ideas he may have about God.
(4) He does not have a neutral relationship with God, as an impartial bystander or a distant admirer, but is in the fullest sense His enemy.
(5) And to be God’s enemy is to remain in spiritual darkness, daily grow more fit for eternal death, and have the sovereign King of the universe as your enemy.
5. Turn to Rom. 12:1&2. This passage challenges us to discipline the members of our body and use them as a living sacrifice in the work of God and never let the world squeeze us into its mold. Let’s read Rom. 12:1&2, “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
6. Turn to James 2:20-24. These verses teach that to be a friend, instead of an enemy of God, we must have a faith that obediently carries out the work of God. Abraham is held us as a supreme example for Christians to follow. Let’s read James 2:20-24, “20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
7. I encourage every Christian to make the conscious and determined choice turn away from the ungodly ways of the world and to then be motivated by your faith to do the work of God so that He will accept you as His friend and not His enemy.
CONCLUSION
1. Turn to 1 John 2:15-17. This passage gives a strong warning to not love the world – that is to not love the immoral and ungodly ways of the worldly minded people.
(1) Three ways that Satan uses the immoral world to tempt man are pointed out.
(2) John also declares that everything relating to the world will soon pass away. On the other hand the person who will do God’s will and become His friend will abide for all eternity.
(3) Let’s read 1 John 2:15-17. v.15 “Do not love the world [meaning the ungodly ways of the world] or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world [meaning the three ways that Satan tempts man]—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
2. The opportunity to live in the presence of God forever starts in you believing in God and Christ. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
(1) You must repent [turn from your sins and turn to live in obedience to God].
Acts 17:30&31, “30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
(2) You must confess that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Acts 8:35-37, “35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
(3) You must be baptized to receive remission of your sins. Acts 8:38&39, “35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
3. Maybe you are a Christians and need prayer for forgiveness or for your health or your spiritual strength.
4. What ever your need is please come forward and obey the gospel as we stand and sing.
