James 4 “Get Smart”--- Let's do this!
Summary of first three chapters of James.
Be a doer of the Word of God – we need to do this!
Ask God for wisdom!
Persevere through trials so that you may grow spiritually!
Don’t blame God for the trails you go through He does not tempt people with evil!
Don’t show favoritism to others!
Love all the same!
Control the wild thing in your mouth or your faith is worthless!
Listen to wisdom from above not wisdom from below!
James 1:22 key verse or main message for the book of James is “DO IT!”
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Read James chapter 4:1-12:
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
2You 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.
3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You 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.
5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Video Clip: Get smart – paper jam and fight scene.
This scene is off course funny but it shows the reality of what happens when we allow ourselves to be influenced by the wisdom from below – it does not create a place of peace. It leads to stress, chaos, hurting of others and to ourselves.
Please hear my heart – anger is not funny – hurting others is not funny – it’s painful – it destroys lives. Fights and quarrels cause damaged emotions, and wounded hearts.
Introduction:
A Case in point --- Reflections from a young boys nightmare story: Listen to his story as told through his eyes and mind!
My home echoed from the words of “I hate you!” “You are worthless!” “You are stupid!” The walls repeated the sounds of rage and these words ripped through the air into the hearts of the young lives listening and watching the chaos. As a young toddler boy I have too many memories of violence and rage - I shuddered in horror as my father leaped out of the car to go drag a man out of car window to pound on him for cutting him off in traffic on our way to an amusement park. The rest of the day was not filled with laugher or joy but fear! My mom sat in silence all day afraid to speak for fear of retaliation from the anger seeping out of this man’s heart.
“Yes,” he would lose it like this over nothing and “yes” we would pay the price with his verbal abuse, physical abuse, -- mostly my mom -- but my brothers and I would look on in terror to see the constant insanity of anger and rage. We endured the verbal tongue lashings, the smacks, the thuds, the cries, the whimpering, the pain, the mental torment, the groans, the stress, the anguish from the blows of rage. What amazed us was no one stopped him even though most saw what he would do to the family and to our mom –over and over again. No one said anything to him when he unleashed his fists of fury on her or us. All remained silent and she would collapse into a corner bloody and emotionally raped. I would sit next to her or my brothers as young boys to comfort her but she would cry and hold us near. Me and my brothers would sit by her, holding each other, while the crazy maniac put holes in the walls, broke lamps, broke dishes, destroyed anything she loved or we loved. We all would endure this rage for years and years.
We would cringe when we knew it was time for him to come home from work! Why? Because our safe world was about to end, our peace was going to be thrown into fear, turmoil and rage. We had witnessed him fly off the handle over anything and everything. It happened without warning, a wrong word, bad traffic, a neighbor’s comment anything could and would send him into his rage. And we would have to endure the emotional and physical pain.
He allowed this rage, anger to happen when ever anything or anyone messed with his selfish little world. A bad day at work meant a bad day in our home! His anger would strike, tear, whip, shred and dismantle our soft child like hearts. Angry words filled the air and the fights and the quarrels would be passed down the family line.
Then came the night, the breaking point when I was 11 this night would change my heart for a long time. I was in my room sleeping, actually sound asleep. I awoke to the yelling of madman! He had come home from work – she had made him steak, potatoes and corn, he had a bad day, my mom was being called a tramp and h… told she was not worth anything but she was a loser.
I then heard the loud thud, the cracking of a wall, he had shoved her up against the wall by her neck. I then heard the repeated fists hitting her face and body “Smack, groan, cry ‘stop” smack.” Her cries to stop did not stop him –her cries and gasps for air- incited him to inflict more pain on her - as he hits her over and over each twisted blow taking her breath. His younger brother was whimpering under the covers. He looks at me and says, “He is killing her!” His older brother is huddled in a corner at 12 saying “What can we do he is too strong!” But this 11 year old loses his fear and gets angry – really angry – as angry as the mad man downstairs – he opens his heart to the demons of anger and rage. So he runs out of the bed room and from the top of the stairs he yells at madman as he she’s him punching her in the body “Stop it! Leave her alone!” His anger superseded his fear of him – he stands his ground ½ his size but with a face of determination. He is first of all shocked at what just happened.
He stops the assault and looks up the stairs at him and then his eyes dark eyes bulge with anger, hatred and I see evil in his eyes. He launches up the stairs swearing at him, reminding him he is not his son and he grabs him by the throat, picking him up off his feat, pinning him into the wall and says, “Don’t you ever tell me what to do boy --- I will beat you so bad you will wish you were dead!” He then spins him around by his neck and throws him down the hall into the stairs. He falls like a rag doll onto the floor gasping for air, trying to breathe wondering if this is the end.
But, his mom jumps on the lunatic hitting him yelling, “Leave him alone you blank……!” But he shoves her off and amazingly leaves the house.
And there they all are huddled in the hall holding each other crying. But relieved because the evil one has left their home. Yes, they are bruised, hurt, bleeding from the beating but they are alive. The 11 year old tells his mom, “I won’t let him keep hurting you. One day I will kill him. I will give back to him all the pain he has given us. He will pay for his beatings. He will pay for his outbursts of anger, his words and his brutality.”
Sadly, at that point in time the 11 year old becomes like the man he hates. He allows anger, bitterness and rage to dwell in his heart and mind. He starts working out with weights, he joins a martial arts school. Why? For the soul purpose to beat up his evil father. Why? To pay him back for his life of pain and hurt to all of them. To seek revenge for his mom’s beatings and his own personal beatings. He is determined that he will stop the insanity of this mad man. But the young man becomes over time more filled with rage, anger, bitterness, hatred and venom.
The day of reckoning comes when he is 17. Six years of anger, rage, hatred, bitterness and physical training for revenge. He is a time bomb waiting to explode! There have been many fights in his home, since that day, he has lost the battle with him several times as he was hit with vases and other objects, he had needed stitches but the rage builds inside of him. But this day something changed, the rage explodes and he goes after the mad man, the demon. He is not the same little boy, he has trained, he has gotten stronger and he realizes for the first time that he is winning the fight. He is beating him so bad that he hears the cracks as his fists dig deep into his ribs, he sees fear in his eyes for the first time and the pain in his father’s. This drives him to keep unleashing blow after blow. Kick after kick. The cracking of his ribs – he sees him gasping for breath – just like what he did to him and his mother – he hears the whispers of the demons of anger, “Kill him” “Hurt him” “He is wounded and hurt –finish him!” The anger surges through his veins and a venom surges through his blood. I tell him at one point, “I told you one day you would pay and today I am going to beat you so bad you will regret you were born and I will kill you!” The brawl, the fight, it’s all over the living room, over the dining room table, into the fireplace, my ruthless beating is starting to shock the four standing by, my two friends, my two brothers. They decide they have to pull me off of him because he is really going to kill him. They all jump on me and drag me off my dad who at this point is crawling away – hurt – in pain - he is feverishly moving toward the phone to call the police -- the others hold me back – he calls the police because and tells them “My wife’s son is beating him up for no reason!” No reason! This is what he did many times to us and my mother.
If you have not figured it out yet, this is my story, this was my life, this was my nightmare and it still hurts - the sting is deep. My insane young life created a deep rooted anger within me – a demon of anger took root in my heart. How, by opening up my heart to it, by not growing up in a home that was safe and secure or filled with peace. I could deal with the chaos of the world around me but it really got to me because my home was filled with violence–rage-fights-brawls-cutting words and fear. It was an unhealthy environment to be a part of and yet I had no choice but to try and survive it. In the end it led me to Jesus who healed my heart and mind and gave me peace. It changed the course of my life – it healed my heart and delivered me from the destruction that comes with anger, rage and bitterness!
So I understand James instruction to the people of God – Stop the fights, stop the quarrels, stop slandering one another! Quit listening to wisdom from below!
James is telling the Body of Christ that a family a home, a church should not be filled with this type of behavior. This type of behavior is driven by a mindset that listens to wisdom from below – a devilish, unspiritual, fleshly wisdom that is out for the survival of fittest. It’s a mindset that is out to win at all costs and destroy anyone who gets in its way. James tells us that a person who lives their life this way is not a friend of God but a friend of the world and this should not be as Christians.
Please understand --- Christians will have disagreements---don’t get me wrong – but he is talking about a mindset that is rooted in selfish desires which causes hurts-fights-quarrels with others. Why the fights, so they can get their self-centered ways.
T.S. – We need to get smart by just stopping all the fighting and all the quarrels because it does not build up the Body of Christ, your family instead it tears it all down.
1. Get smart by stopping the fights and quarrels (James 4:1-3; 11-12; 5:7-12)
a. What causes fights-arguments-brawls-hurtful words—have you ever wondered what causes these things to happen? Three primary things:
i. They come from within your heart.
1. Paul addresses it with the revelation – They come from within you – did you hear that – your to blame – not your spouse or the neighbor –or the co-worker – It’s your selfish wants battling within you --- I want this and I want it now! – When our selfish wants are not met you get mad and into fights with others.
ii. They come from listening to wisdom from below which is devilish, unspiritual, and fleshly.
1. The other reason goes back to what we explored last week – listening to wisdom from below – when you have No wisdom from above, no insight from God, no help from the Holy Spirit. You lose it!
a. Stress pushes you over the edge.
b. People irritate you.
c. Angers flares
d. Temper flares
e. Crazy drivers send you into rage
iii. The third reason is rooted in Pride (James 4:6, 10)
1. Flesh wants its own way and all the recognition.
2. Yes, this devilish behavior. This Unspiritual behavior. Pride is thinking you are better than others even better than God himself.
3. Pride – hinders your prayers – alienates you from God.
b. We need to Get smart and control our anger and emotions.
i. What can we do? (These three steps come from Dr. Whiteman’s book –Stress Management pgs. 43-45).
1. Tips to anger management – Do the 3 A’s
a. Accept – Stress filled situations are often made worse because people are fighting their way through them – every inch-every step-every moment. In their heads – In their hearts and in their emotions!
i. Sometimes we need to quit fighting what we cannot change and ask God for the help to press through it and to deal with it from wisdom from above.
b. Alter – Stress filled situations sometimes can be altered! You can change certain aspects of your job or home life? Can you find ways to lower the stress those exploding points in life? Can you look to others for help and advice? Are you asking God to help alter your situation?
c. Avoid – Stress filled situations may dictate that you must get out of that abusive and destructive environment. It’s not worth staying in an environment or situation that will destroy your life with anger and rage.
i. There comes times in life when you have to avoid what causes you to lose it!
ii. Are you over worked – then change your lifestyle –cut back.
iii. Ask God to help you to avoid the destructive environment.
iv. Don’t go to places which fuel your anger! Go to places that build you up and encourage you!
v. What are watching? What are you feeding your heart and mind – quit feeding it violence or things of this kind.
1. Violent movies or program fuel anger!
vi. The Bible says think on things that are up lifting and positive – don’t dwell on the negative – get help with this from a good Christian Counselor!
2. Take responsibility for your anger – it is a choice!
a. I use to tell myself in my fits of anger that I could not help myself this is the way I was made!
i. Many people use this excuse to justify their sins – I was made this way by God I cannot help myself.
ii. The truth is this is a lie and God does not create us to sin but instead to be images of likeness.
iii. God is love – and this should be a driving character trait of a Christian who is a doer of the word of God.
b. James tells us that God does not tempt people with sinful evil things.
i. I here way to often that people with sin in their life are made that way by God.
1. God made me to have to have sex all the time. I cannot help it – I was created this way.
2. God made me to have a desire to want to drink and get wasted, I cannot stop. I am just wired this way!
3. God gave me lustful thoughts for others I cannot help it!
4. God made me this way!
a. Let me be clear – NO HE DID NOT!
b. YOU chose your sinful choices that have arisen from within your heart.
c. Dr. Minirth and Carter in their book “The Anger Workbook” tell us that to be able to deal with your anger you have to quit believing the myths about it – anger is your choice no one elses – you have chosen to react the way you react – admit it and ask God to help you change – You can change by losing the myths which perpetuate an angry lifestyle. (The following from Minirth and Carters - The Anger Workbook).
i. Myths:
1. My history of rejection leaves me emotionally depleted – so I have a right to be angry!
a. Example of Joseph in the OT.
b. 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2. Myth 2:
a. God should have stopped my problems – it’s His fault I suffered – He allowed it to happen – He wanted me to be abused!
i. These mindsets are rooted in the thought pattern that God owes me something! He is to serve me!
ii. From the beginning God has respected free will in mankind – he does not violate that in people.
iii. It’s free will – sinful behavior which causes all the pain and suffering you experience in this world – it does not come from God – he tempts no one with evil.
3. Myth 3:
a. Letting go of my anger means I am conceding defeat to that which caused my anger in the first place.
i. Angry people fell like victims because of the wrongs they have endured. Victimization causes angry people to conclude that forgiveness is unreasonable.
ii. But I have to ask, “Will my quality of life be greater if I choose to hold on to my anger rather than releasing it? You may eventually conclude, I still dislike the wrongs I’ve suffered, but I choose to thrive in spite of them.”
4. Myth 4:
a. No one understands my unique problems.
i. To break this myth of isolation and specific targeting of evil – we have to choose to acknowledge that someone with different experiences of suffering can encourage us with the help and the hope of Jesus.
5. Myth 5:
a. I don’t deserve to be happy or joyful.
i. Many feel selfish if they try to be happy looking at what they suffered – some feel they are just destined by God to be tormented their whole life – Let me say it again no they are not – no you are not – God wants to bless you and prosper you.
6. Myth 6:
a. There is nothing to look forward to in life! It’s hopeless!
i. Phil. 3:13-14: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
ii. Paul the murderer was convinced that his angry history in the past would not dictate his future because his hope-his power to change rested in Jesus – the prize of life!
3. Make sure your anger is not crossing the boundary into sin – Ephesians 4:26: Be angry and sin not!
c. James tells us in 3:18: 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (NIV). The Message words it this way --- 18You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
i. What is the biggest thing the world is looking for?
1. What do most Miss America candidates desire for the world – “World peace.”
2. Peace - The basic Christian ideal specifies that peace can only come by the Word and love of God, which is perfectly demonstrated in the life of Christ (see Romans 8:19-23). As Christology is interpreted from Isaiah 2, whereupon the 'Word of the Lord' is established on the earth the material human-political result will be 'nation not taking up sword against nation; nor will they train for war anymore'. Christian world peace necessitates the living of a proactive life replete with all good works in direct light of the Word of God. The details of such a life can be observed in the Gospels, especially the historically renowned Sermon on the Mount, where forgiving those who do wrong things against oneself is advocated among other pious precepts. It should be noted, however, that world peace is not expected by Christians on this earth “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn“ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’—Mat 10:34-36
a. By Christians, world peace on this earth is expected to be manifest upon the 'new earth' that is promised in Christian Scripture (see Revelation 21).
3. Peace defined:
a. The absence of war or other hostilities.
b. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
c. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other.
d. Public security and order: was arrested for disturbing the peace.
e. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.
i. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/peace#ixzz2dMig5UZr
4. The importance of peace:
a. Peace, which is only a 5-letter word, plays an important role in our lives. It is peace which makes us live happily and comfortably. It affects life in so many ways. Peace means order, discipline, prosperity and benefits; we all feel safe when our life is peaceful. On the other hand, conflicts or wars mean destruction, fear, sadness and finally death. Accordingly, let's live and let live.
T.S. – The ability to live at peace in the midst of chaos and mayhem all around is a gift from God that comes through a relationship with Him and a heart and mind in tune with wisdom from above. To receive peace we need to ask God and for God to answer our prayers but they need to be asked with the right motives in the heart.
2. Get smart by praying to God with right motives (James 4:2b-6)
a. We need to make sure we humble ourselves and ask God for help with the things we face in life
i. We do not have to do this on our own – our pride keeps us from asking because most of the time we want to do it ourselves!
1. Refers us back to James 1:5 then to 3:13-18
2. Asking for wisdom – asking for help.
3. Many get so stressed out and lose it because they think they have to do life all by themselves and this not true- God wants to help!
a. Have you asked for help lately?
ii. Why because we want the glory and the pat on the back!
b. Asking with wrong motive in others words with wisdom from below will not get God to listen to you or respond to you.
i. Wrong motive – a selfish motive
1. Are your prayers selfish in nature?
ii. Wrong motive – your own personal gain is your desire not what is right and fair for the situation.
1. Are your prayers greedy? Have you listened to your own prayers lately?
iii. See James 5:13-17:
1. We need to just do this and get smart – do you do what is instructed here – do you ask God – do you ask for prayer – do you praise Him or mock him.
a. Are your prayers ultimatums to God?
2. Do you hoard things for yourself and yet want God to bless you financially – wrong motives – wrong attitudes see James 5:1-6
c. What do your prayers sound like to God even to yourself – have you listened to them lately?
i. I challenge you to write down all your prayers this next week and see what they look like and sound like!
1. What is their focus – their common request or theme?
2. Missionary letters often tell me a lot about a person’s heart and focus.
d. What is your relationship like with God?
i. Are you friends with the world and therefore buy into their belief systems and not Gods value system. But then you want a favor from Him?
1. You want God’s blessing but????
2. Quote from Putman “Discipleshift” page 32-33:
a. “Disciples are not merely converts but also doers, learners, students, Christ followers, or better yet, ‘apprentices of Jesus’…So it is right to say following Christ is nonnegotiable part of the Great Commission. To be clear, the call isn’t to perfection. A disciple of Jesus will be imperfect, even as Peter denied Christ. Thomas doubted Christ, and many other disciples misunderstood Christ. Yet the call of a true disciple is a call to a change in allegiance, from self to Jesus’ leadership in our lives. In a disciple’s life, the Great Commission must be taken at face value. If anyone serves Jesus, he must follow Jesus. There is no wiggle room in a genuine Christian’s life for a faith characterized by compromise.”
T.S.- We need to get smart by stopping the fighting by praying to God and by praying to God with right motives but all along in this process we must submit to the will and the plans of God for our lives. If we fail to do this we fall into sin!
3. Get smart by submitting to God with your life - your heart - your beliefs - your will. (James 4:6-7; 13-17)
a. This is true humility.
i. This is the decision to reject your pride and ego!
ii. Submit to God resist the devils belief systems like Jesus did.
b. Humble yourself admit you don't know the way or have the wisdom to do right without God.
c. I need to say what is the Lords will?
i. This is humility and wisdom.
ii. What is God’s will for your life?
1. When you know Gods will for your life and then do not do it then you sin.
d. Are you listening to wisdom from above or below?
i. Remember the difference between the two?
1. Remember Wisdom from above looks like this:
a. It counts the cost and lives for the future.
b. It lives within its means.
c. It follows the path of right living.
d. It focus’ on relationships – first with God then with others.
e. It puts first things first.
f. It knows to give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord.
g. It says no to impulses.
h. It chooses to lose to self and allows God to be in control.
i. It lives a life of peace and harmony.
j. It chooses to serve and to be a doer of the Word of God.
k. It says ‘No Pride!”
l. It always presses on toward the goal of eternity.
m. It produces a life filled with good fruit.
n. It knows when to stop –walk and pray before speaking.
o. It understands that faith + works = Success in life.
2. Remember Wisdom from Below looks like this:
a. It has a heart that is filled with the influences of the dark side.
b. It is a life that is filled with self centeredness and selfish ambition.
c. It seeks whom it may consume.
d. It seeks to focus on material possessions.
e. It desires to walk over others to get its own way.
f. It has a belief system that lives by animal instincts.
g. It has a belief system that has not spiritual insight in it.
h. It lives for evil purposes.
i. It has a lifestyle filled with mayhem and disarray.
j. It has a life filled with deception and distortion.
k. It has a life filled with no deep relationships.
l. It has a life filled with bitterness.
m. It has a life not worth living.
3. Which one are you adhering too?
Conclusion:
We must patiently endure this worlds corrupt and evil system until we are with Jesus. But as we endure we must still be doers of the word of God. This means we must stop the fights and the quarrels, we are not allowed to slander other brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead we are to pray to God for help – for restoration and the ability to forgive and to love one another.
We must ask God for help- - we need the Holy Spirit to change us, to teach us and to guide us – so seek the infilling the empowerment of the Holy Spirit! We must make sure though that our prayers are not rooted in selfish wants and demands with God. God does not exist to serve us – we exist to serve Him! If we ask with wrong motives God will not answer our prayers!
We must submit each day to God and His will and way. We cannot allow our lives to be filled with arrogance and pride that drive us away from God. We must humble ourselves pick up our crosses daily and serve the Lord. Our faith is to be characterized by good works for the Kingdom of Heaven.
As I conclude today I am reminded of:
James 5:13-16 – this section tells us to pray – to call for the elders to pray - this is why we are going to pray in the next few moments – don’t miss this opportunity – God will help you - if you ask with a right heart, and right motives. He wants to bless you – He wants to guide you.
Final closing thought ---- Next week’s challenge - We need to Use Gods wisdom to bring back the wanders we know in our life. Do you know someone – then invite them to church next week – invite them to a life groups – to school – to Awana’s – to U-turn – To Ekklesia - to church services!
