May 31, 2009
Morning Service

James 4

 

Review:

1.      James is writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.  He is encouraging them to;

• Ask for wisdom.
• Endure temptations.
• To be doers of the word, and not hearers only.
• The proper faith removes discrimination.
• Faith proves itself by works.
• Faith controls the tongue.
• Faith produces wisdom.

 

This morning in chapter 4 James tells us that FAITH PRODUCES HUMILITY, and DEPENDANCE ON GOD.

 

Jam 4:1-17  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 

• The Apostle Paul tells us of the battle that goes on within each of us concerning this subject.  Rom.7.  He describes the carnal battle of the flesh, and explains that the law couldn’t do anything to help this, but Jesus Christ came so we could be victorious in this battle. 
• As James will tell us this very thing as we continue.

(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.  (3)  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 

• Who are you going to ask?  See how James teaches us to trust God, and to rely on God.  Men ought always to pray, and seek God’s will for their lives.  Ask believing, and trusting, and God will come through for you.

(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.  

• This description of people is commonly used to describe the unfaithful toward God.
• Notice the separation that James is bringing forth. 

• We don’t like to be disliked by anyone, but it’s pretty clear he is telling us to stay away from the things of this world that would cause us to fall away from God.
• Paul’s description of the world;  1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness."
• Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were infants, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
• Col 2:8  Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
• Jesus said this;  Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
• John said this;  1Jo 2:15  Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,
• So we can readily see that this is not just from James, but from God Almighty.

(5)  Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 

• James is speaking in generalities.  All the teaching in the Scriptures tells us how God detests envy.
• Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy the rottenness of the bones.
• Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before envy?
• James is referring to our carnal spirit, which we battle every day.  But notice the solution.

(6)  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

• He giveth more grace;  God will come through for us.  You have not because you ask not.
• Pro 15:33  The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.

• There is much said in the Scriptures concerning pride, and humility.  Many examples of pride destroying people, and humble people being exalted.

James has told us that we have a war going on in our life, evil, against good.  He tells us not to get overly friendly with the worldly system, and the things of the world.  He has told us that God doesn’t like prideful men, but loves, and exalts the humble.   NOW HE GIVES US THE SOLUTION.

NOTICE THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT HE SAYS WE MUST DO!

(7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

• As he said earlier, “receive with meekness the engrafted word that is able to save your souls.”  Submit yourself to God’s teaching.  He gives it that we might have an enjoyable life here on this earth.
• Resist the devil.  Learn to say no to him.  Satan’s spirit is alive and well on, and in this world.
• Resist him, we need to do like Jesus did when tempted on the mount.  Quote Scripture to him, and he will flee.

(8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

• Through prayer, and Bible study.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

• Things to do list.  Paul uses the terms, put on, and put off these things, then tells us what they are.

(9)  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  (10)  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

• James wants us to be sorrowful for our careless walk with God.  Get mad at satan, and repentant toward God.

(11)  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  (12)  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 

• Here again James goes after our tongues.  It is so very important that we learn this lesson well.

(13)  Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  (14)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

• There have so many important sayings in this letter, and this ranks among the top of the list.  Who of us would not say that life is so very short?  Shouldn’t we live it like it will be over tomorrow?  DRAW NEAR TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.  PUT HIM FIRST IN YOUR LIFE, AND BUILD AROUND HIM.

(15)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.  (16)  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  (17)  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I think of the parable that Jesus gave of the rich man, that would build bigger barns for his grain, and then just kick back and watch life go on around him, enjoying his wealth.  But the reply was, Luk 12:20  But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul shall be required of you, then whose shall be those things which you have prepared?

 

WE SHOULD ALWAYS REALIZE THAT WE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THIS LIFE IN AN INSTANT, UNEXPECTING. 

WE ALSO SHOULD LIVE LIKE JESUS IS COMING BACK ANY MOMENT.

 

THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR WORD, AND SPIRIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT.  HELP US TO SEEK AFTER, AND STRIVE TO DO YOUR WILL IN OUR LIVES.