Book and Chapter: James Chapter 4 Themes: Key Verse: Outline: How to Become Gods Enemy 1-5 On Humility

6-10 On Judging 11-12 On Arrogance 13-17 Application: No review, no stew. Vs. 4 avoid being GODs enemy by burying HIS WORD in my heart. 15 min. of scripture review is my meal ticket. Talking Points:

Verse

Observation There was conflict among the Jews enough that James took a fair portion of his small letter to address it. Personal pleasures are not personal at all. Id imagine this verse is talking about lust. I could have a lot more good things If I had just askedtaken God up on His promises. You dont get 100% of the things you dont ask for.

Cf.

Question/Answer

1What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war on your members?

Q: Is pleasure the source of my conflict with others? A:

2You lust and do not have so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

1Jn.3.15: Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Jn.16.24: Until now you

Q: How does lust cause murder? A: The object of my lust is someone elses wife. In lusting after his wife I am showing hatred. Hating is killing 1Jn.3.15.

have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. Jas.5.17: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again and the sky poured forth rain.

Q: What kind of envy is separating me from others?

Q: If the son asks for a snake, will the father give it to him? Q: What do I ask God most for? A: Forgiveness, direction, Him to be glorified, to use me in his Kingdom, for a man. Q: What are my motives for asking these things of God? A: Forgiveness: Mostly my motive is to feel better about myself and more secure in my relationship with God. Q: God, what do you want to give me that Im not asking for? 4You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the Surefire way to be Gods sworn enemy: Be friendly to worldly 1Jn.2.15-16 Do not love the world, or anything in the world. If *Q: What things of the world am I being too friendly with?

3You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

This resolves the question I prayed for something, why didnt God give it to me?

Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

Lk.11.11:

world is hostility toward GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD.

things. Scary. Im definitely in danger of being Gods enemy. Lord, take away my desires of worldly things: Cash, cars, careers and cuties. Nothing good comes from the world, but good thing comes from you, Lord, my God.

anyone loves the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him. For everything in the world: the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father, but from the world. Rom.8.15: For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

A: Me time I should be treating other people as more importance than I am (Phil.2.3-4). Whenever Im going out on an adventure I should bring a guy Im ministering to along with me. If no one is available I should really ask God to reveal my true motives for my alone time, and ask Him that His will be done. *A: Possessions. Frankly I dont have any money for anything right now, and I know that its not Gods will to be in debt to others. I need to live within my means. A: My thoughts: Im almost constantly dwelling on fleshly desires rather than spiritual ones. Application: No review, no stew. . Get back into an aggressive daily habit of scripture memorizing, review, and recitation. Spend 15 min. a day doing this. No scripture, no sleepor dinner. Adventure in pairs or to seek God. Dont buy anything.

5Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: HE jealously desires the SPIRIT which HE has made to dwell in us?

The scripture never actually says that. Either: 1. GOD desires the HOLY SPIRIT which he has made to dwell in us. -or-

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a

Rom.8.15:

Q: What reference is James talking about? A: He could be referring to the general sense of the teaching of the Scriptures.

GOD desires our spirit. I tend to think that its the latter. If so God desires my spirit, my very soul. How cool is that? Its very humbling that GOD has jealousy (a very strong emotion) for my spirit.

spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

6But HE gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

The humble receive grace; the proud are opposed by the living GOD.

Q: What greater grace is James referring to? A: Humility

7Submit therefore to GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Submit comes before resist. This means satan knows when hes not wanted, and leavesflees!

Q: Is it possible to resist the devil without submitting to GOD? Q: Is it possible to submit to GOD without resisting the devil? Q: How can I resist the devil? A: Submit to GOD. A: Q: How can I draw near to GOD? A: In prayer A: In the Word A: In fellowship (mt.18.20) 2Co.7.10: For the sorrow that is according to the will of GOD produces a

*8Draw near to GOD and HE will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning,

Cleanse your hands: external purity. Purify your hearts: Internal purity.

The road to repentance should be walked in misery.

and your joy to gloom.

repentance without regret, but the sorrow of the world produces death. No one, even in their lowest state deserves to be exalted by the one true GOD. It is by HIS grace that this happens. I should take GOD up on this incredible offer. 1Co.5.11-13: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindlernot even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. 1 Cor 5:11-13 (NASB) 1Co.6.1-5: Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are

10Humble yourselves in the presence of the LORD, and HE will exalt you.

Q: What is humility? A: Seeing yourself as God sees you (righty).

11Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.

Q: Is there a difference between speaking against his brother and judging his brother? Q: How is judging a brother the same as judging the law? Q: Who do I speak against? A: Maybe Jim McKnight Q: Who do I judge? A: Mark Delrosario Q: When is it ok to judge?

This seems to say that we shouldnt judge anyone, but Paul says that we should be judges of those in the church. I dont understand this verse.

you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Heb.10.30: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindlernot even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

12There is only One Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you who judge your neighbor? 13Come now, you

I must have no part in judging those outside the body of believers.

Assuming my future

Pr.16.9: The mind of

Q: Why is it foolish to

who say, Today or tomorrow we shall go to such and such a city, and engage in business and make a profit.

will go a certain way is arrogance (vs.16).

man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

assume my own future? A: It gives the illusion that Im in control. I could get hit by the chicken truck crossing the street tomorrow. A: It takes relying on GOD as the provider of my needs out of the picture.

14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

This life represents 0% of Infinity vapor is putting it lightly. This really puts things in perspective. If life is really this short, there is no time to spend on anything that is not eternal! GOD and people. The planning process hasnt stopped, but has acknowledged GODs sovereignty, and is submitted to GODs will. Assuming I can take care of my own future is arrogance. It is evil. The law of the conscience. Sins of omission.

Jas.1.11: For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed. So too, the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

Q: What will I do with my vapor?

15Instead, you ought to say, If the LORD wills, we shall live and also do this or that. 16But as it is you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.

17Therefore to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

The more I know, the more I must obey, or I am sinning. Sitting in a chair for a day (depending on motive) may very well be sinning.

Rom.14.23: But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Q: To one who doesnt know hes sinning, is that still sin?

Unfortunately, this means that Im almost constantly sinning. I know more than Id like to give an account for. I know that I should love as Christ loved, but often I keep to myself.

How to Become GODs Enemy 1-5 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: " He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

On Humility 6-10 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, " God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

On Judging 11-12 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

On Arrogance 13-17 Come now, you who say, " Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, " If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.