Introduction:
1. There have always been wars
2. Wars in and within the church.
3. James 4:1-10 tells of three wars and what we can do to stop them.
I. The wars among us.
A. War with each other.
1. The text said that there would be fighting and wars.
2. This is not new-Absalom and his father 2 Sam. 13; Lot and his uncle Gen 13. The church in the book of Acts. Today.
3. God’s cry (Jn. 17:21; 1 Cor. 1:8-10; Eph. 4:1-8).
B. War with self.
1. “You” is used 13 times in 4 verses. There is a striving within that is used in this text. We fight against what we want and our own hedonistic pleasures.
2. We often see individuals today wrestle with this.
3. Take a look (Numbers 12; Mk. 10:35f.; Gen. 12:10-20). So we (1 Pet. 2:11; 1 Cor. 10:24).
C. War with God.
1. World verses God. The readers had begun to focus on the things of this world (2 Tim. 4:10). They had left God (Ps. 73:27). They had rejected his word/grace and atonement.
2. Christians are reminded (Col. 3:1-2; Mt. 6:24; 2 Cor. 7:1).
II. Heavens answer to stop these wars.
A. Submit to God (verse 7). Submit means to rank under, to place self under the authority of another. He is to do it once and for all (1 Peter 5:6; Mt. 10:39). One way he does this is by resisting the devil. We are to stand opposed to him. There is no middle ground (Eph. 6:10f.; 2:1-3; 1 Cor. 16:13). Look at the example of Jesus (Mt. 4:11).
B. Draw near to God. This is a note of fellowship. We are, after all, priest in the priesthood of God (1 Pet. 2:5). We can approach God (Ps. 73:28; 2 Chron. 15:1, 2; Heb. 4:16). We accomplish this by cleansing our hands-purification (Titus 3:5).
C. Humble yourself-learn who and what you are (Gal. 6:3)>become like little children (Mt. 18:1-4). We are to face up to the seriousness of sin (Ps. 51:17). Remember (Isa. 66:2; Ps. 34:18). We accomplish this by verse 9. A call to repentance (Lk. 3:8-10; 1 Thes. 1:8-10; 2 Cor. 7:8-10).
Entered on 11/8/2009
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