WEBVTT 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:05.679 Alright guys, this morning we are in James chapter 4. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:07.839 James chapter 4. 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.720 And this morning we will be looking at verses 1 through 10. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:17.280 James chapter 4, verses 1 through 10. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:24.879 Before diving into the text, I would like to remind us of the context. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:32.240 So James is writing to Jewish believers who have fled Jerusalem because of persecution. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:43.280 So James writes this letter because of his great love for these believers, and he wants them to live out their faith during adversity. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:01:02.159 He wants them and us to realize that faith is not theoretical, it's not hypothetical, but faith, the Christian faith, it's very tangible, it's real, and it should be penetrating every area of our lives. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.560 And so our faith should be alive because Jesus is alive. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:11.040 And so we can only imagine the struggles that these Christians had. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.079 They had to flee to a new area. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:16.480 They're trying to provide for their families. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.079 A lot of them lost their jobs. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.879 They're trying to find a new church. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:24.239 And then they're confronted with false teaching. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:32.799 And they're being tempted to keep their Christian faith private because that's what got them in trouble back in Jerusalem. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.079 And so James addresses many of these issues. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:44.079 We've seen this throughout his letter when it comes to endurance and temptation and true religion in chapter one. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.840 Then he deals with discrimination and a living faith in chapter two. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:56.959 Then he talks about controlling the tongue and seeking true wisdom from above in chapter three. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:04.719 But now, here at the beginning of chapter four, we arrive at a new issue. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:07.280 Fighting among Christians. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.199 Now, apparently, James got wind that Christians were not getting along. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:20.400 And this is a question that I think many of us have asked at some point in our lives, I know I have. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:25.199 And it's why in the world are Christians fighting? 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.199 Have you guys ever thought that? 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:31.439 Why are people fighting in the church? 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:32.960 It's perplexing. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.919 It seems so ridiculous and unfitting. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:39.439 Well, today James answers that question for us. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.520 And he does it in three ways. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:47.280 First, he tells us the cause of conflict in verses one through three. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:52.960 Then he shows us why fighting is so horrible in verses four through six. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:03:00.639 And then lastly, he provides for us the solution or the antidote to fighting in verses seven through ten. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:07.680 And he addresses this whole issue by first asking a question in verse one. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:15.199 He says, What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:24.560 Now, before I go any further, let's discuss the difference between healthy conflict and sinful fighting. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:29.360 So healthy conflict is vital in church life. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:36.319 This involves constructive criticism, loving rebuke, having hard conversations. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:49.759 So there is a time and place for Christians to reason together and to challenge one another, to be objective and gracefully question why we do something a certain way and so on. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:54.479 James is not talking about any of this here. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:04:02.240 James is addressing unnecessary, unproductive, sinful fighting. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:14.639 In fact, the words quarreling and conflict here are military terms used to describe warfare, a series of attacks to injure or kill an enemy. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.879 And so some things in life are worth fighting for. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:24.079 We should fight the good fight of faith, as Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:29.839 We should seek to kill sin in our lives, as we read in Romans 6 last week. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:40.959 But one thing that we are not called to fight is our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, especially over trivial matters. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.639 So and this is what James is referring to here. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:48.639 Not productive disagreement, but sinful disputes. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:54.240 They are not fighting over legitimate, God-glorifying matters. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.720 They are squabbling over things that James doesn't even think is worth mentioning. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:05.759 And so he brings them and us into account. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:11.600 Church, why is there fights happening among you? 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.519 I mean, seriously, why is there grumbling? 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:21.040 Why is there backbiting and bickering among God's people? 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:27.279 Of all the people on earth, we are the most privileged and blessed. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.519 We have been spared from the fire of hell. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:36.480 God has lavished on us his unfailing, immeasurable love. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.319 We now have a living hope in Jesus Christ. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.480 All of our sins are forgiven, paid in full. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:56.959 We have been adopted into the eternal family of God, awaiting heaven, as we anticipate the glorious inheritance that is reserved for us there. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.519 So why do we fight? 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:07.519 Why is there conflict among brothers and sisters who will be spending in eternity together? 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.959 Well, James tells us why at the end of verse 1. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:18.240 He says, Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body's parts? 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:26.240 Now this is interesting because we tend to think that conflict originates from outside of us. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:29.920 The problem isn't me, it's Rick, he's being stupid. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:32.560 The problem isn't me, it's it's them. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:34.319 They started it. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:40.240 If they wouldn't have said that, if they wouldn't have done that, there would be no conflict. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:48.639 You know, if I walked into any church fight or a marital conflict, and I asked, what's going on here? 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:53.759 Almost universally, everyone points the finger. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:56.160 We literally see this in children. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.399 It's the most basic human response to conflict. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:07.199 You walk into a room, two kids are fighting over a toy, and you ask, Why are you guys fighting? 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:08.319 And what do they do? 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.240 They point at each other. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:12.560 Well, he did this, she did that. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.519 It's the other person's fault. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.399 But James will not put up with that. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:20.480 He isn't picking sides. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:22.879 He doesn't care what the fight is over. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:32.560 He is he isn't interested in who's right or wrong here, because he knows that such fighting is just a symptom of a deeper issue. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:39.680 You are fighting, says James, because you have pleasures warring in your body. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:45.199 To put simply, you are fighting because you can't get your way. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.759 The source of fighting is sin in you. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.000 You never hear that, do you? 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.279 Jay, why are you fighting with your brother? 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:57.439 Because my heart is evil, daddy. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:59.199 You never hear that. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:08.720 You know, fights occur because you have desires and pleasures and wants that are not being satisfied. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:18.160 Our lives are frustrated because of unfulfilled desires and petty jealousies and personal emptiness. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:21.680 We are not satisfied in Christ alone. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:34.159 And as a result, we come to church wanting to be served, to have things go our way, to be recognized by others, to be a big fish in a small pond. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:47.840 And if any of these characteristics are present in fellowship among Christians, it is a recipe for offense and bitterness and envy and quarreling. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:54.240 And this is totally contrary to what the New Testament teaches about fellowship. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:02.960 We gather to worship the God who saved us, to delight in him, to praise his holy name. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:14.559 We gather, we can't, we come here on Sundays and throughout the week to lock arms with fellow believers, to behold the beauty of Christ together. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:21.200 We gather, as Ephesians 4 tells us, to equip the body for the works of service. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:31.919 That we would build each other up to reach unity in the faith, in the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature to attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.559 So it's not about me and my desires. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:37.679 It's not about the building or the coffee. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:42.559 Who cares if the bathroom looks like a dungeon and smells like a sewer? 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:48.799 It's okay that the church doesn't meet my every liturgical preference. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:52.320 It's okay that I don't get my way all the time. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:57.279 Because gathering ultimately is not about these things. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:59.840 And it's certainly not all about me. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:08.000 Some of these things are important and they help cultivate church life, but that's not why we gather. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:13.679 We gather to love God and unconditionally serve the body of Christ. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:18.720 The goal is unity and edification, not division and fighting. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:27.039 And if the two greatest commandments are not your motivation for gathering, then you can expect frustration. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:33.279 You will find yourself picking fights with the leadership, with other Christians around you. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.399 Instead of showing up saying, How can I serve? 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:38.080 How can I love someone today? 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:40.320 How can I submit myself to authority? 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:43.360 How can I worship God and give him glory? 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:55.919 We come here with appetites, cravings, evil desires, which lead to irritations, annoyances, pessimism, a critical spirit, which leads to what? 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.279 Conflict. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.279 Now someone might raise their hand and say, you know, fights don't happen here at Proclamation Church. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.639 I don't see that here. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.960 Well, you may think that, but church fights are rarely obvious. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:16.720 We're not talking about fist fights and two people squaring up and putting each other in headlocks. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:22.320 Although I almost uh slapped Rick a month ago when he greeted me with a holy kiss. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.399 But church fights, they're often passive aggressive. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:32.720 There's a lot of backbiting, slander, avoidance. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.840 And with that in mind, I think we are all guilty of this to some degree. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:43.679 There's never been a dispute over the preparation of the meals. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.399 There's been no resentment on how something was handled here at church. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:55.360 You've never been offended by another Christian who said something to you in passing that maybe offended you. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:12:04.240 You've never been frustrated towards someone here at church, and then on your way home, you just totally bash them on your way home from church. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:12.240 Again, some conflicts are legitimate, but most of it, if I had to guess, is just squabbling. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:24.559 Pleasures within us, creating hostility towards others, placing unrealistic expectations on people fueled by a desire to see things go your way. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:31.600 And even worse, we try to justify our disputes in the name of truth. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.840 I'm just standing on the truth. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:39.279 Well, standing on the truth, last time I checked, doesn't involve hurting people. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:43.759 It doesn't involve slander, nor does it involve resentment. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:51.519 Standing on the truth biblically is speaking the truth in love and still loving people that disagree with it. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:13:05.919 And according to the truth I'm reading in Ephesians 4, it tells us to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, along with every form, every form of malice. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:15.279 But be kind, compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:25.759 So therefore, if standing on the truth is causing you to have hatred towards another brother or sister in Christ, you are not standing on the truth, but you are denying it. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:35.120 And so I hope that we can all see this morning that fighting is typically a sign that there is sin in us. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.039 This is a heart problem. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.840 And James further develops this. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:44.960 He shows us how this plays out vividly in verses two and three. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:50.639 He says, You lust and you do not have, so you commit murder. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:56.080 And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and you quarrel. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:59.440 You do not have because you do not ask. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:07.039 You ask and you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.440 So let's go through this real quick, this progression together. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.360 It all starts with lust. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.039 It's problem number one. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:17.679 There is something we want. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.559 Maybe it's the way you would like church to be ran. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:24.399 Maybe you're wanting to control the behavior of another Christian. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:29.279 Maybe it's something that you would like the church leadership to do, but there's resistance. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.519 Maybe you're wanting more recognition. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:36.240 Whatever it is, there's something you want, but you cannot have it. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.480 And so you murder, says James. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:43.519 And he's not referring to killing someone, but it's wishing someone harm. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:55.200 And because you can't obtain, you're going to cause a fight and hope to either manipulate the situation to get what you want or hurt your opponent. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:15:00.720 Because failure and frustration harasses the self-centered life. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:08.480 Now, all the while, James says, the whole reason you do not get what you want is because you did not ask God. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:16.399 In other words, the whole reason you are lusting to begin with is because you did not go to God. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.240 You did not ask him for his provision. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:28.799 And clearly you are forgetting that in God, in Christ, we have everything we need. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.799 And we need no more. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:35.440 Think of Psalm 23, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:43.600 But then James expects an objection, someone raising their hand saying, But James, I did ask God. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.720 I prayed to him. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.600 I asked him. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.960 And God did not answer my request. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:55.919 Well, the reason nothing happened is because you asked God with bad motives. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:03.039 God did not provide because he knew that you would have used it for your own sinful pleasures. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.519 And God does not condone sin. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.759 God is not an enabler. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.559 Wow, what a description. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:21.600 We see lust, murder, envy, unbelief, neglecting God in prayer, starting fights with other Christians, and asking God for things that you will spend on sin. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.039 You would think we were describing an unbeliever here. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.840 So, church, do you see it yet? 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.399 Do you see how serious this is? 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.440 We try to downplay fighting like it's normal. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:38.159 We are so desensitized to it, but it's so natural for us. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.600 But in the eyes of God, this is the reality. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:48.720 Do you realize that this is the cause of so many unnecessary church splits? 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.720 This is the reason why so many Christians are hurt by the church. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:17:04.720 This is the number one reason unbelievers stand back and mock the testimony of Christ, saying we will know them by their love? 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.519 Yeah, right. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:24.559 All because of causeless, worthless, trivial fights happening among Christians, because people refuse to gather for the glory of God, but instead gather to appease their sinful appetites. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.920 And James will have none of it. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:39.759 And he addresses the issue with one of the sharpest grammatical rebukes in the New Testament in verses 4 through 6. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.680 He says, You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means hostility against God? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:53.680 Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:18:00.880 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:03.279 But he gives us more grace. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:09.279 That is why Scripture says God opposes the proud, but he shows favor to the humble. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.440 So he starts by calling them adulterers. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:18.240 James literally is equating fighting to adultery. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:22.079 The term literally means unfaithful or prostitution. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:31.200 So when we think of spiritual unfaithfulness, we often think of someone bowing down to an idol or following another religion. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:39.920 But in context, James is saying if you're fighting with other believers, you're being unfaithful to God. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:51.119 And now, not only that, but he goes on to say that when you fight, you are in such moments standing up and acting as if you were God's enemy. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.680 And what is an enemy of God? 00:18:53.920 --> 00:19:02.079 It's someone who lives independently from him, it's someone who seeks their own desires, and it's someone who hurts his people. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:07.839 And that is exactly what happens when we choose to fight the body of Christ. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:13.839 And James describes this as friendship with this evil world. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.000 Is this not what the world says? 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:23.200 Get even, kill your enemy, divide and conquer, show them you're superior. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:27.759 Do whatever you have to do to win the argument and get what you want. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:34.720 You know, to participate in this type of attitude is to be a friend of this world. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.039 And to be a friend of this world means that you love it. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:45.599 And if you love the world, as the Apostle John says, then the love of the Father is not in you. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.240 Now let that be a warning to us. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:20:02.079 And then James reminds his readers in verse 5 that scripture, it is not vain when it says that God jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:07.119 God is not satisfied with a divided following. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:16.880 God wants our undivided attention and affection, and he will not be satisfied with anything less. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.240 No, that's a scriptural reality. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.920 We see this throughout the Bible, we see this throughout the history of Israel. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.759 Do you think Scripture is being nonchalant about this? 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.839 Do you think God is fine with an open relationship? 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.480 No. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.640 The God we serve is a jealous God. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:56.079 He is infinitely valuable, he is altogether lovely, he is totally sovereign, and he knows that everything good, all of life, all of satisfaction, all of pleasure is found in him and nothing else. 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:58.720 So he is our greatest good. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:06.559 So as Christians, when we fall back into worldliness, know this. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.519 God is yearning for you. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:12.960 He is wooing and fighting for you. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.200 And even if you let go of him, he won't let go of you. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.039 Why? 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.079 Because he sealed us with his Holy Spirit. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:37.359 If we are truly in Christ, then we have the Spirit of God permanently living in us, and the behavior opposed in this passage is contrary to the way that God desires his children to conduct themselves. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:47.680 And not only that, but we're then reminded in verse 6 that God opposes those who are proud and he shows favor to the humble. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:52.720 So God will not allow his children to live proudly. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.880 That he is Lord and I am not. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:08.960 And it is also comforting to know that he shows favor to the humble. 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:18.559 I don't need to constantly justify myself or exert my will or take revenge on my enemies or aggressively prove to others my rightness. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:21.279 I don't need to seek the highest place. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.160 I can humble myself. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:30.079 I can live a quiet, a gentle life knowing that God will exalt me in due time. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.200 It's up to him. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:40.000 God will act on our behalf and he will grant perfect justice in his timing. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:47.920 So God is either exalting us in our lowliness or he is opposing us in our pride. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:53.440 So the question is, which reality is true for you this morning? 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.079 So then the question next is what is the solution to all this? 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:04.319 How do we stop fighting? 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.359 How do we avoid sinful conflict? 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:11.839 James gives us the solution in verses 7 through 10. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.039 He says, Submit yourselves then to God. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:19.039 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:22.160 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:27.200 Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:29.279 Grieve, mourn, and wail. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.880 Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:37.920 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:41.839 So step one is submit yourselves to God. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.680 Stop exerting your will. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:46.640 Stop trying to vindicate yourself all the time. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:50.000 Stop trying to take justice into your own hands. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:52.240 Stop arguing with your spouse. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:54.480 Stop slandering other church members. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:24:00.000 Give all that up and place yourself under the authority and the will of God. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.440 That's step one. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:06.240 And if you're unwilling to do that, there's no point in going any further. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:09.759 Now, secondly, we're told to then resist the devil. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:16.720 And so the implication here is that when we fight, we're giving Satan a foothold in our lives. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:19.599 We are listening to him way too much. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.599 So resist him. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.759 Resist his lives. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:29.359 Stop allowing him to get you all worked up and frustrated and paranoid. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.279 We know his schemes. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.799 They're nothing new. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:38.480 He wants us angry and resentful and bitter towards God and his people. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.720 And so resist him and he will flee. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.920 That's a promise. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:45.440 Next, we're told to draw near to God. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:48.079 Now we should be doing this regardless. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:53.519 Just news flash, drawing near to God is what a Christian does. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:58.799 Okay, we are people who draw near to God through the blood of Christ. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:05.200 But when we are fighting and being selfish and being arrogant, we need reminded of this. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.880 We need to hear this time and time again. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:12.480 Brothers and sisters, draw near to God. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:17.039 If you want resolution to conflict, draw near to God. 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:21.279 If you're depressed and sad and grieving, draw near to God. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:25.440 If you are angry, resentful and bitter, draw near to God. 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:29.759 If you're uncertain about a big life decision, draw near to God. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.079 If you're struggling with an old sinful habit, draw near to God. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.880 We have access through Christ. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:45.200 And when will we realize that most of our miseries as Christians are simply due to the fact that we're not drawing near to God daily? 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.640 We're not going to Him in prayer with an open Bible. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.279 We're not spending quality time with Him. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:55.440 Instead, we're drifting away from Him doing our own thing. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:08.319 This is what happens when we draw near to God. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.000 It's inevitable. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:18.400 We serve a God who wipes away our sin in Christ and He changes the desires of our hearts. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:23.599 God is in the business of crucifying sin and transforming lives. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:36.960 So if you're tired of sin, if you're weary of fighting, if your soul is sick and heavy this morning, for Christ's sake, go to God this morning and get cleansed. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.880 That's what he does. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:43.839 And do this, says James, in a spirit of repentance. 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:47.680 Do this in a spirit of godly sorrow. 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:51.359 This isn't some cavalier altar call. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.880 This isn't something to be laughing or smiling about. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:58.000 You've sinned against the Lord Almighty. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:02.799 You've been backsliding, acting as if he was your enemy. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:22.160 So when and if you come to him this morning to clean your hands and purify your heart, grieve, mourn, weep, bow down before the King of glory and feel the full weight of your sin, the horror of your crimes. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:25.440 Be brought low, wail and cry if you have to. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.119 Nobody will judge you here. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.200 Humble yourself in what? 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:32.559 The Lord will lift you up. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:39.200 The Lord is not asking for our money, our works, or fleshly effort. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:49.839 He is simply asking us to recognize our sin and then come to him through Christ and agree that he is right, that we're wrong. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:55.200 And in that reality, God will uplift us. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:59.440 He will heal us and make straight our paths. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:03.599 He is a merciful God, full of grace and compassion. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.359 There is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in you. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:12.799 But to receive his mercy and his grace, we must come and receive. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:23.200 So just as a way to wrap this up, I want to say a few things. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:26.559 A few final thoughts on this whole subject. 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:30.960 We live in a culture that loves to fight. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:38.000 Just look at the presidential debates, the Black Lives Matter movement, Republicans, Democrats. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.279 It's just fleshly aggressive fighting. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:54.720 Calling your opponent cruel names, making a mockery of those who disagree with you, screaming your truth in other people's faces, and like Cain, if you're really mad, kill him. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:03.680 But we're not called to conform to the ways of this world. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:08.319 We are called to be holy and unique, set apart. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:14.480 We are called, as Hebrews 12.14 says, to seek peace with everyone. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:19.839 We are called, as Jesus says in Matthew 5, to love our enemies. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:32.480 We are called, as Philippians 2.4 says, to look after the interests of others, to build one another up in the faith, to lay down our lives for one another. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:37.440 And it is by our love that we are known as disciples of Christ. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:43.599 We cannot allow this worldly attitude to creep into the church. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:49.839 We can't afford to fight because a house divided will not stand. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:55.119 There are 59 one another commandments in the Bible. 00:29:55.279 --> 00:30:00.720 Love one another, forgive one another, care for one another, lay down your life for one another. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:03.279 Why are there so many of them? 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:07.119 Because God knew that this would be a challenge for us. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:10.160 Our bent is to fight. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:17.279 Our natural tendency is to bicker and argue, to gossip and slander in the flesh. 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:20.319 That is my most natural response. 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:38.880 But in Christ, our call is to love, and not just love those who love us, but to love those who are difficult and to live a life where we're not thinking about ourselves all the time, but to look outside of ourselves, not always concerned about my needs, but what does God want? 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.559 What does my wife want? 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.160 What does the church need? 00:30:42.400 --> 00:31:11.440 Instead of coming here trying to prove my rightness and point out every flaw and argue over tier three issues, what can I do to encourage others, meet needs, pray for people, and participate in what Colossians 3.16 describes as teaching and admonishing and giving wisdom and singing spiritual songs and proclaiming God with thankfulness in my heart for the edification of the saints. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:24.160 Love is not an option to the Christian, it is a mark of evidence that we have truly understood and have received Christ's immeasurable love for us. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:27.599 It's evidence that we have understood the cross. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:35.279 So as 1 Corinthians 13 says, you can have every spiritual gift from heaven. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:44.400 You can be involved in every ministry possible, you could sell all your possessions and give all your money to the poor. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:56.799 You could even be burned at the stake for your faith, unwilling to recant the faithful testimony of Christ, holding tightly the most orthodox confession. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:04.880 But if you do not love, if you do not love, you gain absolutely nothing. 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:10.079 So love is not a mark of the Christian life. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.599 It is the mark. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:18.880 And so do you see, church, this morning, how unfitting it is for God's people to fight? 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.000 Let's pray.