The Solution for My Problem
James • Sermon • Submitted
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James’ letter to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” begins in a comforting and encouraging way, but soon becomes challenging in several areas.
His readers were going through truly difficult circumstances, and they needed comfort and reassurance in God’s goodness, the wisdom of His plan, and His promised gifts of wisdom and strength
His readers’ main problems did not come from the outside. Like us today, their biggest problems were internal spiritual ones!
If only we could grab hold of this truth! This is why people think a change of scenery will resolve their life issues, or that the removal of others will remove their problems as well. They cannot, because those issues are internal problems.
We think our biggest problems are external, but our external problems will cease to defeat us if the inner man is subjected to Christ every day! With Christ, every external problem becomes the instrument of God for good!
If left unchecked, the readers’ struggles would defeat God’s work in the churches.
God’s eternal purposes can NEVER be defeated! However, our choices can and do limit and defeat God’s work in us and around us.
Quench not the Spirit.
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
In James 2, we read about the sin of respect of persons. Jesus Christ commanded, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The respect of persons—preferring some people over others—violates this law. James continues in this chapter by condemning a faith that is not accompanied by works. If you examine it carefully, James isn’t denying that faith saves; he is denying that true faith is not mere belief alone. True faith, by its nature, is accompanied by obedience. If you are choosing to disobey God’s Word, it’s because your faith is phony.
In chapter 3, James moves on to the topic of victorious and sanctified living. He spends most of the chapter discussing the tongue, and its great power for good and for evil. Only God can tame the tongue! If your tongue is not tamed, it’s because you have not allowed God to tame it.
As chapter 3 closes, James pivots from the problem and the effects of the unruly tongue, to discussing the cause of it and countless other sins. It is in chapter 4 where we will spend our time this morning.
I. Sinful Symptoms
I. Sinful Symptoms
James 4:1-6
We are likely quite familiar with these verses, and so their content may not surprise us. But consider the topics that James introduces in six short verses.
Strife — verse 1
Lust — verse 1-2
Carnal prayer — verse 3
Friends of the world and enemies of God — verse 4
Envy — verse 5
Pride — verse 6
Why does he bring all these up? Are they just a random assortment of problems, or are they related? If they are related, how are they related? And how does all this relate to the rest of the epistle, if at all?
I’ve called these issues “sinful symptoms,” because not only are they sinful of themselves, they are symptoms of deeper levels of sin. Let’s consider these different issues now.
A. Strife
A. Strife
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Wars: drawn battle lines! Battles. (“Us against them” mentality.)
Fightings: disputes; quarrels; strivings.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
How could these things be going on among God’s people? (James says, “among you”!) This wasn’t an issue of God’s people vs. the world’s system. This was God’s people vs. God’s people. That can ONLY bring destruction!
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
If it can happen to these saints, it can happen to any of us. Yet strife among the saints is not the only sinful issue. It is also an indication of deeper sin.
B. Lust
B. Lust
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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.
We’re well-acquainted with the idea of lust as it pertains to moral issues, or for material possessions. But “lust” generically is simply a desire for something. In the context of sin, it is a desire for something that God doesn’t want us to have—He prohibits it. We may lust after all kinds of things: popularity, position, luxury and convenience, and much more. Persisting in desiring anything that God doesn’t want for us is sinful lust!
And that sinful lust will NOT remain confined in our hearts. It will come out. We see some ways in these verses:
Conflict and strife — our lusts interfere with others’ lusts, and vice versa! This creates conflict.
Broken peace and unity — brethren are at odds with each other! Goodness and pleasantness are lost! (Ps. 133:1)
Discontentment — we don’t like where God has put us, and so we struggle to “better” our situation.
Frustration — when we try to get what we want, and still can’t get it, we are frustrated.
Destruction — strife and war always brings this.
Strife with others is evidence of a deeper problem: internal strife. Are we in conflict with others? Is it a regular or frequent thing? Have we ever considered that our outward strife is a mirror of the inward strife that we experience? Who is really to blame for our strife? Us or others?
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Strife requires two sides to exist. If you’re engaged in strife, look inward. It comes from lust. And it brings destruction.
C. Carnal prayer
C. Carnal prayer
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Lust-inspired prayer:
Asks with the wrong spirit (MY purposes)
Asks for the wrong things (MY desires)
Asks for the wrong reasons (MY uses)
Asks for the wrong end (MY glory)
This is the way to NEVER have your prayers answered! (“Receive not” Greek word “oo” is absolute negative form. It is an absolute denial!) And this carnal prayer is not the root issue! It is sin that comes from a deeper problem.
D. Friends of the world/enemies of God
D. Friends of the world/enemies of God
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 seems random to me. I thought we were talking about lust and strife, not friendship with the world! Why does James bring this up?
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The fruit in our lives can indicate our spiritual father; it can also indicate our current spiritual “health”/condition. James is writing to saints. Commonality is the basis of friendship. Did James’ readers have commonality with the world pertaining to their spiritual father? No; their commonality was in their behavior and goals—strife and lusts. James was saying, “You’re living just like the world does, and handling problems like the lost do. You’re working together!”
We may not see ourselves as aligned with the world, but how does God see us? The condition of our spiritual life will reveal whether God is helping us or resisting us.
E. Envy
E. Envy
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Scripture is clear that our hearts are lustful, which naturally leads to covetousness and envy.
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
Even God’s people can be guilty of this, as James indicates!
Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
When our lusts are allowed to direct us, we are discontented, frustrated, and full of inward strife. It spills over into strife with others, carnal prayer, and an inability to be happy for others when God blesses them with the things that we desire. Instead, we envy our fellow saints!
F. Pride
F. Pride
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Again, this seems a bit random. How did we get from strife, lust and envy, to pride? How are they connected?
Pride is rooted in self-love — we lust after things that WE want, we strive with others over what WE want, and we envy others because of what WE don’t have
Pride disregards the commands of God
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Pride declines to follow Christ
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
II. Root Issue
II. Root Issue
These six things—strife, lust, carnal prayer, friendship with the world, envy, and pride—are terrible sins that will fragment a life and a church. But they aren’t the root issues. Do you notice a connection between these six things and 1 John 2:15-17?
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
What’s the root issue? It’s found in what we love. Why would we engage in strife and contention when we love Christ and His people more than our lusts? Why would we strive with others when we love them as much as we love ourselves?
Why would we lust after things when we love God and desire His glory and His will for us above ALL?
Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord;
And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Why would we pray for things to fulfill our lust, if we love God with all our heart, soul and mind? Why would we be friends with a world that hates God? Why would we envy recipients of God’s goodness? Why would we lift ourselves up in pride against the One we love most?
How can we prefer self if we love God most of all?
We may love God, but not enough. We may prefer Him, but not above all. We may love others, but not like ourselves. I’m not suggesting we don’t love God at all. Indeed, the saints do love Him. But the saints may also be engaged in wars and fightings, envy and pride. And it’s because God is not our first love.
How do we live victoriously? It starts by loving God first. How do we keep our heart from the loves and affections of this world? We must love our Saviour above all, so that we are crushed merely by the thought of offending Him! Is the holy Christian life some kind of great disciplinary exercise for us, or simply an outpouring of our love for the Saviour? When we love God like we should, we will adopt His priorities. We will love what He loves. And we won’t live in lust and pride.
III. Repentance Road
III. Repentance Road
If we find ourselves in strife, guided by our lusts, and lifted up in pride, what should we do? How can we correct it? James tell us.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
A. Submission — verse 7
A. Submission — verse 7
This means subjecting our values to God’s values. We no longer have the right to put our values on things; only God’s valuations are valid. When this is our spirit, lust has no place in our heart! We only desire what God desires, and we can go boldly to Him to pray for those things.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
When we are truly submitted to God, our independence is eradicated.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We don’t have the freedom to pursue any of the types of things that God approves of. We must do only the things that God wants us to do. Doing anything other than what God wants us to do is sin. (James 4:17) This is submission to God. It is Christ-like.
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Where true submission to God resides, lust and strife and carnal prayer cannot. When we are submitted to God, we are resisting the devil!
Submission > seeking God — verse 8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Submission > grief over our sin, and to repentance — verse 8-9
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
B. Humility
B. Humility
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
We may be humble with other people, either genuinely or insincerely. But that’s not the same as humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord.
It is private
Luke 18:13 — “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
It is authentic
Luke 5:8 — “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
It is thorough
Psalm 51:1-6
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Psalm 51:17 — “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
When we humble ourselves before God, we cannot bow too soon, we cannot bow too low, and we cannot bow too long.
Do we strife and contend with others? Do we struggle with lust, and are our prayers going unanswered? Do we have more in common with the world than we’d like to admit? Do we envy the blessings of others? Are we lifted up in pride? If so, we are lacking in love for God.
The remedy is to submit to God—His priorities, His solutions, His guidance. And we must humble ourselves before Him…privately, authentically, and thoroughly. True repentance will humble us and revive the love of God in our hearts!
Our biggest problem is not others, or our circumstances. Our biggest problem is self. If we’re going to see God’s blessing, we need to accept His solution for MY problem.