Get Untangled

Hebrews 11:13-16, 12:1, James 3:14-16, 4:1-10

Introduction

We will dive into James 3 and 4 today. But before we do that, I want to set the stage by reading from Hebrews. You might be familiar with Hebrews 11, famously known as the “faith hall of fame.”

Abel — better sacrifice

Enoch — straight to Heaven

Noah

Abraham

Sarah

Hebrews 11:13–16 MSG

Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

Hebrews 12:1 mixes several metaphors that work perfectly for today’s message:

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1 MSG

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

PRAYER

One of the areas I really failed at, as a dad, was that I didn’t take my kids fishing much. I think part of the reason I don’t fish is that I grew up fishing … a lot. Unlike many kids, my memories of fishing with my dad kind of stress me out. I know I caught plenty of fish over the years, but that is not what I think of when I remember fishing with my dad.

My memory is probably inaccurate, but what comes to mind every time is that I spent most of my time with my line tangled up. I’d be a little ways from my dad, on some hot and stinky lake shore or river bank, fishing my little heart out. Sometimes when I would try to reel er in, I would get tangled with my dad’s line, or worse, someone else’s line — he didn’t beat me or anything but he was never happy about it. It wasn’t a “Leave it to Beaver” scene where Ward teaches the “Beave” a cool life’s lesson.

I would be embarrassed and defeated. The other thing that happened a lot was getting my line tangled up and stuck on something in the water — so stuck that my dad would have to take over and it seems like most of the time he would have to break the line — losing the hook, bait, and tackle we had set up on the line.

Sadly, the older I got, the less I wanted to fish. Why go to all that trouble just to get tangled up and lose all my tackle? Who needs that stress? Rather than get tangled, I chose just to stay away from fishing. I know fishing is a lot of fun — but that is my fishing baggage I carry with me. I might need some help.

The verse we read gave some sound advice about the issue of getting tangled up (Hebrews 12:1).

“Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles … run with perseverance the race...”

Throw off — cast aside — disentangle — get rid of the anchor or ball and chain —

Let go — surrender — throw off.

If our fathers in the faith could run this race … we can too! By the power of the Spirit.

In his letter to “the twelve tribes” (1:1) James asks fellow believers a very blunt question? “Are you committed to this faith you claim as your own? Expect to be tested because — like it or not — that’s how you grow!

Commit yourself to “Get Untangled” from everything that keeps you from Jesus.

The book of James has been called “The Proverbs of the New Testament” because it practically and faithfully reminds believers how to live. He writes to his audience about perseverance, true and authentic faith, controlling the tongue, submitting to God’s will, selfless love, and the importance of patience. These things force you to face your faults and “Flip Your Thinking.

Remember This (Prop.):

Close friendship with God means getting untangled from selfish ambition and destructive connections.

You may be thinking, “I agree with that statement — but I am not sure how to consistently live that way. I am weak — I fail … a lot.”

It all boils down to getting untangled from things that disconnect you from God - you must be willing to identify the stuff that has you tangled up and stuck.

Transitional: James powerfully identified several areas where believers in Christ need to “Get Untangled.”

GET UNTANGLED FROM SELFISH AMBITION

In chapter 3, right after James addressed the catastrophic results of uncontrolled speech, he begins to point out how self-centered people act in foolish ways.

James 3:13 MSG

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.

James 3:14–16 ESV

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Bitter jealousy — mean-spirited ambition — is NOT wisdom

Twisting the truth to make yourself seem wise is NOT wisdom

This kind of wisdom is unspiritual — demonic — a horrible dead end

Selfish Ambition is Destructive (James 4:1-2)

James 4:1–2a (ESV)

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

God will help you develop a healthy relationship with Him when you make a decision to “get untangled.”

Selfish ambition is destructive to our relationship with people and God

The words here make it pretty clear: Fights and quarrels (2x), Battle (war), Kill, Covet.

“Why the fighting and quarreling? It is a result of your own sinful desires. Brothers, you are so consumed with your pleasures and desires, you would kill to get what you want.”

Willing to trample anyone to get what they want.

Greed: money, things, and positions, not to mention passion and lust … sexual sin and compromise.

What else might fit into the category of selfish ambition?

Wasting time, Bad Stewardship — foolish management of your resources, bad attitude, speech and thoughts that dishonor God, etc.

In essence — totally consumed with oneself.

Selfish Ambition can cause a self-imposed blindness to everything that does not please me.

Selfish ambition becomes an iceberg between you and God — at first glance it may not seem like much — but look below the surface — Guys, it is time to get untangled

Selfish Ambition Sabotages Your Prayer

James 4:2b-3 (ESV)

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James gave 2 reasons for their problem with prayer:

1. “You don’t have because you don’t ask”

So preoccupied with their own wants and desires — they didn’t feel the urgency of seeking the Lord in every part of their lives.

No time to really talk to and listen to God

2. “When you ask, you’re motives are wrong”

You ask for the wrong reasons

Double minded — wanted to live under God’s grace while still following the pathway of selfish ambition

The result? A weak and ineffective relationship with God — ineffective prayer (if any prayer at all).

APPLICATION

What are the consequences of allowing oneself to be entangled in personal selfish ambitions?

The destruction of community and relationships — Fights, quarrels, jealousy, impurity

The destruction of our relationship with God — Because of sin and disobedience

Transitional: God’s desire is always to have a close relationship with you — This is why He shows us the importance of getting untangled from everything that separates us from Him

James teaches that, if we are entangled in the pleasures and evil of this world (selfish ambition), close friendship with Jesus will be impossible.

GET UNTANGLED FROM BAD CONNECTIONS

James 4:4–5 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

Summarize the Message version below

James 4:4–5 MSG

You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.”

“Adulterous” — more accurate: “Adulteress” — the unfaithful bride, a common theme in the Old Testament, with God as the husband and his rebellious people as His unfaithful wife.

Friendship with the world places us in opposition to God — as an unfaithful spouse

God is jealous of our love. This is why we must GET UNTANGLED from friendship with the world --- in other words, our old sinful nature and desires.

If you desire friendship with God, there is a way!! Yes!

God’s Grace Enables us to be Faithful to Him

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

“More Grace” — A constant supply …the more we need, the more He has to offer

He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

Selfish ambition, envy, strife, pleasure-seeking …those things common in our hearts without His grace --- Get Untangled

Friendship with God is possible because it is what God wants

God’s Boundless Love Invites us to a Close Friendship with Him

He gives more grace than we can fathom

Application

God gives more grace …to the humble

God gives more grace …to those who recognize their own weaknesses and surrender to God for His help.

Living with Selfish Ambition, pride, arrogance, anger. etc — without repentance and humility before God destroys your friendship with Him

CONCLUSION

In verses 7-10, James adds the most important touches to this life-giving and transformative message — actual steps we can take, one day at a time, to experience an ever growing connection with our Savior — friendship.

James 4:7–10 ESV

Submit yourselves 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 wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James’ 4 Practical Tips that Encourage us to stay untangled from bad stuff in our lives

Sincere and Purposeful Loyalty to God above all else

Submit: to God’s will …humbly ready to serve Him in any way He calls. SURRENDER

Resist the Devil: GET UNTANGLED From the snares caused by selfish ambition

2. A Life of Growing Closer to God — It’s a Marathon, not a Sprint

If we come near to Him He will come near to us and bless us with His loving presence, empowerment, and an amazing journey serving Him.

3. Daily Soul Searching — Ready to GET UNTANGLED from things that have crept into your life

“Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded”

Why does he call them sinners? They were believers. Because they were out of sync with God — riding the fence…trying to have it both ways …double-minded.

Cleansing and purification is a daily process: if not daily, then we slip into our old ways. Some of you might be riding that fence today — it is a dangerous place to try and live.

Cleanse your outer life (hands) — what others see

Cleanse your inner life (hearts) — what God sees

4. Maintain a Repentant Heart Before the Lord

A sinful and/or proud heart will get you tangled up!

The closer we walk with Him, the temptations we face will change

So it is important to stay away from complacency

When you take an open, humble, and honest look at your heart without God’s grace, it will grieve you, bring shame, and cause a deep longing to receive the cleansing and grace that only God can bring.

Close friendship with God involves getting untangled from selfish ambition and destructive connections.

GET UNTANGLED

CUT THE ANCHOR THAT KEEPS YOU TANGLED UP IN THE SHALLOWS AND LATCH ON TO YOUR TRUE ANCHOR JESUS — SET SAIL FOR THE GREAT ADVENTURE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LAND ON HEAVEN’S SHORE