Putting an End to Strife James 4:1-12

James 4:1-12 (NKJV) 1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do theynot come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse yourhands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, youdouble-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

I. The strife withinmyself

II. The strife with God

     A. The world

     B. The flesh

     C. The devil

III. The strife with others

IV. Fourthings I need to do

       A. Submit to God

       B. Draw near to God

       C. Resist the devil

       D. Humble myself beforeGod

What does James 4:1 suggest as the root cause of wars and fights among people?

How does friendship with the world lead to enmity with God according to James 4:4?

In what ways can we submit to God in our daily lives as mentioned in James 4:7?

How does James 4:6 contrast pride and humility?

What practical steps can you take to 'draw near to God' as James 4:8 encourages?

What does it mean to 'resist the devil' in a practical sense according to James 4:7?

How can lamenting and mourning, as suggested in James 4:9, play a role in our spiritual growth?

What does 'purifying your hearts' mean in the context of James 4:8, and how can you achieve that?