The War Within

Introduction

Focused on Strife

James 4:1–3 “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. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Conflict arises from selfish desires rather than God’s will.

Sometimes we want what we want, and when we don’t get it, we get upset.

We laugh at a child throwing a fit in the grocery store because he can’t have candy—but adults do the same thing. It may not be about candy, but it is still about unmet desires.

We quarrel over personal wants instead of seeking God’s plan.

Selfishness makes us focus on what we want instead of what God wants for our lives or for His church.

These quarrels create unnecessary problems within the church—problems God never intended to exist.

When disagreements arise, especially in the church, the first question should be: What does God want?

We misuse prayer as a tool for our own desires.

Prayer is sometimes twisted into a way of justifying selfishness.

We say, “Well, I prayed about it,” as though that guarantees God’s approval of what we want.

Too often, prayer becomes a demand for God to do our will rather than a humble petition to align ourselves with His.

Application: We must shift our focus from what we want to what God wants. Conflict disappears when Christ—not self—sits at the center.

Friends with the World

James 4:4–5 “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. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

Loyalty to the world puts us at odds with God.

James uses strong language—adulterers and adulteresses—because befriending the world is spiritual unfaithfulness. When we cozy up to worldly ways, we cannot be led by the Spirit of God. This makes us not only distant from Him but often hostile toward His people. Many church conflicts can be traced back to carnal Christians who are more attracted to the world’s ways than to God’s Word.

Worldly pleasures stir envy, ambition, and discontent.

Friendship with the world never satisfies. Instead, it breeds discontentment. We compare ourselves to others, grow envious of what they have, and push forward in selfish ambition. And when our ambitions fall short, frustration and conflict follow.

God calls us to faithfulness, not friendship with the world.

The Spirit of God within us yearns for our full devotion. He will not share our loyalty with worldly pursuits.

Application: We must choose: Will I be God’s friend or the world’s friend? Devotion to Him leaves no room for divided allegiance.

Frustrated by Pride

James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

James makes it clear: pride puts us in opposition to God. The selfishness, envy, and worldly ambition that stir conflict all spring from pride. And God will not bless or draw near to a prideful heart.

Pride produces conflict and frustration.

When we fail to confess pride, God resists us, and discontentment deepens. Pride never brings peace—it only magnifies envy and stirs conflict in our homes, churches, and communities.

Self-exaltation blocks blessing and divine favor.

Pride shuts us off from the grace of God. Instead of being defined by His mercy, we are defined by our arrogance until we humble ourselves before Him.

Application: Humility opens the door to God’s grace. The choice is simple: resist God in pride, or receive His grace in humility.

Failing in Judgment

James 4:11–12 “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

Judging or criticizing others steps into God’s authority.

There is a kind of judgment that is necessary—judging sin according to God’s Word so that we may live righteously. But James is addressing something different: prideful criticism. This is the spirit that tries to look into another person’s heart, assume their motives, and set ourselves up as judge. That position belongs to God alone.

Gossip and condemnation reveal pride, not righteousness.

Humility does not slander others. Pride is what drives us to sit in God’s seat, and pride always leads to conflict. In fact, trying to stand where only God should stand is the very sin that caused Satan’s fall.

Focus on your own walk with God.

James echoes Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7—before we deal with the speck in our brother’s eye, we must first remove the beam from our own. Instead of meddling in others’ hearts and motives, James calls us to examine ourselves before the Lord.

Application: When we take judgment into our own hands, we fail. Leave the judgment of hearts to God and commit yourself to faithfully following Him.

Following God’s Steps

James 4:7–10 “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.”

Submit to God, resist the devil, draw near, cleanse, and humble yourself.

Humility opens the door to God’s grace—but that’s only the beginning. James lays out a path of restoration: submission, resistance, closeness, cleansing, and humility. Each step is necessary if we are to walk in peace with God and with others.

Submission is the height of humility.

We admit that our selfish desires and sin have led us astray. By laying them down, we make room for the Spirit of God to lead us.

Submission leads to resistance.

When we surrender to God, we gain the power to resist the devil’s temptations. The friendship we once had with the world is replaced with fellowship with God. And when we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us.

God draws close when His children come near.

Illustration: When my children crawl up onto the couch beside me and snuggle in close, I can’t help but lean in and embrace them, pouring out love in return. That’s what God does. When we draw near, He overwhelms us with His grace and His presence.

Submission leads to cleansing and restoration.

Drawing near to God purifies our hands and hearts. Strife, envy, and pride are cast aside as we step out of the shadows and into the light of righteousness.

Application: Following God’s steps restores our relationship with Him. Humble yourself in His sight—and He will lift you up.

Conclusion

A choice has to be made between our selfish pride that causes strife or our humble hearts that brings contentment, peace, and sweet fellowship with God and other believers.

The war within can be over if we submit our hearts to God.