Sermon Tone Analysis
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Review
The Epistle of James Series (so far)
Part 1 - The Call to Spiritual Maturity
Part 2 - Turning Trials Into Triumphs
Part 3 - When Temptation Calls
Part 4 - How to Mature in the Word
Part 5 - The Sin of Partiality
Part 6 - Three Types of Faith
Part 7 - The Power of the Tongue
Part 8 - The Wisdom of the Mature Christian
Part 9 - How to End Internal Warfare
In This Part -
James expounds further on the most common sign of immaturity: quarrels and conflicts.
Why are there quarrels and conflicts among Christians?
How can these internal fights be stopped?
Text - James 4.1-10
Title:
How To End Internal Warfare
Why Internal Warfare Exist
At War with Each Other
Quarrel - Grk. polemos, military conflict; general state of hostility and antagonism
Conflict - Grk. mache, fight, dispute, contention; denotes open clash between opposing groups
Conflicts among God’s people in history
Abraham and Lot
David and King Saul
David and Absalom
Conflicts among the disciples
James mentioned a number of conflicts among the saints:
James 2.1-9 - “Class Wars” between rich and poor
James 5.1-5 - “Employment Wars”, which was usually between rich and poor
James 1.19-20 - “Church Fights”, or “war over positions in the church” manifested in the desire of many to become teachers (James 3.1)
James 4.11-12 - “Personal Wars”
But why is there conflict among believers?
At War with Ourselves
“wage war” - Grk. strateia, a military campaign designed to achieve a specific goal
pleasures - Grk. hedone, passion, pleasure, enjoyment; always used in the negative sense of desire
When quarrels exist between Christians, the root cause is always “selfishness”
Examples:
Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses’ wife - actually they envied his authority
Abraham lied about Sarah - he wanted to save his own skin
Achan caused defeat to Israel - he selfishly took some of the forbidden stuff
Covetousness can cause us to violate all the other 9 commandments!
At War with God
hostility - Grk. a state of deep-seated ill-will
We are at war with God when we become friends with God’s enemies!
1.) the “world (James 4.4)
friendship with the world results in becoming “stained” by the world (James 1.27)
this friendship leads to “loving” the world (1 John 2.15-17)
2.) the flesh (James 4.1, 5)
to friends with the flesh means to let the flesh have its way (desires)
3.) the Devil (James 4.6-7)
to be friends with the Devil means to allow Satan to get in the way between brothers and sisters,
to be friends with the Devil means to allow Satan to influence our decisions instead of GOd’s Word.
How Internal Warfare Ends
Recognize the “root cause”: becoming “friends” with God’s enemies!
Quarrels and conflicts among the saints exist we are struggling with the unfulfilled desires of the flesh
We are struggling with the desires of the flesh because we are entertaining and welcoming God’s enemies into our lives
the “root” cause is being friends with God’s enemies
Submit to God
Submission to God’s authority enables us to resist the power of the devil.
How? by surrendering to the authority of God
Remember: Satan is powerful and deceitful
Draw near to God
When we “draw near” we submit to His holiness
we allow God’s holiness to influence our lives
When we draw near, we mourn and weep for our wrong actions that bought into conflict with God
Humble yourself before God
To humble ourself is to recognize the sovereign power of God.
To humble ourself is to recognize our need for God.
To humble ourself is to let God exalt us in His own time.
Conclusion
If we will not mature in our spiritual life, we will soon find ourselves in direct conflict with God and His word.
the old nature will attempt to rise out of its grave, or to come down from the cross, and take control of our “members” like before.
The mature Christian lives a life surrendered to God’s authority and strives to draw closer to God everyday.
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