Describing Our Christian Actions

THE SENSUAL, WHAT WE DESIRE.

What Actions are we taking? Wars and arguments come as the result of sinful lusts, things we want.

1 “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?”

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

Let’s look back at , James again is telling his church:

Actions—v. 1. Wars and arguments come as the result of sinful lusts. Compare with , .

14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

14 “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death."

1 5These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Attitudes—Wrong attitudes separate from God. Lust leads to greed, hate, stealing, cravings, wars and murder.

2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

Verse 2 tells us: “You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”

How are we Asking? What are we asking for? Asking the wrong way? Are we asking for selfish reasons?

DO WE SEE THAT THE SEPARATION FROM THIS WORLD TO GOD NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE?

Are you a Friend of the world, an enemy of God! The world opposes God, church and the Bible.

Wrong choices, wrong thinking.—v. 4. Lust leads to hatred. Hatred leads to murder. Hatred equal to murder. 4 “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”

also tells us: 15” Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.”

also tells us: 15” Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.”

4You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. ().

15Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

IS IT TIME FOR YOUR SURRENDER?

Verse 6 and 7 tells us: “ And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2. Persistence—v. . Resist the devil!

Draw near to God, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts. Scripture is giving us EXACT instructions on how and what to do to draw closer to God. Verse 8:

8 “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

8 “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.”

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

ARE WE PERSONALLY BROKEN? LISTEN TO JAMES’ INSTRUCTION IN VERSES 9-10.

9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

4. Personal—vv. . Being broken hearted. Humble self, God will lift us up!

9 “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

9 “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

JAMES IS NOW REPEATING HIS WORDS FROM EARLIER CHAPTERS, JUDGING, THE EVIL TONGUE. YOU ALL GETTING THIS? THIS WAS AN ISSUE THEN, AND IT’S STILL AN ISSUE TODAY!

1. Judging—v. . When we speak against other Christians, we speak against God.

2. Judge—v. 12. There is one judge. Allow God to be the judge. Do not judge others!

11 “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.”

11Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

12 “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”

12 “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”

ARROGANCE, VANITY, COCKINESS, KNOW IT ALL’S......IT’S LIKE WE ARE TELLING GOD WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO! REALLY?

V. THE SLACKNESS—vv.

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”

13 “Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”

1. Shortness of life—vv. . Life is short. It soon fades away. Do not waste it!

13Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”

Our Sinful life, Our Boasting words. Do not boast of life, since it is God who gives life! 15 “What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil"

16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Does this sound familiar? Knowing something is right, but not doing it. You may commit sin by omission and by commission.

Verse 17 tells us: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

Verse 17 tells us: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

AMEN

AMEN