James 4:1-12

So far we talked about trials in , works in , the tongue and wisdom in , now lets see what has in store for us tonight.

Conflict and Judging

James 4:1–12 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not 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 your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-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?

Let’s read .

Conflicts and Judging

We will look at the the 2 main themes in conflicts and judging.

Check out . Pastor Matt talked about God’s wisdom and demonic wisdom and here we see in the results of demonic wisdom.

James 3:16 NKJV

16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

look how starts out

James 4 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not 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 your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-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? 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:1 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

James 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not 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.

I think it is safe to say we will start with conflict

Conflict - Cause, Consequences, and Cure

The Cause, The Consequences, and The Cure

Cause of Conflict

The Bible Knowledge Commentary IV. Submit with Contrition (Chap. 4)

Fights, quarrels, lust, hate, envy, pride, and sin are words that stain this portion of James’ letter like inkblots. In stark contrast with the closing words of chapter 3, “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” chapter 4 opens with “fights and quarrels.” James confronted this despicable behavior with valor. Furthermore he gave clear advice on how to quell the storms that are so detrimental to spiritual growth and maturity. A believer must turn hatred into humility, judgment into justice, and boasting into belief.

James 4 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not 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 your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-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? 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not 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 your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-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? 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary IV. Submit with Contrition (Chap. 4)

Fights, quarrels, lust, hate, envy, pride, and sin are words that stain this portion of James’ letter like inkblots. In stark contrast with the closing words of chapter 3, “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” chapter 4 opens with “fights and quarrels.” James confronted this despicable behavior with valor. Furthermore he gave clear advice on how to quell the storms that are so detrimental to spiritual growth and maturity. A believer must turn hatred into humility, judgment into justice, and boasting into belief.

Fights, quarrels, lust, hate, envy, pride, and sin are words that stain this portion of James’ letter like inkblots.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary IV. Submit with Contrition (Chap. 4)

quarrels, lust, hate, envy, pride, and sin are words that stain this portion of James’ letter like inkblots. In stark contrast with the closing words of chapter 3, “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” chapter 4 opens with “fights and quarrels.” James confronted this despicable behavior with valor. Furthermore he gave clear advice on how to quell the storms that are so detrimental to spiritual growth and maturity. A believer must turn hatred into humility, judgment into justice, and boasting into belief

In stark contrast with the closing words of chapter 3, “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” chapter 4 opens with “fights and quarrels.”

James confronted this despicable behavior with valor. Furthermore he gave clear advice on how to quell the storms that are so detrimental to spiritual growth and maturity.

A believer must turn hatred into humility, judgment into justice, and boasting into belief.

The appearance of conflict among the followers of Jesus stirred James to intense indignation.

The severity of his tone in this section is accented by the absence of the words “my brothers,” which James used so frequently in other parts of the letter.

He revealed the cause of conflict, outlined the consequences of conflict, and proposed a cure for conflict.

James 4:2–3 NKJV

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.

James 4:2 NKJV

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.

James 4:1 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Your Desires! This is the flesh at work trying to get what it wants and what it thinks it deserves.

James goes on in

James 4:2 NKJV

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.

lets take a look at

1 John 2:16 NKJV

16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

The church that James was writing to was messed up. No spiritual mindedness at all.

They wanted to live for Jesus and have the benefit of heaven, but they lived like the world.

They talked like the world, smelled like the world and looked like the world.

You couldn't tell this was the Church. In other words they were justlike the world.

This is what happens to people who make a profession of faith but never draw close to God.

Conflict vs Confrontation

Let me inject here the difference between confrontation and conflict.

Confrontation is neither good nor bad. it just is and is a necessary healthy part of life.

Some people shy away from confrontation and other are drawn to it. It is how we handle it that determine whether it will turn to conflict.

You can’t have conflict without confrontation but you can have confrontation without conflict.

Consequences of Conflict

James 4:3–4 NKJV

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.

The Consequences of conflict in the church is not receiving, being called out as adulterers, being at enmity with God and being God’s enemy.

Ephesians 2:15 NKJV

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

So this is what Jesus does with enmity just sayin...

Here is the progression

Unchecked desires ---->

Unchecked desires ---->

Not asking God---->

Coveting, evil desires, wrong motives ---->

Fights and quarrels---->

Church life marked by death (slander, judging others, name calling, boasting, backbiting)

CHURCH WARS

CHURCH WARS

Weapons and strategies used in church fights and quarrels. this came from the Life Application Bible Commentary on James by Bruce B. Barton

Missiles - Attacking church members from long range.

Attacking church members from long range.

Call from pastor while in Korea.

Guerrilla tactics - Ambushing the unsuspecting.

Ambushing the unsuspecting.

Snipers - Well-aimed criticisms.

Snipers

Well-aimed criticisms.

Terrorism - No one is immune from being hurt.

Terrorism

No one is immune from being hurt.

Mines - Ensuring that others will fail in their efforts to serve God.

Mines

Ensuring that others will fail in their efforts to serve God.

Espionage - Using friendships to get potentially damaging information about others.

Espionage

Using friendships to get potentially damaging information about others.

Propaganda - Using gossip to spread damaging information about others.

Propaganda

Using gossip to spread damaging information about others.

Cold War - Freezing out an opponent by withdrawing or refusing to talk to him or her.

Cold War

Freezing out an opponent by withdrawing or refusing to talk to him or her.

Nuclear Attack - Being willing to sacrifice the church if the goals of my group are not met.

Nuclear Attack

Being willing to sacrifice the church if the goals of my group are not met.

James tells us the exact location of the manufacturing plants for all these weapons. The trouble is in ourselves.

Is it not because of this passion that relations are broken, and this natural goodwill changed into desperate enmity? that great and populous countries are desolated by domestic dissensions? and land and sea filled with ever new disasters by naval battles and land campaigns? For the wars famous in tragedy … have all flowed from one source—desire either for money or glory or pleasure. Over these things the human race goes mad.

—Philo, on why “desire” (covetousness) is forbidden in the Ten Commandments

Jesus prescribed a three-step method for resolving conflicts among believers:

1. The person who is offended must go to the person offending (who may not even realize a wrong has been done) and talk about the problem (18:15).

2. If the offender does not respond, the offended one is to take one or two others to be witnesses of the confrontation and to help determine who is right (18:16).

3. If the offender still does not respond (assuming he or she is truly in the wrong), the matter is to be brought before the whole church for a decision. If the offender still refuses to repent, he or she is to be considered an unbeliever and not part of the church family (18:17).

Desire for the pleasures of the world always threatens our spiritual life (see ;). Because believers are unable to divide their loyalty between God and the world (4:4), there will continue to be this battle within them.

Desire for the pleasures of the world always threatens our spiritual life (see ;). Because believers are unable to divide their loyalty between God and the world (4:4), there will continue to be this battle within them.

;

). Because believers are unable to divide their loyalty between God and the world (4:4), there will continue to be this battle within them.

Let me inject here the difference between confrontation and conflict. Confrontation is neither good nor bad. it just is and is a necessary healthy part of life. some people shy away from confrontation and other are drawn to it. It is how we handle it that determine whether it will turn to conflict. You cant have confrontation without conflict but you can’t have conflict without confrontation.

Listen to what Philo said:

Is it not because of this passion that relations are broken, and this natural goodwill changed into desperate enmity? that great and populous countries are desolated by domestic dissensions? and land and sea filled with ever new disasters by naval battles and land campaigns? For the wars famous in tragedy … have all flowed from one source—desire either for money or glory or pleasure. Over these things the human race goes mad.

—Philo, on why “desire” (covetousness) is forbidden in the Ten Commandments

Cure for Conflict

Life Application Bible Commentary, James Submit Yourselves to God / 4:1–12

Without submission to God, our desires lead us down a well-worn path that will harm us and those around us (see James 1:14–15; 4:1–3).

James 4:5–6 NKJV

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.”

Consequences

James 4:5 NKJV

5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

James 4:6 NKJV

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

In the words of Smith Wigglesworth - first, Read the word. Second, consume the word of God until it consumes you. Third, Believe the word of God. Fouth, act on the word of God.

James 4:7 NKJV

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:8 NKJV

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:9 NKJV

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

James 4:10 NKJV

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Be Humble,

Submit to God,

Resist the Devil,

Draw near to God,

Cleans your hands,

Purify your heart,

Humble yourself.

Humility is the answer. We simple must be be humble and look to the word.

In the words of Smith Wigglesworth - First, read the word. Second, consume the word of God until it consumes you. Third, believe the word of God. Fourth, act on the word of God.

TACTICS AND WEAPONS FOR RESISTING THE DEVIL

TACTICS AND WEAPONS FOR RESISTING THE DEVIL

We are commanded to “resist” the devil, to take a stand against him, now! Those intent on submitting to God ask, “how?”

TACTICS

God has not left us without battle plans. Here are some of his instructions:

Refuse to accept Satan’s suggestion that we can be separated from Christ.

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ignore the temptation to doubt God’s grace.

gnore the temptation to doubt God’s grace.

Ignore the temptation to doubt God’s grace.

Reject the lie that we are beyond forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pray before, during, and after attacks by the devil.

Pray before, during, and after attacks by the devil.

Allow Christ to replace our way of thinking with his way of thinking.

Allow Christ to replace our way of thinking with his way of thinking.

;

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 4:8–9 NKJV

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

WEAPONS

While the devil employs weapons of terror and illusion, God equips us with weapons of real power. They are only ineffective when we leave them unused. Among them are:

The belt of truth—wherever the truth is spoken and lived, the devil is unwelcome.

; ;

; ;

The breastplate of righteousness—living rightly is the result of advanced training in the faith. When we are living under God’s guidance we are on guard against the devil’s attacks.

The footwear of the gospel of peace—communicating the gospel is taking back territory controlled by the devil.

The footwear of the gospel of peace—communicating the gospel is taking back territory controlled by the devil.

The shield of faith—our faith in Christ makes him our shield and protector.

The shield of faith—our faith in Christ makes him our shield and protector.

The helmet of salvation—the salvation that God offers is our eternal protection.

The helmet of salvation—the salvation that God offers is our eternal protection.

The sword of the Spirit, God’s Word—the Bible is a weapon when its truth is put to use, exposing the devil’s work and helping those who are losing the battle.

The sword of the Spirit, God’s Word—the Bible is a weapon when its truth is put to use, exposing the devil’s work and helping those who are losing the battle.

Prayer—in prayer we rely on God’s help.

Prayer—in prayer we rely on God’s help.

Judging

James 4:11 NKJV

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.

James 4:12 NKJV

12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Now when it comes to Judging we need to do a full and complete study because we see verses like and

James 4:11–12 NKJV

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?

Matthew 7:1–3 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:41 NKJV

41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:42 NKJV

42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Proverbs 24:23 NKJV

23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

Deuteronomy 1:16 NKJV

16 “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.

1 Corinthians 5:12 NKJV

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

John 7:24 NKJV

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

1 John 4:1 NKJV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV

15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

1 Corinthians 6:5 NKJV

5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

1 Corinthians 14:29 NKJV

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

1 co

Matthew 19:28 NKJV

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Table Time

How do we reconcile the different verses pertaining to Judging?

Judgment, judging, judge, condemnation, examine, question, opinion, purpose, waiver, doubt, requirements, commandments.