James #6

Northside Church

James 5

5/23/21

James 4:1-10

Northside… it’s good to be with you all this evening. My name is Jamey. I'm one of the pastors here at Northside… I hope you all know how much I absolutely love being with you all. This is always a highlight of my week… and I’m so thankful for you sticking it out with us through such a confusing and frustrating year…

We are in our 6th sermon series on James.

It’s been challenging… at least for me. I hope it has been for you too.

James is the 1\2 brother of Jesus… leader of the early church in Jerusalem… which made him one of the most influential leaders in the history of the Church… James was passionate… and you can hear it. He had a deep desire to see the early Christians experience all that God had for them… and was willing to shoot straight with them… He wrote this to a large group of struggling Christians about a decade or so after the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus… hoping that it might help them find their way through uncertain times. Things were so bad, that just a short time later the city of Jerusalem and the temple… were totally destroyed…

I feel like the people who put the seating capacity on rubber rafts need more accountability.

Brandi and I hadn’t been married long and we decided to go camping in WA state. We were excited to stay in a tent and do so fishing… and we even went out and bought a two man raft… which… was a really bad investment. I remember inflating it… and wondering who… who looked at that and said… that's a twofer… There was a lot less of me to love in those days…

We decided to try it anyway… so we got all oiled and up able to get just the right angle to wedge ourselves in… Brandi was so close that everytime I tried to row, I just about punched her in the face. We eventually got out where we wanted to be, dropped our lines… and I started to row when in true Mills fishing trip style she I got NOTHING… and she hooked a monster.

It was so big that it literally snapped her snoopy rod just above the very last eye… I remember fish pulled us and our tiny raft all over this huge lake… and when we finally got it to the boat… we realized that the end of the pole traveled all the way down the line… and stuck itself right through the fish's eye.

By the time it was all said and one, we were all the way across the lake and the wind was blowing so hard that no matter how hard I rowed… we were literally still losing ground. Literally… it would have been faster to go to the shore… deflate the raft, walk all the way around the lake… back to camp…

That place… where you're being pulled or you have dirtied far from you want to be… feeling stuck and unsure how to get back…

It feels like that's a bit what James is addressing… these new places and new faces… these new cultures and customs had sent many of those James was writing to… drifting… in life… and in their relationship with God…

James helps us those who are drifting by…

Pointing out the problem in Vs. 1-5

Talking about God’s provision in Vs. 6

And then giving the prescription in Vs 7-10

James 4:1–5 (NLT)

James 4:1–5 NLT

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 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. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. 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. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires (actual word is lusts…) at war within you? 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. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

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. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

4 areas that can cause us to drift in our relationship with God.

Issues within our relationships

You have not

We don’t ask and don’t receive

Worldliness

James talks about 4 areas that could add to the drift… Cause us to feel far from God.

Issues within our relationships.

James starts by asking two questions… What’s causing the issues among you…

He didn’t follow that up… with… its because people are dumb. God it’s not me it's them… and it’s easy for us to fall into that. James goes on to say… don’t they come from issues within you… these battles that are raging in me, me reacting out of a lack of peace in my life, overstressed, messed up priorities, …

James says if you’re not where you should be… the issue isn’t what's going on with other people… it's in you.

Such a powerful and hard truth… but one we likely need to hear.

The actual word for desires... There is actually lusts and it's often translated as pleasures… it's where we get our word for hedonism… which is this “if it feels good do it” mentality. It is driven by pleasure and by avoiding pain and confrontation at all costs.

Hedonism means...

Another one is the phrase “you have not”.

It has undertones of being discontent… I don't look the way I want. I don’t have what they have, feel the way I want, get the attention or respect I want… and James is saying that very few things can send us drifting in our relationship with God quicker than when we find ourselves there.

We don't have what we want… we obsess, get frustrated, manipulate, lie, and James says even wage war and end relationships… to get it.

It becomes the driving motivator in our life… and one author said that

Instead of experiencing the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control… that God desires FOR you… we end up chasing those things that pull us away from them…

money, respect, sex, power, influence, pleasure, success or stuff

We don’t ask… and don’t receive from God

One author says it this way… we end up praying for what brings us pleasure… and we need to realize that prayer is not about bending God to our will, but aligning our hearts with His heart… and His will… knowing that real life… real freedom… real purpose… real meaning… is found there. That is a snapshot of what godly wisdom is and does.

The bible talks about several things that keep us from experiencing what God desires for us…

What things can get in the way of us hearing and receiving from God?

Sin is in the way… Ps 66:16-20

Unforgiveness… Mk 11:24-26

Lack of faith… James 1:5-8

A lack of persistence in prayer… Lk 11:5-15

Praying with the wrong motives… James 4:3

Relational issues, not showing mercy, selfishness…

Worldliness: 4:4

James says it twice… because he wants to make sure you heard it… Friendship with the world… makes you out to be an enemy of God.

These two things will lead you in two very different directions…

Worldly… basically

means to blindly accept the culture and seek to fit into its norms… when our lives begin to reflect the world around us more than they reflect the Lord's presence within them.

It often holds what is politically correct over… or more firmly that what it is that God has to say… and I say that cautiously… because that phrase… means different things to different people… but… either way… putting it above what God says and desires is a problem.

James uses a strong illustration… of adultery... saying that if we claim we belong to God… but find ourselves being won over by the pleasures of this world… there is real cause for concern… What a crazy thought… the God of creation loves you… and thinks of His relationship with you in such a deep and meaningful way.

James is saying that these are some of the things that can cause us to drift… to suddenly look around and realize we aren’t where we should be or want to be…

and then he talks about God’s amazing provision…

James 4:6 NLT

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 And he gives grace generously (ESV says… He gives more grace). As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

It’s such an amazing truth… such a powerful understanding… to realize and experience that no matter how far we have drifted… no matter how far of course we feel or even are… in the face of what James calls spiritual adultery…

When we realize the reality of who and where we are in light of who He is… God gives… more grace… generous grace…

Romans 5:20–21 (NLT)

Romans 5:20–21 NLT

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

God’s grace is enough… it is sufficient… no matter who or where you are.

And then James gives us 5 powerful ways to move forward in Jesus.

James 4:7–10 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 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. 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. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

7 So humble yourselves (The ESV says Submit yourselves) before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 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. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James give us 5 things that can help keep us from drifting.

Submitting To God

Resisting the devil

Draw near to God

Repent

And walk in humility

Submit to God:

It’s a military term that means get back in line… not as a threat… but for your own good… voluntarily placing yourself under His authority.

One author said it was a check yourself before you wreck yourself kind of thinking.

Another said… its coming to this place where we pray that prayer…in Ps. 139:24

Psalm 139:24 NLT

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23–24 NLT

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Is there anywhere… that I am willfully outside of God’s desire for me or going against him. James says… submit that back to Him….

Attitudes, hurts, guit, sin, hate, impatience, anger, pride, selfishness, …

Resist the devil

John 10:10 Jesus says that Satan’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy… but I, Jesus came to give real and abundant life.

John 8:44 Jesus says that Satan was/is a murderer from the beginning… absent of truth… and the father of all lies.

This is what's behind that passage in proverbs 14:12 that says there is a way that seems right to man… but in the end leads to death.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

When you're tempted to give up… to give in… to run away… to lose hope… the promise of God is that to those who resist… the devil will what? So resist. Resist temptation. Be steadfast in following Jesus… even when it's hard. Surround yourself with people that will walk with you… encourage you and challenge you.

Draw near to God … and… He’ll draw near to you.

How good is that… that no matter where you are… or where you’ve been the imagery God paints of His reaction to you… is like what the bible calls the prodigal son… this kid who demanded his inheritance… and then blew it… found himself eating with the pigs… knowing his fathers servants were doing better than he was… he went back home to beg for forgiveness… the father was waiting… watching… came running… and threw a party. Draw near to God… it's where you belong.

Sometimes in the face of the struggle… it's the last thing we “want”... or even want to hear.

Prov 16:18… says that its pride that comes before the fall… sometimes… often… the thing we need to hear… or need most… is the hardest thing to hear and do…

Story of my dad wanting to spend time with me.

Repent: Wash your hands and purify your hearts…

Take sin seriously… The word repent literally means to turn and face a new direction. To head in a new direction. It’s always helped me to actually picture it… I am turning away from this stuff… I’m turning to God… setting my path toward Him…

Vs. 9 talks about how there is mourning… sorrow, grief, sadness and gloom… these things have a bad rap nowadays… maybe I’m just a weirdo… but the Lord has used those things in powerful ways in my life….

There is a guilt… a sorrow that leads to a brokeness and repentance that is incredibly healthy

… Hedonism… worldly wisdom says avoid those things at all cost…

James says let them play the role they are intended to play in leading you back to Jesus., seeing your deep need for Him.

Just don’t let those things become the stick the devil beats you down with.

Humble yourself… and He will lift you up.

McArthur says it's the starting point of our human response to salvation.

Humility is often seen as the antonym of pride… it means to make oneself low… not through trying to convince others of our humility through self put downs… but honestly living in light of our need for Jesus. Having an accurate view of who we are and aren’t in light of all God is.

Invite Matt and Crew back up.

During my college years, some friends and I went out to watch a movie that had just come out… these guys were traveling across the country to Colorado… and at one point in the middle of the night… missed a turn and ended up literally out in the middle of nowhere… about the time they expected to be there… they looked around and made the observation that the rocky mountains… aren't very rocky… and that John Denver really got it wrong. They were so far… from where they thought they were.

And that can happen in our relationship with God too… get caught up in bad choices… heart aches… to be won over the pleasures of the world… or even simply taking our eyes off the road… and we sort of wake up and realize… we’ve drifted in our relationship with God… and I feel like James is saying…

God’s grace is greater… let there be a mourning that leads us back to Jesus… and let's invest in those things that keep us centered on Him.

Submitting To God

Resisting the devil

Draw near to God

Repent

And walk in humility

Maybe your there this evening… feeling like you aren’t where you should be with Jesus… maybe even feeling convicted a bit about driting… or going through the motions…

Communion