A Biblical View of Relationships
James: Faith That Works... Your Faith in Action • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 45:05
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Dismiss children to children's’ church
Some Jokesters tell about the three churches situated at the same downtown intersection. One congregation could be heard singing, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?” followed by the second’s, “No, Not One,” and the third’s triumphant, “Oh, That Will Be Glory for Me.” —Leslie Flynn, When the Saints Come Storming In
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 476). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Some Jokesters tell about the three churches situated at the same downtown intersection. One congregation could be heard singing, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?” followed by the second’s, “No, Not One,” and the third’s triumphant, “Oh, That Will Be Glory for Me.” —Leslie Flynn, When the Saints Come Storming
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 476). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Two Porcupines in Northern Canada huddled together to get warm, according to a forest folktale. But their quills pricked each other, so they moved apart. Before long they were shivering, so they sidled close again. Soon both were getting jabbed again. Same story; same ending. They needed each other, but they kept needling each other. —Leslie Flynn, When the Saints Come Storming In
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 476). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
When it comes to God’s people the church… we see biblically that we need each other, yet sometimes we just can’t resist needling one another too!
James in chapter 4 is not talking just to anyone who will listen. He is addressing the church, followers of Jesus Christ.
Verse 1 states “among you” follow along as we look at what James has to say about a biblical view of relationships…
1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore 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 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Reminder of the source...
Reminder of the source...
Remember we are to look within...
It is our pleasures and desires
We are dealing with heart motives...
Relationships
Relationships
With Believers
With the World
With God
Relationships Among Believers
Relationships Among Believers
Selfish Desires lead to wrong Actions
Desire, Result, Outcome
Desire, Result, Outcome
lust (strong), emptiness, murder (hate)
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
envy (want something… your own way), emptiness, fights and quarrels
“Thou shalt not covet” is the last of God’s Ten Commandments, but its violation can make us break all of the other nine! Covetousness can make a person murder, tell lies, dishonor his parents, commit adultery, and in one way or another violate all of God’s moral law. Selfish living and selfish praying always lead to war. If there is war on the inside, there will ultimately be war on the outside. Warren Wiersbe
Warren Wiersbe
This is occuring among believers!
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Not only our selfish desires impact our relationship among believers it affects things with God too!
Selfish Desires lead to wrong Praying
Selfish Desires lead to wrong Praying
It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.
Our own pleasures… this is a worldly view of things / double-minded /“I did it my way”
double-minded
“I did it my way”
King David knew this too…
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Begin seeking what God wants, delight in Him… you begin to desire what He wants for you and in this life!
Watch God work!!! Prayer takes on a whole new level!
A Relationship with… The World or God?
A Relationship with… The World or God?
Verses 4-6 are very forthright… James no longer addresses them as brothers, but adulteresses!
Friend (intimate relationship/ having an affection for)
World (kosmos the world system)
You and I are the “Bride of Christ”!
Basically we seek from the world (have an affair) what is rightfully God’s to fill in our life
We ask God for something and then turn to the world to receive it
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation VIII. The Worldly Attitude (4:1–10)
To have a warm, familiar attitude toward this evil world is to be on good terms with God’s enemy. It is to adopt the world’s set of values and want what the world wants instead of choosing according to divine standards. The person who deliberately “chooses [boulēthē] to be a friend of the world” by that choice “becomes an enemy of God.”
For a simpler approach consider in Da Jesus Book
For a simpler approach consider in Da Jesus Book
4You guys, jalike you go fool aroun behind God's back! An you guys ack jalike you neva know dis: Whoeva love da bad kine stuff inside da world, fo real, dat guy stay agains God! So, whoeva come friends wit all da bad kine stuff inside da world, dat guy show dat he stay agains God fo shua! 5You tink da Bible say dis fo notting? “God wen put one spirit inside all us guys, an he no like if dat spirit no stay all out fo him ony.” 6But God like do even mo plenny good tings still yet. Az why da Bible say, “God stay agains da guy Dat get big head. But da guy dat put himself last, An da odda guy befo him, God goin do plenny fo dat guy.” 7God, he da boss. So den, give yoaself to him.
“God stay agains da guy
“God stay agains da guy Dat get big head. But da guy dat put himself last, An da odda guy befo him, God goin do plenny fo dat guy.” 7God, he da boss. So den, give yoaself to him.
Dat get big head.
But da guy dat put himself last,
An da odda guy befo him,
God goin do plenny fo dat guy.”
7God, he da boss. So den, give yoaself to him.
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
If Pride is the Source, Humility is the Solution!
If Pride is the Source, Humility is the Solution!
Humility is the solution for BOTH relationships… vertical and horizontal
James gives some practical ways for us to have a humble spirit!
Submit to God / Resist the devil
submit your pride, double mindedness, give Him the throne
horse/brothers wrestling
resist the devils trap to for glory, power, god likeness
Draw near to Him… to be close, not for personal motives
Clean Up! Ask God to search you and reveal what He wants to clean up in your life
Have a proper perspective of sin and pride in your heart (Verse 9)
this is not to be the Christian’s constant state
This is to be our real perspective of sin!
God Will Exalt the Humble!
God Will Exalt the Humble!
The outcome of humility is God in His way and in His time exalting you!
We serve a God who doesn't want religion, robots, but rather a deep intimate relationship.
draw near to the One who loves you more than you can imagine and allow Him to give you His best!