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Dennis Cook

James • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

James 4:1–12

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1. Friendships God Bad

When I say the words “Quarrels” and “Fights” what immediately come to your mind ? A fight with a spouse? How about one of your children? What ever picture came to you mind I’m almost sure it was some conflict between 2 people. Maybe you and another person?

This morning we’re going to be talking about fights and quarrels. I don’t want to be presumptuous or anything, but anyone here ever experience either of these? At least once? Maybe more than once?

Did it draw you closer to the other person or pull you farther apart? How did it affect your relationship with God? Did it draw you closer or pull you farther apart?

James is teaching us in this passage what ultimately is the root cause for our fights and quarrels with one another and how it directly affects our relationship with God, And the heart breaking reality of How God views us when we are given over to fighting and quarreling seeking only to elevate ourselves at the expense of another.

But he’s not going to leave us there, He’s going to show us how through humility and the grace of God we can experience on going intimate Friendship with God. Let’s look at the first part of verse 1.

4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?

QUARRELS AND FIGHTS

James is using very strong language here. When he uses the word Quarrel it’s the same word used as one country waring against another, and Fights? It means an open clash between 2 opposing parties.

2 rams butting heads

But James isn’t talking about to countries at war here is he?

(Pic of 2 Rams butting heads)

No, he’s speaking to 2 opposing people or groups of people both set firmly on their own position and come Hell or High water neither is going to give in.

So he’s speaking to 2 opposing people or groups of people both set firmly on their own position and come Hell or High water neither is going to give in.

Notice the word (AMONG)? Who is James talking to here? He’s talking to the church. He’s talking to you and me. I’m not sure what exactly was going on in the church James is writing to, but sadly even century’s later his word is still relevant to modern day Christians. We still hear of the high divorce rate among Christians in the church that equal that to non Christians, we hear of Church splits, rivalries among family members.

You sit on the wrong side of the bleachers at a football game with your team jersey on, you could end up butting heads with the opposition. We all can dig our heals in pretty deep when we feel hurt or offended. Kind of like 2 rams squaring off to see who really is king of the mountain.

. He just spent the previous chapters letting us know how sinful choices and actions hurt others, and hurts our relationship with God, and now he wants to share with us the CAUSE of these sinful choices and practices.

Can you hear James speaking to the church? My Brother’s , dudes, what is fueling all this fighting and quarreling among you? No it’s not the other guy, it’s you. He’s not the devil and he didn’t make you lash out like that. I understand right now you may think he’s the devil incarnate, but the real problem is you and in fact the problem is actually rooted in your own heart.