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Introduction
This evening we begin our study of James chapter 4. So, let’s get right into it by doing a brief overlook of the entire chapter.
James 4 has three paragraphs
The first is James 4:1-6.
The second is James 4:7-10.
The third is James 4:11-17.
Let read the entire chapter and then come back to verse 1.
Our verse for consideration is, as you already know, verse 1.
So let’s read it and note it’s grammatical construction.
GRAMMAR STUDY
The Holy Spirit begins with a couple of questions in this first verse.
If you recall, we talked about the Holy Spirit uses questions to help us reflect on things that are important.
The first question asked is this.
From whence come wars and fightings among you?
The word “whence” is an Old English word for “where.”
In the Greek, it means “from what place or from where.”
So essentially, the Holy Spirit is asking us to consider from where do wars and fightings come among us.
We have two nouns listed here.
They are “wars” and “fightings.”
Obviously, since the King James translators gave us two different words these are two different words in the Greek.
The word “wars” means to fight, to make ware.
The connotation is that there is such contention between two parties which cause them to battle each others in a war.
The second words is “fightings.”
“Fightings” means to fight or strive against another.
Again, the connotation is similar in that is an open clash between two opposing groups.
Thus, the Holy Spirit is prodding us to consider the source of man’s strife and conflicts.
What exactly is it that causes people to war and fight with each other?
The answer comes again in the form of a question.
The Holy Spirit answers the question with a question.
“come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your member?”
The words “come they” were supplied by the translators here.
Thus, they are not in the original manuscripts.
In providing them, they help us to understand the full meaning of the Greek text.
However, we do have the word “hence.”
Again, “hence,” in the Greek, means “from this place.”
The Holy Spirit gives us the answer.
He is saying from this place which He gives immediately as the answer.
From this place refers us to the “your lusts.”
Consequently, all the wars and fightings result from our “lusts.”
The word “lusts” is an interesting word.
It is a Greek word or term found only five times in the New Testament.
Two of the five are in our text.
We find it in verse 1 here and again in verse 3.
It is not the same Greek word of James 1:14-15
In these verses, the word “lust” is Greek word “epithymia.”
The connotation being an intense desire for something either good or bad.
An example would be Luke 22:15
Now see it used a different context.
These are example of “epithymia” (lusts) as being an intense desire.
However, in out text this evening (James 4:1), the Greek word is “hedone.”
This word carries the connotation of seeking pleasure.
It is the idea of having the feeling of being unsatisfied.
For this reason, the Holy Spirit says wars and fightings erupt.
Such battles are a direct result of people not getting what they want.
They are not receiving the gratification or pleasure they crave.
If you recall, I said that it is used five times in the New Testament.
In our text (James 4:1, 3), it was translated “lusts.”
However, in the other three instances, it was translated “pleasures.”
Note these verses and their context.
In the first instance, the Word of God was choked out by those who CRAVED the pleasures of this life.
In Titus, the Holy Spirit reminds that we ourselves before our salvation were also filled with a CRAVING for the pleasures of this life.
And, then, in 2 Peter, it speaks of those who CRAVE the pleasure of rioting and care not if they are exposed.
Now, go back to our verse.
The Holy Spirit qualifies these lusts or pleasure.
Note that they “war.”
Here we have a military term.
It literally means to make war provoking images of an army encamped ready to wage war against the enemy.
In my mind, I envision the days when armies would pitch their tents outside the walls of a city or castle.
They would systematically prepare for an assault against by building seige towers as they aimed their ballistics and catapults at the walls.
Then, when the preparations were done, they marched their army against the city or castle making war against its inhabitants.
Here the Holy Spirit gives us this vivid image of how our lusts are lurking within us preparing to launch a spiritual assault against us.
Now, note one last thing, where are these “lusts that war” located?
They are located “in your members.”
The literal sense of the Greek here is the limbs of our body.
Thus, they are located within our fleshly body.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
What is the Holy Spirit talking about?
He is talking about the source of wars and fightings.
It is our own lust or desire for pleasures.
What is the Holy Spirit saying about our own lusts?
IT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL HUMAN CONFLICT
Every war in which man engages can be traced back to men and their desire to gain only what they desire.
However, the greater context here is the war that happens within each person.
All of us are constantly warring and fighting ourselves within.
Our flesh constantly craves, pulls, urges, desires, and grasps for the things that gratify us.
There is not a person here tonight that does not know and understand this truth.
Fleshly lusts are strong and very difficult to control.
Even though the Greek word is different in James 1:14-15, the principle taught is the same.
It our intense desire to please ourselves (our flesh) that often results in sin.
We see something we want and we do all that we can to get it.
More often than not, the thing we desire is opposite of what God desires for us.
Thus, we end up in sin.
And, if we continue in sin, sin will lead to death.
This first verse is connected to the verses we just studied in chapter 3. Remember the warning in verses 14-18.
Where is the “bitter envying and strife” located?
It is located in our hearts.
Why there?
That is where our “lusts” are encamped.
We must be careful.
That is the warning from the Holy Spirit.
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