The Life of Christ Continues #7 (Studies in Philippians)

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Text: Philippians 4:8-23

Real Christian Living #5 (Studies in James)- Windsor, September 19th, 2004- a.m. -Drew Chapados Text: James 4:1-17 It is good to be together with you this day as we have gathered to worship our God and Father above. The songs we have just sung tell an important story about our walks of faith with God: We have to have faith that our God will make a way for us. Then we are determined that God will take the lead, we will follow His leading and not vice versa. Finally this will take a resignation on our part. We will resign as king and humble ourselves or place ourselves under the leadership of God! In so doing we will discover the greatest place to be is in the hand of God. James has left us off in chapter 3 defining what godly wisdom looks like and produces. Notice it leads to real peace and it consists of being able to reason (or yield), is pure, full of mercy—it is not just about knowing what’s best, but truly doing what is best. This is important because of where he goes next in chapter 4! Vs.1-3- James begins with the subject of fights & quarrels. A few years ago there was an individual who was always getting angry at all his fellow church members. Whenever they made a move that could even be remotely criticized this guy was jumping up and down and really angry. What do you do with someone like this? Well like most times, you begin with an attempt to pacify him, don’t try to do anything that will cause waves around him. However, this is a hard thing to do if someone wants to fight! Next, we decided to ask him what would eventually make him happy? Was his anger beatable, reasonable or something else? What caused this? Then one day it came out that this man’s own behaviour was improper and instead of truly repenting over it, he dealt with his guilt by fighting everyone else. You know, one of the most important questions to try to answer when there appears to be a constant fight or battle is why? Where do they come from? This is so good to examine: why am I always unhappy? Why am I always fighting? James is going to answer this: the root cause of these wars: your own passions or desires! The picture is presented that your passions wage a war with everyone and everything that seeks to block its gratification. Look what happens: You desire and don’t get so you end up murdering! Then you covet and can’t get so you fight & quarrel. James is getting at something here: self-centeredness is the major cause for bickering, strife & hatred. You find others standing in your way of satisfaction. How many of our fights at home, work, and church are the result of this? James writes to these Christians who are simply living to satisfy their desires but since they can never realize their goal they go on fighting! Look at this, they have strong jealousy then desire end up murdering but still can’t get what they want so they continue to fight! James goes on: you don’t have because you don’t ask God. Your desires aren’t met because you don’t go to God and those who do go to God don’t get it because they are only asking selfishly! We’re reminded of what Jesus had to say: seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. People want something that they don’t feel they are getting: so they end up fighting and hurting others but still don’t get it. They end up not asking God (He’s just someone else who will keep me from getting what I want) or if they do ask Him (it’s all about satisfying my desires). This is the origin of the wars & quarrels. Vs.4-6- James calls these people adulteresses. (This is the greatest sin against a marriage: Matthew 19:9- except for fornication) In a spiritual sense: James says friendship with the world is enmity with God. If you live only in the realm of pleasure you are betraying the relationship of a faithful spouse. Your vow has been broken. How? If you deliberately choose to be a friend of the world you cannot be a friend of God! Couples that have one of the partners who insists on being able to go out and enjoy good times with someone else just doesn’t get it! James tells us that God’s Spirit longs for our undivided loyalty. God is a jealous love of us. But, if you can love God and the world then what scripture tells us is untrue! Sometimes you’ll hear the line from a spouse who has given to another what was only due to the spouse: ‘it didn’t mean anything, you’re still the one I love’. Instead, God resists the proud (God opposes those who make themselves His enemy) but gives grace to the humble. Please note: this person is not someone who stumbles, but someone who deliberately chooses to love the world. Now, God gives grace to the humble—We can accomplish what God desires us to. Cain in Genesis 4:7- you should rule over it. At times people will say God is my problem. No, God is my problem solver! What is the solution to these fights and quarrels? It is not going to be in finding your desires satisfied! Why? They won’t get satisfied! Vs.7-10- the proud cannot win the battle, why? God is not on their side. James says, instead make the devil your enemy! Please notice James says it is possible to resist the devil. Back in 1:13-15- people say they cannot help doing wrong. They have to have these desires met. This isn’t true: God did not tempt you; the devil tempts you with your own desires. God only gives you good, The devil only gives you bad. Instead of making God your enemy, be on God’s side. The Old Testament question: who is on the Lord’s side? Draw near to God and He will draw near to you! (Psalm 25:6,7- remember me not according to my sins, but your steadfast love.) God, remember the love. What do we do? Cleanse your hands you sinners! (How would you like to read this? This stings! Again, we see this is not the stumblers) Purify your hearts you double minded! You claim to love God but you really love the world. Be wretched, mourn & weep—see the hurt, see the pain, see your own fault! Matthew 5:3,4- Blessed are the poor in spirit….blessed are they that mourn. Listen, never be proud in or of your sins—humble yourself before the Lord and He will exalt you. This humbling—resigning as king—submitting to God’s desires brings peace! 4:11,12- Where there is a lot of strife and hatred among brothers there is bound to be judging. You begin to look for all the wrong. James warns these Christians to stop speaking against or judging. The Old Testament: at the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let a thing be established! When you speak against your brother, you speak against the law! What law? (2:8- love your neighbour) Listen, there is only One who can save & destroy: God Himself. He is the only one worthy to judge. Who are you then to judge your neighbor? This shows a lack of love for our neighbour! We are proud of ourselves and into filling our own desires, we become critical of others. Soon we act from suspicion or appearance or personal dislike. We can attribute motives to people that cannot be known. We make ourselves superior to the law itself. When there is the word of God—you’re not judging. James says stop this! 4:13-17- James does a slight change in tone here—he simply says come now and does not use the word brothers. What’s he talking about? People making plans, what are these plans? All about themselves: we’ll do this, we’ll make that. Things will be great. James says, this is careless because our lives are over so quickly. Everything here is temporary. What is really important? You boast in your arrogance—you do whatever you want, you almost dare God to intervene. My friends, you must include Him in your plans. Again, humble yourself before God. 17- to the one who knows the right thing to do & doesn’t do it: sins! In its context, you know you should include God in your plans, but you still go on planning as if He is nothing—this is sin. What about you today? Do you seek peace? Do you seek peace with another? Do you seek inner peace but for some reason can’t seem to get it? James suggests the reason is a failure to meet your own desires. The answer: submit to God—let Him become your desire and see this desire never go unfulfilled. What do you hope to accomplish? There are many things I have dreamed of doing that I will probably never get to do. I may die tomorrow, but there are three things I will never regret: My repentance My marriage to a faithful wife My decision to preach To him who knows what to do!
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