WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.359 And you may be seated, and I'm so thankful for that blood applied. Amen. 00:00:04.099 --> 00:00:07.759 Amen. Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:10.179 You may make your way back there to Miss Savannah. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:13.080 And one of the things, before you go, Miss Savannah, I want to say this. 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:16.859 This is a really, a pretty remarkable achievement here. 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:23.219 Today, in Children's Church, the children are completing, going through the entire Bible. 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:26.199 They started in Genesis. Amen. Yes. 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:30.059 They started in Genesis and have made their way to Revelation. 00:00:30.059 --> 00:00:34.759 And so they are ready to go up and challenge some of our adult Sunday school classes to Bible drill. 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:36.820 And we're going to try to make that happen. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:39.759 And so I'm really excited for their heart. 00:00:39.879 --> 00:00:44.320 They have been doing this for several, for probably a couple years now, going through the Bible. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:46.859 They start in Genesis and have just worked their way through. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:49.340 And what a tremendous blessing it is. 00:00:49.599 --> 00:00:54.620 It's always encouraging to me to talk with my girls about some of the different characters in the Old Testament. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.939 And I'm amazed at how they know so many of the different characters. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:58.960 I say, where did you learn this? 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.500 And so we learned it in Children's Church. 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:01.399 We learned it from Miss Savannah. 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:03.219 We learned it going through the Bible. 00:01:03.340 --> 00:01:06.480 And I am incredibly grateful for that. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:12.019 And so be sure to encourage them and just thank them for their commitment to God's Word 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:15.740 and just the importance that it plays even in our children's ministry. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:18.140 I think it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:19.099 All right. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.540 This week, we're going to be in James chapter 4. 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:24.319 And James chapter 4 starts off like this. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:28.299 What causes quarrels and what causes conflicts among you? 00:01:28.759 --> 00:01:37.399 And it's one of those really questions that really touches into us because quarrels and fights is something that we all deal with. 00:01:37.579 --> 00:01:43.519 This question is as relevant today as it was when it was written almost 2,000 years ago. 00:01:43.759 --> 00:01:47.179 And so what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:53.580 You see, conflict, unfortunately, is a part of our everyday life and the church is not immune from it. 00:01:53.960 --> 00:02:02.840 About 10 years ago, Tom Rainer, he did a survey on Twitter and he asked the question and he just posed the question, 00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:05.380 what are some of the things that churches quarrel over? 00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:07.700 What are some of the things that churches fight over? 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:15.680 And you can imagine that this went pretty viral pretty quickly because so many people had responses to what quarrels were, 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:16.800 what conflicts were. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.539 And he ended up compiling a list of his favorite 25. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:25.080 I don't know if it's his favorite 25 or his least favorite because of churches quarreling. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:30.240 But he composed a list of 25 different things that churches were fighting over. 00:02:30.480 --> 00:02:33.319 And as I was reading that this week, I found it very interesting. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:39.259 And so I just wanted to share a few of my favorite ones with you this morning from that list. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:44.959 He said there was an argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor's beard. 00:02:45.419 --> 00:02:50.620 I don't know if Clay's is the appropriate length or not, but I imagine if they had an issue with that, 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:54.219 they probably had an issue with the senior pastor having a beard as well. 00:02:54.219 --> 00:03:00.439 But in another one, it said a deacon was accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.800 and decided to settle the matter in the parking lot. 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:07.379 I think that would get interesting pretty quickly. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:09.500 We could probably sell tickets and pay for face too. 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:19.639 But so this, and it said a church dispute over whether or not to install restroom stall dividers in the women's restroom. 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:24.319 Now, maybe I need a little context on this, but that seems like an easy yes to me. 00:03:24.399 --> 00:03:26.979 Yes, install the dividers in the women's restroom. 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:27.579 Absolutely. 00:03:28.459 --> 00:03:33.339 There's another dispute on whether the worship leader should have shoes on during the service. 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:37.139 Clay, it seems like a lot of these center around the worship leader. 00:03:37.239 --> 00:03:41.399 So it seems like you, that, or not you, but that position may be the problem. 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:47.199 Listen to this, a disagreement over using the term pot luck instead of pot blessing. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:49.819 Good luck with that one. 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:50.979 Yeah, exactly. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:59.259 A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts since black is the color of the devil. 00:04:00.299 --> 00:04:04.060 I don't know if they had an issue with black suits or not, but definitely with black t-shirts. 00:04:04.219 --> 00:04:09.379 And so we have all of these things and we laugh at these and we should to an extent, right? 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:11.060 Because they're silly, they're petty, 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:18.259 but they're also do a really good job of distracting us from what the church should actually be about. 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:24.819 You know, we laugh at some of these things and we really should in many ways because we're so grateful 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:30.399 that we may not be having to deal with these exact same issues that some people are dealing with. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:36.980 But each of us, we find ourselves, each church can find itself focusing on things that are petty, 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:40.680 that get in the way of what God has called us to do. 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:45.800 In fact, this is what Tom Rainer, his focus, that's what the reason he was publishing this was. 00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:50.780 He says, in that sense, they are really great distractions from the Great Commission. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:56.520 These things really get in the way of us fulfilling what God has called us to do. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:02.640 And much of our passage today deals with conflicts, the calls of them, what we do with them, 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:06.879 and the grace that God gives us in the midst of these conflicts. 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:15.039 And so if you have a copy of God's Word, I want you to follow along as we read the first six verses of James chapter 4. 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:18.839 James 4, verses 1 through 6, and this is what the Word of the Lord says. 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:19.579 It says this, 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:23.099 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:27.379 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:05:27.779 --> 00:05:30.180 You desire and do not have, so you murder. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:33.860 You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.860 You do not have because you do not ask. 00:05:37.400 --> 00:05:41.959 And you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:47.280 You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:53.280 Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:58.319 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says he yearns jealously 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:02.099 over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us? 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.599 But he gives more grace. 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:11.800 Therefore, it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:14.560 And so as we look at this passage this morning, 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:17.620 there are many truths that we see when it comes to conflicts 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:20.959 and how we should be dealing with them, what we should be doing with them. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:26.259 But the first truth that I want us to see that is really the root of this is the cause of conflict. 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:30.620 So the first thing that I want us to look at this morning is this cause of conflict. 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:34.120 He says, what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:38.819 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:41.839 You desire and do not have, so you murder. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.939 You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:49.620 I love how James, he poses really good questions. 00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:52.920 There's been several times throughout this book as we read through it 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:58.060 that James will pose a question, but then he goes right into giving us the answer to the question. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:03.980 I think James and I, if we were leading Bible studies that were trying to be discussion-based, 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:05.779 we would struggle with some of the same things. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:09.199 Because many times in those things, I like to pose a question, 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:12.620 and I'll wait two seconds, and I'll immediately go into the answer. 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:16.500 Or Catherine all the time gets on to me, she's like, look, give them a chance to answer. 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:20.300 I'm like, I know, but I'm just excited, I want to get this going and moving forward. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:22.019 But this is what James is doing here. 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:26.560 He's posing this question, and then he immediately goes into the answer. 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:32.740 And so the question that he's asking is, what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:35.360 And I want you to think about this question. 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:39.780 Think about the last time you had a quarrel or you had a fight. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:44.079 And maybe if you're newlywed, you may call this a heated discussion, 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.500 because I know you don't quarrel or you don't fight if you're newly married. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:50.819 But think about this, the last time that you had this discussion, 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:54.179 the last time you had this fight, the last time you had this disagreement, 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:56.759 what was going on? 00:07:57.139 --> 00:08:00.279 Because in many ways, this is what James is asking us to do. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:02.179 He says, I want you to think about this question. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.119 Think back on your last argument. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:10.199 And for some of you blessed, godly, holy saints, this may be difficult for you to remember, 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.819 thinking back because it's been a while back. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:16.660 But for the rest of us, we probably don't have to think very hard, do we? 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:22.139 We probably don't have to think back very far when the last time we had a fight or a quarrel 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:25.160 in our life that we needed to answer this question. 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.860 And so I want you to think back on this. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:27.780 What happened? 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:29.220 Why did it take place? 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:31.379 What led to the disagreement? 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:35.399 For most of us, if we were to be asked this question, 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:38.820 we would immediately go and say that the other person is the problem, right? 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:44.460 If they weren't so unreasonable, if this person wasn't so demanding or just plain annoying, 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:46.080 we wouldn't have a problem. 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:50.539 If they were just more thoughtful and considerate of me, I wouldn't have an issue. 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:51.439 I don't have an issue. 00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:54.360 It's just that they have an issue with me, and so I have an issue with them. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.940 And so all of a sudden, we start placing the blame, 00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:01.560 and we start answering the question, what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you like this? 00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:02.520 They do. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.140 They're the reason. 00:09:04.640 --> 00:09:06.360 Other people are the problem. 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:10.920 But thankfully, James answers the question for us in this. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:17.060 He says, is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:20.960 That your passions are at war within you? 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:26.680 And so as we answer this question through Scripture, we see that according to Scripture, 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:28.660 we are the problem. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.300 Now, this may be hard to hear, but I want you to think back with me for just a moment. 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:38.440 What is the common denominator in every single argument that you have ever been in in your life? 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:41.759 I want you to think about that because I can tell you what the common denominator is. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:46.200 The common denominator in every single argument that you have ever been in from the time you were born 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:51.220 until this moment right now, the common denominator in every single argument is you. 00:09:52.280 --> 00:09:53.040 You are. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:54.620 And it's the same for me. 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:57.660 The common denominator for every single argument that I've ever been in is you. 00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:59.180 No, I'm joking. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:09:59.580 I'm joking. 00:09:59.640 --> 00:10:00.200 It's me. 00:10:00.780 --> 00:10:01.180 Right? 00:10:01.540 --> 00:10:03.460 We are the common denominator. 00:10:03.640 --> 00:10:06.140 The issue is us within us. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:08.740 This is something that is going on within us. 00:10:09.040 --> 00:10:11.720 The issue is not everyone else, but it's us. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:13.800 The problem is not out there. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:16.639 It's in here, in us, in our heart. 00:10:17.180 --> 00:10:19.160 Sam Alber, he notes it this way. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:25.399 He says, conflict comes because our own selfish desires are not being met. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.820 James uses strong language. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.940 We might think he is being over the top. 00:10:31.060 --> 00:10:33.500 After all, we don't literally kill anyone. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:39.500 But James' older brother, which was Jesus, once pointed it out in the Sermon on the Mount 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:43.639 that we do not need to kill in order to commit a form of murder. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:49.879 Ultimately, we see our lives, conflict in our lives as a result of sin. 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:56.700 As a result of our sin, when we stop taking our eyes off of Jesus and we start putting them on ourselves. 00:10:57.259 --> 00:11:01.779 When we stop having the right perspective in our life that this world revolves around God 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:04.159 and is centered and we are created to worship Him, 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:07.379 and we stop doing that and we start placing the focus on ourselves, 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:09.500 that's where the conflict comes in. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.019 It's because of sin. 00:11:11.319 --> 00:11:14.000 And I love how John Piper, he describes sin this way. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:15.199 He says, what is sin? 00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:18.500 He says, it is the glory of God, not honored. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.980 It is the holiness of God, not reverenced. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:24.839 It is the greatness of God, not admired. 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:26.819 It is the power of God, not praised. 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:28.639 The truth of God, not salt. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.759 The wisdom of God, not esteemed. 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.100 The beauty of God, not treasured. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:35.159 The goodness of God, not savored. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:37.019 The faithfulness of God, not trusted. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.919 The commandments of God, not obeyed. 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:41.620 The justice of God, not respected. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.259 The wrath of God, not feared. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.460 The grace of God, not cherished. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:47.120 The presence of God, not prized. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:49.740 The person of God, not loved. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.220 That is sin. 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.439 And I would add to this, the gospel of God, not believed. 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:57.179 That's what this sin is. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:12:01.059 And what you see in every single one of these scenarios, in every single one of these cases, 00:12:01.359 --> 00:12:05.379 is there's a focus that is taken off of God and put on ourselves. 00:12:06.099 --> 00:12:11.359 Sin, among many things, takes our eyes off of God and puts the focus on ourselves. 00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:16.059 Last week, we talked about the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. 00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:21.319 And worldly wisdom, we saw, is marked with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:27.720 We saw that James is saying that worldly wisdom is centered around the fact that we are bitterly jealous 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:33.020 and that we have this selfish ambition that we're constantly thinking about ourselves. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:38.560 And this week, as James is building off of that, we see the fruit of worldly wisdom. 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:42.879 We see the fruit of this bitter jealousy and this selfish ambition. 00:12:43.020 --> 00:12:46.760 And the fruit of that is fighting and quarreling among ourselves. 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:52.600 When we start focusing on the things of the world, what happens is it starts to wreck our lives. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:57.659 It starts to place conflict and fighting into our lives. 00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.480 David Platt put it this way. 00:12:59.559 --> 00:12:59.659 He says, 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:05.860 I can't help but think that the adversary has succeeded in getting these churches to fight with one another 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:10.740 to the extent that they lost sight of where the true battle was. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:16.899 A world system that encouraged us to want more stuff, to prioritize our comforts, 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:20.120 and to ignore the poor while focusing on ourselves. 00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:27.259 The adversary would like nothing more than to divide us so that we fight battles among ourselves 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:32.080 and have little energy for the real battle that is going on. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:36.700 The adversary would love nothing more than for us to fight and quarrel amongst ourselves, 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:39.840 even over petty things like we talked about at the beginning. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:43.980 Because when we do that, it takes our attention off of the things that truly matter. 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:46.320 The things that have eternal significance. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:51.759 The things that have eternal value that God has called us to prioritize in our life. 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:58.899 It is interesting to me that this was written from the early, early church. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:02.620 You see, we didn't emphasize this very much at the beginning of our study of James. 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:08.740 But James, most commentators believe that James was the first book of the New Testament to be written. 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:14.580 They think that it was one of the very earliest books of the New Testament to be written. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:17.440 And they get this because of when James was martyred. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:24.680 And they also get this from some of the events that take place in Acts that are not present in the book of James. 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:28.580 And so they realize that if some of these things that happen, 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.659 and since James is talking about faith and works, 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:36.639 many of those things would be present in this book in addition to his martyrdom and when he was killed. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:43.199 And so most people believe that James was written between 44 and 49 AD. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.399 That's 10 to 15 years after Pentecost. 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:50.000 That's 10 to 15 years after the church of Christ was born. 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:53.279 After when we began meeting as a church. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:56.980 That is very early on in the life of the church. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:15:01.259 Imagine that, a church where everyone is not getting along. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:03.439 And so the next time you hear somebody say, 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.519 Oh, well, we just need to be like the New Testament church. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.399 We just need to be like the early church. 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.960 And in many ways we do. 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.919 There are some things that they were focusing on, 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.960 the things that they were devoted on that we need to. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:15.740 But the early church struggled in many ways. 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:21.360 In fact, we wouldn't have much of the New Testament if there wasn't struggle going on. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:24.120 Many of the letters that Paul is writing to these churches, 00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:26.580 he's addressing issues that they're having. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:29.960 Then, early on, there's fighting, there's quarreling, 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:32.700 there's issues that are going on in the life of the church. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:38.860 Then, like now, these problems were rooted in a deep desire to follow ourselves 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:41.960 and were caused by taking our eyes off of Jesus 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:44.400 and focusing on our own preferences. 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.660 You see, to understand conflict, 00:15:46.780 --> 00:15:49.860 we need to understand the desires at work within us 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.680 that are causing us to be frustrated. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:55.759 It might be the desire for sadness that leads us to be at odds with others. 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:59.980 It might be a desire to get even with someone who has hurt us. 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:04.520 So bitterness is nurtured and grows for months and years, 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:06.840 and it begins to consume us. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.480 I've always heard it like this, 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:12.020 that holding a grudge is like drinking poison 00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:13.980 and expecting the other person to die. 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:16.540 Holding a grudge, when you hold grudges, 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:17.980 when you have this going on in your life, 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:20.060 it's like drinking poison yourself 00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:22.020 and expecting the other person to die. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:25.360 What you end up doing is doing far more harm to yourself 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.860 than you ever do to anyone else. 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:29.419 And this is obviously true in our families, 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:32.439 but it's also true in our church family. 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:36.879 It can even be assumptions that we're making 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:40.159 about other people thinking that they're going to criticize us. 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:42.019 How many times have we played a scenario in our mind, 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:43.399 well, I bet they're saying this. 00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:45.179 I bet they would respond this way. 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:49.679 I bet that it'll happen even if I try to do something about it. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.039 But whatever they are, whatever these underlying things are, 00:16:53.359 --> 00:16:56.439 what's going on is this bitter jealousy and selfish ambition 00:16:56.439 --> 00:17:01.000 is a lack of perspective that keeps our eyes on God 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.299 and then puts them squarely on ourselves. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.940 That's the heart of this. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.299 And here's the thing. 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:08.539 Here's the easy application. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:11.359 Here's the low-hanging fruit from this. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:16.179 The easy application is from this time 00:17:16.179 --> 00:17:17.819 is to change your perspective. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:21.539 Learn to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and not yourself. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.839 But here's the heart application. 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:27.240 Here's where it begins to be difficult. 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:30.879 And that's for us to take the first step in reconciliation. 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:35.779 To go to the person that you've been at odds with 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:38.379 for a very long time and say, I'm sorry. 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:42.380 I'm sorry that this has been going on. 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:47.880 I'm sorry that this conflict has been happening in our relationship. 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:50.220 I would like to move past this. 00:17:50.280 --> 00:17:52.540 I'm tired of avoiding you. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.100 I'm tired of assuming the worst. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.360 And I would like to move past this. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:59.540 And so many things get in the way of us doing this. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.700 We think, well, how will it be responded? 00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:02.740 How will it be received? 00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:04.060 How will this person act? 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:06.620 Because they're probably just going to write me off 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:08.339 and think that I'm not even sincere. 00:18:08.479 --> 00:18:10.579 And so what's the point in even doing this? 00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:12.619 We can come up with so many excuses. 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:14.399 We can come up with so many reasons 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:17.559 and talk ourselves out of what God is calling us to do. 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:20.019 And some of those things may be accurate. 00:18:20.739 --> 00:18:23.119 It may be accurate that they may not receive it 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.519 the way that you hope that they do. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.519 It may be accurate that it's going to be difficult. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:31.579 But that doesn't keep us from following God. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:35.439 That doesn't keep us from following what he's called us to do 00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:39.220 and doing our part in resolving these situations. 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:41.500 So after a difficult statement, 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.039 after showing us the root of the problem 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.099 when it comes to conflict in our lives, 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:49.159 James now shows us for something incredible. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.799 And that's the need for prayer. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.500 The need for prayer in our lives. 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.159 He says this, 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:57.079 You do not have because you do not ask. 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.939 And you ask and do not receive 00:18:58.939 --> 00:19:01.859 because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.740 You adulterous people, 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:05.720 do you not know that friendship with the world 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:07.419 is enmity with God? 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:10.059 Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:12.240 makes himself an enemy of God. 00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:14.879 Or do you suppose that it's to no purpose 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.960 that the scripture says, 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:18.939 He yearns jealously over the spirit 00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:22.079 that He has made to dwell in us. 00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:25.379 Prayer is one of the most overlooked 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:28.080 and abandoned gifts that we have as believers. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.780 Tim Keller, a couple of years ago, 00:19:31.020 --> 00:19:32.220 he passed away. 00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.680 But just before he passed away, 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:36.320 he was giving an interview to someone. 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.500 And Tim Keller was probably 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.560 one of the most influential pastors in America 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.700 over the last 20 years. 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:43.760 His influence was very widespread. 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.580 And he was asked, 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.600 he was given an interview 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:48.300 just before he passed away. 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:51.020 And one of those questions that he was asked was, 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.200 they said this, 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:54.880 is there anything that you would have done 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.500 differently in your life? 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:58.819 If you could go back in your ministry, 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:01.640 is there anything that you would have done differently? 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.940 And he said, 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:03.500 he said, 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.059 absolutely. 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:04.920 He said, 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.620 I would have prayed more. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.640 I would have prayed more 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.880 because prayer does so many things in our life. 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:13.019 In this section, 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:15.340 we see our need for prayer play out 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.460 in several different ways. 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.580 If you're taking notes, 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.600 they're not going to be on the screen, 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:20.559 but you may want to write some of these things down. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:23.539 But the first thing that we see in this passage 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.759 is we need prayer 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:27.559 because it shows our dependence on God. 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.139 We need prayer 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:32.659 because it shows our dependence on God. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.359 He says, 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.480 you do not have 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.519 because you do not ask. 00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:39.700 When prayer is not part of our lives, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.899 it kind of serves like a check engine light. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.980 A check engine light on a car, 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.940 it tells you that something is going on in the car, right? 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.099 It shows you that, 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.779 hey, you may want to take this to a mechanic. 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:51.000 And when that thing starts flashing, 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.220 you better take it to a mechanic quickly, right? 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.500 And so prayer, 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:56.799 when there's not prayer in our lives, 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.899 it shows us very clearly 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:01.240 that there's something not right 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.759 in our relationship with God. 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.839 It shows us that there's something 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.399 that's not part of that relationship 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:08.259 that should be there. 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.240 Prayerlessness is a sign 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:13.740 that we are trying to do things on our own, 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.639 in our own strength, 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.019 for our own sake, 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.440 under our own authority. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:21.759 Prayerlessness arises from a sense 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.660 of independence from God. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.059 However, when we do pray, 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.660 one of the things that it does 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:30.160 is it speaks truth into our lives. 00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:32.039 It is a constant reminder 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.440 that each and every one of us 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.900 are dependent on God 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:37.039 to work and to move in our lives. 00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:39.700 A prayerless life is saying 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:41.320 that I've got this under control. 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.240 I can do this on my own. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.539 A prayerless life is saying, 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.180 God, I don't need you 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:48.700 because I've got this on my own. 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:51.099 But none of us can do that. 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.359 We see over and over again 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:55.759 in Scripture our deep dependence on God, 00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.940 not only for salvation, 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.700 but our dependence on God for everything. 00:21:59.159 --> 00:22:01.159 In fact, just a few chapters before this, 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.180 in James chapter 1, 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.619 James reminds us that 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.799 every good and perfect gift 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.839 is from God. 00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.720 And so we are dependent on God 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.639 not only for salvation, 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:11.059 but for everything in our lives. 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.960 We are dependent on Him. 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:15.099 So we are dependent on God 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.500 for every good and perfect gift 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.200 in our lives. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:19.000 And prayer is a way 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.440 that reminds us 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.740 of our dependence on God. 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.179 But two, next, 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:26.539 we need prayer to refocus our passions. 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:29.759 We need prayer to refocus our passions. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.899 He says, 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.819 you ask and do not receive 00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:35.319 because you ask wrongly 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:37.659 to spend it on your passions. 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:40.900 You ask and do not receive 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.160 because you ask wrongly 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.100 to spend it on your own passions. 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:46.240 Prayer and reading God's Word 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.700 are our primary ways 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:49.420 of communicating with God. 00:22:49.820 --> 00:22:51.740 God speaks to us primarily 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.600 through the reading of His words. 00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.460 And then our primary way 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.779 of communicating with God 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.060 is prayer, 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:59.700 is talking to Him. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:02.380 Yet so many times as we pray, 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.700 as we talk with God, 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.820 it's like we never even listen 00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:06.779 to begin with. 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.579 It's like we never even listen 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:09.799 to what He said to us 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:11.319 as we were reading through His Word. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.799 Think of it like this. 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:15.879 Imagine that I told you 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.099 that Catherine and I, 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:20.099 that our communication is stellar. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.220 It's top-notch. 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:23.059 Nobody communicates better 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.759 in a relationship 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.059 than Catherine and I do. 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.059 And then imagine you got to witness 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:29.039 that communication happening one time. 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:31.500 Let's just say that she comes home 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.599 from school one day 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:34.980 and she had a horrible day. 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.359 It was just a terrible day. 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.839 She got a flat tire on the way to school. 00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.559 She was late. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.479 When she got there, 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.059 she realized that all of her co-workers 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.679 were talking about her 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:44.559 and talking about her behind her back. 00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:45.479 And then she also realized 00:23:45.479 --> 00:23:46.579 that another co-worker 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.619 failed to do something 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.719 then blamed it on her. 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:50.119 And then she had to do 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.299 five other things 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.319 that she wasn't planning 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.219 on doing that day. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.279 And then on the way home, 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:55.579 she got rear-ended 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:57.480 and then that person decided to leave. 00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.759 And before she left, 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.319 as she was going to the different schools 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.439 and meeting with students, 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.939 a student threw an apple at her 00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:03.939 and hit her with an apple. 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:05.159 And all of these things 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.619 are going on in her life. 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.679 And then all of a sudden, 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.879 all of a sudden, 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.740 she says, 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:11.659 can you believe all of this happened? 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.679 And imagine my response is, 00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:17.639 okay, well, what's for supper tonight? 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:20.320 How do you think that would go over? 00:24:21.300 --> 00:24:23.240 Like a lead balloon is how that would go over. 00:24:23.280 --> 00:24:24.900 It wouldn't go over well at all. 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.380 And so we can realize 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:29.980 the hypocrisy in that, 00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:30.740 if I can say it, 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.120 the hypocrisy in that 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:34.380 because we realize that, 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.800 hey, you're not a good communicator 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:37.080 if you're not talking about 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.720 the same things 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.680 that she's talking to you about. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:43.340 Now, imagine that we apply this 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.300 to our Christian life. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.780 Imagine that just a few verses back, 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:49.200 we go to James chapter 2 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.060 and we're reading this 00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:51.280 in our time with God. 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.320 What good is it, my brothers, 00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:54.780 if someone says he has faith 00:24:54.780 --> 00:24:56.140 but does not have works, 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.900 can that faith save him? 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.420 If a brother or sister 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.920 is poorly clothed 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.140 and lacking in daily food 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.160 and one of you says to them, 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.060 go in peace, be warmed and filled, 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.400 without giving them 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.759 the things needed for the body, 00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:08.780 what good is that? 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:11.340 So also faith by itself, 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:13.220 if it does not have works, 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.060 is dead. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.940 Imagine we read that. 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:19.279 And then we go to God in prayer 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.740 and we say, 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.259 Lord, 00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.720 you know 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.539 that my truck 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.759 is getting kind of old now. 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:30.080 It's coming up on 12 months old 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:32.680 and it's almost got 10,000 miles on 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.460 and we both know 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.180 there's only 40,000 miles left 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.420 on this warranty here. 00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:38.640 And so I'm going to go tomorrow 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.080 and let them check my credit 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:40.980 and I'm going to take it 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:42.100 as a sign from you. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.160 If I get approved 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.880 to get a new truck, 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.020 then it's a sign from you 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:46.880 that I need to get a new truck. 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.900 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:51.260 Now, please don't misunderstand me. 00:25:51.760 --> 00:25:52.740 I'm not saying God 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.540 doesn't want us to have 00:25:53.540 --> 00:25:54.560 reliable transportation 00:25:54.560 --> 00:25:55.680 and that there's times 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:57.540 when we can responsibly 00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:58.720 get a new vehicle. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.580 But I think you see 00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:02.260 what I'm trying to communicate here. 00:26:03.040 --> 00:26:03.980 How many times 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.980 do we talk to God 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.980 about different things? 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:08.040 You see, part of the purpose 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:08.600 of prayer 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:11.020 is to align our passions 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:13.660 with the desires of God. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:15.879 But for many of James' readers, 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.740 prayer seems to have been 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.759 a means of trying 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.619 to make God 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:21.319 conform to their plans. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.379 They weren't actually listening 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:24.720 to what God was saying to them. 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.720 They were listening, 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.579 putting it out, 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:27.619 and then talking to God 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.180 about something 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.079 completely different. 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.779 Using God in prayer 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.900 as a means of fulfilling 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.940 their own passions. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.240 And it's no wonder 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.980 that their prayers 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.619 were going unanswered. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.819 Part of the purpose of prayer 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.639 is to align our passions 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:42.200 with God's passions, 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.119 with His desires. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.119 Their prayers were revealing 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.179 something about them 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.899 that James now addresses 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:49.039 for this final thing. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:50.279 We need prayer 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.019 because of our hearts. 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.919 Because of our hearts. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.259 He says, 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.539 You adulterous people, 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.939 do you not know 00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:58.500 that friendship with the world 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.859 is enmity with God? 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:00.740 Therefore, 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.480 whoever wishes 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.899 to be a friend of the world 00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.139 makes himself 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.720 an enemy of God. 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:07.579 James uses some 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:09.539 very strong language here. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.100 And you can imagine 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.380 if I started my link article 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.940 this week 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.920 with you adulteresses, 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.240 right? 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.740 I would probably get 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:17.100 quite a few calls 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:18.380 and quite a few visits 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.120 from people saying, 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.620 Why are you calling us this? 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:21.980 Yet, 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:23.819 this is what James does. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.860 When someone commits adultery, 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.380 what they're doing 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.960 is they're trying 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.880 to find fulfillment, 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:29.559 they're trying to find satisfaction, 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.480 they're trying to find 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.279 pleasure and desire 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.200 in someone 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.440 other than their spouse. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.660 And what James 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.779 is very directly 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.600 telling the people 00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.320 is this, 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.680 that they are looking 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.320 for purpose, 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.880 they're looking 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.559 for satisfaction, 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.559 and they're looking 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.220 for fulfillment 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:48.200 in places other than God. 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.660 He's telling them 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.320 in a very direct way 00:27:51.320 --> 00:27:52.600 that you're cheating on God. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.779 Can you imagine 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.660 going to a wedding 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.660 and during the vows, 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.380 the groom looks 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.220 at the bride and says, 00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.480 I promise 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:01.220 to always put 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.059 my own interest 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.820 before yours. 00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:04.960 To always and forever 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.920 put my needs 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.880 above your needs 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:08.220 as long as we both 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.860 shall live. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.940 We all recognize 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:12.440 the disaster awaiting 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.140 for that marriage, 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.500 right? 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:15.019 We all realize 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.100 the disaster awaiting 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.120 going into a marriage 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:18.539 if that is the focus. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.980 So why do we think 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:21.259 this type of relationship 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.500 will work with God? 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.779 Yet another clear reason 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.740 that we need prayer 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.579 in our lives. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.460 To ask and plead with God 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.600 to continue to mold 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.340 and to make us 00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:31.840 into His image. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:33.359 This is not something 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.720 that we are called 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.579 to do our own. 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:35.919 In fact, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.859 we couldn't do it 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.339 on our own. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.720 We need God's grace 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.159 to do this in our life. 00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:41.319 Jerry Bridges, 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:42.319 he rightly states 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.419 and puts it this way. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.240 He says, 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.459 we're not to wage 00:28:45.459 --> 00:28:46.259 this warfare 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.000 in the strength 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.819 of our own willpower. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.679 Instead, 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.399 just as we look, 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:53.259 just as we by faith 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.119 look to Christ 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.319 for righteous standing 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.079 before God, 00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:57.319 so by faith, 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.939 we are to look to Him 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.420 for the enabling power 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:02.600 to live the Christian life. 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.480 Up to this point, 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.880 James has done 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:07.059 a brilliant job 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.860 of showing us our need. 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:09.980 Up to this point, 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.600 James has done 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:12.220 a really great job 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.920 of showing us 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.080 that we need something 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:14.640 and now, 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:16.039 in this next section, 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.700 he shows us 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.420 this final part 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.740 that we're going 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.360 to look at today. 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.299 He shows us 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.320 what that need is 00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:21.380 and that need 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:23.620 is the need for grace. 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.820 The need for grace. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.400 Up to this point, 00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:28.960 James has been pretty blunt 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.840 on some things 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.740 that are going on 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.320 that should not be going on. 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:32.940 They fight 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.620 and they quarrel 00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.580 because their passions 00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.200 are at war. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.740 They claim to love God 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.320 while still loving 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.320 the things of this world 00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:40.019 and James very bluntly 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:41.080 says their actions 00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:42.340 are adulterous. 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.759 And then we get 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.620 to verse 6 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:46.519 and he says this, 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.800 but he gives 00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:50.000 more grace. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.780 But he gives 00:29:52.780 --> 00:29:54.100 more grace. 00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:54.519 Therefore, 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.620 it says God opposes 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.140 the proud 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.680 but gives grace 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.820 to the humble. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.700 Just before this, 00:30:00.780 --> 00:30:01.460 James told us 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.000 that we serve 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.980 a jealous God 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.640 who wants nothing less 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.740 than our total devotion. 00:30:06.520 --> 00:30:06.920 Honestly, 00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:07.800 it's a pretty helpless 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.640 place to be in 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:10.500 knowing what God requires 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.160 and knowing that 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.880 we can't meet 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.900 what God requires. 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.400 Knowing that God 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.420 has required 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.420 something of us 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.240 and knowing that 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.020 we can't meet 00:30:18.020 --> 00:30:18.520 what it is 00:30:18.520 --> 00:30:19.380 that he requires. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.020 That's a pretty 00:30:20.020 --> 00:30:21.540 helpless place to be. 00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.300 But then, 00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.120 but I want you to listen 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.939 how Douglas Moo 00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:25.879 brings these two 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.719 verses together. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.299 He says it like this. 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:28.679 He says, 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:30.099 if verse 5 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.039 depicts God's 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.619 jealousy for his people, 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:34.379 then James here 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.399 is reminding us 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.479 that God's grace 00:30:36.479 --> 00:30:37.719 is completely 00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:39.099 adequate to meet 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:40.159 the requirement 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:41.439 imposed on us 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:42.779 by that jealousy. 00:30:43.459 --> 00:30:44.179 Our God 00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:46.279 is a consuming fire 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.779 and his demand 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.899 for our exclusive 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.619 allegiance 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:51.599 may seem terrifying, 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:53.139 but our God 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:54.219 is also merciful, 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.399 gracious, 00:30:55.959 --> 00:30:56.699 all loving, 00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:58.059 and willingly 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.439 supplies all 00:30:59.439 --> 00:31:00.399 that we need 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:01.299 to meet 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:03.019 his all-encompassing 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.839 demands. 00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:05.779 Will we 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.559 and do we fail? 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.659 Absolutely. 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.639 All the time. 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.319 But he gives 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.939 more grace. 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.359 Even when we've 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.679 turned from him, 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.519 he gives more grace. 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.500 When we fail 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.240 to focus our 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.539 affections on the thing, 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.279 on God, 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.059 and place them 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.200 on the things 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.819 of this world, 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.700 he gives more grace. 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.420 When we, 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.720 as parents, 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.680 fail to show 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.500 our kids 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.519 that our true 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.680 and greatest treasure 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.639 is Jesus, 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.720 he gives more grace. 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.619 What we see here 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.180 is language 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.099 that recognizes 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:41.460 our need for God 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.359 to help us 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.480 in this process, 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.579 to continue 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.359 to mold us 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:46.339 and to make us 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.159 into who God 00:31:47.159 --> 00:31:48.119 calls us to be. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.539 Grace to the humble. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.819 Submit yourself 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.359 to God. 00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.700 Draw near to God. 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.839 Humble yourself 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.839 before the Lord. 00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.799 God is not asking you 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.819 to live the Christian 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.220 life by yourself. 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.379 He wants you 00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:01.740 to lean into him, 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.399 to rely on his strength 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.220 and not be dependent 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.980 on yours. 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:05.960 God, 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.639 more than anyone, 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.359 knows that we 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.839 have these passions 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.559 that are at war 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.240 within us. 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:10.799 God, 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.519 more than anyone, 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.740 knows that we 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.119 need his grace. 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.879 That's why he sent 00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.480 Jesus. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.680 Because there was 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.100 no other way. 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.759 And so if you're 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.320 here today, 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.320 maybe you need 00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:24.700 to see his saving grace 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.279 in a clear 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.240 and powerful way. 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:27.759 You realize that 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.980 your sin has separated 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.480 you and maybe 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.640 you've been trying 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.600 to save yourself 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:34.220 by doing things 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.000 over and over again, 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.920 by trying to be 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.580 good enough. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.400 And so maybe today 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.539 is the day that you 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.680 really realize 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.980 that I can't do this 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.160 and I need to stop 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.500 doing and rest 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.180 in what has been 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:46.400 done for me. 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.740 But for many of us 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.279 who have already 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.060 placed our faith 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:50.759 and our trust in him, 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.240 if you've already 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:51.860 done this, 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.000 then my hope 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.600 and my prayer 00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.220 is that you can 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.720 humbly lay down 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.380 the passions 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.279 of this world. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.060 That by God's grace 00:32:59.060 --> 00:32:59.600 we'll continue 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.460 to lay down 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.000 the passions 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.740 of this world, 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.140 this worldly wisdom, 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.200 this selfish ambition, 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.180 this bitter jealousy 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:06.500 that consumes us 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.259 and that causes us 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.080 quarrels and causes 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.840 fights among us 00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:09.460 and that we can 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.500 lay them down 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.240 at the cross 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.240 and faithfully 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.080 follow him 00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:13.759 with everything 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.420 we have 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.720 and to see 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:17.440 how by doing this 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:19.539 so much of the fighting, 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.940 so much of the quarreling 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.960 in our lives 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.759 all of a sudden 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:24.099 pales in comparison 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.480 to the glory of God. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.140 And that's my prayer 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:27.819 for us today. 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.099 That as we think 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.660 about what causes quarrels 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.619 and what causes fights 00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:32.259 among us, 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.059 that it's taking our eyes 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.960 off of Jesus 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.559 and putting them 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.200 on ourselves. 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.200 And may we today 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:39.900 rightly put our eyes 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.079 back on him. 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:41.839 Father, 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.039 thank you so very much. 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.759 for the wisdom 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.639 that you teach us 00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:46.440 through James, 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.599 through your brother here. 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:48.839 Lord, 00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:50.359 it is a beautiful thing 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.000 to see 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.980 where wisdom lies, 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.159 where 00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:57.180 true godly wisdom lies 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:57.759 and that's keeping 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.279 our eyes fixed on you. 00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.220 And so Lord, 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.420 I pray that as we 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:03.299 live this life 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:04.680 where we constantly 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.480 have people 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.379 pulling at us 00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.279 from different directions, 00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:07.940 where people are 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.739 constantly saying 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.559 you need to put 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.579 you first, 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.579 Lord, 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.679 that you would 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.519 show us very clearly 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.279 that we don't need 00:34:14.279 --> 00:34:15.199 ourselves first. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.759 We need you first. 00:34:17.319 --> 00:34:18.259 We need our eyes 00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:20.440 clearly fixed on you. 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:22.179 And as we fix 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:23.259 our eyes on you, 00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:24.619 it's amazing to see 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:26.019 how the fighting 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.840 and the quarreling, 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.920 they just seem 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.719 to fall away. 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:30.139 They seem to disappear 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:31.639 because we have 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.400 a right perspective 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.119 in our life. 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.920 We have a perspective 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.539 that says, 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.719 what you desire, 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.500 your passions, 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.440 are far greater 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:40.079 and far more important 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.840 than our own. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.340 And so we freely 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.619 lay down our passions, 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:45.199 we freely lay down 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:46.480 our desires 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.980 at the foot of the cross 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:49.500 and we worship you 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:49.920 and say, 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.139 God, 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.960 here's my life. 00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:51.920 Take it 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.780 and use it. 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.820 God, 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.619 thank you for that. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:56.000 Thank you for the ways 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.420 that you bless us 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:57.940 each and every day, 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:59.539 the grace that you give 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:01.380 to us each and every day. 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:01.619 Lord, 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.559 we pray that mercy 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.760 is afresh every morning 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.480 in our lives 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.840 and it points us 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.579 to you. 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.980 We ask all this 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.800 in Jesus' name. 00:35:09.100 --> 00:35:09.400 Amen. 00:35:10.160 --> 00:35:10.860 I'm going to invite you 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.280 to stand. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:11.940 We're going to sing 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.039 a song of invitation. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.440 If God is speaking 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.140 to you this morning, 00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:15.920 won't you respond 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.780 as we stand together 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.700 and sing?