JAMES 4
4 Outlines
James 4:1-4
SOURCES OF CONFLICT
There are many sources
for conflict that make us very unhappy. These are the "wars and fightings among us".
DESIRE FOR WHAT IS NOT
OF GOD - Vss. 1-2a - SENSUALITY (lusts)
DENIAL OF GOD'S POWER -
Vs. 2b - STUPIDITY (We deny God's power when we fail to pray.)
DEVIATION FROM GOD'S
PLAN - SELFISHNESS (When we do ask God for things we often ask for the wrong
reasons.)
DIVISION FROM GOD - Vss.
4-5 - SEPARATION - (Love of the world separates us from God.)
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James 4:1-10
HANDLING DISCONTENT
We live in a world that is primarily full with
discontented people. Even in church, there are many discontented people. We are
discontented with our friends, our enemies, our jobs, our churches, our
finances, our families etc.
As our text shows, the problem of discontent is not
new. The church in James' day also faced it.
James addresses discontent in our text.
FRUSTRATIONS OF SELFISHNESS Vss. 1-2a
FAILURE IN PRAYER Vss. 2b-3
FLIRTATION WITH THE WORLD Vs. 4
FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE Vss. 6-10
How do we once again become contented?
Grace Through Humility Vs. 6
Submission Vs. 7
Repentance Vss. 8-10
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James 4:1-10
A SPRITUAL
CLINIC
There are all sorts of
"clinics" available today to meet medical needs. There are medical
clinics, eye clinics, dental clinics, psychiatric clinics and a host of other
clinics. They specialize on particular physical needs.
In James 4:1-10 God is
giving to us a Spiritual clinic. He's helping us see what some of our Spiritual
problems are and how to fix them.
OUR MAJOR SOURCE OF
CONFLICT IS OUR LUSTS - Vss. 1-2
OUR MAJOR LACK OF CONTENTMENT
IS DUE TO IMPROPER PRAYER LIVES - Vss. 2-3
OUR MAJOR LACK OF
COMMUNION WITH GOD IS DUE TO SPIRITUAL ADULTERY - Vss. 4-5
OUR MAJOR MEANS OF
CORRECTION IS HUMBLE REPENTANCE - Vss. 6-10
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James 4:11-5:6
ARROGANCE!
Nobody should want to be
arrogant. A person who is arrogant is showing off a tremendous amount of
pride. How do we know when we are being
arrogant?
WE ARE ARROGANT WHEN WE
PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT ON OTHERS - Vss. 11-12
The kind of judgment
referred to here is speaking evil of another person.
A person who speaks evil
of another is taking judgment into his own hands. Matthew 7:1-5
WE ARE ARROGANT WHEN WE
PLAN WITHOUT CONSIDERING GOD - Vss. 13-17
The arrogant person boasts
of what he or she is going to do. God is
not considered as having any influence in the arrogant person's plans.
WE ARE ARROGANT WHEN WE
PRACTICE MISTREATMENT OF OTHERS - Vss. 1-6
Many rich people have
arrogantly treated poor people.
Although we may not have
been guilty of the exact infraction mentioned here, we must remember that we
are to treat others the way we want to be treated. Matthew 7:12, Ephesians
4:30-32
When we do not treat
people properly, we are being arrogant, thinking ourselves better than they!
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