Series: James – Let’s do it!
Thesis of Book: The message of the book is “Let’s do it – live the faith – put it into action! The half-brother of Jesus is speaking to the scattered Jewish Christians across the nations – they were scattered right after Stephen was killed. James tells these Christians and us today “You have to do more than just talk about your faith - you have to put your faith to work for the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.” In other words, what you do with your faith matters in the here and now and in eternity so put it into action! Faith with no deeds is dead!
Key verse of book: James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Summary of lessons from Chapter 1- We put faith into action when:
…We persevere through the trials and grief of life and in the midst of it get His inner joy and peace.
…We control the pressure moments of life with faith and not anger and in the process find freedom in the Spirit.
…We listen and do to be what God has called us to be and do.
Summary of lessons from Chapter 2 – We put faith into action when:
…We put our faith into motion when we choose to fight against favoritism, prejudice mindsets and discrimination.
…We put faith into action when we love, accept and forgive others. Cook states, “When love, acceptance and forgiveness prevail, the church of Jesus Christ becomes what Jesus was in the world: a center of love designed for the healing of broken people and a force for God” When faith is released to action it impacts people’s lives, transformation happens and people are set free! It releases revival!
Summary of lesson from Chapter 3:1-12 – We put faith into action when:
…James wants us to understand that our tongues wield supernatural power and if we do not keep them tamed-bridled and under control they will lead our lives right into a firestorm.
…Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit to help lead us into the Wisdom from above that will help us bring it under control!
Summary of James 3:13-18 – We put faith into action when:
…We listen to God on how to deal with things in life correctly
…We receive God’s wisdom from above and then put it into action by not being polluted by the world.
…We need to discern today which wisdom has taken root in our lives. The truth is we are adhering to one or the other.
…We need to determine today if we are going to allow wisdom from above to direct our life or if we are going to let wisdom from below direct our life.
…One brings satisfaction and blessing and a life in order the other brings disarray to our life and chaos.
Warning - Today’s topic from the book of James will stir your soul and emotions. For some of you it will bring up old hurts and wounds. For others it will stir emotions of shame and sorrow. For others it will unleash again a sting into your heart and soul. For others it will make you cry and mourn. For others it will stir the emotions of regret or anger. For some of you it will cause you to want to leave. So I warn you today our topic will stir all kinds of emotions within your soul, it will bring back painful memories, it will cause grief but in the end it will remind us of how important it is to put our faith into action in our lives.
Sermon: James 4:1-12 – Get smart and put faith into action!
Thesis: We need to put our faith into action by controlling our anger, our emotions, we do this step of faith by losing our self-centered mindsets. If we do this God promises to draw nearer to us, to lift us up, to answer our prayers and to enable us to resist the enemy of our soul, the Devil.
Scripture text for today James 4:1-12:
Submit Yourselves to God
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double–minded.
9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:1-12: Get Serious from The Message
1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3 You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
4-6 You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."
7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
11-12 Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?
What James is addressing is a serious situation were faith is abandoned and self-centeredness is lifted up and when this happens prayers are hindered, people are wounded, relationships are broken, lives are shattered, families are torn apart, organizations crumble and the message of Christianity is defaced.
Video Illustration: From Fireproof – “I want out!” The pain caused by anger and self-centeredness - wingclips.com
This emotional scenario we just watched from Fireproof stirs something inside of us all –for some it brought flashbacks, it stirred the emotion of grief, regret, anger, sadness, remorse, and maybe even fear. But these faithless moments in life happen far to often within families, relationships, organizations, schools and yes even in churches.
Introduction:
Your anger affects you whether you want to believe it or not!
The following from https://www.thehotline.org/2014/01/09/the-negative-effects-of-anger-on-you-and-others/
Do you ever feel really angry and unable to let something go? Do you feel like you’re continually on the brink, or on edge? When your anger lasts for extended periods of time, it becomes more difficult to cope with little aggravations in your life and it becomes harder to de-stress. This can affect every day activities, like work and extracurriculars. It can be hard to focus on tasks or accomplish projects, and can make people not want to work alongside you. Anger also causes feelings like guilt, remorse and shame (especially if you generally act out in ways that you later regret.) If you’re angry and constantly stressed because of this, it’s also likely that you’ll feel unable to let loose and have fun — which is important for your mental wellbeing.
Excessive anger also puts your physical wellbeing at risk. In the short term, anger can cause headaches, migraines, chest pains, aches and more. Over the long term, anger issues can further complicate pre-existing health conditions. It can also put you at risk for hypertension, high blood pressure, depression, and cardiovascular issues. While this all may sound like a television PSA for a new drug with “possible side effects,” the impact that your anger issues can have on your life are real and far-reaching.
Your anger affects those around you whether you want to believe it or not.
You know the saying “laughter is contagious?” The same holds true for other emotions. Your anger can affect not only you, but the people in your life as well. It casts a negative feeling on those around you. At the very least, your anger can cause people to feel put off, upset, intimidated, afraid, or a handful of other unpleasant emotions. You’re also running the risk of pushing loved ones out of your life for good. Do you lash out at your partner when you’re angry? Whether this is emotional, physical or both, it can have an extremely negative effect on your partner’s wellbeing. Solving conflict with anger, yelling and violence also sets an unhealthy precedent in a relationship, ignoring the need for open, trusting communication.
If you feel like your anger might be getting the best of you, becoming aware of this is the first step toward making a change in your life and James in this letter to Christians addresses this emotion and subject.
A Case in point --- Reflections from a young boy’s nightmare story: Listen to this story as told through the eyes and mind of the affects of anger!
My home echoed from the words of “I hate you!” “You are worthless!” “You are stupid!” The walls repeated the sounds of rage and these words ripped through the air into the hearts of the young lives listening and watching the chaos. As a young toddler boy, I had too many memories of violence and rage - I shuddered in horror as my father leaped out of the car to go drag a man out of car window to pound on him for cutting him off in traffic. This happened on our way to an amusement park ruining the whole day. The rest of the day was not filled with laugher or joy but fear! My mom sat in silence all day afraid to speak for fear of retaliation from the anger seeping out of this man’s heart.
“Yes,” he would lose it like this over nothing and “yes” we would all pay the price with his verbal abuse, physical abuse, -- mostly my mom -- but my brothers and I would look on in terror to see the constant insanity of anger and rage. We endured the verbal tongue lashings, the smacks, the thuds, the cries, the whimpering, the pain, the mental torment, the groans, the stress, the anguish from the blows of rage. What amazed us was no one stopped him even though most saw what he would do to the family and to our mom – over and over again. No one said anything to him neither brothers – sisters – his mother when he unleashed his fists of fury on her or us. All remained silent and she would collapse into a corner bloody and emotionally raped. I would sit next to her or my brothers as young boys to comfort her but she would cry and hold us near. Me and my brothers would sit by her, holding each other, while the crazy maniac put holes in the walls, broke lamps, broke dishes, destroyed anything she loved or we loved. We all would endure this rage for years and years.
We would cringe when we knew it was time for him to come home from work! Why? Because our safe world was about to end, our peace was going to be thrown into fear, turmoil and rage. We had witnessed him fly off the handle over anything and everything. It happened without warning, a wrong word, bad traffic, a neighbor’s comment anything could and would send him into his rage. And we would have to endure the emotional, mental and physical pain.
He allowed this rage, his anger to happen when ever anything or anyone messed with his selfish little world. A bad day at work meant a bad day in our home! His anger would strike, tear, whip, shred and dismantle our soft child like hearts. Angry words filled the air and the fight’s and the quarrels would be passed down the family line.
Then came the night, the breaking point when I was 11 years old - this night would change my heart for a long time. I was in my room sleeping, actually sound asleep. I awoke to the yelling of the madman! He had come home from work – she had made him steak, potatoes and corn, he had a bad day, my mom was being called a tramp and h… told her she was not worth anything but she was a ______.
I then heard the loud thud, the cracking of a wall, he had shoved her up against the wall by her neck. I then heard the repeated fists hitting her face and body “Smack, groan, cry ‘stop” smack.” Her cries and pleas to stop did not stop him –her gasps for air- incited him to inflict more pain on her - as he hit her over and over each twisted blow taking her breath. My younger brother was whimpering under the covers. He looks at me and says, “He is killing her!” My older brother is huddled in a corner at 12 saying “What can we do he is too strong!” But this 11 year old loses his fear and gets angry – really angry – as angry as the mad man downstairs – he opens his heart to the demons of anger and rage. So, he runs out of the bed room and from the top of the stairs he yells at madman as he sees him punching her in the body “Stop it! Leave her alone!” His anger superseded his fear of him – he stands his ground ½ his size but with a face of determination. The mad man is first of all shocked at what just happened.
He stops the assault on her and looks up the stairs at me and then his eyes get darker, his eyes bulge with anger, hatred spills out and I see evil in his eyes. He launches up the stairs swearing at me, reminding me I am not his son and he grabs me by the throat, picking me up off my feet, pinning me into the wall and says, “Don’t you ever tell me what to do boy --- I will beat you so bad you will wish you were dead!” He then spins me around by my neck and throws me down the hall into the stairs. I fall like a rag doll onto the floor gasping for air, trying to breathe wondering if this is the end.
But, his mom jumps on the lunatic hitting him yelling, “Leave him alone you blank……!” But he shoves her off and amazingly leaves the house.
And there we all are huddled in the hall holding each other crying. But relieved because the evil one has left our home. Yes, we are bruised, hurt, bleeding from the beating but we are alive. I tell my mom, “I won’t let him keep hurting you. One day I will kill him. I will give back to him all the pain he has given us. He will pay for his beatings. He will pay for his outbursts of anger, his words and his brutality.”
Sadly, at that point in time I become like the man I hate. I allowed anger, bitterness and rage to take root in my heart and mind. I starts working out with weights, I join a martial arts school. Why? For the soul purpose to beat up my evil father and protect my family from him. What changed – I let anger and bitterness take root in my heart! I tell myself I will pay him back for this life of pain and hurt. I will seek revenge for my mom’s beatings and my own personal beatings. I was determined to stop the insanity of this mad man when others chose to ignore it. So I the young boy becomes more filled with rage, anger, bitterness, hatred and venom.
The day of reckoning comes when I am 17. Six years of anger, rage, hatred, bitterness and physical training and learning how to fight. I am a time bomb waiting to explode! There have been many fights in my home, since that day, we had lost the battle with him several times as we were hit with vases smashing over my head at 15 and the use of other objects, I have had stitches time from him and my rage builds inside of me. But on this day something changed, the rage explodes and I go after the mad man, the demon. I am not the same little boy, I have trained, I have gotten stronger and I realize for the first time in my life I am winning the fight. I am beating him so bad that I hear the cracks as my fists dig deep into his ribs, I see fear in the madman’s eyes for the first time and the pain in his eyes. This sense of fear and pain drives me to keep unleashing blow after blow into his body. Kick after kick. The cracking of his ribs – I see him gasping for breath – my mind flashes back to the 11 year old scene – just like what he did to me and my mom for years – I hears the whispers of the demons of anger, “Kill him” “Hurt him” “He is wounded and hurt –finish him off!” The anger surges through my veins and a venom surges through my blood. I tell him at one point, “I told you one day you would pay and today I am going to beat you so bad you will regret you were born and I will kill you!” The brawl, the fight, it’s all over the living room, over the dining room table, into the fireplace, my ruthless beating of the madman is starting to shock the four by-standers, my two friends, and my two brothers. They decide he has lost it – so they pull me off of him because they fear I will kill him. They all jump on me and drag me off the madman who at this point is crawling away – hurt – in pain - he is feverishly moving toward the phone to call the police -- the others hold me back – he calls the police and tells them “My wife’s son is beating me up for no reason!” No reason! This is what he did many times to us as kids and my mother. No reason – my mom tells me to stop because I am being just like him.
If you have not figured it out yet, this is my story, this was my life, this was my nightmare and it still hurts - the sting is deep. My insane young life created a deep rooted anger within me – a demon of anger took root in my heart. How, by opening up my heart to it, by not growing up in a home that was safe and secure or filled with peace. I could deal with the chaos of the world around me but it really got to me because my home was filled with violence–rage-fights-brawls-cutting words and fear. It was an unhealthy environment to be a part of and yet I had no choice but to try and survive it. In the end it led me to Jesus who healed my heart and mind and gave me peace. It changed the course of my life – He healed my heart and delivered me from the destruction that comes with anger, rage and bitterness!
So, I understand James instruction to the people of God – Stop the fights, stop the quarrels, stop slandering one another! Quit listening to wisdom from below!
James is telling the Body of Christ that a family, a business, a nation, a home, a church should not be filled with this type of behavior. This type of behavior is driven by a mindset that listens to wisdom from below – a devilish, unspiritual, fleshly wisdom that is out for the survival of fittest. It’s a mindset that is out to win at all costs and destroy anyone who gets in its way. James tells us that a person who lives their life this way is not a friend of God but a friend of the world and this should not be for Christians.
Please understand --- Christians will have disagreements---don’t get me wrong – but he is talking about a mindset that is rooted in selfish desires which causes hurts-fights-quarrels with others. Why all the fights? So they can get their self-centered ways.
T.S. – We need to get smart and put faith in action by just stopping all the fighting and all the quarrels because it does not build up the Body of Christ, it does not build up your family instead it tears it all down.
1. Get smart and put faith in action by stopping the fights and quarrels (James 4:1-3; 11-12)
a. What causes fights-arguments-brawls-hurtful words—have you ever wondered what causes these things to happen? Three primary things:
i. They come from within your heart.
1. James addresses it with the revelation – They come from within you – did you hear that – you are to blame – not your spouse or the neighbor –or the co-worker – It’s your selfish wants battling within you --- I want this and I want it now! – When our selfish wants are not met you get mad and into fights with others.
2. Why so you get your way!
ii. They come from listening to wisdom from below which is devilish, unspiritual, and fleshly.
1. The other reason goes back to what we explored 2 weeks ago – listening to wisdom from below – when you have No wisdom from above, no insight from God, no help from the Holy Spirit. You lose it!
a. Stress pushes you over the edge.
b. People irritate you.
c. Angers flares
d. Temper flares
e. Crazy drivers send you into rage
iii. The third reason is rooted in Pride (James 4:6, 10)
1. Flesh wants its own way and all the recognition.
2. Yes, this devilish behavior. This Unspiritual behavior. Pride is thinking you are better than others even better than God himself.
3. Pride – hinders your prayers – alienates you from God.
b. We need to “Get Smart” and control our anger and emotions it’s the Biblical way to manage life and stressful situations.
i. One of the leading culprits of a person losing it is stress!
1. I picked up a magazine last week dealing with the subject of stress! How to Beat Stress – a scientific guide to feeling happier by Centennial Media.
a. They addressed the subject – The State of Our Stress!
i. Just how stressed are we in the US?
1. They reported that 6 in 10 adults report that the current social divisiveness in our country causes them severe stress.
2. In their pole many said, “This is the lowest point in our nations history that they can remember – with all the political attack adds, political fights, division of party lines, and promotion of division and disrespect in the media.”
ii. Here is what they discovered – Most common sources of overall stress:
1. The future of our nation 63%
2. Money 62%
3. Work 61%
4. Current political climate 57%
5. Violence and crime 51%
iii. Average stress levels by gender:
1. Men 4.4 out of 10
2. Women 5.1 out of 10
iv. Younger people according to their study are the most stressed in our nation!
ii. So, you may be asking the question: “What can I do?”
1. In the magazine I picked up “How to Beat Stress” they noted 3 effective things people do to deal with high levels of stress:
a. Listen to music 47%
b. Exercise or walk 46%
c. Pray 29%
2. There are also three other ways to deal with stress I have discovered (These three steps come from Dr. Whiteman’s book –Stress Management pgs. 43-45).
a. His Tips to anger and stress management – Do the 3 A’s
i. Accept – Stress filled situations are often made worse because people are fighting their way through them – every inch-every step-every moment. In their heads – In their hearts and in their emotions!
1. Sometimes we need to quit fighting what we cannot change and ask God for the help to press through it and to deal with it with wisdom from above.
ii. Alter – Stress filled situations sometimes can be altered! You can change certain aspects of your job or home life? Can you find ways to lower the stress in those exploding points in life? Can you look to others for help and advice? Are you asking God to help alter your situation?
iii. Avoid – Stress filled situations may dictate that you must get out of that abusive and destructive environment. It’s not worth staying in an environment or situation that will destroy your life with anger and rage.
1. There come’s times in life when you have to avoid what causes you to lose it!
2. Are you over worked – then change your lifestyle –cut back.
3. Ask God to help you to avoid the destructive environment.
4. Don’t go to places which fuel your anger! Go to places that build you up and encourage you!
5. What are you watching? What are you feeding your heart and mind – quit feeding it violence or things of this kind.
a. Violent movies fuel anger!
6. The Bible says think on things that are up lifting and positive – don’t dwell on the negative – get help with this from a good Christian Counselor!
3. But the bottom line when it comes to controlling anger is that we must take responsibility for our anger – Your anger is your choice!
a. I would tell myself in my fits of anger that I could not help myself this was the way I was made! I was cursed with the Irish temper – this was my dads excuse for his anger and rage all the time.
i. Many people use this excuse to justify their sins – I was made this way by God I cannot help myself.
ii. The truth is this is a lie and God does not create us to sin but instead to be images of His likeness.
iii. God is love – and this should be a driving character trait of a Christian who is a doer of the word of God.
b. James tells us that God does not tempt people with sinful evil things.
i. I hear way to often that people with sin in their life are made that way by God.
1. God made me to have to have sex all the time. I cannot help it – I was created this way.
2. God made me gay.
3. God made me to have a desire to want to drink and get wasted, I cannot stop. I am just wired this way!
4. God gave me lustful thoughts for others I cannot help it!
5. God made me this way!
a. Let me be clear – NO HE DID NOT! YOU chose your sinful choices that have arisen from within your heart.
b. This is what James is saying in our chapter today!
c. Dr. Minirth and Carter in their book “The Anger Workbook” tell us that to be able to deal with your anger you have to quit believing the myths about it – anger is your choice no one else’s – you have chosen to react the way you react – admit it and ask God to help you change – You can change by losing the myths which perpetuate an angry lifestyle. (The following from Minirth and Carters - The Anger Workbook).
i. Myths:
1. My history of rejection leaves me emotionally depleted – so I have a right to be angry!
a. Example of Joseph in the OT.
i. Sold into slavery by brothers.
ii. Accused on something he did not do by Potiphar wife and imprisoned.
iii. Helped someone get out of jail and forgotten about.
iv. Life did not go well for him but I never see him getting mad angry and bitter over it all.
b. 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2. Myth 2:
a. God should have stopped my problems – it’s His fault I suffered – He allowed it to happen – He wanted me to be abused!
i. These mindsets are rooted in the thought pattern that God owes me something! He is here to serve me!
ii. From the beginning God has respected free will in mankind – he does not violate that in people.
iii. It’s free will – sinful behavior which causes all the pain and suffering you experience in this world – it does not come from God – he tempts no one with evil.
3. Myth 3:
a. Letting go of my anger means I am conceding defeat to that which caused my anger in the first place.
i. Angry people feel like victims because of the wrongs they have endured. Victimization causes angry people to conclude that forgiveness is unreasonable.
ii. But I have to ask, “Will my quality of life be greater if I choose to hold on to my anger rather than releasing it? You may eventually conclude, I still dislike the wrongs I’ve suffered, but I choose to thrive in spite of them.”
4. Myth 4:
a. No one understands my unique problems.
i. To break this myth of isolation and specific targeting of evil – we have to choose to acknowledge that someone with different experiences of suffering can encourage us with the help and the hope of Jesus.
5. Myth 5:
a. I don’t deserve to be happy or joyful.
i. Many feel selfish if they try to be happy looking at what they suffered – some feel they are just destined by God to be tormented their whole life – Let me say it again no they are not – no you are not – God wants to bless you and prosper you.
6. Myth 6:
a. There is nothing to look forward to in life! It’s hopeless!
i. Phil. 3:13-14: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
ii. Paul the murderer was convinced that his angry history in the past would not dictate his future because his hope-his power to change rested in Jesus – the prize of life!
4. The other thought from Scripture is to make sure your anger is not crossing the boundary into sin – Ephesians 4:26: Be angry and sin not!
c. James tells us in 3:18: 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (NIV). The Message words it this way --- 18You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.”
i. What is the biggest thing the world is looking for?
1. What do most Miss America candidates desire for the world – any guess? Answer is “World peace.”
a. Peace - The basic Christian ideal specifies that peace can only come by the Word and love of God, which is perfectly demonstrated in the life of Christ (see Romans 8:19-23). As Christology is interpreted from Isaiah 2, whereupon the 'Word of the Lord' is established on the earth the material human-political result will be 'nation not taking up sword against nation; nor will they train for war anymore'.
b. Christian world peace necessitates the living of a proactive life replete with all good works in direct light of the Word of God. The details of such a life can be observed in the Gospels, especially the historically renowned Sermon on the Mount, where forgiving those who do wrong things against oneself is advocated among other pious precepts.
c. It should be noted, however, that world peace is not expected by Christians on this earth “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn“ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’—Mat 10:34-36
d. By Christians, world peace on this earth is expected to be manifest upon the 'new earth' that is promised in Christian Scripture (see Revelation 21).
2. Peace defined:
a. The absence of war or other hostilities.
b. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
c. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other.
d. Public security and order: was arrested for disturbing the peace.
e. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.
i. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/peace#ixzz2dMig5UZr
3. The importance of peace:
a. Peace, which is only a 5-letter word, plays an important role in our lives. It is peace which makes us live happily and comfortably. It affects life in so many ways. Peace means order, discipline, prosperity and benefits; we all feel safe when our life is peaceful. On the other hand, conflicts or wars mean destruction, fear, sadness and finally death. Accordingly, let's live and let live.
T.S. – The ability to live at peace in the midst of chaos and mayhem all around is a gift from God that comes through a relationship with Him and a heart and mind in tune with wisdom from above. To receive peace we need to ask God and for God to answer our prayers but they need to be asked with the right motives in the heart.
2. Get smart by praying to God with right motives (James 4:2b-6)
a. We need to make sure we humble ourselves and ask God for help with the things we face in life
i. We do not have to do this on our own – our pride keeps us from asking because most of the time we want to do it ourselves!
1. Refers us back to James 1:5 then to 3:13-18
2. Asking for wisdom – asking for help is a sign of humility.
3. Many get so stressed out and lose it because they think they have to do life all by themselves and this not true- God wants to help!
a. Have you asked for help lately?
ii. Why don’t we do this because we want the glory and the pat on the back?
b. Asking with wrong motives does not work with God or in others words using wisdom from below will not get God to listen to you or respond to your selfish prayers.
i. Wrong motive – a selfish motive
1. Are your prayers selfish in nature? Have you listened to them lately?
ii. Wrong motive – your own personal gain is your desire not what is right and fair for the situation or for the Kingdom of Heaven.
1. Are your prayers greedy? Have you listened to your own prayers lately?
iii. See James 5:13-15: Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.
1. We need to just do this and get smart – do you do what is instructed here – do you ask God – do you ask for prayer – do you praise Him or mock him.
a. Are your prayers ultimatums to God?
2. Do you hoard things for yourself and yet want God to bless you financially – wrong motives – wrong attitudes see James 5:1-6
c. What do your prayers sound like to God even to yourself – have you listened to them lately?
i. I challenge you to write down all your prayers this next week and see what they look like and sound like!
1. What is their focus – their common request or theme?
2. Missionary letters often tell me a lot about a person’s heart and focus.
ii. So how should we pray?
1. A Practical Plan: From Mike Bickle
a. His three part plan for doing prayer right!
i. Set a schedule for regular prayer times – A schedule establishes when you pray!
1. He states, “Life is busy, and there are many demands on our time. For this reason we must be intentional about developing consistent prayer lives .If we do not set our schedules ourselves, others will set them for us, and the result will be very little time for prayer… “(Mike Bickle, Growing in Prayer page 38).
2. I have discovered if I don’t set prayer times I miss them because of busyness then what happens is my prayers are quick prayers focused on myself or a situation – they become self-centered rather than God centered or others centered.
ii. Make a prayer list!
1. Mike Bickle says, “A prayer list is a simple tool that can help keep you focused during your prayer times” (page 39).
a. A prayer list helps us focus on the needs of others and not just ourselves – a prayer list is a guide to pray for individuals, family and friends. Pray for other ministries, missionaries, cities, countries, leaders, and for justice.
b. Mike Bickle notes that it’s okay to pray for yourself but that is not the primary focus of prayer. He prays for his inner man, his ministry, and his personal circumstances which are in the following categories: physical, financial and relational (page 40).
iii. Cultivate a right view of God through prayer by using the Bible in prayer times.
1. Mike Bickle states, “Cultivating a right view of God…is another essential aspect of growing in prayer. Too many believers have a wrong view of God. For example, many live under the all-too-common and completely wrong assumption that God is either and angry taskmasker who forces us to pray or endure conversation with Him to prove our devotion to Him or a stoic God who has no interest in our lives. Nothing could be further from the truth! (page 41).
2. On our journey to know God as our tender Father and Jesus as the Bridegroom King, we are energized to seek God with all our strength and to experience new delight in our relationship with Him as we grow in prayer” (Page 42).
2. If we become too busy to pray we will soon discover that our prayers – the quick ones – the fox hole prayers will be self-centered and not God centered.
a. Bickle states, “Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer in His teaching and in His personal life both in this age and in the age to come…During His earthly ministry, Jesus often spent long hours in prayer.”
i. Luke 5:16: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed!”
ii. Luke 6:12: “He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
1. Bickle adds, “If prayer on a regular basis was important to Jesus, then how much more important should it be to us?” (page 44).
d. What is your relationship like with God? This will impact your emotions and your prayer life.
i. Are you friends with the world and therefore buy into their belief systems and not Gods value system. But then you want a favor from Him?
1. You want God’s blessing but only when you are in jam or need help – otherwise God is an after thought?
2. Quote from Putman “Discipleshift” page 32-33:
a. “Disciples are not merely converts but also doers, learners, students, Christ followers, or better yet, ‘apprentices of Jesus’…So it is right to say following Christ is nonnegotiable part of the Great Commission. To be clear, the call isn’t to perfection. A disciple of Jesus will be imperfect, even as Peter denied Christ. Thomas doubted Christ, and many other disciples misunderstood Christ. Yet the call of a true disciple is a call to a change in allegiance, from self to Jesus’ leadership in our lives. In a disciple’s life, the Great Commission must be taken at face value. If anyone serves Jesus, he must follow Jesus. There is no wiggle room in a genuine Christian’s life for a faith characterized by compromise.”
T.S.- We need to get smart by stopping the fighting and instead start praying to God with right motives but all along in this process we must submit to the will and the plans of God for our lives. If we fail to do this we will fall into sin!
3. Get smart by submitting to God with your life - your heart - your beliefs - your will. (James 4:6-7; 13-17)
a. This is true humility.
i. This is the decision to reject your pride and ego!
1. EGO is Edging – God – Out!
a. It’s the mindset I know better than God!
ii. Faith in action submits to God – it resists the devils belief systems just like Jesus did.
b. Faith in action Humbles one self – admits I don't know the way or have the wisdom to do right thing without God.
c. Faith in action says, “ I need to say what is the Lords will?”
i. This is humility and wisdom from above.
ii. What is God’s will for your life? Do you know? Are you pursuing it?
1. When you know Gods will for your life and then do not do it then you sin. James 4:17
d. Are you listening to wisdom from above or below? Who has your attention and devotion?
i. Remember the difference between the two?
1. Remember Wisdom from above looks like this:
a. It counts the cost and lives for the future.
b. It lives within its means.
c. It follows the path of right living.
d. It focus’ on relationships – first with God then with others.
e. It puts first things first.
f. It knows to give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord.
g. It says no to impulses.
h. It chooses to lose to self and allows God to be in control.
i. It lives a life of peace and harmony.
j. It chooses to serve and to be a doer of the Word of God.
k. It says ‘No Pride!”
l. It always presses on toward the goal of eternity.
m. It produces a life filled with good fruit.
n. It knows when to stop –walk and pray before speaking.
o. It understands that faith + works = Success in life.
2. Remember Wisdom from Below looks like this:
a. It has a heart that is filled with the influences of the dark side.
b. It is a life that is filled with self centeredness and selfish ambition.
c. It seeks whom it may consume.
d. It seeks to focus on material possessions.
e. It desires to walk over others to get its own way.
f. It has a belief system that lives by animal instincts.
g. It has a belief system that has not spiritual insight in it.
h. It lives for evil purposes.
i. It has a lifestyle filled with mayhem and disarray.
j. It has a life filled with deception and distortion.
k. It has a life filled with no deep relationships.
l. It has a life filled with bitterness.
m. It has a life not worth living.
3. Which one are you adhering too?
Conclusion:
We need to get smart (wisdom) and put our faith into action by stopping the arguments, the judgments and the self-centered mindsets! We need to submit to God in humility and embrace His wonderful ways.
Why? When we get smart and put faith in action God will lift us up and He will draw us closer to Him.
What do you think would happen to a church, nation, family or even a business if people stopped the fights and quarrels?
1. God would answer their prayers!
2. God would lift them up!
3. God would come nearer to them!
4. God would give them the ability to resist the Devil!
We must patiently endure this world’s corrupt and evil system until we are with Jesus. But as we endure we must still be doers of the word of God. This means we must stop the fights and the quarrels, we are not allowed to slander other brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead we are to pray to God for help – for restoration and the ability to forgive and to love one another.
We must ask God for help- - we need the Holy Spirit to change us, to teach us and to guide us – so seek the infilling the empowerment of the Holy Spirit! We must make sure though that our prayers are not rooted in selfish wants and demands with God. God does not exist to serve us – we exist to serve Him! If we ask with wrong motives God will not answer our prayers!
We must submit each day to God and His will and way. We cannot allow our lives to be filled with arrogance and pride that drive us away from God. We must humble ourselves pick up our crosses daily and serve the Lord. Our faith is to be characterized by good works for the Kingdom of Heaven.
