Blueprints Part 9 – Ending the Wars

Blueprints

Part 9 – Ending the Wars

Click here to view service

James 4:1-12

Three Wars We Face in Life

1) The War with . (James 1a; 11-12)

What causes fights and quarrels among you?… 11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There 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 1a; 11-12

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

Two Causes of Conflict:

• will create conflict among Believers.

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. James 4:11a

Before you speak, THINK! 

T – Is it ?

H – Is it helpful?

I – Is it inspiring?

N – Is it necessary?

K – Is it kind?

• Judgement will create conflict among Believers.

11 …Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There 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 3:11b-12

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

2) The War with Ourselves. (James 4:1b-3)

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3

• At the heart of sin and conflict is selfishness.
• At the heart of sin and conflict is covetousness.

Selfishness and covetousness can result in wrong prayer!

2 …You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2b-3

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”…

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:35-37; 41-45

3) The War with God. (James 4:4-10)

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Three Enemies Christ-Followers Can Not Befriend:

• The World – 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4.
• The Flesh – 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? James 4:5
• The Devil – 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7

What can we do as Believers, faithful Christ-followers, to experience peace, not war?

• Submit to God – 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. James 4:7a.
• Draw near to God – 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8.
• Humble yourself before God – 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:9-10.

Worship Song List

Look to the Son

All Hail King Jesus

Living Hope

Great Are You Lord