Why Am I At War?
James 4:1–6
James 4:4b
whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Test Guidelines: Are You Friends With The World?
1. The test works for believers and unbelievers.
2. You need to understand the definition of the word “World” and “Friend”
Definition of World:
The sinful human system built on sensual desire.
A humanistic philosophy of life that does not follow God and His standards.
Friend (Philia): to love in the sense of having an emotional attachment to or an affection for.
Test Guidelines: Are You Friends With The World?
1. The test works for believers and unbelievers.
2. You need to understand the definition of the word “World” and “Friend”
3. This is a true or false test (not multiple choice).
Are you friends with the World?
A. No, not at all.
B. Yes, very much so.
C. A little bit but it’s not that bad
D. None of the above
James 4:1–6 (ESV)
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1. Why am I fighting?
James 4:1a (ESV)
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?
Quarrels: Controversies, Disagreements, Conflicts,
Fights (μάχη): Battle, Fight
James 4:1 (ESV)
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”
Passions is the greek word - ἡδονή (He-don-ay)
Hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.
James 4:2a (ESV)
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
Desire: obsessed, heart set on, one lust.
2. Why isn’t God fixing this?
James 4:2b-3 (ESV)
“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
1. You aren’t praying.
James 4:2b (ESV)
“You do not have, because you do not ask.”
2. You are praying but your motives are wrong.
James 4:3 (NIV)
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James 4:4 (ESV)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Enmity: animosity, the state of being actively opposed to someone.
James 4:4b (NIV)
Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:5 (ESV)
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
3. What should I do if that’s me?
1. Recognize your state
James 4:4 (ESV)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
2. Repent
James 4:5 (ESV)
“Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’?”
3. Receive grace
James 4:6 (ESV)
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Proud people get opposed, humble people get grace.
