Last week, we looked at James 4:1-4 for the purpose of "Understanding Fights and Quarrels" in the church. Although contexually James seems to be talking about fights and quarrels in the church (among us), a proper understanding will help us in dealing with fights and quarrels in other areas of our lives. This week we looked at verses 7-10 in light of verses 1-4. James makes it clear in verses 1-3 that fighting and quarreling is just the surface issue. The deeper issue is our desires and our motives. The fundamental problem with fighting and quarreling (verse 4) is that it is spritual adultery. It is worldy in its nature.
Here is my outline for the sermon I preached from James 4:7-10:
My thesis statement: If our unhealthy desires are causing problems in our relationships, we must put our desires in check.
How To Put Our Desires In Check
I. Surrender Totally to God's influence
a. By Submitting to God (Line yourself under God's authority)
verse 7a. "Submit yourselves, then, to God"
1. Submit to the Son’s Lordship
2. Submit to the Sprits Leading
3. Submit to God’s Word
b. By Drawing Near to God (Pursue an intimate love relationship with God)
Verse 8a "Come near to God" This command has a promise attached to it. If
we draw near to God, He will come near to us.
c. By Humbling yourself in His presence (Take the low position)
Verse 10a "Humble yourselves before the Lord" This command also comes
with a promise. If we humble ourselves in the presence of God, He will exalt
us.
II. Resist The Devil (Take a stand against)
Verse 7b "Resist the devil"
1. With Scripture Matt 4
2. With the Armor on Eph 6:11-12
This is another command that comes with a promise. If we resist the
devil, eventually, he will leave us alone.
III. We must be broken over our sin
Verses 8b & 9 "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-
minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your
joy to gloom
a. Internally Broken: "purify your hearts", "Grieve", Change "your joy to gloom"
b. Externally Broken: "Wash your hands", "mourn and wail", "Change your
laughter to mourning"
We can have healthy desires, but we must first put our desires in check.
9 comments:
Great Outline! I am looking forward to more insight from this this blog!
Bro. Pastor,
The epistle of James is one of my favorite of the New Testament. With that said, I was blessed by this outline. Sounds like you hit the ball out the park my friend!
Hey Fitts, great outline and it appears you stayed in the chair and did the study on this passage.
Stay at it and may the Lord continue to bless your work.
Be Encouraged.
Tony R.
Fitts, what a wonderful exposition on James. One of the greatest ills of the Christian Church is that we have taken grace for granted and failed to keep our desires in check. Thank you for such faithfulness to scripture and I know the church was blessed by it.
Lance
I am really glad that I belong to a church where the Word of God is being preached. Keep up the good work Pastor DeAntwan, I am very proud of what God is doing in your life and in the lifes of those @ Peace Chapel. They better hold on
God is coming back soon and sooner than they think and they want to be ready for that Great Day.
Jesus, according to Your Word, if I truly desire to come after You, I must deny myself and take up my cross daily and follow You. (Luke 9:23).
I Love You, and am praying God's will for you and the concregation.
Lori
This is a great post. I would venture to say this needs to be revisited a lot. For all areas of relationships.
I taught an eight week elective course in our local church, entitled "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace. We had 17 women to sign up which is good because we have less married women in our churches these days than single women. In the first chapter all went well as we learned about "the excellent wife, who can find"? BUT, the second chapter was addressing submission "God's Protective Authority". This was the begining of a 40% drop in an "ELECTIVE" class. It was interesting to me that the younger wives had more of a problem than the older ones.
We as Christians have a real problem with authority, submission and self denial.
Thank you Pastor for sharing. Much of this outline can be incorporated in the next class :-)
Be blessed
Way to go my brother! Great outine!
DeAntwan,
Great outline. It accurately reflects the text and possesses solid biblical teaching. It was insightful on your part to see beneath the surface of fighting and see the root cause as selfish desires run a muck.
Your "Big Idea" is clear and easy to grasp.
Keep up the great work!
Dr. King
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