Pressure Points - November 2
Sermon Overview
How to Win the War Within: Finding Victory Through Surrender.
Life often feels like a constant battle between what we know is right and what we actually do. This internal struggle isn't new - it's something believers have faced throughout history, and it's exactly what James addresses in his letter to early Christians facing persecution and pressure.
What Is the War Within?
James identifies two types of wisdom constantly battling for control of our lives. There's earthly wisdom - which is prideful, self-centered, and says "I'm the ultimate authority in my life." Then there's heavenly wisdom - which is pure, gentle, peace-loving, and humble.
This creates what feels like a spiritual tug-of-war. On one side, earthly wisdom pulls us toward what we might call "the me trinity" - me, myself, and I doing what I want, when I want, however I want. On the other side, godly wisdom calls us to live under God's authority and purposes.
Where Do Our External Battles Really Begin?
James 4:1 reveals a crucial principle: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?"
The battles we face on the outside actually start on the inside. Before there's conflict in our marriages, tension at work, or harsh words leaving our mouths, the war within has already been raging. James uses the Greek word that gives us "hedonism" - self-centered living that chases comfort, control, or satisfaction apart from God.
Why Don't We Just Ask for Help?
One of the most striking observations James makes is found in verse 2: "You do not have because you do not ask." Instead of going to our heavenly Father for help, we naturally try to fix things ourselves. We're like someone trying to remove tight shoes by pulling the laces tighter - it only makes things worse.
The progression is clear: desires lead to action-oriented craving, which leads to trying to grab and control what we think we need. But James cuts through this with simple wisdom: stop pulling for control and start praying for help.
What About When We Do Pray?
Even prayer can be corrupted by earthly wisdom. James 4:3 explains: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Sometimes we're not really praying for God's will - we're praying for our will with God's stamp of approval on it. We might use the right spiritual words, but our motives remain selfish and prideful. This kind of prayer doesn't align us with God's purposes; it tries to align God with ours.
Can We Live a Divided Life?
James uses strong language in verse 4, calling divided living "spiritual adultery." He writes: "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
This isn't about physical adultery but spiritual infidelity. God doesn't want us just on Sundays or during our quiet times. He's a jealous God who desires our complete devotion. There's no such thing as a lukewarm relationship with Him - we can't flirt with worldly wisdom while claiming to follow Christ.
How Does the Inner War Affect Others?
The war within doesn't stay internal. It often hurts those we love most, especially in the church. James addresses this in verses 11-12, warning against speaking evil of one another and breaking the "royal law" - love your neighbor as yourself.
When we choose earthly wisdom, we stop being doers of God's word and start acting like judges of it. We wound people with our words, often justifying it as "speaking truth." But if what we have to say is right and the way we say it is wrong, then what we said becomes wrong.
Is There Hope for Those Who've Lost the Battle?
James offers incredible comfort in verses 5-6: "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously, but He gives more grace."
God's jealousy isn't like human insecurity - it's protective love, like a parent who knows what's best for their child. From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, God has been chasing after human hearts, asking "Where are you?" not in anger but in love.
The most beautiful phrase in this passage might be "but He gives more grace." No matter how many times we've chosen earthly wisdom, no matter how unfaithful we've been, there's always more grace available. God is a God of "more" - more grace, more forgiveness, more chances.
How Do We Receive This Grace?
The key to receiving grace is humility. James quotes Proverbs 3:34: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Pride actually pushes grace away - it's us saying we don't need God's help. Humility, on the other hand, opens the door for God to move. It's not passive but an active invitation to receive what God freely offers.
What Does Practical Victory Look Like?
James 4:7-10 gives us ten urgent commands for winning the war within:
The Secret to Winning
Here's the surprising truth about winning this spiritual tug-of-war: you don't win by pulling harder in either direction. You win by letting go of the rope entirely and trusting God to catch you.
Humility means living fully as God created you, but under His authority rather than above it. Use your gifts and talents, face life's pressures, but do it all in submission to God's will and purposes.
Life Application
This week, instead of trying to control the pressures and challenges in your life, practice letting go of the rope. When you feel the internal war raging, stop pulling for control and start praying for help. Submit your desires, plans, and responses to God's authority.
Ask yourself these questions:
Life often feels like a constant battle between what we know is right and what we actually do. This internal struggle isn't new - it's something believers have faced throughout history, and it's exactly what James addresses in his letter to early Christians facing persecution and pressure.
What Is the War Within?
James identifies two types of wisdom constantly battling for control of our lives. There's earthly wisdom - which is prideful, self-centered, and says "I'm the ultimate authority in my life." Then there's heavenly wisdom - which is pure, gentle, peace-loving, and humble.
This creates what feels like a spiritual tug-of-war. On one side, earthly wisdom pulls us toward what we might call "the me trinity" - me, myself, and I doing what I want, when I want, however I want. On the other side, godly wisdom calls us to live under God's authority and purposes.
Where Do Our External Battles Really Begin?
James 4:1 reveals a crucial principle: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?"
The battles we face on the outside actually start on the inside. Before there's conflict in our marriages, tension at work, or harsh words leaving our mouths, the war within has already been raging. James uses the Greek word that gives us "hedonism" - self-centered living that chases comfort, control, or satisfaction apart from God.
Why Don't We Just Ask for Help?
One of the most striking observations James makes is found in verse 2: "You do not have because you do not ask." Instead of going to our heavenly Father for help, we naturally try to fix things ourselves. We're like someone trying to remove tight shoes by pulling the laces tighter - it only makes things worse.
The progression is clear: desires lead to action-oriented craving, which leads to trying to grab and control what we think we need. But James cuts through this with simple wisdom: stop pulling for control and start praying for help.
What About When We Do Pray?
Even prayer can be corrupted by earthly wisdom. James 4:3 explains: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Sometimes we're not really praying for God's will - we're praying for our will with God's stamp of approval on it. We might use the right spiritual words, but our motives remain selfish and prideful. This kind of prayer doesn't align us with God's purposes; it tries to align God with ours.
Can We Live a Divided Life?
James uses strong language in verse 4, calling divided living "spiritual adultery." He writes: "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
This isn't about physical adultery but spiritual infidelity. God doesn't want us just on Sundays or during our quiet times. He's a jealous God who desires our complete devotion. There's no such thing as a lukewarm relationship with Him - we can't flirt with worldly wisdom while claiming to follow Christ.
How Does the Inner War Affect Others?
The war within doesn't stay internal. It often hurts those we love most, especially in the church. James addresses this in verses 11-12, warning against speaking evil of one another and breaking the "royal law" - love your neighbor as yourself.
When we choose earthly wisdom, we stop being doers of God's word and start acting like judges of it. We wound people with our words, often justifying it as "speaking truth." But if what we have to say is right and the way we say it is wrong, then what we said becomes wrong.
Is There Hope for Those Who've Lost the Battle?
James offers incredible comfort in verses 5-6: "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously, but He gives more grace."
God's jealousy isn't like human insecurity - it's protective love, like a parent who knows what's best for their child. From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, God has been chasing after human hearts, asking "Where are you?" not in anger but in love.
The most beautiful phrase in this passage might be "but He gives more grace." No matter how many times we've chosen earthly wisdom, no matter how unfaithful we've been, there's always more grace available. God is a God of "more" - more grace, more forgiveness, more chances.
How Do We Receive This Grace?
The key to receiving grace is humility. James quotes Proverbs 3:34: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Pride actually pushes grace away - it's us saying we don't need God's help. Humility, on the other hand, opens the door for God to move. It's not passive but an active invitation to receive what God freely offers.
What Does Practical Victory Look Like?
James 4:7-10 gives us ten urgent commands for winning the war within:
- Submit to God - Surrender and let Him lead
- Resist the devil - Stand firm in God's strength, not your own
- Draw near to God - He promises to draw near to you
- Cleanse your hands - Deal with sinful actions
- Purify your hearts - Address wrong motives
- Lament - Take sin seriously
- Mourn - Recognize the weight of what Christ did
- Weep - Allow genuine repentance
- Turn laughter to mourning - Don't be casual about sin
- Humble yourselves - Position yourself to be lifted up
The Secret to Winning
Here's the surprising truth about winning this spiritual tug-of-war: you don't win by pulling harder in either direction. You win by letting go of the rope entirely and trusting God to catch you.
Humility means living fully as God created you, but under His authority rather than above it. Use your gifts and talents, face life's pressures, but do it all in submission to God's will and purposes.
Life Application
This week, instead of trying to control the pressures and challenges in your life, practice letting go of the rope. When you feel the internal war raging, stop pulling for control and start praying for help. Submit your desires, plans, and responses to God's authority.
Ask yourself these questions:
- In what areas of my life am I still trying to be the ultimate authority?
- How can I move from demanding my will to seeking God's will in my current challenges?
- What would it look like for me to "let go of the rope" in my biggest area of struggle right now?
- Am I approaching God with humble dependence or prideful demands?
Devo 1 – The War Within
Devotional
Have you ever found yourself in a moment where you knew exactly what you should do, but something inside you pulled in the opposite direction? Maybe it was choosing kindness over harsh words, or patience over frustration. This internal struggle isn't a sign of weakness—it's the human condition.
We all experience this tug-of-war between two competing voices. One whispers that we deserve better, that we should take control, that our way is best. The other gently calls us toward humility, peace, and trust in God's plan. This isn't just about making good choices; it's about recognizing that our external conflicts often mirror what's happening inside our hearts. Before harsh words leave our lips, before tension builds in our relationships, before we react in anger—the battle has already begun within us. Understanding this truth is the first step toward freedom.
When we recognize that our struggles start internally, we can begin to address the root rather than just managing the symptoms. The beautiful truth is that God sees this struggle and doesn't condemn us for it. Instead, He offers us a way forward—not through trying harder, but through learning to surrender our need for control. This week, we'll discover how letting go of the rope in this spiritual tug-of-war actually leads to victory.
Bible Verse
'For I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.' - Romans 7:22-23
Reflection Question
What internal battles are you currently facing, and how might recognizing that external conflicts often start within help you approach these struggles differently?
Quote
The battles that we face on the outside actually start on the inside.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see the battles within my heart with honesty and grace. Give me wisdom to recognize when earthly desires are pulling me away from Your peace. Thank You that You understand my struggles and offer me hope. Amen.
Have you ever found yourself in a moment where you knew exactly what you should do, but something inside you pulled in the opposite direction? Maybe it was choosing kindness over harsh words, or patience over frustration. This internal struggle isn't a sign of weakness—it's the human condition.
We all experience this tug-of-war between two competing voices. One whispers that we deserve better, that we should take control, that our way is best. The other gently calls us toward humility, peace, and trust in God's plan. This isn't just about making good choices; it's about recognizing that our external conflicts often mirror what's happening inside our hearts. Before harsh words leave our lips, before tension builds in our relationships, before we react in anger—the battle has already begun within us. Understanding this truth is the first step toward freedom.
When we recognize that our struggles start internally, we can begin to address the root rather than just managing the symptoms. The beautiful truth is that God sees this struggle and doesn't condemn us for it. Instead, He offers us a way forward—not through trying harder, but through learning to surrender our need for control. This week, we'll discover how letting go of the rope in this spiritual tug-of-war actually leads to victory.
Bible Verse
'For I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.' - Romans 7:22-23
Reflection Question
What internal battles are you currently facing, and how might recognizing that external conflicts often start within help you approach these struggles differently?
Quote
The battles that we face on the outside actually start on the inside.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see the battles within my heart with honesty and grace. Give me wisdom to recognize when earthly desires are pulling me away from Your peace. Thank You that You understand my struggles and offer me hope. Amen.
Devo 2 – The Me Trinity
Devotional
We live in a culture that celebrates self-reliance and personal achievement. "You do you," we're told. "Follow your heart." While independence has its place, there's a dangerous trap hidden in this mindset—what we might call the "me trinity": me, myself, and I doing whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want.
This self-centered approach to life feels empowering at first. We make our own rules, set our own standards, and answer to no one. But this path leads to isolation, conflict, and ultimately, emptiness. When we become the ultimate authority in our lives, we're carrying a burden we were never meant to bear.
James warns us about this earthly wisdom that puts self at the center. It's prideful, demanding, and always grasping for more. It tells us that if we just try harder, control more, and assert ourselves stronger, we'll get what we need. But this approach leaves us exhausted and often disappointed. The alternative isn't weakness—it's wisdom. Recognizing that we're not meant to be our own gods frees us to find our identity in the One who created us.
When we stop trying to be everything to ourselves, we discover the joy of being exactly who God designed us to be, under His loving authority rather than our own limited understanding.
Bible Verse
'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.' - James 4:2
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life are you operating as your own ultimate authority, and how might surrendering those areas to God bring you greater peace and fulfillment?
Quote
What I call this? The me trinity. Me, myself. And I do what I want, when I want, however I want.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I've tried to be my own god. Help me to see the beauty in living under Your authority rather than my own. Give me the courage to surrender my need for control. Amen.
We live in a culture that celebrates self-reliance and personal achievement. "You do you," we're told. "Follow your heart." While independence has its place, there's a dangerous trap hidden in this mindset—what we might call the "me trinity": me, myself, and I doing whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want.
This self-centered approach to life feels empowering at first. We make our own rules, set our own standards, and answer to no one. But this path leads to isolation, conflict, and ultimately, emptiness. When we become the ultimate authority in our lives, we're carrying a burden we were never meant to bear.
James warns us about this earthly wisdom that puts self at the center. It's prideful, demanding, and always grasping for more. It tells us that if we just try harder, control more, and assert ourselves stronger, we'll get what we need. But this approach leaves us exhausted and often disappointed. The alternative isn't weakness—it's wisdom. Recognizing that we're not meant to be our own gods frees us to find our identity in the One who created us.
When we stop trying to be everything to ourselves, we discover the joy of being exactly who God designed us to be, under His loving authority rather than our own limited understanding.
Bible Verse
'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.' - James 4:2
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life are you operating as your own ultimate authority, and how might surrendering those areas to God bring you greater peace and fulfillment?
Quote
What I call this? The me trinity. Me, myself. And I do what I want, when I want, however I want.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I've tried to be my own god. Help me to see the beauty in living under Your authority rather than my own. Give me the courage to surrender my need for control. Amen.
Devo 3 – Praying with Wrong Motives
Devotional
Prayer can become a spiritual battleground where our earthly wisdom tries to disguise itself as godliness. We come to God with our requests, but if we're honest, we're often seeking His stamp of approval on our own plans rather than genuinely asking for His will. This kind of prayer feels spiritual on the surface, but it's actually another form of the "me trinity" in action.
We're not really surrendering our desires to God; we're asking Him to bless what we've already decided we want. It's like going to a wise counselor but only wanting them to agree with the decision we've already made. James points out this subtle but significant problem: when we ask with wrong motives, we're still operating from earthly wisdom. We're treating God like a cosmic vending machine rather than the loving Father who knows what's best for us.
This approach to prayer leaves us frustrated when God doesn't respond the way we expect. True prayer begins with humility—acknowledging that God's perspective is higher than ours, His timing better than ours, and His plans more perfect than anything we could devise. When we pray with open hands instead of clenched fists, we position ourselves to receive not just what we think we need, but what God knows we actually need.
Bible Verse
'When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.' - James 4:3
Reflection Question
How can you shift your prayer life from seeking God's approval of your plans to genuinely seeking His will, even when it might differ from your own desires?
Quote
You're not praying for God's will. You're praying for your will and God's stamp of approval on it.
Prayer
Lord, examine my heart and reveal any selfish motives in my prayers. Help me to come to You with open hands, truly seeking Your will above my own. Teach me to trust Your wisdom even when I don't understand. Amen.
Prayer can become a spiritual battleground where our earthly wisdom tries to disguise itself as godliness. We come to God with our requests, but if we're honest, we're often seeking His stamp of approval on our own plans rather than genuinely asking for His will. This kind of prayer feels spiritual on the surface, but it's actually another form of the "me trinity" in action.
We're not really surrendering our desires to God; we're asking Him to bless what we've already decided we want. It's like going to a wise counselor but only wanting them to agree with the decision we've already made. James points out this subtle but significant problem: when we ask with wrong motives, we're still operating from earthly wisdom. We're treating God like a cosmic vending machine rather than the loving Father who knows what's best for us.
This approach to prayer leaves us frustrated when God doesn't respond the way we expect. True prayer begins with humility—acknowledging that God's perspective is higher than ours, His timing better than ours, and His plans more perfect than anything we could devise. When we pray with open hands instead of clenched fists, we position ourselves to receive not just what we think we need, but what God knows we actually need.
Bible Verse
'When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.' - James 4:3
Reflection Question
How can you shift your prayer life from seeking God's approval of your plans to genuinely seeking His will, even when it might differ from your own desires?
Quote
You're not praying for God's will. You're praying for your will and God's stamp of approval on it.
Prayer
Lord, examine my heart and reveal any selfish motives in my prayers. Help me to come to You with open hands, truly seeking Your will above my own. Teach me to trust Your wisdom even when I don't understand. Amen.
Devo 4 – The Key of Humility
Devotional
Humility often gets a bad reputation in our achievement-oriented world. We think it means being weak, passive, or thinking less of ourselves. But biblical humility is actually the key that unlocks God's grace in our lives—and it's far more powerful than we realize.
True humility isn't about diminishing who you are; it's about living fully as God created you, but under His authority rather than trying to be above it. It's recognizing that you have gifts, talents, and value, but understanding that these come from God and are meant to serve His purposes, not just your own. When we operate in pride, we're actually pushing away the very grace we desperately need. Pride says, "I can handle this on my own," while humility says, "I need God's help." Pride builds walls; humility opens doors. Pride exhausts us with the burden of being our own savior; humility frees us to receive the help that's already available.
The beautiful paradox of humility is that it doesn't push you down—it positions you to be lifted up by God. When we stop trying to elevate ourselves and instead trust God's timing and methods, we find ourselves in a place where His grace can flow freely into our lives. This is where real transformation happens.
Bible Verse
'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' - Proverbs 3:34
Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to live fully as God created you while remaining under His authority rather than trying to be your own ultimate guide?
Quote
Humility is living fully as God created you, but under his authority, not above it.
Prayer
God, help me to understand true humility—not as weakness, but as the pathway to Your grace. Show me areas where pride is blocking Your work in my life, and give me the courage to surrender them to You. Amen.
Humility often gets a bad reputation in our achievement-oriented world. We think it means being weak, passive, or thinking less of ourselves. But biblical humility is actually the key that unlocks God's grace in our lives—and it's far more powerful than we realize.
True humility isn't about diminishing who you are; it's about living fully as God created you, but under His authority rather than trying to be above it. It's recognizing that you have gifts, talents, and value, but understanding that these come from God and are meant to serve His purposes, not just your own. When we operate in pride, we're actually pushing away the very grace we desperately need. Pride says, "I can handle this on my own," while humility says, "I need God's help." Pride builds walls; humility opens doors. Pride exhausts us with the burden of being our own savior; humility frees us to receive the help that's already available.
The beautiful paradox of humility is that it doesn't push you down—it positions you to be lifted up by God. When we stop trying to elevate ourselves and instead trust God's timing and methods, we find ourselves in a place where His grace can flow freely into our lives. This is where real transformation happens.
Bible Verse
'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' - Proverbs 3:34
Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to live fully as God created you while remaining under His authority rather than trying to be your own ultimate guide?
Quote
Humility is living fully as God created you, but under his authority, not above it.
Prayer
God, help me to understand true humility—not as weakness, but as the pathway to Your grace. Show me areas where pride is blocking Your work in my life, and give me the courage to surrender them to You. Amen.
Devo 5 – Stop Pulling, Start Trusting
Devotional
Imagine you're in a tug-of-war, pulling with all your might,muscles straining, determined to win. Now imagine discovering that victory doesn't come from pulling harder—it comes from letting go of the rope entirely.
This is the counterintuitive truth about the spiritual battles we face. We've spent so much energy trying to fix what only our Father can free. We've pulled harder, strategized more, and exhausted ourselves trying to control outcomes that were never ours to control. But God's invitation is simple: stop pulling and start trusting.
This doesn't mean becoming passive or giving up on growth. It means recognizing that some battles are won through surrender rather than struggle. When we release our death grip on control, we create space for God's grace to work in ways we never could have orchestrated ourselves. God's grace is always more than enough—it never runs out, never gives up, never ends. It's always there, waiting for us to stop pushing it away with our pride and self-reliance.
The moment we let go and trust, we position ourselves to receive the help we've been desperately trying to create on our own. The war within will be won not when you fight harder, but when you finally surrender to the One who has already won the victory for you.
Bible Verse
'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' - James 4:7
Reflection Question
What specific area of your life do you need to stop trying to control and instead trust God to handle His way and in His timing?
Quote
You don't win by pulling harder. You win by letting go.
Prayer
Father, I'm tired of pulling so hard in my own strength. Help me to let go of my need to control and instead trust in Your perfect timing and wisdom. Thank You for Your endless grace that's always available to me. Amen.
Imagine you're in a tug-of-war, pulling with all your might,muscles straining, determined to win. Now imagine discovering that victory doesn't come from pulling harder—it comes from letting go of the rope entirely.
This is the counterintuitive truth about the spiritual battles we face. We've spent so much energy trying to fix what only our Father can free. We've pulled harder, strategized more, and exhausted ourselves trying to control outcomes that were never ours to control. But God's invitation is simple: stop pulling and start trusting.
This doesn't mean becoming passive or giving up on growth. It means recognizing that some battles are won through surrender rather than struggle. When we release our death grip on control, we create space for God's grace to work in ways we never could have orchestrated ourselves. God's grace is always more than enough—it never runs out, never gives up, never ends. It's always there, waiting for us to stop pushing it away with our pride and self-reliance.
The moment we let go and trust, we position ourselves to receive the help we've been desperately trying to create on our own. The war within will be won not when you fight harder, but when you finally surrender to the One who has already won the victory for you.
Bible Verse
'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' - James 4:7
Reflection Question
What specific area of your life do you need to stop trying to control and instead trust God to handle His way and in His timing?
Quote
You don't win by pulling harder. You win by letting go.
Prayer
Father, I'm tired of pulling so hard in my own strength. Help me to let go of my need to control and instead trust in Your perfect timing and wisdom. Thank You for Your endless grace that's always available to me. Amen.
Transcript
Pressure Points in James
My name is Michael and I'm one of the pastors here and I'm so grateful to be with you today. So excited. And if you're here and you're a visitor, a guest, um I need you to know we're not a perfect church. We're not a perfect people, but I think we do a pretty good job at following a perfect savior. And so, if you came in today, you got some scratches, you got some dents, a little trouble under the hood, guess what? You're in good company. That's all of us here today. So, welcome to Copel Bible.
Now, we are in the book of James. This is our fall message series titled Pressure Points. The reality is James is trying to get people to understand how to live by faith even when the pressure is on them. Now, he's writing to those who have fled. They fled because persecution happened. And so, they were fleeing for their lives. They've lost their homes. They've lost their jobs. They've lost some friends. They might have even lost some family. And you may go, "Wait a second. That's not me, though. So, how can this actually affect my life?" Well, I would say if we took what those people were going through and we took their circumstances and we just boiled them down to its essence, I'd ask you this. You ever lost your peace? You ever lost kind of your rhythm of life, your normally? You ever been in pain? You ever been hurt? You ever had anything happen to you that was out of the blue, and it wasn't good? Well, of course, the answer to all those questions is undoubtedly yes.
So, James is writing to people to help them understand when these moments happen, when the pressure of life comes down on you, how do you live faithful to God?
Earthly Wisdom Vs Heavenly Wisdom
And it seems to me that there are some Christians that James is writing to who aren't living faithfully. In fact, they're living with a type of wisdom that he calls earthly wisdom. Now, he talks about this back in chapter three. Even though we're in chapter four today, he draws this line between these two types of wisdom. Earthly wisdom, heavenly wisdom. Wisdom from above, wisdom from below. And the wisdom from above, it's pure, it's gentle, it's peace-loving, it's humble, it's the way God desires you to live. If you're going to be the disciple, he called you to be, that's the wisdom that you should live out. But he contrasts that to another type of wisdom, the earthly wisdom. He says it's unspiritual. And in chapter three, he actually even says it's demonic. And it's this type of contrast between these two types of wisdom that really sets the stage for us today. Because these two types of wisdom, we know it, we feel it, they war within us. There's a pull one way one day and a pull one way the other day.
And it seems to me that there are some Christians that James is writing to who aren't living faithfully. In fact, they're living with a type of wisdom that he calls earthly wisdom. Now, he talks about this back in chapter three. Even though we're in chapter four today, he draws this line between these two types of wisdom. Earthly wisdom, heavenly wisdom. Wisdom from above, wisdom from below. And the wisdom from above, it's pure, it's gentle, it's peace-loving, it's humble, it's the way God desires you to live. If you're going to be the disciple, he called you to be, that's the wisdom that you should live out. But he contrasts that to another type of wisdom, the earthly wisdom. He says it's unspiritual. And in chapter three, he actually even says it's demonic. And it's this type of contrast between these two types of wisdom that really sets the stage for us today. Because these two types of wisdom, we know it, we feel it, they war within us. There's a pull one way one day and a pull one way the other day.
The Tug of War Within
And it reminds me of a game I used to play. Don't know if anyone has ever played this. It's called tug-of-war. Anybody ever played this game? If you want to meet me out in the back after service, I'd love to relive the glory days. This is what I think James is writing about here in James chapter 3 and 4. He's writing about the war within—this war that on one side is this wisdom of the earth. It's the earthly way to live. This is prideful. This is me saying I'm king. I'm queen. I'm ultimate authority in my life. And every time we have this war raging, there's one side that wants to pull us that way.
But there's another side to it like a good game of tug of war where this is actually godly wisdom, biblical wisdom, wisdom from above that pulls this way and says, "This is the way you should live." And it seems to me that James is writing to some people who aren't doing a good job of winning the war within. That there are people who seem to be pulling this way versus going that way. So, my goal this morning isn't just to tell us, "Hey, we got a war going on inside of us." We know that's true. We feel it. You probably felt it this morning trying to get your family out the door.
But my goal this morning is this. To help us figure out how to win the war in seasons of ease. Thank you, Lord, for those. But also, in seasons of pressure, may they be few and far between because you can win this war. And James is going to address it this morning.
Now, like Pastor James, he's a straight shooter personality and he comes hot out the gate talking about the war within.
Look at James chapter 4:1 He starts out by saying, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?"
James presents to us a principle that we all know all too well. And it's this, the battles that we face on the outside actually start on the inside. This war within. And here in verse four or uh verse one of chapter 4, he uses this phrase. It's interesting. This desires for pleasure. You know what word we get from that in the Greek? Hedonism: Desires, Hedonism, And False
Satisfaction
This is where we get the word hedonism from. And it means exactly as you know it to mean. It means self-centered living, chasing comfort or control or satisfaction apart from God, which let's just be honest, let's just be real here at the beginning. Has anyone truly been satisfied apart from God? But earthly wisdom says it's maybe a possibility. Uh it didn't work over here but keep trying it over there. And so, when the war within happens, we decide to start tugging this way because we believe the lie of earthly wisdom that satisfaction can be found apart from God. But James actually says, "No, no, no. Anything apart from God is hedonistic." You know what I call this? The me trinity. Me, myself, and I. Do what I want when I want, however I want. Hedonism. And it will not satisfy.
This is where we get the word hedonism from. And it means exactly as you know it to mean. It means self-centered living, chasing comfort or control or satisfaction apart from God, which let's just be honest, let's just be real here at the beginning. Has anyone truly been satisfied apart from God? But earthly wisdom says it's maybe a possibility. Uh it didn't work over here but keep trying it over there. And so, when the war within happens, we decide to start tugging this way because we believe the lie of earthly wisdom that satisfaction can be found apart from God. But James actually says, "No, no, no. Anything apart from God is hedonistic." You know what I call this? The me trinity. Me, myself, and I. Do what I want when I want, however I want. Hedonism. And it will not satisfy.
But we all face this battle on the inside. Now, I want you to know that desire in of itself isn't bad. You may think, well, every desire then is bad. No, I'm not. That's not saying God gave you the ability to have desire. Desire is actually a good thing. But here's where desire gets bad. Desire gets bad when you are disconnected from your dependence on him for it. So, you decide to go, well, I'm going to come this way and I'm going to try to find it. and you're disconnecting yourself from the one who really can satisfy and its earthly wisdom that you begin to live out and you're hoping for satisfaction and you're pulling and you're playing the tug of war, and you know it's just not true and it's not going to work out.
So, before there's a fight in your marriage, wait, y'all don't fight in your marriage? Just me? All right; I'll be the loner up here. Before you ever have tension at work, I work at this building. We'd never have tension here. Perfect church, right? for the words even leave your mouth. Don't we know the war within has already been raging? So, can we win it? That's what James is going to help us see.
Now, it's not just James who talks about the war within. Paul talks about it a few different times, but in
Romans 7 22 and 23, this is how he writes it. For I delight in the law of God, according to the inward man, but I see another law at work in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin within me.
Paul's going, "Wait a second. I miraculously came to faith, and I thought life was going to be easy. But pressure started coming and all of a sudden, I feel this war within and before I know it, I feel something happening pulling me this way when I know I'm supposed to go that way.
The sin principle that we still all battle the flesh that we still all battle. What is this about? In another place Paul says why do I do the things I know I shouldn't do not do the things I know I should do? because there's a war within. We're always battling the war within.
Now, uh here you have James and Paul talking about the same reality, this war within. And I saw this play out in the cutest way with my six-year-old girl, uh Joy, little Joy girl.
Now, a couple months ago, we started soccer season. Thank you, James, for coaching. And uh you know, every they're growing, so you got to get new soccer cleat. You got to get new everything. It's kind of a pain. I wish it's so expensive these days. Anyway, so we got to get new soccer cleat. So, Joy’s so excited, not because she gets new soccer cleat, but because they're hot pink. Okay, welcome to dad life with the girls. And so, I'm just as excited for her. I'm talking about all the nuances of the pretty hot pink soccer cleat. And then they get in. I don't know if you bought soccer cleat recently. They're cleat, but they're also like socks. I don't know if y'all seen it's like there's a cleat area and then there's like this sock kind of sock. I don't know what to call it. And I'm looking at the hole and it's tight as can be. And I'm looking at her foot and I'm going, "How is her foot going to get in this thing?" And after about 10 minutes and a lot of elbow grease and a lot of sweat on the brow, I got her heel right in. I was feeling good about it. And then there's the next problem. She's sitting there and I look at these laces and I'm thinking, "These must have come from Shaquille O'Neal's shoes. They are four times longer than they need to be." I'm like, "Why do they do this to kid’s shoes? It makes no sense." So, Joy’s looking at me, the laces are dangling. And she's like, "What are you going to do?" And of course, all the men know, all the dads we know. I'm like, I'm gonna give you the dad special, which means I'm just going to wrap around a bunch over, under, do all this, talk to you while you do it, and then just tie it about three different times on three different knots and hope it stays.
So, we get them all tied up and Joy gets off the chair. She's super happy. I mean, she's excited. She starts walking out the door to practice soccer. And before she gets out the door, she starts kind of like walking slower, kind of like getting on her toes a little bit. She looks back at me. She's like, "Dad, they're too tight. They're too tight." Right? And I'm like, "Look, I'm a professional at this. Let me just explain this to you. About five minutes outside, they're going to begin to be broken in and you're not even going to feel anything. You're going to be fine, okay? It's going to work out." So, I just need you just toughen up a little bit. All right? Go on outside. You'll be fine. There's a soccer ball. She's like, "Okay." You know, she totally trusts me. And I'm walking in being like, "Hey, Allie, I'm taking care of business as a father today."
And then I five minutes later, I'm like, "Let me go check on Joy." And so, I go into this area of our house where I can see in the backyard, and I don't see her. I'm like, where' Joy go? So, then I'm like, let me look around the corner a little bit. And she was frustrated. Y’all, know you try to get some shoes off that aren't coming off. She is trying to pry them off with her other foot. She's slamming her heel against the ground. She's just upset. And I'm sitting there looking at her going, "Oh gosh, I guess they are too tight. Let me come help." But before I can even get out the door, I look over at Joy, and she stands up and she grabs her laces and just pulls them. And I'm going, "This is the opposite of what you want. It's the worst thing. You're making it even tighter." And so, I walk out there like a good father. I was like, "Hey, joy girl, pulling on these laces isn't going to help at all. It only makes it worse."
And the Holy Spirit's like, "Exactly." And I was like, "I'm trying to talk to my daughter right now.... We can talk about this later because that's us. That's me. Tension of life. Pressure comes. Especially as Texans. Boy, you better believe we tighten those laces up. We try to control it. We try to fix it. Let me actually let me make this thing just submit this thing into what I want. And we try. And the whole time its God has to be going, "Hey, making it tighter isn't going to help anything."
And then this moment came after me and the Holy Spirit had a one-on-one. And Joy looks up at me, and you can tell she finally isn't frustrated. Her countenance changed and she just goes, "Dad, can you help me get these off?" And of course, I'm like, "Girl, I will get a pocketknife out and cut these brand-new cleats off to get them off you. I will take care of you." And I did. I didn't have to use a pocketknife, but it took a while to get through the dad's special, but we got through it. I took the cleats off and she's wiggling her toes. She's feeling good. She's like, "Can we get new cleats?" I'm like, "Yeah, girl. We'll get new cleats."
So, here's the lesson for any kids listening. Uh, when the cleats are too tight, don't pull on the laces. But actually, now, let me say it for the adults. Stop trying to fix what your father can free.
So, make sure when you're under pressure, you're asking your father for help. The fix for joy was not pulling harder. It was understanding that one request to my father is what's needed. But do we actually request?
Stop Pulling and Start Praying
James is going to say there's a lot of Christians he's writing to. Doubtful in this room though. what he's writing to. They don't. Look at verse two. He says, "You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight in war, yet you do not have because you do not ask." You're under pressure and you choose to use earthly wisdom to try to get out from under it. But remember, James is writing to try to get us thinking correctly on how to stay faithful to God while under pressure. And what the natural thing for people in James's day and for us to do is not pray but try to fix it ourselves. We're not going to the father.
So instead of requesting, they're doing the opposite. They're lusting. Lust here isn't the same word as earlier as desires for pleasure. This word actually means to crave something so much that you're going to reach out and grab it. You're actually moving action oriented toward the thing that you're missing. So, picture this because this is important to see. The war within in verse one begins with our desires. Our hedonistic earthly mindset, earthly wisdom desires. We are craving comfort. We're craving control. We're craving the me trinity. And then all of a sudden, a progression happens because in verse two, there's action now behind the desires. I'm reaching. I'm grabbing. I'm trying to pull to get what I want, to fix what I want, to search for satisfaction. And James just hits us at the end of this verse. He says, "Well, you do not have because you do not ask. You've been trying to fix what only your father can give. So, stop pulling for control and start praying for help.
This is so funny to me because I'm just thinking I'm 37. I'm not that old. I'm in that in between stage. But as I get older, I'm realizing the basics, they are the basics that we should always come back to. Think about it. It makes total sense. Stop pulling and start praying. But we don't naturally think to do that. We think, well, no, I'm a Texan and I got cowboy boots on, so you better watch out problem. And look, there's an element, we'll talk about in a little bit of God created you. He wants you to go for it. We'll talk about that. But it has to be under his authority, surrendering to his purposes in it. So, stop pulling, but stop start praying.
Wrong Motives in Prayer
But there's a catch to this. Verse three is going to tell us that even when you pray, you may not be trusting God. Look at how he says it. You ask and do not receive. So now these people are praying because you ask a miss that you may spend it on your pleasures. Pleasures being the same word is hedonism. So, what's the translation? You're not praying for God's will. You're praying for your will and God's stamp of approval on it. And then you're wondering why you don't have it. And that's because you're praying over here. Hey God, are you back there? Oh, you're still back there. Okay. Hey God, um, I really want this, need this, desire this, whatever it may be. And he may want to give it to you, but he doesn't want to give it to you if you're not following him. If you're not going to use it for his purposes. And it's selfish. It's prideful. This side of the rope, this side of that battle, that war, it's all based in pride. And so, you ask, but you don't receive because you ask with the wrong motives, prideful motives.
And so, you might end up saying heavenly wisdom words. You know the words to say or on a Sunday, you know the way to look. Or in that life group meeting, you know the thing to say to play church. But it's all angled in this earthly wisdom mindset. There's this other side to it. And we're going to talk about division here in a second, but that's not the way to live. You're not going to find true satisfaction. You're not going to be living as God created you and desires you to live. The only way is to be completely on this side under submitted under his authority when that war takes place.
Friendship With the World
So, James calls this out pretty boldly in the next line. And what does it look like whenever you can't decide what side you're on or whenever you decide to go over here to the earthly wisdom side? James 4:4, adulterer and adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Adulterer. Now, this is strong language. He's not talking about physical adultery here. He's talking about spiritual infidelity here. And really, he's using kind of covenant language that you can see throughout all of scripture, even in the Old Testament. In Jeremiah 3, God's describing his relationship with his people. And he says this, "You guys, my children, my people, you've played the harlot with many lovers." Meaning, you're connected to me. I'm yours forever. You're mine forever. But you're living out earthly wisdom. and you are literally cheating on me with all these things, thinking that they will fill you up, but they won't. And then again, in Hosea, we have a story of God telling a prophet to marry a prostitute to show a living picture of how Israel has been unfaithful to God. And James is calling this out here, too. The spiritual unfaithfulness. He's saying, "You can't have fellowship with God. You can't be on this side, fully submitted, trusting him, and yet still be flirting over here with the world. You remember the church in Laodicea in Revelation? You're neither hot nor cold. You're lukewarm. I'm going to spit you out of my mouth. There is no divided life with God. He doesn't just want you on Sunday, even though we'll give him Sunday. He doesn't want you on Sunday. He doesn't want you when you just life group or whenever you um I don't know, maybe you have a devotion one or two days a week. Those are great. Do them. But he is a jealous God. We're about to find out. And he wants you over here at all times. And when the war within is raging and we want to go this way, James is saying you're going to lose. The only way is to come over here. Don't be flirting with the world. Don't say you're a child of God, but really you look like a friend of the world. This is where he's going in this sentence.
When Inner War Becomes Outer Wounds
And so, we have this war within. But here's the problem. The war within doesn't stay in. The war within a lot of times comes out. And when it comes out, it hurts those typically we love most, especially in the church. And so that war within becomes an outer wound. Look at what he says in verses 11 and 12. He says, 'Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, one who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? He says when that war within rages and that those words actually do come out or those actions but really hear the words come out and you are now hurting, you're presenting evil to another brother or sister in Christ or loved one. He's saying that you are breaking the law. Question is what law? What's he talking about here? Well in James chapter 2 he already mentioned this law. It's not a new thing in the book of James. In James 2 he calls it the royal law. also known as the law of love. Jesus quoted this. It comes from Leviticus 19. It says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." And in James 2, he says, "Hey, brothers and sisters in Christ, if you do this, that's good. That's the way it should be." But that's again quoted from Leviticus 19:18. But in Leviticus 19:16, just two verses prior, God speaking through Moses says this, "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people." And then two verses later, he says, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
So, what's James saying here? Don't gossip. Don't slander. Don't tear people down with your words. Don't say in this church world, which by the way, I haven't heard this at Copel Bible, but I did hear this song growing up. Hey, we need to pray for so- and so. Let me tell you why. Plays out that way sometimes. But James is saying, if you claim to love God and the royal law, then you can't turn around and break that same law with your words. Love your neighbor as yourself. When the war within, when you decide, earthly wisdom is going to rule and reign, you better believe you're going to start hurting people. Look, I have the gift of gab, and every gift is a pro and a con. And there's probably more times this gift has been a con more than a pro. The Lord's getting a lot better when I take that first step afterwards being like, haha. Him being like, uh-uh. And I'm like, oh yeah, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm having to learn this. This is what he's talking about here. So, he says, when you decide to live this way, let the war come out, wound people with your words. He says, "At that point, you stop being a doer of the word and you start acting like the judge of it." Meaning, God's word says this, and you're saying, "I don't care what that says. I'm going to say this." And so, he goes on to remind us right after this thought, he goes on to say, "No, no, no. You don't understand. That's not the way this works out because there's only one lawgiver. There's only one judge. There's only one savior. And spoiler alert, it's not you. It's not me. But when we act this way, we are saying that's the truth. That no, no, it is me.
Allie and I use this phrase we heard one time. Again, I had to be the one to learn it uh more than she does. She's too sweet. It's this, and I think this will help some people today. It's if what you have to say is right, and the way you say it is wrong, then what you said is wrong. Now, sure, there's a time to just things need to be said. But when you decide to say something needs to be said and you say it in a way that makes you feel good because you're holding this side of the rope and pride's coming out, which cynicism is the voice of pride and all a sudden that comes out and you're like, "Yeah, I feel good about it." You didn't accomplish anything. You further divided. What needs to happen in those moments is some sort of restoration with whatever the situation was, but you have the truth you need to say. So, you say it and you said it and you feel good about it and nothing good comes from it. So, if what you have to say is good, but you say it wrong, you need to be careful because what you said is wrong. And this happens to all of us because this is the war within.
God’s Jealous Love and More Grace
So, he doesn't just leave us here at this place of confrontation though like a good pastor James is going to now bring in some comfort to those who have experienced this. And if I look around the room, yep, all of us, all of us need this comfort because we've all experienced this. So, look at verses five and six. He says, "Do you uh I'm sorry, or do you think that the scripture says in vain, the spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously, but he gives more grace." Therefore, he says, "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." He starts out by talking about the spirit who dwells in us is yearning jealously. Now, this isn't like an insecurity of the Lord uh like a jealous girlfriend or something like that. That's not that's not this this uh verbiage here. This isn't this possessive thing. It's more of a protective love. It's like a parent where you know the right thing for your kid to do, which by the way, I have three daughters and um someday they're going to start dating and I'm going to want to keep them in the door. And y'all isn’t going out there in the world, but I'm going to have to let them freely go. But even the first day they're gone, I'm going to be at the door or at the window looking, waiting for them to come back because my heart's going to be for them and I can't wait till they come back. This is what he's saying here that this is the type of God we have, and God has been this way from the beginning of sin itself.
You remember in in Genesis 3, sin enters the world. Adam and Eve, the war within, all of a sudden, they get persuaded to go this way to try to find satisfaction away from God. So, they decide to take a bite of the apple and the next thing you know is everything breaks. One bite and it's all gone. It's all done. And then all of a sudden, they feel naked and ashamed. What in the world would happen? Do you know what God's first words back to them was? They begin to hide. And God begins to come after them, chase them and says, "Hey, where are you?" He doesn't say, "Hey, how dare you? Hey, where are you?" And then he actually gave them clothes to cover them. which I think is actually an early testament of the gospel of Jesus and his uh blood covering us from the cross. That from the beginning of sin, God's like, I got a plan and I'm chasing after your heart, and I know what's better for you and I'm like a good father and I am jealous for you. I know what's best for you and you chose this and it went south. But I'm not giving up. I'm not going to quit chasing after you. I'm still coming for you. And the same God who yearned for Adam and Eve, same God who yearned for the hearers that James was writing to, he's the same God yearning for your heart right now. Yearning for your heart even today.
And you may go like, "Wait a second. You don't understand. I've pretty much always held this side of the rope. He won't chase after me because I've been unfaithful." Yeah, but he hasn't. It's not in his nature to be. He's a faithful God. But you know how many times I've deliberately held this side of the rope and couldn't care less what he thought about what I was doing? He's still chasing after you. You know, one of my favorite stories, the prodigal son, and y'all know it well, but my favorite part, it's a humorous part to me. He goes off and he squanders everything and it finally begins to think, well, golly, even my dad's hired servants have it better than I do. So, okay, let me try to fix it myself. I'm gonna turn around. I'm gonna come back. I'm gonna tighten up my laces and I'm going to create a little I'm sorry letter and I'm going to read it to dad, and I think I can win him over. I think I have something to bring to the table. So, I tighten up my boots, and I begin walking back and it's literally like he's writing this letter almost like he's walking down the road. Okay, I'm going to say, "Dad, I'm sorry. I was young, dumb, and idiot. Okay, I'm so sorry. Just make me like one of your hired servants." And then before you know it, he hears footsteps running and his father falls on him and begins to kiss him. And can you imagine the guy being like, "No, no, no, but wait, wait, wait. I got to read this to you, Dad." And he's like, "You got nothing I need. I wanted you. Your words important don't matter right now. I wanted you and I'm running after you." But I was, "Dad, you don't understand. I need to explain to you how bad it was and how bad I was and all the choices I made that were wrong and I was holding it. I wanted you and your back. Now, truth is, we don't know the rest of the story because it was a parable, but there may be another time he starts to go this way. The father's not like, "Oh, well, it was one and done, so you're on your own now." He's like, "We're going to do it again. Here we go." And he's chasing after you, but I've been unfaithful. He hasn't been unfaithful. He knows what you've done, and he still chases after you.
How is that possible? H how is that even possible? I have so many dark secrets. How is that even possible? I have so many things have been done to me. So much pain in my life. I have shame. My heart and my hands are dirty, and I don't What do you mean? He wants me. He does. And James throws out one of the most beautiful lines in all of scripture in the middle of this verse to tell us how much he loves you and how this is possible. He says this, "But he gives more grace." Like the grace of the Lord is always unending, but James is like, "Well, let me just put a little qualifier here. More. Yeah, but no, more. But I've already used all mine up." No, you didn't. He's got more. There is more grace for all of us. After all the pride, the way of pulling and living on earthly wisdom. Yes. After all the spiritual adultery, after all the gossip, after all the judgment, after all the ways I've wounded people with my words with my life. Yes. Still more grace. Because he's a God of more. And he's the one who has the right to walk away, but chooses instead to walk towards you, which is his grace. It never runs out. It never gives up. It never ends. It's always there.
So, the question is, how do I receive it? Because I'm not naive. We've all lost this war within. Some of you may be lost it today, this weekend, and need a restart. How do I receive this fresh start? How do I receive to live how God desires me to live? Well, James here quotes Proverbs 3:34. And he says, "God resists the proud, but this grace, it comes to the humble." Do you know that when you're prideful, you're actually pushing the grace of the Lord away? You're putting a block up. You're saying, "It's always around, but I don't want to receive it. I don't need your grace." Uh-uh. you're the one closing it off. And so, he's saying if you want to actually receive it, you got to do the opposite of pride. You got to be humble. Humility is the key here to receiving the grace that's already there. To be able to live in this grace, this flow of grace, to be able to experience life as he wants you and desires for you to experience it. Humility opens the door for him to move. Which means grace isn't passive. It's actually an invitation to receive.
Ten Urgent Commands to Win the War
In fact, these last verses, James is going to tell us how to respond to grace. Look at James 4:7-10. And listen to all the verbs here. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. I don't know if you counted, but there are ten commands here. Not the ten commandments of the Old Testament, but I would say these are the great ten commandments to live for God today. And this is actually what these verbs even mean. They're written in the aorist imperative, which just simply means the language of these verses to do it now. This is you're not waiting. You're not going to try it out a little bit. You're not going to see if this is this is going to work out. This is the language of urgency that James is writing to. How do I win the war within? Well, these are the ways you're going to win it. And the first one, he says, is to submit. That that just simply means to surrender. is saying, "All right, God, you lead. I'll try my best to follow."
In fact, these last verses, James is going to tell us how to respond to grace. Look at James 4:7-10. And listen to all the verbs here. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. I don't know if you counted, but there are ten commands here. Not the ten commandments of the Old Testament, but I would say these are the great ten commandments to live for God today. And this is actually what these verbs even mean. They're written in the aorist imperative, which just simply means the language of these verses to do it now. This is you're not waiting. You're not going to try it out a little bit. You're not going to see if this is this is going to work out. This is the language of urgency that James is writing to. How do I win the war within? Well, these are the ways you're going to win it. And the first one, he says, is to submit. That that just simply means to surrender. is saying, "All right, God, you lead. I'll try my best to follow."
You know, the Bible in the New Testament says a couple things about Jesus. One, it says he's the savior, because he is. He is the one who paid for the sins of the world. But after you trust in him and you're in this inner war, you know what else it says about Jesus. That he should be Lord. Not you, not your pride, him. And this is how you live that out. Says submit, surrender in the humble way. You're coming underneath. And then the next word is to resist, which is the idea of authority. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. This is important to know because you're going to fight the devil. the inner war, the war within. It is one where the devil's pulling and pulling really hard and trying his hardest to get you to go this way, knowing that you can never be taken away from God once you place your faith in him. But he wants you to not live in the grace and in the rhythm of life with him. So now if we submit to God, I can fight the devil not in my own strength. Over here is my strength and it'll never go well. over here is God's strength and that's the way he created it to be, and the devil is going to flee because you're not standing on your power, you're standing underneath God's. The only option there for the devil is to flee.
And then he uses this language of relationship. He says, "Draw near." And it's not a maybe. Thank you, Lord. It's a promise. Draw near to me. I'm drawn near to you. This is the relational aspect of this. You know, God's not like, "Hey, uh, you are back there. Yeah, you forget about me." Not really. Well, if you want me, you got to walk this way. I'm going to be over here. Yeah. All the way here, though. I'm not coming to you. That's not God. Prodigal son coming back. Father sees him and runs to him. His speed was faster than the sun's. He couldn't wait for restoration. He couldn't wait for the relationship. [Music]
Humility That God Lifts Up
And for some of us, this part right here is where we need to uh just implement this truth today because he begins to get rah honest with some repentant language. Clean your hands, purify your hearts, lament, mourn, weep. That's all repentance language is okay. Lord, I need to understand. I don't need to be laughing about my sin because the seriousness of it was that Christ, the pure one, holy one, righteous one, lamb of God, had to die for that sin. There's a seriousness to that act. So, I don't want to be joyful about living over here. So, help me, Father. Purify my heart. Give me clean hands. Don't we feel it, man? Even when I say this both first service and second service in my mind I can literally envision on my heart like dust where God's like okay and he's just cleaning it off anybody else this what I feel from this this is what he wants for us all this stuff gets in the way and he's like no but you can have clean hands and a pure heart you don't have to live over here you can live the way I created you to but don't miss the hope in the very last line because this is the one, the key that unlocks it all. He says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up." You know, humility doesn't push you down. It actually positions you to be lifted up, which when you're over here, that's what you want, but you're not going to get because you're the king and everything has to be what you say. But over here, you're submitting to the king, and he can work with that. You can be satisfied on that side. See, humility is living fully as God created you, but under his authority, not above it. So, use your gifts, talents, and abilities. when the inner work comes, when the pressures of life come. But submit all of that under God, praying to him for his will to be done. That you can go, and you can get out of this pressure, stay in it as long as you want, learn the lesson he wants you to learn, but that you're following whatever he wants in that moment.
Let Go of The Rope
You know, this rope has been a symbol all morning. This tug of-war between life in the spirit, heavenly wisdom, God's ways, and then earthly wisdom and flesh and probably the ways we live more than we should because there's this war within. So, how do you win the war? Do you think the tug-of-war game actually wins because you pulled harder finally this way or that way? You want to know there's a sound to winning the war? There's a sound to freedom. You want to know what it is? You let go of the rope. You don't win by pulling harder. You win by letting go. But you got a great God who's ready to catch you when you do. He's ready to lift you up. How? Because he has more grace for you. And that's how we win the war within. And are we going to be perfect at it? No. So what do we do? The same things we've learned today. We go back to him. Lord, I got that dust on the heart again. Can you clean it off? I want to submit to you. I want to know what your word says about the situation, and I need your strength to actually live it. So, this is the invitation today. Stop pulling. Start trusting. Because the war within will be won the moment you do. Let's pray.