james 4: quarrels and fights

The book of James

Summer Workshops

James 4:1-12Quarrels and fights

The book of James

3

Overview of James

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch5

James addresses •the pride of the rich 1:9-11 2:1-9 4:13-17 •persecution by the rich 2:6-7 5:6 •pay withheld by the rich 5:4-6

He also addresses •those tempted to retaliate with violent acts 2:11 4:2 •or words 1:19-20, 26 3:1-12 4:11-12 5:9

He responds with •a call to wisdom 1:5 3:14-18 •faith 1:6-8 2:14-26•and patient endurance 1:9-11 5:7-11

3

Overview of James

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch5

James addresses •the pride of the rich 1:9-11 2:1-9 4:13-17 •persecution by the rich 2:6-7 5:6 •pay withheld by the rich 5:4-6

He also addresses •those tempted to retaliate with violent acts 2:11 4:2 •or words 1:19-20, 26 3:1-12 4:11-12 5:9

He responds with •a call to wisdom 1:5 3:14-18 •faith 1:6-8 2:14-26•and patient endurance 1:9-11 5:7-11

Stephen Langton (c. 115-1228) Archbishop of Canterbury 1207-1228

Wycliffe Bible 1382

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you?

Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

You want and do not have: (so) you murder.And you covet and cannot obtain: (so) you quarrel and fight.

You 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.

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

How not to pray

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With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25

How not to pray

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

:

With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25With unconfessed sin Ps 6:18; Is 59:2

How not to pray

2 But your iniquities have separated        you from your God;        your sins have hidden his face from you,        so that he will not hear.

:

With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25With unconfessed sin Ps 6:18; Is 59:2With unbelief and doubt James 1:6 Mk 11:23

How not to pray

6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

:

With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25With unconfessed sin Ps 6:18; Is 59:2With unbelief and doubt James 1:6 Mk 11:23With wrong relationships 1 Peter 3:17 Mt 18:19

How not to pray

 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

:

With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25With unconfessed sin Ps 6:18; Is 59:2With unbelief and doubt James 1:6 Mk 11:23With wrong relationships 1 Peter 3:17 Mt 18:19 In disobedience 1 Jn 3: 21f.

How not to pray

21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

:

With unforgiveness and resentment Mt 6:12, 15; Mk 11:25With unconfessed sin Ps 6:18; Is 59:2With unbelief and doubt James 1:6 Mk 11:23With wrong relationships 1 Peter 3:17 Mt 18:19 When involved in idolatry Ezek 14:1In disobedience 1 Jn 3: 21f.

How not to pray

1919

To the fatherIn the name of JesusEmpowered by the Holy SpiritWith faithWith perseverance and patienceIn the will of God In submission to and dependence upon GodWith thanksgiving And at all times

How do we pray:

 4 You 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.

STRUCTUREGod’s good

world

DIRECTION

 4 You 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.

STRUCTUREGod’s good

world

DIRECTIONof the world in the world

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5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

   "God opposes the proud     but gives grace to the humble."

 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

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. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

 11 Brothers, 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.

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?