Sermon – “The Spirit Yearns Jealously”

4 Where do [a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war. [c]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 [d]Adulterers 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. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land was not able to [b]support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Let’s begin with a word of prayer the Smalling Heavenly Father we do call in your name we call in the name. Of Jehovah we know that you are God We know that your real we know that you are alive and well seated on your throne and Father God we praise you the Jesus your son is seated at your right hand we thank you that he died for our sins that we can be set free set free from that sin that binds us by the god may your spirit be upon us God may your spirit guide us hold us help us lead us by your spirit be present today in a manifest way for your glory and for your Honor apologise touch our hearts today help us to receive what you have forced father and may every word spoken be for your glory and your honor father. For your glory in Jesus’ glorious name Amen we’re going to continue this morning I know it’s we’re we’re near the Fourth of July so I have my Fourth of July time on so happy Fourth of July come Wednesday and I know there’s been some years where I have had a message of focused around that but I want to continue in Jayne’s were in James Chapter four. Verses one through ten the title my sermon today the spirit your earnings jealously and I’m speaking of the Holy Spirit not your own but the Holy Spirit in you yearns jealously and we’re going to learn why what causes the spirit to yearn jealously within us dames chapter four where do wars and fights come from among you do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members 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 ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend it only. Your pleasures adulterers and adulterous is do you not know that friendship with the world is empathy with God whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. An enemy of God If we want to be friends with this world we have just turned ourselves into an enemy of God Let that sink in for a moment. I don’t want to be an enemy of God. 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 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 of centers and purify your hearts you double minded lament and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to morning and your joy to gloom humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up my friends whenever he says let your mourning be tore you. Let your laughter be turned to morning and your joy to gloom. He is not talking about the joy that he gives he is not same let that joy that odd that you can find in him be turned to gloom or to be turned to morning but that temporal joy that you find in the worldly things let that be turned to morning because it is only temporal you’re going to mourn at its last one of these days because it’s all going to go on don’t be friends with the world James begins by asking the question where do the wars and fights come from among you he is not referring to the wars in the fights outside he’s not you know. For all of history there’s always been a war somewhere going on in the world if it’s not in our country I’m sure it’s somewhere in the world today there’s a war going on he’s not talking about the war going on out there in the streets among the gangs he’s not talking about the wars outside of the church he’s talking about from with then where do the wars in the fight come from within among those who claim to be believers claim to be brothers and sisters but yet fighting in a previous chapter James Council believers that not many of them should become teachers and as I taught or not I said because teachers will be held to a stricter standard because you’re accountable for what you teach you don’t want to lead somebody down the wrong path you don’t want to lead them astray you want to teach the truth but some commentators believe that he meant that they may have been fighting over wanting to be teachers. For the wrong reason. Wanting to be teachers for the position of teacher wanting to be leaders in a church just for the position of that leadership they had selfie Sam Bishan it’s their goal was not to glorify and edify the church built to glorify Christ and build up the church but themselves to put themselves up into that place of leadership. That was selfish ambitions wars and fights they have been going on among God’s people even in the world like I said the Old Testament New Testament in Genesis Chapter thirteen we all know the story were God called Abraham out of her Randy told him leave your father’s country and I’ll take you to a place that I will show you well Abraham as we know because we actually was talking about this some months ago at that point had no children but he had a nephew and apparently had his him and his nephew got along well I think of a couple miles that I got along I get along real well with one that had passed got along great with out on call I mean I loved him dearly and he you know we was nice so Abraham had a nephew must have been a good guy too and they got along well so Abraham apparently told his nephew lot about God’s calling on his life and he’s like oh I want to get with you let me go I’m paraphrasing this now this is wrong his version let me go with you so Abraham says Yes So Abraham a lot they both leave so many pick up verse five chapter thirteen lot also who went with a broom had flocks and herds intense now the land was not able to support them that they might well together for their possessions were so great that they could not well together now my friends if you only have an acre of sheep that’s not enough for a hundred head of sheep I mean an acre of land that’s not enough for a hundred head sheep you need more land so they were so great that the land was before them was not big enough it was not sufficient enough and there was strife between the herdsman of Abram’s livestock and the herdsman’s of lots of livestock the Canaanites and the Pres parasites then dwelt in the land so Abraham said the lot please let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsman and my herdsman. For we are brother and is not the whole land before you please separate from me if you take the left I will go to the right or if you go to the right then I will go to the left. Lots herdsman one of the best. They one of the greenest pasture for their masters sheep their masters livestock my friends Abraham is the one that God called right. Abraham is the elder here Abraham had every right to say. I’m the one God called. Taken a good pastor on the left you go there but he did not did. Abraham in his wisdom humbled himself he knew that God would provide. He says Lot you choose whichever you want if you go to the left I’ll go to the right if you go to the right I shall go to the left you choose degree whatever pastor you choose out take the other well we know a lot did he chose that we look the best. But we know that God blessed Abraham’s choice also. We know in the New Testament there were disputes even among Jesus’ closest disciples Luke Chapter nine versus forty six to forty eight then a dispute rose among them as to which of them would be greatest two of his disciples that are going about who’s going to be the greatest in the kingdom who’s going to be able to set closest to him when he come into His kingdom. And Jesus perceiving their thoughts are the thoughts of their heart took a little child and set him by him and said to them whoever receives this little child in my name receives me and whoever receives maybe receives him who sent me for he who is the least among you will be great. He who is least among you will be great kind of think of the first of the last in the last will be first are we willing to humble ourselves like Abraham did. And that him make us great you can see that in all these disputes there is another war there is a war within and that wars within ourselves it is our own selfish desires which can be very dangerous they can lead to very dangerous things they can lead people to do harmful things evil things James said in verse to first to you lust and do not have you murder and covet and you cannot obtain you fight in war yet you do not have because you do not ask you do not you ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures James is warning again against believers being driven by their selfish desires for the room pleasures when he says you murder and you covet. Though one’s desires could lead to murder you know it could be someone’s desire to be so great for the flesh that they wind up where they shouldn’t be and turns to murder. But I believe that he’s referring to the things of the world the desires this world being so strong inside of one’s heart that they don’t care who they step on who they stab in the back or who they have to run over to get there. To achieve the things of this world. You know it’s not always wrong to strive for success I’m not sayin that but the measure of whether it is right or wrong is what is driving us is it our selfishness that we can spend it on ourselves that we can enjoy just for selves. When it comes to plays or you know. Where do we draw the line. How do we make sure as believers that we don’t cross that line in our desires for pleasure what is acceptable to the Lord when it comes to pleasure how much is too much how much is just right you know weak is kind of our human nature to know what the boundaries are right we were having a discussion in Bible study Wednesday about the law which loss which laws do we obey what about these what about those. Words the boundary where do we set it I’m not going to stand no way am I going to stand up or they and say well here’s exactly how much pleasure you should seek now you only get. Eight days a year for vacation. No more because that’s going to be on no I’m not going to do that you can only drive. A Buick Conneaut because since we don’t you can drive anything better than a Buick because that’s too much pleasure no I’m not going to do that. Because it’s the desire it’s just this is what’s driving you for these things I’m not going to get into those things. But what is Jane’s talking about. Are we to avoid all kinds of pleasure are we men should we have become monks. So just probably heard and we’re going to we’re to become monks and not enjoy anything pleasurable at all women should you have become nuns what wrong denomination on them and not enjoy anything pleasurable. I don’t think that is James’ point. Some might say well you know God created the earth for our pleasure. He did when God created the earth did he not say that he saw what he had made and it was good and he did create man and put him on the earth to have dominion over the earth and to enjoy what he created. I believe that we’re to enjoy it when we look out over the mountains of we’re looked out over the ocean and when we look at the things that he may the wonderful people we’ve I think we’re to enjoy it if God enjoyed it shouldn’t we but we’re not to put those things above him. That’s the line when we put those we put the things of this world ahead of him we’ve crossed that line that I mention pleasure as James uses the word here in the book of James the Greek meaning of the word pleasure is Hey Don. It is used as a strong negative in James Chapter four referring to sensual pleasure seeking pleasure as an end in itself. That’s your that’s the end goal of your seeking pleasure just to seek more pleasure is the satisfaction of bodily desires lust at the expense of other things oftentimes at the expense of other people. My friends if one’s desire is. The sensual pleasures. We know what that can lead to we know that that can lead to adultery that can lead to pornography that can lead to rape that can lead it just because it’s never. Satisfied they always want more if the pleasure that you seek is essential pleasure if it’s the material pleasure that one seeks look at those that have won the lottery I think the statistics claim that at least two thirds of them are bankrupt in a few years I might be off to a boom in numbers how much is enough how many cars in the collection is enough how big is the house going to be it’s never going to be enough if we make that our aim if that is our end goal the materialism will never get there will never reach. Vacations I’m not going to say how much is enough and life will choke me. How much is enough you know God created this earth he wants us once in a while to be able to sit back and relax and enjoy it to you know were ever your favorite spot is if it’s upset no one at mountain and just enjoying the birds and enjoying the clouds rolling by he wants us to enjoy that he created in the relax once in a while if it’s watching those waves roll in which I know that is her favorite spot God wants us to enjoy that once in awhile. He truly does but I will say this that God does not and are intended our lives be a continuous vacation enjoying pleasure. And if you believe that to be so please show me in a scripture after the service because I want to see where it says. Proverbs twenty one seventeen says and this is from The Message Bible. You’re addicted to thrills who what an empty life the pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied the pursuit of pleasure will never be satisfied think about this those that sank seek can’t talk either those that seek their pleasure in the bottle. They seek that joy of getting tipsy and whatever you want drop it will never be satisfied the wake up in the morning with a hangover no start again tomorrow night a new they’ll never be satisfied the addiction of gambling will never be satisfied. Because the money will run out the addiction to the sensual things as I said will never be satisfied it leads to more and more and more and more to it becomes criminal. The addiction of the material things will never be satisfied. Because there’s never contentment when you’re addicted to many materialism it’s content that we need I think the key is in verse four. The key to the meaning of his warning adulterers in a doctor says Do you not know that friendship with the world as in the tea with God whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God I hope his choice of words. Did not roll right off your head like water production back because I know that he chose those words wisely the Spirit gave James those words Jesus said in Matthew five twenty eight but I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her and he’s hard. Nor gave me a little I mean just a make believe story ladies think about this for a moment and just put yourself in a situation let’s say your husband says Honey we’re going to go out Prady night we’re going to go out and have a nice dinner and I believe afterward we’re going to club we’re going to do a little dance it sounds great so Friday night comes and you go to a nice restaurant you sit down in the entire time you’re at that restaurant your husband is obsessive Lee flirting with the waitress and you begin to steam you don’t like that right so then you leave the restaurant you go to the club you get there what this. Nice husband years do. Not so nice husband do well he began flirting with the women there the club the next thing you know he’s out on one dance floor dance of other women all of a along there you set watching this jerk. Enjoy his night and making you miserable he just dances the night away. You would like that would you. Anybody like to. Know I can assure you the ride home is not going to be a pleasant ride. She is going to let him have it. Yeah I know what I’d be here in. Because that jealousy Gene had kicked in back at the restaurant and it only grew angry or in anger in anger right a moment you don’t like your man dancing with somebody else important somebody else you see in a relationship of marriage we can see an illustration between a relationship with God in us we are called the bride of Christ. Right just as you women would not like to see your man dance and are flirting with other woman God doesn’t like to see us dance with the things of the world. Do you get it he gets jealous the Holy Spirit gets jealous What about me there are sets the Holy Spirit waiting when you go to dance with me God wants us to dance with him not the things of the world not the worldly pleasure when are we going to quit lonely for the things that he created in worship and love and dance with the create her. Not the things of the world. I believe evidence that we are living in the last days is found in second Timothy three one through five On know that I didn’t get all the scriptures to Rosanna I got more scriptures after I’d sent to stop the second time of the three one through five the says but know this that in the last days perilous times will come for men will be lovers of themselves lovers of money boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy unloving unforgiving slanders without self-control brutal despisers of good traitors headstrong haughty so many things lovers of Plage sure rather than lovers of God We are living in the last days have been a form of godliness but the nine its power in from set such people turn away turn away from them Dr James job they name. James Dobson. Yeah. Dr James Dobson shared this I get a daily devotional thing from him every day. For married couples he shared this and a scripture to share was this Luke twelve erst twenty this very night your life will be demanded from you then who will get what you have prepared for yourself. He Dr Dobson said the utter folly of materialism hits home dramatically hit home dramatically in one of his trips to Britain some years ago as he toured to museums and historical buildings he was struck by what he called Empty castles standing there in the lonely fog or edifices constructed by problem men who thought they owned them. But where were those men today he asked all of them gone most forgotten the hollow castles they left behind stand as monuments to the vulnerability and impermanence of the man who built them he said I hope to leave more than empty castles behind when I die something more meaningful than land machines stock or fame I will consider my life. My earthly existence to have been wasted unless my legacy is a loving family consistent investment in the lives of people and an earnest attempt to have served the God who made me. That’s worth repeating my life would be a waste unless my legacy is a loving family a consistent investment in the lives of people and an earnest attempt to have served the God who made me nothing else really matters I hope we could all say that I hope that is the legacy that Ali and then he asked these questions just between us and I ask you don’t answer but just think about them and some to yourself don’t shout it out if we dot tonight would you’re a bit wary describe empty pursuits or meaningful lives how would the Lord Judge our stored ship of money time and belongings only you can answer that. What has been our most Foolish investment or expenditure in the past few years. Do we seek satisfaction in things or in the Lord so with that question is there a change in order. How can we encourage others to pursue what really matters good questions. Colossians three verses three thru nine I’m read again from The Message Bible because it really brings home. What a Christian life should be what truly pleases the Lord. If you are a believer this should be something you can say your old life is dead your new life which is your real life even though invisible to spectators is with Christ in God He is your life can we say that. He is your life can you say that truly when Christ your real life remember shows up again on this earth you’ll show up to the real you the glorious You meanwhile be content with obscurity like Christ and that means killing off everything connected with the way of death which is sexual problems promiscuity impurity lust doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it and grabbing whatever attraction or fancy that’s a life shape by things and feelings instead of by God it’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger it wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and knowing not knowing any better but listen the verse eight but you know better now. Church we know better now so make sure it’s all going for good bad temper irritability Manus prevented T. dirty talk don’t lie to one another you’re done with out O. life it’s like a filthy set of ill fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put it in the fire how. The Message Bible look that up and read it again. Cautions three three three nine good stuff we know better we know what pleases God. And it’s not when we long for the things of this world. I believe that James messages for the church stop being selfish. Stop being selfish you know where do we go last week can’t Joy what this joy stand for is that their vision Jesus others you that order. Not you first. Not selfishness but Jesus others and then you my friends James said Draw near to God. And he will draw near to you don’t draw near to what the world has to offer. Don’t be fooled by that I think a few weeks back to talk about that bait don’t be fooled by that bait that Satan throws out there. Because it’s all temporal. But seek that which is turning and that is our relationship with Jesus Christ amen.