How to Still the

Battle Within

James 4:1-6

“How to Still the Battle Within”

James 4:1-5

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or …”

“How to Still the Battle Within”

James 4:4-6

“do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Romans 7:15, 18, 24

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate … For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh … For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing … Wretched man that I am.” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Strong Language

•Quarrels (polemos)

• Fights (machē)

• Both military terms which mean war and battle. It’s a ‘take no hostages’ attitude.

Destroy Your

Relationships

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it

not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire

and do not have” (4:1-2)

Living life without a Godly focus will …

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Strong Language

• Passions (hēdonē) and Desire (epithymeō)

• Hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure is the main goal in life and it seeks instant gratification. Not just simple enjoyment, but immediate pleasure at all costs.

Destroy Your

Prayer Life

“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on

your passions.” (4:2-3)

Living life without a Godly focus will …

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Several Problems

•We don’t pray

•We ask for the wrong things

•We ask with the wrong motives

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Matthew 6:9-10

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Questions About Our Prayers

•Do I only pray when I need something from God?•Do I really need what I am asking for?•Am I asking for special treatment from God?• Is what I am asking for in the best interest of

God’s Kingdom?• Is it His will that I receive this request?•What do I plan to do if God grants my request?•Have I been living in such a way that God will be

pleased to honor my request?

Destroy Your

Relationship

with God

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes

himself an enemy of God.” (4:4)

Living life without a Godly focus will…

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Strong Language

•Adultery (moichalis), Enmity (echthra), & Enemy(echthros)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

James 4:5

• “The spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely.” (NIV)

• “That God jealously longs for the spirit that he made to live in us.” (NIV, footnote #1)

• “That the Spirit he caused to live in us longs jealously.” (NIV, footnote #2)

• “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he made to dwell in us.” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

James 4:6

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (ESV)

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Realize …

• The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences.

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Realize …

• The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences.

• The Christian life is not the ability to live life perfectly, but humbly accepting that we need God’s grace—which God gives generously.

“How to Still the Battle Within”

Realize …

• The result of unrestrained desire will have tragic, catastrophic consequences.

• The Christian life is not the ability to live life perfectly, but humbly accepting that we need God’s grace—which God gives generously.

•God’s grace will be extended to the humble, not the proud.

How to Still the

Battle Within

“Submit yourselves, therefore to God.” (4:7)