#BibleLesson Timeless Truths. Developing a Faith that Works – How to Handle Arguments - Part b


This is the final post in the Developing a Faith that Works Series. URLs from previous weeks are listed as part of this opening statement.

URLs.

1/28/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/01/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys.html

2/04/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/01/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys_26.html

2/11/2021 – https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys.html

2/18/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys_5.html

2/25/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing.html

3/04/2021 – https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing_23.html

3/04/2021- https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/03/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing.html

3/11/2021- https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/03/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing_9.html

4/15/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/04/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing.html


From the last post:

In this passage, James gives us both the causes and the cures for arguments. 

 

THE CAUSE OF ARGUMENTS: V1. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

Conflicts of desires cause arguments.

Humans are born with this capacity.

Frustrated feelings cause fights.

 

The Desire to Have (Possessions) V2. You want what you don’t have... You long for what others have… (Living Bible)

Legitimate desires, when they become #1 for you  CONFLICT

Use things and love people – B.J. Thomas song on this topic from 1979.

A Gallop Poll in the early 2000s: 56% of all divorces are from money issues.

 

The Desire to Feel (Pleasure) V3b …you want only what will give you pleasure.

It’s not wrong to want to enjoy life. 

However, when that becomes #1, conflict and resentment build.

 

The Desire to Be (Pride & Power) Proverbs 13:10 Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise.  – Living Bible

The “me first” syndrome.

You live life as “ME.”

 

You don’t pray. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

You don’t ask God, you look to people to fulfill your life.

 

You have the wrong motives. V6b “God opposes the proud  but shows favor to the humble.

Pray with the proper spirit for needs and desires.

Prayerlessness is evidence of pride in your life.

 

End of Review

 

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 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. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[c]

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.

James 4:1-10 (NIV)

 

THE CURE FOR ARGUMENTS IS HUMILITY: VV6b, 10. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

God declared war on selfishness.

  • Lack of humility leads to conflict with God.
  • Being in opposition to God is a losing position.
  • GRACE is God’s power to change. You need God’s grace to change. Change only comes through humility.
  • Ask for God’s help to get grace/power.

 

THINGS TO DO TO DIFFUSE CONFLICT.

Give in to God. V7a. Submit yourselves then to God.

  • Thy will be done… NOT Me, first!
  • Conflict with others results from conflicts within.

Let the peace of God rule in your heart. (Colossians 3:25)

  • Peace of heart/mind leads to peaceful relationships.
  • Who’s in charge of your life?
  • If it’s you, you have problems when things don’t go your way.
  • If it’s God, you have peace within  peaceful relationships. No more manipulation.

 

Get wise to Satan. V7b. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

  • This is a defensive action on your part because Satan is always a source of conflict.
  • RESIST in this verse is a military term for repelling an attack.
  • Proverbs 13:10 tells us that pride leads to arguments.

In order that Satan might not outwit us, we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

  • Hurt people hurt people.
  • Satan doesn’t appear obviously.
  • He works through thoughts and suggestions (GET EVEN! SHOW THEM WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!) that appeal to your pride.

 

Grow closer to God. V8a. Come near to God, and He will come near to you.

  • Find a group, or groups, and study God’s Word.
  • Pray before trouble to reduce trouble.
  • The more time you spend alone with God, the less conflict you have with others because God puts perfect peace in your heart.

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord. (Isaiah 26:3)

 

Be willing to ask for forgiveness. V8b. Wash your hands… purify your hearts.

  1. First, ask God.
  2. Then ask those you are in conflict with.

  • God gives grace to the humble.

Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up. V10

  • Regardless of who’s at fault in a conflict, you need to take responsibility to apologize for whatever your wrong part was.
  • Eating crow may not taste good, but there is nourishment there.

 

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5)

  • Let Jesus Christ live through your life.
  • You have God’s heavenly sandpaper in your life to help smooth out your life.
  • If you’re too busy for time with God, you are too busy. PERIOD.
  • Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.

CHALLENGE:

  • Spend a few minutes each day reading Scripture.
  • Conflict in life is in inverse proportion to the time spent with God.
When Jesus lives in two lives, there’s no conflict between them because Christ won’t argue with Himself.


God is looking for this:

Her I am. Send ME.


Commit to making time each week to measure your Christian walk against the standard James presents.


Thanks to Pastor Larry Pitcher for the primary teachings in this post.

 

 

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