"The Struggles of the Saints”
Rev. Dr. Earl B. Mason, Sr., Senior Pastor

James 4:1-10

The Christian life is one struggle after another it seems. We struggle with our flesh, with this world, with the saints sometimes, with Satan, and with the Lord Himself. James addresses the issue of these struggles. He speaks about the causes of these struggles and how to have victory over them.

I. THE SOURCE OF OUR STRUGGLES - 4:1

James says, "Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from?" These Christians faced the same type of conflicts that we face today. The word "wars" comes from the Greek word polemos {pol'-em-os} which means "a war, a fight, a battle, a dispute, strife, or quarrel." This word forms our English word polemics, which is prolonged, serious disputing or combat and is thus translated "war."

The word "fightings" is derived from the word mache {makh'-ay} which means "a fight or combat, a battle of individual conflicts or persons at variance, disputants." The source of our fussing is our lust. Our passions that battle within us are the root of our problems. The Bible says our lusts "war" in us.

The verb "war" comes from the Greek word strateuomai {strat-yoo'-om-ahee} which means "to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle, to do military duty, to be on active service, to be a soldier, to fight." Our lust is always on "active duty" in our body. Our conflict with our flesh is a constant, continual battle. When we are controlled by our flesh and adopt the motto "Have it Your Way!" we become hard to get along with. Our lust is the source of our external conflicts with others.

This word "lust" is from the word hedone {hay-don-ay'}. This word forms our English word hedonist or hedonism. Hedone carries the idea of the gratification of sensual, natural, fleshly desires. When used in the New Testament, it is always used in a negative, ungodly sense. Hedonism is the uncontrolled personal desire to fulfill every passion and wish that promises sensual satisfaction and delight. Paul warned men would be like this in the end times.

2 Timothy 3:2-4 - For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

The fighting was taking place among God's people. James says, "among you." When Christians are fussing and fighting, the world watches and says, "Behold, how they hate one another!" Nothing does more to hurt the cause of Jesus Christ than when Christians fight and argue with one another over petty, stupid things. External conflicts are usually an indication of conflicts taking place within a person. James refers to this here. The New Testament has addressed this problem of conflicts among believers in several places.

II. OUR STRIFE AND STRUGGLES - 4:2-3

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

What a picture of frustration! You lust and have not; you desire to have and cannot obtain. The truth of the matter is our flesh is really never satisfied. There are things we desire physically, mentally, and emotionally. James says that we lust, kill, fight, war, and ask. We struggle with our flesh.

There are many frustrated Christians today that have the wrong priorities in their lives. The war in their hearts creates war in their homes or churches. Anger and hatred at God spills over in anger toward God's people. This is the idea behind the word "to kill." In this verse, "to kill" is a hyperbole for murderous hatred, extremely destructive behavior, and even suicide. When the lusting person cannot fulfill his desires, the result is often catastrophic to others and to oneself. When the men of Sodom were struck blind by the angels, they continued groping for the door in a vain attempt to gain entrance and satisfy their lust (Genesis 19:11). Absalom was consumed with the thought of ruling the nation of Israel to the point that he was more than willing to murder his father, David. Hatred is put on the same level as murder in the Bible.

People complain about blessings they don't have instead of the blessings they do have. They become very selfish, hateful, and ungrateful. Some folks don't know what they want, but feel sure they don't have it. James gives the reasons for our strife and struggles.

A. You lust

The word "lust" means "to set your heart upon a thing or anxious self-seeking." It comes from the Greek word epithumeo {ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o}. If the focus of our life is wrong, our actions will be wrong.

B. You desire

The words "desire to have" come from the Greek word zeloo {dzay-lo'-o} which means "to burn with zeal, to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger." This word forms our English word "zealot or zealous." Jealousy and bitterness will leave you unfulfilled. It will create conflicts in your marriage, church, family, work, and school.

C. You ask not

Another reason for the strife and struggles in our lives is our lack of prayer. Daily prayers lessen daily cares. Satan trembles when he sees, God's people on their knees. Don't fall into the trap of prayerlessness. Notice what the prophet Isaiah said about this problem.

Isaiah 64:7—And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

D. You ask amiss

"To ask amiss" meant they were praying selfishly, with the wrong motives. They were asking for the wrong purpose and for selfish, evil motives. They desired to fulfill their sensual desires. The word "consume" means "to spend or squander." They were asking the Lord for something for the purpose of spending it on their lust. This is what the prodigal son did with his possessions. Beloved, God supplies our need, not our greed. The Bible makes it clear that we are to petition the Lord for things according to His will.

Lust Problems in the Bible

The Bible gives us several examples of the problems with lust and its devastating effects.

1. Herod - Lust for Immoral Pleasures.

He coveted his brother's wife. (Mark 6:14-29)

2. Judas - Lust for Money

Mark 14:10-11 - And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. [11] And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

3. Hezekiah - Lust for "Showing Off

He flaunted all of his precious things: silver, gold, armor, and other treasures to the visitors from Babylon. Isaiah warned him they would be taken away in the future, and his prophecy was fulfilled.

4. Adoni-bezek -  Lust for Power

Judges 1:5-7 - And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. [6] But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. [7] And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

5. Diotrophes - Lust for Pre-eminence

3 John 1:9-10 - I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. [10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

The lifestyle of this world is totally contrary and opposed to Biblical living. We are to live in this world, but not like this world. James continues in verse 5 and basically says, "Do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: 'God jealously or intensely desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us'"? The phrase "that dwelleth in us" is in the aorist tense. This tense refers to a point in time in the past when the Holy Spirit came into us when we trusted Jesus as our Savior. This tense also speaks of a "once and for all" act. In other words, when you were saved, the Spirit of God came to dwell within you permanently. Amen! We are eternally secure in Christ.

God is a jealous God and commands that nothing else comes before Him in our hearts. He jealously longs for our love and is angered when we love this world system above Him. This world is not to be our master! Unfortunately, some believers are mastered by this world, but try to follow Christ too. As I firmly say to my kids sometimes, "It ain't gonna happen!" You can only have one master.

Involvement in a worldly lifestyle usually is a gradual process.

The Stages of Worldly Involvement

Stage 1-Friendship....James 4:4

Stage 2-Spotted by the World

James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The world begins to leave its mark in this stage.

Stage 3 - Love for the World's Lifestyle

1 John 2:15-17 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2 Timothy 4:10a - For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,....

Stage 4 - Conforming to this World

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When we conform to this world, we begin to pattern our life after this world.

Stage 5 - Chastened to Avoid Condemnation with the World

We put ourselves into a very difficult situation when we are worldly.

1 Corinthians 11:29-32 - For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Stage 6 - The Soul is Saved, but Eternal Rewards are Lost

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Beloved, the Christian is not ruined by living in the world, but by the world living in him. Our passion ought to be a godly Christian that glorifies Christ and lives a holy life no matter what the cost. In the forests of northern Europe and Asia, there lives a little animal called the ermine. This animal is mostly known to us by his snow white fur, which is the most beautiful in the fur markets of the world. In some countries the state robes of judges are lined with it, the white fur being emblematic of purity and honor.