Andy Stanley has a sermon series called, “It Came from Within”. His introduction: Suddenly a young wife files for divorce. Suddenly a college student's grades drop and his attitude changes. Suddenly a man's harmless pastime becomes a destructive habit. Each looks for someone else to blame. But the real enemy lurks within--in the heart. Not the organ that pumps blood through our veins, but that invisible, intangible place where we experience love and compassion, contempt and jealousy.

James 4:1-3 v. 1. What causes fights and quarrels? Fights – Greek word for a military campaign, a violent conflict. Quarrels – Greek word is used for angry disputes, not armed conflict. James is not talking about disagreements or differing points of view.

There are disagreements in every organization with more than one person. There are disagreements between nations, within governments, in churches and families. To be sure, some battles must be fought. But even then, they must be fought without sacrificing Christian principles.

When disagreements become bitter, angry, hating, we have crossed the line. Jesus calls us not to anger and bitterness, but to love and prayer for our enemies.

Where does this fighting come from? They come from our pursuit of idols. Lusting after something above God. “Passions” – or “pleasures” our word, “hedonism.” Lusts for sex, power, money, etc.

These passions are at war within us. There is a battle being waged inside us for what is sinful.

v. 2. You “desire” – comes from a Greek word “to turn” your heart to something or it is to set the heart on something. Can be a desire for something good or bad.

You “covet” – Greek word we get zeal from. It is to burn w/ anger, desire, envy.

Your passions (lust), your desires (setting your hearts on something), your coveting (burning with desire or envy) cause fights, quarrels, even murder.

We think our fights, quarrels, bitter arguments, anger and hatred are someone else’s fault. James says, ‘no, that came from your own hearts, your own attraction to idols.’ From a place that desires what is evil, self-serving.

v. 3. We ask for the wrong things – things that we’re lust after, things that we are jealous or envious about. They consume our thoughts, we set our hearts on them.

James 4:4-5 “You adulterous people” these people long for the wrong things. They lust for things that compete for their affections with God. They are spiritual adulterers, giving their hearts to something other than God. “Like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel.” (Jer 3:20)

“Friendship with the world” – you cannot pursue sinful desires and God. Like Jesus said of money, you cannot serve both God and money.

James 4:6 BUT HE GIVES MORE GRACE • God gives the ability and willingness to overcome sin • God’s grace is completely adequate to meet his demand that we be faithful “God gives what he demands.” – Augustine

v. 6b. God’s sustaining grace is enjoyed by those who willingly admit their need and look to God for help. We have to humble ourselves before God, admitting that our hearts wander and ask for him to help us.

James 4:7-10 v. 7a. & v. 10 give similar commands: “Submit yourselves to God”/ “Humble yourselves before the Lord” Place yourself under his lordship – commit to obeying him. 7b. Resist the devil/he will flee from you 8a. Come near to God/he will come near to you 8b. Wash/purify – we are sinners (sin by nature) double-minded -want God & sin 9a Grieve, mourn, wail – confess, be contrite 9b. Change your laughter to mourning 10. Humble yourself before the Lord James calls us to repent – we must continually repent, humble ourselves before God for our envy, lusts, adultery against God and humbly ask, “more grace”