James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James 4:2 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.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Intro:
I believe these three are among the greatest.
1.
Worldliness----works on us outwardly.
2.
Selfishness----works on us inwardly.
3.
Prayerlessness----works on us Godwardly.
I.
NOTICE FOUR THINGS ABOUT WORLDLINESS....
1.
It is downward in its trend......Eph 2.2-3
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2.
It is demanding in its time....Eph 5.15-16
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
3e
It is destructive to our testimony...
~.
It is deceptive to our trinity. .1 Jn 2:16-17
1 John 2:16 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.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
a.
the lust of the eyes....
b.
the lust of the flesh....
c.
the pride of life.....
II.
NOTICE SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR SELFISHNESS....
1.
The Principle of Self....
-all
for me and none for thee-
2.
The person of Self....
-the
one everybody knows-
-the
one close friends knows-
-the
one only God and you knows-
-the
one only God knows-
3.
The Problem of Self.....Pride
-It
counterfiets reality....Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-It
conflicts with the Almighty. .Jam. 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-it
consumates in fatality...Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
III.
PRAYERLESSNESS.....Someone has said,
"Prayer
is
a sinkiller, a powerbringer, a
victorygiver,
a
holiness promoter, a dispute settler, an
obstacle-remover
and
a Christ revealer...."
1.
Prayer is Approaching God......Matt 6:9-10
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
2.
Prayer is Asking of God.....Matt 6:11-13
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
-give
us bread....our physical needs
-forgive
us.......our spiritual needs
-lead
us..........our mental needs
