Verses to Abide In
“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.”
James 4:1-3 ESV
Digging Deeper
As Matthew Henry said "Natural desires are at rest when that which is desired is obtained, but corrupt desires are insatiable. Nature is content with little, grace with less, but lust with nothing....Our desires must not only be offered up to God, but they must all terminate in Him, desiring nothing more than God, but still more and more of Him." (Read Mt 6:33+, Ps 37:4)
Douglas Moo on murder asks "is James seriously accusing his readers of murder? Indeed, it has been asserted that he is doing just that. Some recent Jewish-Christian converts among James’ readers, it is alleged, may have been members of the radical Jewish Zealot movement, which advocated assassination of prominent Romans and their collaborators as a policy of terror. Perhaps James must warn them that such practices are totally incompatible with their new faith.22 While such a scenario is not impossible, granted the sociopolitical situation in Palestine in James’ day, it does not square well with James’ clear indication that the problems he addresses were within the church (cf. ‘among you’ in 3:13; 4:1). More popular has been the suggestion that phoneuete (you kill) be emended to phthoneite (‘you are envious’), but there is no textual justification for the change. Others suggest that ‘murder’ may connote attitude rather than action: ‘you are murderously jealous’ (Phillips; cf. Matt. 5:21–26; 1 John 2:15). However, in the light of the tradition we have cited, it is simplest to take ‘murder’ straightforwardly and to regard it as that extreme to which frustrated desire, if not checked, may lead.23 Things have not yet gone this far among James’ readers. But ‘fightings’ and ‘wars’ are already in evidence among them; and, if covetous zeal goes unrestrained, the danger of actual violence is real. With penetrating insight, then, James provides us with a powerful analysis of human conflict. Verbal argument, private violence or national conflict—the cause of them all can be traced back to the frustrated desire to want more than we have, to be envious of and covet what others have, whether it be their position or their possessions. (See The Letter of James: An Introduction and Commentary - Page 141)
Guzik - After dealing with the problem of no prayer, now James addressed the problem of selfish prayer. These ones, when they did ask, they asked God with purely selfish motives. We must remember that the purpose of prayer is not to persuade a reluctant God to do our bidding. The purpose of prayer is to align our will with His, and in partnership with Him, to ask Him to accomplish His will on this earth (Matthew 6:10)....Destructive desires persist, even if we pray, because our prayers may be self-centered and self-indulgent. (James 4 Commentary)
The above commentaries and following Illustration are taken from:
preceptaustin.org
ILLUSTRATION OF THE BATTLE OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT - Pastor Tim Brown tells this story. Listen to this: Some time ago, I was having lunch in McDonald’s with my daughter and mother-in-law. We were enjoying a pleasant conversation when a man, with his wife and children, plopped down at a nearby table. The man was someone who in the past had hurt me very deeply. We faked pleasantries and exchanged hellos, but I could feel my blood begin to boil at the thought of what he had done to me. This person had wounded me badly, and I was surprised about how much hurt I still felt. My family and I gobbled down our food and on the way out of the restaurant I overheard “my enemy” and his arguing because neither had any money to purchase the food they had ordered. Their three kids were screaming for their Happy Meals. The couple was embarrassed. My first thought was, Praise God, there is justice in this world. He deserves every bit of embarrassment he’s feeling, and I’m so glad I got to see this. Suddenly God spoke to me through the text I had read that morning. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink’” (Romans 12:17-20). God was saying to me: Here’s your chance to be set free of your pain and overcome your hurt. I knew I had a choice either to obey or bask in my bitterness. Somewhat reluctantly I reached into my wallet, pulled out $20, and gave it to this man who had been my enemy. “Have lunch on me,” I said with tears in my eyes.
Let's Pray
Abba,
Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your people, for grafting us (Romans 11:17) into
your chosen race,
a royal priesthood,
a consecrated nation,
your own possession,
so that we may proclaim the excellencies,
the wonderful deeds and
virtues and
perfections
of you who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 AMP).
Thank you.
We praise you for the mercy we receive from you in being your people (1 Peter 2:10).
Is my heart fully consecrated, set apart, pure before you right now?
Is there a passion, an impure desire (or more than one) that is seeking control, warring within me, that I need to be aware of or need to confess to you?
Forgive me for…
We trust that you are faithful and just and
forgive our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).
Help us to have an urgency,
as aliens and strangers in this world,
to abstain from dishonorable desires that wage war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11 AMP).
Enable us to walk by the Spirit so we don’t gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 ESV).
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:10 NIV).
For we seek first your kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
We bring our requests before you.
We ask…
And as we ask, we trust in you with all of our hearts, and acknowledge you in all of our ways and your wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-7).
May it be so!
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
In the name of Jesus, with whom we are raised up and seated with in the heavenly places in him (Ephesians 2:6).
Amen.
Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20 Song
I have spoken with some people who think of fighting Satan only in reference to spiritual warfare. I agree that is certainly an aspect of it, but also don’t discount the warfare against our old self, our sin nature, along with sins we commit, as well as the influence of this world. In that, I believe this song and these verses from Ephesians go well with fighting against our passions that war within us. They have been a great weapon in themselves as the sword of the Spirit to help me battle in the Lord.
May God continue to enable each of us to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might,
Laura
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