Couples,

 

This week we finished our discussion on the wars going on in the world.  Remember the first war was with each other, then the second war was within ourselves.  This war is caused by selfish desires which lead to wrong actions and praying (James 4:2-3).  Where selfish living & selfish praying exist there will be war!  The war on the inside ultimately leads to the war on the outside.

 

The third war is war with God (James 4:4) - rebellion against God.  This war is the root cause of every war!  When we begin to be friendly with God's enemies:  the world (human society apart from God), the flesh (old nature inherited from Adam, that is prone to sin), or the devil (his chief weapon being pride); then, we are declaring war against God (James 4:4-6).

 

However, we can put a stop to these wars by obeying the instructions James gives in verses 7-10.  We are to submit to God - an unconditional surrender.

As we submit to God, we will resist the devil.  Then, we are to draw near to God by confessing our sins and asking Him to cleanse us.  As long as a Christian is double-minded, he can never be close to God.  Finally, we are to humble ourselves to God.  God hates the sin of pride.  In humbling ourselves, we need to take sin seriously and deal with our disobedience (vs.. 9).

 

When these instructions are obeyed, God will draw near, cleanse us, and forgive us.  Then the wars will cease!  If we are not at war with God, then we will not be at war with ourselves.  If we are not at war with ourselves, then we will not be at war with each other.