Scripture:
James 4:1-6 NKJV
[1] Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? [2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and can not obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have it because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. [4] Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? [6] But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Observation:
GOD has consistently brought me to the Book of James the last few days. Over and over HE brings me to the words that James has written. I keep looking at verse 6 in this chapter and thinking GOD is not a fan of pride. The “I’m going to do things my way attitude” is not going to work for HIM. Looking at the last part of verse 6. It says GOD resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Someone told me once when you see the word… therefore, you have to find out what it’s there for… so let’s look at what James is trying to tell us. First of all, I believe he wants us to see that our number one problem is us. His first question is an indicator that his readers are getting in the way of allowing GOD to move….” Where do fights come from.” His answer may shock you. I’m sure that 9 times out of 10, you blame the other person thinking it’s all their fault. But James is telling us the truth. We fight because we want things our way. It’s a pride thing. James is correcting his readers. He is saying it’s not about having things your way it’s about doing things GOD’S way. As I was reading this this morning, I saw the verse I used the other day. Friendship with the world is enmity with GOD. James is making it very clear that we have to let go of the world… we can not cling to who we were and step into who HE wants us to be we have to let go of the world and grab ahold of GOD. I’m going to be honest. With these verses, it’s hard not to just dive into the application process of this SOAP. I believe what James is saying is pretty easy to see. He is confronting pride and personal rights. The desire to live for your flesh and not yield to GOD. Fights arguments, lust, covetousness, selfishness. These are all acts of the flesh… and James is not going to let them hide. He is saying that if you are wondering why your prayers are not getting answered, look at your motivation for them. It may be you that is getting in the way.
Application:
I never want to get in GOD’S way. I have noticed that when I am struggling in life, it’s not GOD’S fault it’s usually because of my pride. I want things my way, and it just doesn’t work that way. I was looking at the title of this SOAP and thinking that’s perfect. GOD is not going to bless my mess. I have to be willing to look at things from all angles and simply let go of what I want and be willing to do things the way HE wants. It’s not about me it never has been. When we look at life as though it is… our perception…it’s wrong. GOD has really laid it on my heart to help others. To turn my focus away from… a self-centered life and focus on the needs of those around me. I’m just going to be honest I have struggled writing this SOAP. I honestly have a lot on my plate right now. There are so many concerns and so many needs, and I honestly can’t do it all. I have to abandon my way and turn to YAHWAH. I look at the men that GOD has placed next to me, and I look at their needs. I do my very best to be a faithful leader…. falling on my knees and lifting them up to GOD. I am surrendering my will for them and placing them in GOD’S hands. I believe that I am operating inside the calling GOD has placed on me, and I see the enemy coming against that. This life is not about me. I am only a vessel. I know that GOD will supply all their needs according to HIS riches and glory. I know this SOAP probably makes no sense. So the Holy Spirit is going to have to do HIS thing and open the hearts of the readers so that it speaks to them. My point to all this is that our pride gets in the way of what GOD wants to do. We want things our way. And honestly, that’s not going to work. Submit to GOD resist the devil, humble yourself, eliminate pride… GOD resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Peter says, “Humble yourself before the Lord and HE will exalt you.”
Prayer:
Father, I never want to be prideful. Although I’m sure that I am. Pride gets in the way, and I know it. You know the needs are great and that we have done our best to meet them, but I can’t. You are going to have to. I am not the provider you are. It’s about you. You know the struggles we face, you know the challenges ahead. My plate is too heavy I have to place it in your hands. Open the doors that need to be opened. I can’t do it. My way brings only stress and discontentment. Your word tells me to be anxious about nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication, I am to make my request known to you, and your peace will guard my heart. So here is my request… meet the needs of those in need. You know who they are. You know the ones that are crying out in the only way they know how. You know the ones that need cars and the ones that need love, but don’t realize they already have it in you. You know the ones that are in need of work and the ones that are prideful. We are asking you to intervene. Show up and show out. We know that you will not be one second too late. I ask you to make this SOAP make sense to those who take the time to read it. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.