MPC
1st September 2019.September 1 - James 4:1-12 - "Faith Works in Community"
MPC
1st September 2019.
Dan Wilton
Has anyone seen the movie - The Gods Must be Crazy? If you haven't - you're missing out!
It's a fantastic comedy from the 80s. Classic!
It tells the story of a primitive tribe from a remote African desert. They're a beautiful people. Innocent. And untethered to the hustle and bustle of the developed world.
Their clothing is simple. And they spend their days attending to their basic needs with patience. Love. And joy.
They never speak harshly against anyone. And their kids never misbehave. As the narrator says. They must be the most contented people in the world. They have no crime. No police. No judges.
He adds: in this world of theirs. Nothing is bad or evil.
One day. They come across an empty Coke bottle that falls from the sky. From a passing plane. Curious about the bottle they take it back to the village. Immediately they're captivated with its value.
As the narrator explains: it was the most useful thing the gods had ever given. But there was a problem. The gods had been careless to only create one. And for the first time there was something that couldn't be shared.
Suddenly everyone needed it. Something they never needed before became a necessity.
And unfamiliar emotions began to stir. Jealousy. Envy. Hatred. All which ends in one boy grabbing the bottle to strike a friend.
Immediately they feel shame. As they experience for the first time conflict. And this of course drives the leader on a pilgrimage to the ends of the earth to destroy the bottle.
This morning we're continuing our series through James. A letter written by the half-brother of Jesus. To scattered Christians. Explaining what it looks like to have a faith that works. What it looks like to have an authentic faith in the messiness of life.
And as we come to chapter 4. James notices hostility and conflict emerging in the church. Something disrupting their peace. Destroying their unity.
What divides James' community, what brings conflict into our world, into our relationships is far more insidious than a Coke bottle. Subtle and deeper then we could imagine.
So keep your Bible open and have a look with me at James 4.
From verse 1. Where James describes what he's heard about the church.
And it's not pretty. James looks at the church. And says, you're acting as if you're on an episode of Jerry Springer.
Have a look from verse 1.
What causes fights and quarrels among you?
And verse 2:
You desire. But you don't have. So you kill! You covert. But you can't get what you want. So you fight and quarrel.
You get down to verse 11 and 12. And they're cursing each other. Putting each other down. Judging one another.
There's real problems in this community with how they deal with each other. How they don't love one another. Sadly it sounds all too familiar! Doesn't it?
If you've been part of churches long enough. You've probably experienced first hand the fighting that can go on.
I've been around churches for most of my life. And though I've met some of the most beautiful. Loving people. In churches. I've also met some of the most bitter and angry.
People so caught up with themselves. So caught up in establishing their own authority base. Building up their own little kingdom. And it's so jarring. Isn't it? Because it's not reflecting Jesus at all!
But James says. For all the in fighting. The harsh words. The judgement. There's a bigger problem going on beneath the surface. The conflict's just a SYMPTOM.
It's a symptom of misplaced desire. Within you. At the heart of who we are! Behind all those problems - James says the underlying problem is you!
The problem in the church James is writing to is that they're all seeking their own desires. Their own good. And so they're at loggerheads with each other.
More specifically. It's because of what they want. They want all the wrong things. And don't want the right ones.
And James says. It's how you're hardwired. And it's not good. Which is so counter cultural! Isn't it? We live in a society that says we're the solution. Not the problem.
I wonder if you've ever noticed the mottos on school bill boards.
Mottos like:
"A community of lifelong learners, responsible global citizens, and champions of our own success."
"Learning Today For A Better Tomorrow"
"Knowledge is Power." I like that one. Come to our school and we'll equip you take over the world!
"Together We Achieve The Extraordinary"
Mottos that reflect what the world teaches us! You can do anything you put your mind to! There's no barrier! We're told to believe in ourselves. And drink the Kool-Aid.
The problem is. It doesn't fit with reality! We're a messed up part of a very messed up world.
James says, there's a deep problem inside you. Inside all of us. And we need to recognise it! We're all dominated by sin and temptation.
Have a look at verse 1 again:
What causes fights amongst you? It's that your passions are at war within you...
James says you're the problem!
He says imagine there are two people in the room. What happens when you leave two people with misdirected desires alone?
Verse 2 - you desire so you don't get. So you kill. You murder. You fight!
If you're living for you. And I'm living for me. James says, it's all going to end in tears!
Now, he's not actually envisioning that if there's only one Tim Tam left at morning tea, then there'll be blood all over the car park. He's deliberately using this extreme language to say. Here's the problem! Come what may, we fight for ourselves. We make life all about us. It's what we're like. It's what we do!
Each one of us has the Shannon Noll on repeat in the depths of our hearts. Shouting to the world: What about me!
Whether you're a follower of Jesus or not. We all struggle with the same issue. A heart that desires the best for me. At the expense of everyone else. Battling the voice in our ear that says - do it! Do it for you! That's what we're up against all day, every day!
Even if you've been following Jesus for years! Inside us is a snarling ball of selfish desires. And if provoked in the right way. At the right time. You will become a living. Breathing example of what James is talking about here.
We need to realise we're not naturally gracious and loving people.
I found this out the hard way this week... I'd had a long day at the office. I got home from work. And being the all providing husband... cooked dinner for the family.
We sat down for dinner. I was spent. But my son refused to eat the meal I'd slaved in the kitchen to cook. Taken back by this. Deep ingratitude. I was quick to get frustrated. Quick to complain. Exhibit A - this is what we're like!
Full of selfish desires. To be recognised. Respected. Accepted. To get ahead. I have all these passions and desires at work within me. And you know what? So do you! And they overflow in the way you treat those around you.
When your heart is ruled by greed and envy. You won't serve others because your so bent on serving yourself.
Instead of treating others as image bearers of God, you reduce people to things. Vehicles to get you where you need to go. Or walls that stand in your way that need to be knocked down. Actions betray our desires.
Why is it that people in God's church fight and bicker amongst one another? Why is it that even in the church that we have people who are unwilling to admit their sin. And exclude those they think are below them?
James' answer is simple - it's the desires that battle within us. It might be natural. But these desires have deadly consequences.
Because if we keep following the desires in here. Then we're picking a fight with the God who made us. If you choose to buddy up with the world. James says, you're making a statement. Whether you like it not. About your relationship with God.
Did you see the image James uses to describe the Christian who tries to have a foot in both camps?
Have a look. Verse 4. James calls it adultery. They're harsh words. Aren't they! But when James uses that language. He's tapping into one of the most profound themes throughout the Bible.
When the Bible talks about God's love for us. It's not merely a love as a King for a servant. Or even a father to a child. But as a husband to a bride. That God loves us as a husband does his bride!
Now if there's anything Catherine Heigl has taught me - which lets be honest isn't much - But there's one thing she says in 27 Dresses (I'm ashamed to say I've seen it multiple times). That the best part of the wedding is seeing the grooms face as soon as the bride walks in. Because in that moment you see how much he loves his bride. Eyes full of adoration. Affection. Delight.
And if we could get a look into the eyes of God. As he looks at you. His bride. You would see adoration. Affection. You'd see him rejoicing over you, who he loves!
But when you turn around and pursue the kingdom of self. Putting yourself first. Setting desires on selfish gains. You betray Him. You're like the man who conceals his wedding ring so you can sleep with the girl you met at the bar. And James says. God's not going to compete for your affections!
Have a look verse 5.
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
God has so bought into this relationship with his people. With us. With his church. That he views he views their love of the world as betrayal. Unfaithfulness. He calls people to faithfulness with him! He bought us. And he longs for us. For our good. He hates to see us flirting with those who'll draw us away to our pain. To our destruction.
James says you can't be friends with God. And friends with the world. It just doesn't work like that! God won't put up with any rivals.
In James' words, to call yourself a Christian, and yet behave as the world does, is to love the world more than God. To be an enemy of God. I wonder how that sits with you?
If you're a follower of Jesus, at the point you gossip and are harsh to others (inside or outside of the church) you're behaving more as an enemy of god than his child - even if you wrap it up as a prayer point.
And at the point that your frustration with others in the church, makes you pull back and form factions - it's that point you're behaving more as an enemy of God than his child.
You see, these things aren't from God. They're from the world. Pursuing self-gratification and self-indulgence. And James says God is gutted to see his people like that. God's jealous when we're more like the world than like his people.
But have a look at how God responds to our unfaithfulness. our betrayal. Verse 6.
His response isn't to smite us. Not to abandon us. File for divorce. But - verse 6 - he gives us more grace. When we wander from God. Turn our affection away. God wants it back. He even fights for it. Not with fists! But with the hands of grace!
See, the beauty of the gospel isn't just that God forgives us. But that he gives us a way out. He works in us! Transforming us to overcome our selfish desires. Our sin. By giving us more grace! But how do we tap into this unending grace?
The answer James gives can be summed up in one word. Repentance. Turn back to God.
And so for the rest of the passage. James spells out what repentance looks like.
In 7 different ways.
Have a look at them. Verse 7. Seven different ways to show repentance.
Admit God's the King and you're not! Run to God. Acknowledge when you've stuffed up. Take your stupidity seriously.
The message is clear! Repent and turn back to God. James piles up these pictures. Exposing our weakness. Calling us to come home to God. It's something we all need to hear!
Because even as those who follow Jesus. Every day we are fighting what's often a losing battle with our desires. We're choosing them over and over again.
But God's speaking to each one of us. Day after day after day. Wooing us. Explaining. Insisting. Demanding - a whole hearted response. Whether it be for the first time. Or the thousandth. We need to run back to God!
We need to realise sin's always making a comeback in our lives. Temptation's always sitting at the door. We can't grow complacent.
If you're a follower of Jesus. You should never outgrow repentance.
You know as a young Christian I thought a day would come when I thought I'd be so holy and Godly. That I'd never have to say sorry for anything. Dream on Dan! That's not what James is saying here.
He says following Jesus will be a constant struggle. Of putting to death the desires of the world that come so natural to us. A constant struggle of acknowledging where we've stuffed up. Turning back to God. And asking for forgiveness! Having an attitude of regular repentance.
George Whitefield was an English preacher. Back in the 18th century. And he described repentance in terms of 5 steps. I'm paraphrasing these...
The first step was - feel the pain. When you've sinned. You actually need to face what you've done.
It's interesting as a parent I have an inbuilt radar for real repentance. Nicky and I are starting to introduce our two year old son, to this concept of saying sorry. And can I say its not easy. He can say sorry well enough. But I don't think he always means it. Saying sorry while he's doing the exact thing we've told him not to do is not repentance. Why? Because he hasn't begun to feel the pain.
If we want to repent, we actually need to feel the pain. Face the fact we've been an idiot or worse. And embrace it.
Then we need to go beyond the root of the problem. Not just what we did. But why we did it. That's a hard thing to face up to.
It doesn't get any easier saying "Yes, I'm selfish". And without the grace of God when I relax. Instinctively I'll do what's best for me.
Thirdly, you need to realise it's only the tip of the iceberg.
The specific thing you've just done isn't a momentary lack in judgement. Where you think: "I don't know how I could have done that!" As if it came out of the blue. So unlike me. We constantly struggle with this stuff because our desires are at war in us. Disordered desires.
Step four. Then you've got to remember the reason you did this. Is because you weren't trusting Jesus.
And the finally. Run back to Jesus. And find forgiveness in him! That's what James is asking us to do. What do you need to repent of today? There always something. And if you can't think of anything, it's only because you're not thinking hard enough. Or you're just kidding yourself. And not living in light of the gospel. And the life Jesus offers.
So let me finish this morning, by asking you. What is it that you desire? The answer will be clearly seen in your actions. What are the desires in your heart that are taking you away from God?
Those whose desires are selfish will cause division, will look down their noses at others, will seek their own good and their own future.
But those whose desire is for God. Will be humble, will resist gossip and slander, won't consider ourselves better than others, will live day to day seeking God's good.
That's the kind of people we want to be at MPC. Not proud, but humble. A people who have been washed clean by the death and resurrection of Jesus... and are grateful for it.
Constantly rejoice in the grace God continues to offer. And constantly having an attitude of repentance.
Let's pray that we would do that.