hearts --literally "make chaste" of your spiritual adultery ( James 4:4 , that is, worldliness) "your hearts": the inward source of all impurity. (1-3) Reasons for strife in the Christian community. The humble character of a living faith. He also desires that they not only know - but reflect the godly character of Christ in their daily lives, while giving them some severe warnings against ungodly living. As James reaches the middle of His epistle to his brethren in Christ, he voices some very severe warnings against pride, worldliness and intimacy with the world’s system, which is diametrically opposed to righteous living and the things of God. James 4 – The Humble Dependence of a True Faith A. You fight and war. Keep my humble of heart before You, knowing that this is Your will for my life, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? You ask … purify . You murder and covet and cannot obtain. His admonishment concludes with this searing accusation, You adulterous people! What should Christians do when they realize that's the path they've been on? . He longs that they live a life that is pleasing to God. He urges against exhibiting favouritism and forewarns them to be careful in the things that they say, as well as the things that they do, knowing that true wisdom and godly living comes from above. What does James chapter 4 mean? He is writing words of encouragement in the trials and temptations that they are facing. The "double-minded" is at fault in heart; the sinner in his hands likewise. Previously, James described the so-called wisdom of the world: figure out what you really want out of … Let us search our hearts, and in the power of the Spirit of God, let us turn from any worldly ways that we know must grieve the Holy Spirit that indwells our heart. These are pretty tough words for any believer to receive from an author of the God-breathed scriptures, but in the next verse the same Holy Spirit, Who dwells within each one of us, is seen yearning jealously over us – for His desire is to make all believers more and more like the lovely Lord Jesus. Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? This passage continues to build on the end of chapter 3. double-minded --divided between God and the world. 9. Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. What is the result of living by the wisdom of the world, rather than the wisdom of God? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 1. You adulterous people! The Holy Spirit of God longs to shower grace and more grace over all that submit to His leading, humility of heart. James 4 - NIV: What causes fights and quarrels among you? James 4:4(ESV) Verse Thoughts These are pretty tough words for any believer to receive from an author of the God-breathed scriptures but nonetheless they are contained within the canon of holy writ and need to be explored with an open heart, that is not hiding behind a self-righteous exterior. Loving Father, I confess that I am too easily drawn into worldly thinking, which I know grieves the Holy Spirit. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You desire but do not have, so you kill. James answers those questions in chapter 4. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. You lust and do not have. These are pretty tough words for any believer to receive from an author of the God-breathed scriptures but nonetheless they are contained within the canon of holy writ and need to be explored with an open heart, that is not hiding behind a self-righteous exterior. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Yet you do not have because you do not ask. Let us expel all pride and ungodly lusts that can creep into a heart that becomes enamoured with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the world and the pride of life - and let us in humility of spirit earnestly draw near to God, knowing that He died --- to draw near to us. . James the brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, like the apostle Peter, had a ministry to Jewish believers in Christ – in the early church, and this epistle is addressed to Christians from the 12 tribes of Israel, who are dispersed throughout the world.