August 30, 2009

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It Came From Within! - Week 5

Return of the Green-Eyed Monster

James Chapter 4

The Driving Force behind Jealousy

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?
Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you?”
James 4

So what is causing this internal struggle that threatens the peace of every relationship I have?

• “You want something but don’t get it.”

“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away form them.”
James 4.2a

• You weren’t getting what you wanted!

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says:

“Appetites grow through indulgence – not neglect. Gluttons think just as much about food as much as starving people.”

Our desires and pleasures are not best dealt with by continually trying to satisfy them.

BLAME

Until we admit the truth of James 4 ...
  

• We will try to SQUEEZE Our Happiest out of the people around us.

“And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it.”
James 4:2b

“so humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7

“And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong --you want only what will give you pleasure.”
James 4:3

“Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above.”
James 1:17

  "You don't always get what you want."

Don't be afraid to tell God you think He could have done better for you...
He can take it!

... Don't forget what
He has already TAKEN!

The 4 enemies from within the Heart:

The Habit of CELEBRATION

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