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THE
CAUSE OF CONFLICT (Prov
13:10) "Only by pride cometh
contention…" Introduction:
The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. I.
THE REASONS FOR CONFLICT (V.1)
A.
Inside Conflict ·
“Wars” = in
context here describes an inner state of conflict; an inner working of
strife that eventually explodes. ·
This is a state of turmoil that is in and, “among
us” = not a struggle between people, but a struggle within people. ·
A person not at peace with himself cannot be truly at peace
with anyone else. ·
Psychologists blame man’s hostility on everything from
heredity to environment. God says the problem’s within man.
B.
Outside Contention
·
“Fightings”
This is the outward expression of inward conflict. ·
The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart ·
(Gen 6:5) "And
God saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually." ·
(Jer 17:9) "The
heart is deceitful above
all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?"
C.
Inside Cause ·
The problem lies in man’s desire for pleasures; “lusts
that war in your members” ·
“Lust” =
desires. It is impossible to overstate the power of this force within
people. (Illus: the reason for conflict in our hearts, in our homes, in
our families, in our churches, and in our world is the desire to place
one’s own pleasure before God!) ·
Passion will not
be crucified, ego
will not be blocked, pride will not
be denounced, and ambition will not be bridled! ·
These “war in our
members” This word “war”
= to serve in a military campaign; to contend with carnal
inclinations; also we derive our word strategy. Individual manifestations
of the flesh seem to have their own positions in the army; Gen. Passion,
Maj. Pride, Sgt. Ego, Pvt. Lust. These soldiers are uniting to take over
and war against us. (Rom ·
As long as these un-surrendered strongholds in our lives
continue to live life in an effort to please our desires instead of
fulfilling the will of God, there will be fightings and wars! II.
THE RESULTS OF
CONFLICT (VV.2-3)
A.
Unsatisfied Pleasure
(2a) “you lust and have not” ·
Three times in verse 2 we are told that those who sought for
pleasure were frustrated in the process. ·
Pleasure never gives full satisfaction. (Illus: the more you
have…the more you want). ·
The Bible has some strong things to say about those who seek
pleasure as an ultimate goal. Ø
Moses: learned that the afflictions of God’s people were
better “than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb.11:24-25) Ø
Jesus: said that the “pleasures of this life”
are the thorns that choke out the Word of God in a man’s heart (Luke Ø
Paul: said that “serving
divers lusts and pleasures” characterizes the life of unbelievers
(Titus 3:3) Ø
Peter: said that one of the ways to identify a false teacher
was if he “count it pleasure to riot in the day time.” (2 Pet.2:13)
B.
Uncontrolled Passion
(2b) “you kill and desire to have,
and cannot obtain” ·
David murdered Uriah because of his lust for Bathsheba. Ahab
murdered Naboth because of his desire for a vineyard. ·
Murder is the extreme to which frustrated desire may lead. ·
Every crime in the world has come from a desire which was
first only a feeling in the heart, but when nourished long enough, came in
the end to action.
C.
Untapped Potential
(2c) ·
They did not have because they did not ask. Instead of
turning to God who is the giver of every perfect gift, they tried to get
what they wanted through their schemes. ·
This phrase speaks of prayerlessness. The pleasure-minded
may have some spiritual sensitivity, but realizes his prayers are
inappropriate because his desires are not spiritually essential. So, he
asks for nothing. ·
In fact, he doesn’t pray much at all because few if any of
his desires are high on God’s priority list.
D.
Unanswered Prayer
(v.3) ·
There is no receiving because the asking is with the wrong
motive. ·
God refuses to listen to men who are eager to pursue selfish
pleasures. ·
Covetousness and selfishness are insults to God! ·
Guidelines for prayers that get answered Ø
ASK IN FAITH - (James 1:6) "But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Ø
PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME - (John Ø
PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL - (1 John Ø
PRAYER MUST BE IN THE CONTEXT OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH
OTHERS - (1 Pet 3:7) "Likewise,
ye husbands, dwell with them according
to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and
as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered." III.
THE REALITY OF
CONFLICT (VV.4-5)
A.
Unfaithful Lifestyle
(v.4) ·
This is a sharp and stings rebuke of their love of pleasure
and unfaithfulness to God. ·
Marital metaphors are used in the N. T. to describe the
relationship between Christians and Christ (Eph.5:25). Believers are
described as chaste virgins espoused to Jesus Christ (2 Cor 11:2) "For
I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you
as a chaste virgin to Christ." They had allowed their love
for the world to take the place of their love for the Lord. They had
become “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim3:4). ·
“World” =
world system that is in opposition to God. (1 John 2:15-17) "Love
not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. {16} For
all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
not of the Father, but is of the world.
{17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever." ·
“Friendship” =
the idea of loving and being loved. Believers are not to be ruled by the
world’s ideals.
B.
Uncommitted Loyalty
(v.5) ·
The Holy Spirit jealousy
desires to completely possess the believer and control his life. Does
the Bible speak with no purpose? This is divine truth! ·
“Lusteth to envy” = earnestly desires with jealousy for
you. ·
:Lusteth” = to long for; to yearn for; to long for
greatly. Used in a good sense expressing the greatest possible desire that
God the Holy Spirit has a holy jealousy for our total loyalty. God is
unwilling to share of affection with the world. IV.
THE REMEDY FOR
CONFLICT (V.6)
A.
God Resists The
Proud Opposes;
stands against.
B.
God Receives The
Humble Pride
will have to die. The world with its more immediate rewards will have to
take a back seat. Worldly wisdom can foster ego and advance ambition, but
God ministers His grace to the humble. God’s provision of grace is our
greatest resource! Conclusion:
Conflict comes from the heart that is un-surrendered to Jesus
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