Do I ask God for my will to be done, or His will to be done?
Yesterday
We LOOKED at ‘you lust and do not have; so you commit murder‘.
Today
We want to continue LOOKING at ‘you do not have‘ in verses 2-3.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, You, through the Holy Spirit, inspired James to write these Words. We are asking today, asking with right motives, asking according to Your will, that You would give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us, and let our minds be renewed with Truth! May we be willing to examine ourselves and continue to be changed, as You make us perfect so we will be lacking in nothing. Thank you.
LOOK at What God Says
Let’t pick up where we left off yesterday.
What does GODcha lead you to do?
READ God’s Word
Read James 4:1-5, asking the 5W’s and H.
Now, concentrate on James 4:2-3.
Why can’t people ‘obtain’?
Why don’t people ‘have‘ or ‘receive’?
What do they do?
What is the result?
KEEP LOOKING
Incorporate All Our Strategies
Incorporate All Our Strategies>
What else should we take a peek at?
Unlock the Meaning
Do you remember who is ‘envious’ (jealous, covets) back in Chapter 3?
Those who are ‘friends of the world’.
Do you remember a few days ago reviewing the lust of the flesh and eyes and pride of life, seeing that these people are controlled by all that is in the world.
What about ‘ask’ because this word is repeated 3 times?
Understand God’s Words 
Check Out the Meaning
Ask, aitéō; ask, beg. God, implied (Matt. 7:7, 8; Col. 1:9; James 4:2, 3; Sept.: Is. 7:11, 12).
Spend it, dapanáō; In the neg sense it means to waste, consume. Used trans. (Luke 15:14) and in an absolute sense (James 4:3).
TIP: Don’t forget to take the meanings back to the text.
Let Truth Explain Truth About
‘Ask’ and ‘Spend It’
1. What does James say in these verses about asking?
James says, ‘you do not have’ because you do not ask.
And then when you do ask, ‘you don’t receive‘, because you ask with wrong motives.
We see: James is saying you ‘ask’ for all the wrong reasons.
We see: James is warning against pleasure motivated prayers. Praying for our selfish desires.
STOP – Hear God Speak!
LISTEN…
Do I ask God, beg and plead with God on His terms?
Or, do I refuse to ask of Him; refuse to submit and depend on Him, therefore I have not?
If I do ask, what do I ask God for?
Do I ask with right motives – for His the glory and honor?
Or, do I ask with wrong motives – for my selfish desires to be granted (glory, gratification, personnel pleasure)?
Am I receiving answers to my prayers?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
2. What did God say through James about asking back in (Jam 1:5-6)?
Ask (beg, plead) for wisdom, without doubting, but believing God will give it. God will give generously and without reproach.
THINK: What then would a person ask God if battling lusts?
Perhaps — Ask for wisdom, help, to resist the temptations, not doubting!
3. In (Mat 7:7), what did Jesus say about asking?
Ask, (beg, plead) and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
We see: Asking is used of man before God.
4. What should one’s motives be?
How did Jesus ask (pray) in (Luk 22:42) and teach us to pray in (Mat 6:10)?
We see: We are not to ask for our selfish desires to be fulfilled.
We see:We are to pray for God’s will to be done.
LISTEN…
Do I ask, pray, for God’s will to be done? Or my will to be done?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
5. What does John tell us about asking in (1Jo 3:22); (1Jo 5:14)?
Those of faith ask according to God’s will, and receive because they have been obedient and do what is pleasing in God’s sight.
LISTEN…
Am I asking God according to God’s will?
Am I obedient and doing what is pleasing in God’s sight?
What answers have I received from God?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
6. In (Luk 15:14), what did the lost son, the prodigal son, do that might shed light on ‘spend it’?
The parable of the lost son, who is referred to as the prodigal son (wastefully extravagant; a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way) spent (wasted) everything on his lustful desires. After wasting his fortune he became destitute, but then did come to his senses.
We see: James wants us to understand that these ask God, they are NOT asking for all that God has and gives, but rather they are asking for what they want to waste it on – their lusts. Therefore, they don’t receive anything.
LISTEN…
Do I ask purely to spend what God gives on my pleasures?
Am I receiving answers to my prayers? If not, why not?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
What Did We LEARN
Sum Up It Up!
We LEARN:
Desires (lusts, coveting) cause:
- Conflict with others.
- Conflict within.
Conflict Within
Results in shameful deeds, even murder.
Asks God with wrong motives:
To spend it all on their lusts.
Shuts the door to prayer – does not receive anything.
Ask God with right motives – in obedience and according to God’s will,
Opens door to prayer – receive what we ask for.
Let’s Call it a Day!
Contemplate what God has taught us about a lustful dominated life.
Save Your Discovery
Don’t forget to journal what God showed you today, and your conversation with Him!
You’ll be glad you did!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Turn What We LEARNED into a Prayer
Perhaps….
OH, FATHER thank you for Your Word today that is a sharp blade, able to discern our thoughts and intentions even more accurately than we know our own hearts. Forgive us, oh forgive us for self motivated praying. Cleanse us of selfish living and praying.
Help us to love You more, with hearts that desire to walk in obedience to You and Your Word to us today. You have given us faith, and You hear those of faith when we ask. You have told us if we keep Your commandments and do what is pleasing in Your sight, and ask according to Your will, You will give! May we ask of You on Your terms, wanting to honor and glorify You in every area of our lives! We ask this in Jesus most holy matchless name. Amen!
Next: we will LOOK at the 3rd Conflict: conflict with God.
Need the GODcha Bible Guide? Go to www.Godcha.org and subscribe.