What is the source of my conflicts with others?
Yesterday
We all took a stab at James 4:1-5 on our own.
How did you do?
I am so proud of you for making the effort.
Be patient as God is going to open up a whole new world of understanding to you as you grow in discovering Truth for yourself.
Today
Let’s go in and unfold James 4:1 together.
Know: God is not a God of confusion (1Co 14:33), and He never contradicts Scripture.
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
O Lord, we praise You for giving us Your Word, knowing that it is razor sharp, showing us our hearts. I pray we will hear Your Word to us, letting it reprove and correct us if necessary. Reprogram our minds, renew them as we receive Your instruction and teaching, (Heb 4:12); (2Ti 3:16); (Rom 12:2).
LOOK at What God Says
Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.
Let GODcha point the way.
Where shall we begin?
READ God’s Word
Read Jam 4:1-5, asking the 5W’s and H.
What are the 3 conflicts James addresses?
Now, focus on Jam 4:1 and concentrate.
THINK and REASON the points James is trying to get across.
Did you notice the plural for quarrels and conflicts?
Why would James use this terminology that is for violence?
KEEP LOOKING
Incorporate all Our Strategies
Fill in the Gaps!
Let’s zoom in on some Key words, LOOKING at each one separately by:
1. 
Understand the Meaning – the definitions are just a tap away.
2. 
Scoping out other Truths to Explain Truth – check out the Cross References GODcha gives for each Key word.
THINK and REASON by asking questions.
3. 
LISTEN to God Speak – LOOKING, LEARNING, and LISTENING can happen simultaneously.
Take your time.
Work at your own pace.
Your goal is not to get through a passage(s), but
rather to engage with God,
hear Him speak to you,
converse with Him,
deepen your relationship with Him.
Let’s Try it!
Unlock the Meaning 
What words did you check out?
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
I was curious about:
Source, póthen; From where, why, how? The origin.
Quarrels, pólemos; warfare, battle, fight, war. As a hyperbole: referring to strife (Jas 4:1).
Conflicts, máchē; a battle, fighting, strive, striving. In the NT, generally: strife, contest, controversy (2Co 7:5; 2Ti 2:23; Jas 4:1).
TIP: Remember to take the meanings back to the text.
“What is the source [the origin] of quarrels [wars] and conflicts [fightings] among you?”
Let’s LOOK at Other Truths About 
Conflicts
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
1. What have you previously seen about conflict?
Is it of God’s wisdom, or earthly wisdom?
“This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition [strife] exist, there is disorder [confusion, chaos] and every evil thing.” (Jam 3:15-16)
We know: strife, which is conflict, is the result of worldly wisdom.
THINK:
Do you recall what we learned is at the center of the world’s wisdom?
Do you remember ‘self’? Does this ring a bell?
Keep this in mind as we continue.
2. Now THINK:
Why would James ask, “What is the source of quarrels [wars] and conflicts [fightings] among you?”
Obviously, there must have been quarrels and conflicts [wars and fightings] going on in the church.
Hear God Speak!
LISTEN…
Are there quarrels and conflicts going on in my church?
My ministry?
My marriage?
My home?
My work place?
My school?
Why?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Let’s Check Out More Cross References AboutConflicts
1.What do you discover about conflicts in the the early church?
a. The disciples argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom. (Luk 9:46-48)
LISTEN…
Do I see myself in this behavior?
Who is my rival? Who am I constantly competing against?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
b. Paul wrote to exhort the Corinthian church to all agree and let there be no divisions, for there were quarrels among them, as they were following after man each one was saying, “I’m of Paul, I’m of Apollos, I’m of Cephas, I’m of Christ.” (1Co 1:10-12)
LISTEN…
Am I guilty of following after certain men/women in the church?
How has this caused divisions?
What does it take on my part to agree with others and let there be no divisions?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
c. The Galatians had conflicts as they were biting and devouring one another; challenging and envying one another. (Gal 5:15, 26)
LISTEN…
Am I guilty of biting and devouring others?
Do I challenge others?
Am I guilty of using social media to bite, devour, challenge and berate others?
Am I envious of others?
Do I justify my behavior and these actions?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
d. The Ephesians were admonished to be diligent to preserve the unity with each other by walking in love and forgiveness. (Eph 4:1-6)
LISTEN…
I must remember Christ paid an inconceivable debt I could not pay, forgiving me:
Is there anyone I need to forgive?
What does it take on my part to be diligent to preserve the unity and walk in love and forgiveness?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
e. The Philippians had 2 women who couldn’t get along. (Phil 4:1-3)
LISTEN…
Is there anyone in the church that I can’t get along with? Why?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
We see: There were conflicts in the early church!
2. Let’s understand what brought these conflicts.
According to Galatians, what is conflict?
Conflict [outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying] is a deed of the flesh and those who practice such [meaning a habit of life] will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)
Do you remember ‘the flesh‘ is one of the believer’s enemies?
We see: Conflicts are deeds of the flesh.
Understand: Conflict is NOT of the wisdom of God, but is a deed of the flesh, revealing the heart and the wisdom that is earthly, natural and demonic.
3. What is God’s intent for the church?
a. Jesus wants us to love one another, so all men will know we are His disciples. (Joh 13:34-35)
b. We are to be one. (Joh 17:21)
LISTEN…
Are conflicts (outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying) the habit of my life?
Or, is the habit of my life to love others?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Do you Remember?
James wrote this letter to turn some from the error of their ways and save their souls from death; and
In Ch 2, James explained a dead faith; and
In Ch 3, he referred to a wisdom that is not from above, as an earthly wisdom.
Now, THINK and REASON:
Could the conflict within the church be happening because there were some people in the church who had a genuine faith that worked, and there were others who had a dead faith and were operating according to the world’s wisdom, concerned with ‘self’?
Could the conflict within the church be happening because there are 2 kinds of wisdom clashing?
Something else to THINK and REASON:
Is James forbidding us to be discerning and evaluate people?
NOTE: It doesn’t matter what we ‘think‘ or ‘believe‘, what matters is ‘what God says‘!
Use the Word of God to back up your answer!
What Did We LEARN
Sum Up It Up!
We LEARN:
James Addresses 3 Conflicts.
The 1st: Conflict (Wars) With Each Other (the body of believers, the church).
Conflict is a result of worldly wisdom.
Conflict is a deed of the flesh that prevents one from entering the kingdom of God.
We LEARN:
God’s intent for the church is:
To love one another so all men will know we are Jesus’s disciples;
To be one.
Shall We Call it a Day?
Reflect and meditate on what God taught us about conflicts with others in the church.
Save Your Discovery
As we bring this day to a close, journal your discovery and communion with the Lord in your Notes – save them forever!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Turn What We LEARNED into a Prayer
Perhaps. . .
OH FATHER, let Your name be blessed forever for You are the God of peace, not conflicts, or quarrels. We come to You today thanking You for Your holy Word that is a sure Word. And thank you for Your incredible grace, Your power, that has saved so many of us from the world and deeds of our flesh. We have just skimmed the surface today, peeling back one layer of the onion to understand this next test about friendship with the world. May we examine ourselves in light of these truths. Are we constantly in conflict with one another? Are we in the midst of ongoing hostility with others? Is there constant conflict in our marriages; homes; work place; school? Father, touch our hearts, so we may be convicted and confess our sins. Deliver many today from the world and it’s wisdom that is earthly, natural, and demonic. May they come to know your wisdom. And for we who love You, but find ourselves at times in quarrels and conflicts with others in the church, help us to operate according to Your wisdom and love one another so the world will know we are your disciples! We ask this in Jesus name. Amen!
You are doing fantastic!
I pray you were able to pause from the voices, racket, mess, and busyness and rest a while with God hearing Him speak through His Word. Thanks for joining me here!
Next: We will LOOK at the 2nd conflict that will explain why we war with one another.
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