INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

JAMES CHAPTER 4: LUSTING AFTER THE WORLD, WARRING FACTIONS

MATTHEW HENRY:
"The apostle here reproves the Jewish Christians for their wars, and for their lusts as the cause of them: Whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members, v.1. The Jews were a very seditious people, and had therefore frequent wars with the Romans; and they were a very quarrelsome divided people, often fighting among themselves; and many of those corrupt Christians against whose errors and vices this epistle was written seem to have fallen in with the common quarrels. Hereupon, our apostle informs them that the origin of their wars and fightings was not (as they pretended) a true zeal for their country, and for the honour of God, but that their prevailing lusts were the cause of all"

Throughout Scripture, there are many instances of quarrels, divisions among people of God who had different ideas about what to do now and what to do next, such as Cain and Abel, Lot and Abraham, David and Absalom, David and Saul, even the disciples themselves, as to who is the greatest (Luke 9:46-48), and Christians suing one another in court (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)

(Luke 9:46 [KJV])
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

(1 Corinthians 6:1-8 [KJV])
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

(James 4:1 [KJV])
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

These are Christian congregations James is speaking of here!!!
It was and still is today, "But I want this!" "No, we are doing that!"
Rich Christians and poor, black Christians, Hispanic Christians white
Some want what God wants, some want what some other congregation does

At war among themselves
At war with themselves
At war against God

(James 4:2 [KJV])
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Instead of praying, they were simply looking to get their own way, their own will
Division can and should come from doctrines taught that are in Scripture, as opposed to privately held interpretations not from Scripture
In addition, we are to expose, avoid and, finally, reject any rank heresies in important doctrines, especially those that affect one's eeternal soul
The lusting is simply one wanting their own way over the will of God and others

(Isaiah 14:12-14 [KJV])
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

(James 4:3 [KJV])
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Often when we pray it is not to get closer to God, to prepare ourselves to accept His will for us, but to get something, like a two year old who wants a snack or a toy
Why would God answer such a prayer? A parent who caves in to a spoiled child like this creates a future problem for himself or herself and many others
We can and often do, in our lust, in our flesh, carnally ask for things that are abominable to God, expecting Him to grant that request

(James 4:4 [KJV])
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

One has to choose between their will or God's, because ours is usually not matched up
They were not necessarily actual adulterers and adulteresses in the normal sense, but rather spiritually leaving God for their own will
In fact, one cannot have war with others and be at peace with God over ones' own collective will

(Joshua 24:15 [KJV])
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

(1 Kings 18:21 [KJV])
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

(Matthew 6:24 [KJV])
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(Luke 16:9-13 [KJV])
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(1 John 2:15-16 [KJV])
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. 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.

(James 4:5 [KJV])
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

This is our own spirit, not the Holy Spirit of God, but that spirit in our carnal flesh
It is a natural bent away from God

(Genesis 6:5 [KJV])
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.

(Proverbs 6:14 [KJV])
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

(James 4:6-7 [KJV])
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Constant, consistent prayer
Trust in, submit, devote yourself to God's Will alone, only in humility, knowing our estate as dust
Study His Word above all else
Mortify the flesh, in your members
Give it to God because, since we are in spiritual warfare, any enemy, when losing so badly because God is indeed greater than all, and on our side, when we are on His side and letting Him fight for us through prayer, reading the Word, fellowship, the enemy has to retreat

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [KJV])
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(James 4:8 [KJV])
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Double minded means unstable, as James told us earlier
God is already there, waiting for us to come to Him
We simply must do it with a pure heart, with a single mind, with no other motive than to get closer to God
Too often we pray to get something for ourselves, not seeking what God wants for us, to give us

(James 1:8 [KJV])
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

(James 4:9 [KJV])
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Having too much mirth, "happiness" for no other reason than one wants to and simply ignores the crashing world around them is folly, inane (not to mention insane)
We are already afflicted by sin in our lives, circumstances around us, etc., so denial is never a good thing there
As these last days grow darker, people distract themselves with amusements; "A" meaning not to and "MUSE" meaning to think, so AMUSE means NOT TO + THINK
This is why we need to turn off that "TELL+A+VISION", "PROGRAMS", "CHANNELS" and start reading the Word

(James 4:10 [KJV])
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Who humbled Himself the absolute most of all men? Our Saviour, the God Man, the LORD Jesus Christ
This is a theme repeated, echoed throughout Scripture, and what happened to many in it
If God Himself can humble Himself and become man, be tortured to death as innocent for others to save them with His Blood, then we certainly can humble ourselves
Saul exalted himself and was abased
David ended up humbling himself and was exalted to an eternal throne

HUMILITY/ABASEMENT/EXALTATION: OUR EXAMPLES

(Philippians 2:6-11 [KJV])
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(1 Peter 5:5 [KJV])
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

(Proverbs 3:34 [KJV])
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

(Matthew 23:12 [KJV])
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

(James 4:11 [KJV])
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

This is not 100% absolute, because there are in fact times when we need to call out doctrinal errors, first to that person, then the elders, then before the congregation
This is especially true of "prayer requests" in "prayer groups", speaking bad of elders, leaders, members, even their own spouses today. Such behavior is reprehensible, evil, wicked, and tolerated, sadly, today in America
What this means is that this practice has not changed in 2,000 plus years among the brethren
A private prayer request is to be unspoken, "Just pray", not "Now I know we are not supposed to talk about others but, in order that you can pray more succintly, directly and effectively, let me tell you what so and so did"
This has no place and needs immediately to be shut down and that person who does this chastised
This is different than correction after a heretic refuses to change, or exposing false doctrine when one deliberately makes himself or herself unreachable, etc., and especially so with famous "mega-pastors" "conference speakers" and authors
In other words, there is a proper time, place and way to correct with the Word of God, which is what it is for, as this is what people IN Scripture did
To avoid this sort of exposure means to let others be deceived, allowing some to cast doubt
This whole commandment is about keeping verses in CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT! and not privately interpreting them, like the verses at the top of this page explain, because we cannot use this verse to say that we should NEVER expose darkness, evil in the assembly when it is causing division, doubt, as this is a spiritual matter

(2 Timothy 3:16 [KJV])
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(Matthew 18:15-17 [KJV])
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

(1 Corinthians 8:12 [KJV])
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

(James 4:12 [KJV])
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

The Law of God is perfect; let us simply quote it and let that person accept or reject when given in context, not privately interpreted
All will one day soon discover that that Law of God will judge all of mankind and condemn
All we need to do is to humbly remember that it applies to us (Hebrews 4:12)

(Psalms 19:7-8 [AKJV/PCE])
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

(James 4:13 [KJV])
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Go to means to "get to it!", "come now!" Today we might say, "Let's go!"
Time is of the essence is the message being sent here, as time is short, we are a vapor, as the next verse says
We cannot say where we will be next years, because we may not BE next year

GO TO, in go, v.
intransitive. To go about one's work; to set to work, begin working. Chiefly imperative, as an exhortation to do this. Cf. to go to —— at phrasal…

(James 4:14 [KJV])
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Think about this. Adam lived 930 years, and been dead 5,000 years now, and will be gone forever
Heaven or hell, a person, any person will be dead once, for a very, very long time, no matter their money, power, status possessions, kin, friends in this life

(James 4:15 [KJV])
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

This is how we should preface future plans, knowing there is no promise we will be here tomorrow
How many people, all of our lives, have "died suddenly" and "died tragically at such a young age" with plans, being young?

(James 4:16 [KJV])
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

"LOOK WHAT I DID!"
"I HAVE NOW SAVED ENOUGH TO LIVE ON FOR MY RETIREMENT!"

(Luke 12:16-21 [AKJV/PCE])
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

(James 4:17 [KJV])
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Everything in the Word of God that God commands us is what is good to do
A Cross is a vertical piece of wood and a horizontal piece held up by it. Thee vertical is our relationship to God, through belief in the substitutional the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ; the horizontal is what this entire epistle, this entire book, is about, our works towards men showing that we believe
We do those works to show and witness that we are saved, not to be saved, as the entire Bible tells us we can't

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Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

James chapter 5