WARS AND FIGHTING IN THE CHURCH
Thursday – March 5, 2026
Video link: https://youtu.be/7q15xOxoGso
Greetings dear saints of God and welcome to our Study of the Bible Book of James. As I have mentioned many times, I see this as a straightforward (for the most part) Bible Book with Wisdom for today. Much of the Book as to do with the Words of our mouth which springs from the thoughts of our minds as does everything else in our lives, in this creation. There is no way to exaggerate the importance of our thoughts and the words that spring from those thoughts, those beliefs. Now let’s go ahead and jump into our Bible text for today. Remember, I teach the Bible from the Bible.
James 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 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.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Now the Holy Spirit is asking us a question. Where do wars and fighting among God’s people come from? Interestingly we are told it is not God, it is not the demons, it is us. Oh no! It is because of our lusts. Let’s go ahead and examine this word “lust” again. The word transliterated to English from the Greek is hēdonē according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. I think you can see the word or idea of “hedonism” in this word. Hedonism says that pleasure is the highest good for mankind to pursue. Here is the meaning of the word from the Greek. Hēdonē is a feminine (it’s contagious) noun meaning delight, enjoyment, to have sensual pleasure, gratification, and enjoyment. A lover of pleasure, strong desire of any kind, desire, passion, joyfulness, gladness, pleasing, pleasure, or enjoyment according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament.
As we move into the second verse we see he is talking about things we desire but try to get them ourselves or according to the ways of the world.
James 4:2 (KJV)
2 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.
Also, the word lust in this verse is altogether different, it is covetousness. It is the Greek word transliterated to English as epithymeō according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Coveting is to strongly desire what is another’s, let’s review the 10th commandment.
Exodus 20:17 (KJV)
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
This is wanting what belongs to another not something like what another has. When we want a wife/husband, a particular type car or any other good thing we are to go to the Lord not try to get our neighbors. Now the far better side of this, is going to God, let’s see what Jesus has to say.
John 15:7 (KJV)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
To abide means to stay, so we stay with Jesus, we stay with His Word and when we do we will ask according to the Word and it will be done for us. This is not a begging situation but more like a requisitioning situation. Remember we have been given all of the Kingdom (Luke 12:32).
TAKE HOME:
- We are in a pleasure-oriented society in America and there is nothing at all wrong with pleasure, but our greatest pleasure and constant focus is to bring pleasure to our Lord.
- We are to avoid being covetous at all costs.
- We are to align ourselves with Jesus, with the Word of God, and ask or seek that which is in line with the Word and then we will receive.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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