WALKING IN WISDOM - Peace In The Family // Sunday, August 3, 2025 // Jeff Hines, Lead Pastor

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Walking in Wisdom

God’s Guidance for Daily Living

Healthy People Grow

Growing People Change

Changed People, Change People

Real People

Living in the Real World

Loving the Real God

Peace in the Family

Romans 12: 18 (NASB) 

   If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

The cause of quarrels: 

Conflicting Desires

James 4: 1 (NLT)

   What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?         

A.              Three basic desires that cause quarrels:

1.              The desire to have (possessions)

James 4: 2 (NLT)

   You want what you don’t have...You are jealous of what others have…                                                            

      2. The desire to feel (pleasure).

James 4: 3 (NLT)

 ...you want only what will give you pleasure.

3.     The desire to be (pride)

Proverbs 13: 10 (NLT) 

 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

B.  Why aren’t our desires fulfilled?

James 4: 2 & 3 (NLT)

   You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong —  you want only what will give you pleasure.

B.              Conflict with God.

James 4: 4 - 6 (NLT)

   You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”                                                                                                                              

II. The cure for quarrels:  Humility

James 4: 6 & 10 (NLT)

   ...“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble...” 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.             

A.    Steps to defusing quarrels:

1.              Give in to God.

James 4: 7 (NLT)

   So humble yourselves before God.                      

Colossians 3: 15 (NLT)

   And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.                       

2.              Get wise to Satan.

James 4: 7 (NLT)

  ...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2 Corinthians 2: 11 (NLT)

     So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.  

3.              Grow closer to God.

James 4: 8 (NLT)

   Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Isaiah 26: 3 (NLT)

   You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!    

4.              Gain God’s grace.

James 4: 8 & 9 (NLT)

   …Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.