noticenoticenoticenotice

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Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!

A Study from A Study from JamesJamesbyby

KEN CHANTKEN CHANT

A Study from A Study from JamesJamesbyby

KEN CHANTKEN CHANT

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

TextText – –

““You can be sure that You can be sure that scripture speaks truly scripture speaks truly

when it says, ‘The when it says, ‘The spirit that God has spirit that God has placed in us is filled placed in us is filled

with with fierce desiresfierce desires’."’." – –

James 4:5James 4:5

What can it possibly mean?What can it possibly mean?What can it possibly mean?What can it possibly mean?

What a puzzling text!What a puzzling text! No-one knows what No-one knows what “scripture” “scripture”

James had in mind; nor is anyone James had in mind; nor is anyone quite sure what the passage means! quite sure what the passage means!

Playing it safe!Playing it safe!Playing it safe!Playing it safe!

Some translations seem to avoid Some translations seem to avoid anyany meaning, such as the KJV – meaning, such as the KJV – “Do ye think “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

Positive or negative?Positive or negative?Positive or negative?Positive or negative?

Others give the text a Others give the text a negativenegative or, at best, a or, at best, a passivepassive meaning – meaning – either rebukingeither rebuking envyenvy; ; or that the Holy Spirit or that the Holy Spirit helps us not to be helps us not to be jealousjealous of others, or of others, or that he is jealous for that he is jealous for us; etc.us; etc.

Prejudice or truth?Prejudice or truth?Prejudice or truth?Prejudice or truth?

Yet the problem seems Yet the problem seems to arise, not from any to arise, not from any difficulty in the text, but difficulty in the text, but from translators from translators unwilling to say what unwilling to say what James actually says, James actually says, namely –namely –

that we shouldthat we should fervently fervently desire all that the desire all that the

Father promisesFather promises. …. …

The text againThe text again The text againThe text again

““The spirit that God has placed in us is The spirit that God has placed in us is filled with filled with fierce desiresfierce desires.”.”

What then should What then should we we ““fiercelyfiercely desiredesire”” from God? from God?

(A) Plenty in place of Poverty(A) Plenty in place of Poverty(A) Plenty in place of Poverty(A) Plenty in place of Poverty

““Do you need something? Then you should Do you need something? Then you should ask God for it, and it will be given to you. The ask God for it, and it will be given to you. The Father is very generous and he won’t growl Father is very generous and he won’t growl at you for asking! But you must ask for it in at you for asking! But you must ask for it in

faith, banishing all doubt. Anyone who faith, banishing all doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave whipped up and doubts is like an ocean wave whipped up and

thrown about by the wind.thrown about by the wind.””

– – James 1:5-6, paraphrased.James 1:5-6, paraphrased.

A state of tension A state of tension A state of tension A state of tension

Any mention of divine prosperity brings Any mention of divine prosperity brings with it a paradox – for there is an with it a paradox – for there is an undoubted tension between scriptures that undoubted tension between scriptures that offeroffer everything and those that everything and those that demanddemand everything!everything!

Three important keysThree important keysThree important keysThree important keys

There are three important keys to There are three important keys to resolving this tension –resolving this tension –

1.1. Total SurrenderTotal SurrenderFor example, see For example, see Hebrews Hebrews 10:33-3510:33-35 ––

A time of trialA time of trialA time of trialA time of trial

““There were times when you were There were times when you were publicly insulted and mistreated. Or publicly insulted and mistreated. Or at least, you were willing to join with at least, you were willing to join with fellow Christians who were being fellow Christians who were being persecuted. You were kind to those persecuted. You were kind to those who were in prison, . . . who were in prison, . . .

Laughing at lossLaughing at lossLaughing at lossLaughing at loss

. . . and when your goods . . . and when your goods were confiscated, you were confiscated, you laughed, because you laughed, because you know that you have a better know that you have a better and more permanent and more permanent possession. So, since possession. So, since courage will bring you such courage will bring you such a splendid reward, do not a splendid reward, do not lose it now!”lose it now!”

An abundant supplyAn abundant supplyAn abundant supplyAn abundant supply

But normally the Lord But normally the Lord means us to succeed in means us to succeed in our daily work, and to our daily work, and to enjoy an abundant supply enjoy an abundant supply from heaven.from heaven. Therefore the second Therefore the second

key is –key is –

The trial of faithThe trial of faithThe trial of faithThe trial of faith

1.1. Total SurrenderTotal Surrender

2.2. Sure FaithSure Faith

The world is full of pain, but The world is full of pain, but God is still concerned about God is still concerned about every part of every part of youryour life! life!

The Father uses our The Father uses our need for many things as need for many things as a means of testing and a means of testing and proving proving faithfaith..

True prosperityTrue prosperityTrue prosperityTrue prosperity

1.1. Total SurrenderTotal Surrender

2.2. Sure FaithSure Faith

3.3. True SuccessTrue SuccessIn the end, for a Christian, In the end, for a Christian, true prosperity can be true prosperity can be defined as only one thing –defined as only one thing –

Definition of ProsperityDefinition of ProsperityDefinition of ProsperityDefinition of Prosperity

““Success in Success in discovering and doing discovering and doing

the will of Godthe will of God.”.”

(B) Health in place of Sickness(B) Health in place of Sickness(B) Health in place of Sickness(B) Health in place of Sickness

““If you are sick, you should ask your church If you are sick, you should ask your church leaders to come, anoint you with oil in the leaders to come, anoint you with oil in the

name of the Lord, and pray for you. Sincere name of the Lord, and pray for you. Sincere believing prayer will save those who are sick, believing prayer will save those who are sick,

and the Lord will heal them.”and the Lord will heal them.” (James 5:14-16)(James 5:14-16)

A marvellous promiseA marvellous promiseA marvellous promiseA marvellous promise

Christ is the Great Physician of Christ is the Great Physician of the whole person – the whole person – bodybody,, soulsoul,, andand spiritspirit (1 Th 5:23-24).(1 Th 5:23-24).

This marvellous promise This marvellous promise demands of us two things –demands of us two things –

Two powerful keysTwo powerful keysTwo powerful keysTwo powerful keys

1.1. Never capitulate to Never capitulate to diseasedisease Rather, let us wage Rather, let us wage

ceaseless warfare ceaseless warfare upon all illness.upon all illness.

2.2. But allow the Lord to But allow the Lord to determinedetermine – –

God’s ways are not oursGod’s ways are not oursGod’s ways are not oursGod’s ways are not ours

a)a) The The methodmethod by which God by which God will bring recovery.will bring recovery.

b)b) The The timetime when healing will when healing will be fully realised.be fully realised.

God’s promise cannot failGod’s promise cannot failGod’s promise cannot failGod’s promise cannot fail

Our task is simply to keep Our task is simply to keep on hating the devil, and to on hating the devil, and to keep on trusting God.keep on trusting God. Whether Whether todaytoday or or

tomorrowtomorrow, the Father’s , the Father’s promise will be fulfilled!promise will be fulfilled!

(C) Life in place of Death(C) Life in place of Death(C) Life in place of Death(C) Life in place of Death

““What is human life? Little What is human life? Little more than a swirl of fog that more than a swirl of fog that appears briefly but is soon appears briefly but is soon

burned up by the sun . . . But burned up by the sun . . . But God has promised a crown God has promised a crown

of life to those who love of life to those who love him . . . Indeed, by his word him . . . Indeed, by his word

of truth he has already given of truth he has already given us life and made us the most us life and made us the most glorious of his creatures.”glorious of his creatures.”

(James 4:14; 1:12, 18)(James 4:14; 1:12, 18)

The Greek AnthologyThe Greek AnthologyThe Greek AnthologyThe Greek Anthology

We can hardly imagine the despair that We can hardly imagine the despair that engulfed the ancient world.engulfed the ancient world. Here are some passages from “Here are some passages from “The The

Greek Anthology”Greek Anthology” – –

On the death of his wifeOn the death of his wifeOn the death of his wifeOn the death of his wife

Atthis, you lived for me and Atthis, you lived for me and breathed your last in my presence. breathed your last in my presence. You were formerly the source of all You were formerly the source of all joyfulness, but now of all tears. joyfulness, but now of all tears. Virtuous, much lamented, now Virtuous, much lamented, now sleepest thou the mournful sleep, sleepest thou the mournful sleep, thou whose head was never laid thou whose head was never laid away from thy husband's breast, away from thy husband's breast, leaving thy Theius alone as one leaving thy Theius alone as one who is no more; for with thee the who is no more; for with thee the hope of my life went into darkness.hope of my life went into darkness.

On the death of a young wifeOn the death of a young wifeOn the death of a young wifeOn the death of a young wife

O black winter of savage death O black winter of savage death that froze the spring of your that froze the spring of your unnumbered charms. The tomb unnumbered charms. The tomb tore you from your brilliant day in tore you from your brilliant day in this, your bitter sixteenth year. this, your bitter sixteenth year. Your husband and your father – Your husband and your father – blind with uncomforted grief – blind with uncomforted grief – lament you, Anastasia, for you lament you, Anastasia, for you were our sun.were our sun.

On the death of a child of sevenOn the death of a child of sevenOn the death of a child of sevenOn the death of a child of seven

Hermes, dread messenger of Hermes, dread messenger of Death, why usherest thou this Death, why usherest thou this child into the laughterless child into the laughterless abyss of Hades? What hard abyss of Hades? What hard fate snatched Ariston from the fate snatched Ariston from the fresh air at seven years old? fresh air at seven years old? God of Death, delighting in God of Death, delighting in tears, are not all mortal spirits tears, are not all mortal spirits allotted to thee? Why then allotted to thee? Why then gatherest thou the unripe gatherest thou the unripe grapes of youth?grapes of youth?

Nothing to hope forNothing to hope forNothing to hope forNothing to hope for

Even when the old myths were scorned, Even when the old myths were scorned, still the ancients were left with nothing to still the ancients were left with nothing to hope for –hope for –

““We perish utterly” We perish utterly” ““We perish utterly” We perish utterly”

Do the dead in truth sleep Do the dead in truth sleep beneath these stones? What beneath these stones? What is the underworld really? is the underworld really? Nothing but a great Nothing but a great darkness. And what of the darkness. And what of the resurrection? A lie! And resurrection? A lie! And Hades? A fable! We perish Hades? A fable! We perish utterly. This my tale to you utterly. This my tale to you is true. But if you insist is true. But if you insist upon believing the myth, upon believing the myth, then I am a large ox in Hell!then I am a large ox in Hell!

From nothing to nothingFrom nothing to nothingFrom nothing to nothingFrom nothing to nothing

How was I born, and for what purpose? Why did I How was I born, and for what purpose? Why did I come here, only to leave again? Why learn come here, only to leave again? Why learn anything, to end up knowing nothing?anything, to end up knowing nothing?

I was born from nothing, and I was born from nothing, and now I am again as I was. I was now I am again as I was. I was not – I was born – I was and not – I was born – I was and now I am not. That is all. now I am not. That is all. Anything else you may say is a Anything else you may say is a lie. I shall not be again.lie. I shall not be again.

But we have a Good Shepherd –But we have a Good Shepherd –But we have a Good Shepherd –But we have a Good Shepherd –

How different the hope How different the hope expressed in the expressed in the gospel!gospel! We have a We have a Good Good

ShepherdShepherd, who , who gave his life for his gave his life for his sheep, and will sheep, and will carry them safely carry them safely from earth to glory!from earth to glory!

(D) Hope in place of Despair(D) Hope in place of Despair(D) Hope in place of Despair(D) Hope in place of Despair

““So be patient, dear So be patient, dear friends, until the coming friends, until the coming

of the Lord . . . of the Lord . . . Strengthen your hearts, Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of because the coming of

the Lord is near.”the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)(James 5:7-8)

We have a Glorious HopeWe have a Glorious HopeWe have a Glorious HopeWe have a Glorious Hope

How marvellous is the How marvellous is the hope presented to us by hope presented to us by Christ!Christ! But what does it mean?But what does it mean?

Resurrection and SkyResurrection and SkyResurrection and SkyResurrection and Sky

It certainly means that It certainly means that deathdeath has lost its has lost its sting, and the sting, and the gravegrave its victory! its victory! And that we are no longer prisoners And that we are no longer prisoners

of time.of time.

Galaxies GaloreGalaxies GaloreGalaxies GaloreGalaxies Galore

And it also means that And it also means that we have a magnificent we have a magnificent inheritanceinheritance in the in the heavens –heavens –

The Milky WayThe Milky WayThe Milky WayThe Milky Way

All the visible stars in the night sky are All the visible stars in the night sky are part of our own part of our own Milky Way GalaxyMilky Way Galaxy, which , which has more than a hundred thousand million has more than a hundred thousand million stars that are like our stars that are like our SunSun..

Into Outer SpaceInto Outer SpaceInto Outer SpaceInto Outer Space

If you could travel far into outer space, If you could travel far into outer space, and look back at the and look back at the Milky Way, Milky Way, this is this is what you would see –what you would see –

Galaxy NGC4725 is like our Galaxy NGC4725 is like our own Milky Way galaxy in own Milky Way galaxy in size and appearance. It is size and appearance. It is 41 million light years 41 million light years distant from Earth. distant from Earth.

We are located on one of the Milky Way’s spiral arms, about two thirds out from the centre –

In August 2005, In August 2005, astronomers issued astronomers issued this picture of the Milky this picture of the Milky Way, showing it as a Way, showing it as a “barred spiral galaxy”. “barred spiral galaxy”. The central “bar” is The central “bar” is about 27,000 light years about 27,000 light years in length.in length.

Staggering DimensionsStaggering DimensionsStaggering DimensionsStaggering Dimensions

Our galaxy is 100,000 Our galaxy is 100,000 thousand light years thousand light years in diameter.in diameter.

That is, it takes a That is, it takes a beam of light, beam of light, travelling at 300,000 travelling at 300,000 km per second, km per second, 100,000 years to 100,000 years to cross the galaxy.cross the galaxy.

50,000,000,00050,000,000,00050,000,000,00050,000,000,000

In the In the knownknown universe universe there are 50 thousand there are 50 thousand million galaxies, the million galaxies, the most distant of them most distant of them being 15 thousand being 15 thousand million light years from million light years from Earth.Earth. Why are they all Why are they all

there?there?

Our inheritance!Our inheritance!Our inheritance!Our inheritance!

They comprise in part the They comprise in part the magnificent inheritance of each magnificent inheritance of each believer believer – – cp. Rev 2:26-28 …cp. Rev 2:26-28 …

The Morning StarThe Morning StarThe Morning StarThe Morning Star

““I will give power over the I will give power over the nations to everyone who wins nations to everyone who wins the victory and keeps on the victory and keeps on obeying me until the end. I will obeying me until the end. I will give each of them the same give each of them the same power that my Father has given power that my Father has given me. They will rule the nations me. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash with an iron rod and smash those nations to pieces like clay those nations to pieces like clay pots. pots. I will also give them the I will also give them the morning starmorning star..” ” (God’s Word)(God’s Word)

Our Splendid Inheritance!Our Splendid Inheritance!Our Splendid Inheritance!Our Splendid Inheritance!

Scripture says that we Scripture says that we who believe are co-heirs who believe are co-heirs with Christ of the Father’s with Christ of the Father’s glory.glory. This is the heritage of This is the heritage of

all who call him Lord all who call him Lord and Saviour – let and Saviour – let nothing rob you of nothing rob you of this magnificent prize!this magnificent prize!

Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!Fierce Desires!

Indeed, let us never slacken in Indeed, let us never slacken in fiercely desiring fiercely desiring aallll that that belongs to us in Christ!belongs to us in Christ! Why would you allow Why would you allow

yourself to be robbed of yourself to be robbed of what is rightly yourswhat is rightly yours!!

The Father himself wills it –The Father himself wills it –

Possess It !Possess It !Possess It !Possess It !

““You can be sure that You can be sure that scripture speaks truly scripture speaks truly

when it says, ‘The spirit when it says, ‘The spirit that God has placed in that God has placed in us is filled with us is filled with fierce fierce

desiresdesires..’”’”