This is a copy of my talk given at Ayia Kyriaki and Saint Luke’s in the Anglican Church of Paphos on Sunday 22 September 2024. The Bible reading was James 3:13-4:3 & 7-8a
Prayer
Heavenly Father
I thank You for Your word
By the power of the Holy Spirit
May You speak to my heart
And change my life
In the precious name of Jesus I pray
Amen.
Introduction
Many people don’t realise that Bob Dylan became a Christian in the late 70’s. He released a trilogy of albums ‘Slow Train Coming,’ ‘Saved’ and ‘Shot Of Love’ which included a number of overtly Christian songs with titles such as: ‘Saved,’ ‘Property of Jesus,’ ‘I believe In You’ and ‘Shot of Love.’
I don’t believe he could have written these songs without a having personal relationship with Jesus – the lyrics are hugely doctrinal and deeply theological. One of his songs was called ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’ and Dylan could well have been reading the book of James when he wrote these words:
You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble; you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord!
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
These lyrics could also be based on Jesus’ words in Mark 9:35b: Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. And this is something the disciples didn’t grasp after arguing on the journey about who would be the greatest. We don’t always like the idea of serving, do we? The father of lies has convinced us that the idea of being a servant is beneath us. But servant hearted disciples are what Jesus is looking for. In this passage James suggests that we fail in this area because we are at war with ourselves and each other. James says we resolve these by making our peace with God.
1) We are at War with Each Other 4:1a
Vs1b: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Asks James. When we look at the early churches, we discover they had their fair share of disagreements. The Jerusalem church wanted to excommunicate Peter because he dared to spend time, energy (and money) on mission to the Gentiles (Acts 15). The Corinthian church competed against each other in public meetings – even suing each other in court (1 Cor 6:1-8; 14:23-40).
The Galatian church was guilty of ‘biting and devouring’ one another (Galatians 5:15). The Ephesian church was warned about spiritual disunity (Ephesians 4:1-6). In addition to ‘church wars’ James refers to Class wars (2:1-9), Personal wars (4:11-12) Employment wars (5:1-6).
I’m glad that here at ACP we don’t fight and quarrel amongst ourselves! I mean, we would never let pride or envy come between us, would we? We are so firmly rooted in scripture that it would be impossible for us to quarrel or disagree with each other … right! Wrong! There’s always disagreement in churches, whether it’s to do with Music; Liturgy; Style of Worship … it saddens me when Christians are at odds with their brothers and sisters, while the world watches – often in dismay. No wonder Jesus prayed that the church ‘may be one so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (John 17:21).
But why is it that we are at war with one another? We belong to the same heavenly Father; we trust the same Saviour; we have the same Holy Spirit within us. It doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? James answered this question by explaining the second war that is going on:
2) We are at War with Ourselves 4:1b-3
James asks 4:1b: Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? The war in the heart causes the wars in the church! 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James recognises that we are people trying to live in agreement with the Holy Spirit within us, yet still feeling the desires of our earthly nature. The result is division among God’s people and leads to wrong actions. Vs2: You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
Thou shalt not covet is the last of the Ten Commandments, but breaking this one command can make us break all of the other nine! Covetousness, or selfishness, can make a person commit murder, tell lies, dishonour their parents, commit adultery and, in one way or another, violate all of God’s moral laws. Selfish desires are dangerous because they do not edify, nor do they build up, the kingdom of God. But have you ever noticed that people who are at war with themselves tend to be unhappy people? They never seem to enjoy life, do they?
Instead of being thankful for the blessings they do have, they complain about the blessings they do not have. They can’t get along with other people because they are always envying others for what they have and do. They always seem to be looking for that ‘magic something’ that will change their lives, when the real problem is within their own hearts.
This leads to wrong praying vs3: When you ask, you do not receive; because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. The purpose of prayer is not to get mans will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth. Instead of seeking God’s will, we tell God what He is supposed to do; and we get angry with Him if He doesn’t obey. This anger at God eventually spills over and we get angry with God’s people. It’s never pleasant being on the receiving end of someone’s anger.
More than one church split has been caused by Christians who take their frustrations with God out on the members of the church. Many a church or family problem would be solved if people would only look into their own hearts and see the battles raging there. If there is war on the inside there will, inevitably, be war on the outside.
3) Making our Peace with God 4:7-8a
As Winston Churchhill remarked on the eve of the ‘Battle of Britain’
And that’s so true, isn’t it? James suggests that we should make our peace with God to stop the battles raging within us and he gives us three suggestions as to how we can win the war:
Submit to God (vs7a): To submit is a military term which means, ‘to get in proper rank.’ When a private acts like a General, there is going be trouble! When we desire our own pleasures, there is going be trouble! When we are not putting God first, there is going be trouble! If there is any area of life kept back from God, there will be trouble.
In most contact sports, like wrestling or MMA, a bout is only over when you can get your opponent, by fair means or foul, to submit. However, submission, as a Christian, is not the result of God inflicting excruciating pain on us so that we finally give in to his will, submission is an act of will; it is saying, “Not my will but yours be done.” Can you submit to God’s plan for your life and his way of working things out in it?
Resist the Devil (vs7b): Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Resisting does not mean yelling and screaming at the Devil to go away. The Devil flees because God is working in our lives and the Devil can’t stand the presence of God. Light and darkness cannot dwell in the same place. The Devil will only get to you if you get too far away from God.
Draw near to God (vs8a): In vs8a James tells us what we must Draw near to God to enjoy the grace promised in vs6, grace he gives to the humble; the meek; those who willingly and gladly serve Him, to those who admit their helplessness and look to Him to meet their needs. We must confess our sins and ask for His cleansing. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James is reminding us that however close we have been drawn to the world, we have been drawn equally as far away from God. It is we, and not God, who has created that distance.
Conclusion
Before most sporting events, a coin is tossed to decide which team will kick off first. One of the team captains will usually call ‘heads or tails’ – they only get two choices. They can’t hedge their bets either way; they have to make a choice. And so, we have to make the choice of whom to serve: As Dylan sang: … it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Make the right choice; you cannot follow Jesus without doing what he says. If you try to serve yourself, or if you befriend the world, you are only serving the enemy. And if you, as a Christian, are trying to live your life in your way – you will end up an unhappy, unfulfilled – even angry – person. Do as James suggests and make your peace with God. Admit that you can’t live life without Him.
If you draw near to God, he promises to draw near to you and cleanse you, and forgive you; and the wars within you, and around you, will cease! You will not be at war with God, so you will not be at war with yourselves, and you will not be at war with others. When you come to God humbled, He will lift you up! He will satisfy your soul and give you peace beyond measure. And, as Dylan sang in another of his songs, Pressing On may each of us press on to the higher calling of our Lord.
If you want to find out a little more about Dylan’s ‘Christian’ music, read Bob Dylan’s 20 Greatest Gospel Songs compiled by music journalist Annie Kapur for Beat Magazine. I have to say my favourite would be ‘I Believe In You.’
There was a great album released in 2003 Gotta Serve Somebody – The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with his gospel songs covered by gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Mighty Couds of Joy and Sounds of Blackness. It’s great! You can listen to it on Spotify
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author, Revd Paul A. Carr. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name.
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