THE CHRISTIAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

                       CONQUERING THE SINFUL HABIT OF LUST

James 4:1-10

  Introduction:

       A.  The theme of James 4 is the christian's relationship to God.

       B.  There are certain habits that we must avoid in order to remain close to God.

       C.  Our lesson stresses the need to avoid the sinful habit of lust.

   I.  Lust defined:

       A. We usually think of lust as having sinful desires of a sexual nature. 

            Matt. 5:27-28

       B.  Ungers Bible Dictionary:  "Intense longing desires".       "....... sinful either

             in being directed toward forbidden objects, or in being so violent as

             to overcome self control, and to engross the mind with earthly, carnal,

             and perishable things."  Adds that lust can "be of a sensuous or of

             a spiritual nature." Romans 6:12-13; James 4:4

       C.  Example of spiritual adultery:  Ezekial  23:1-4,7,17-18,30,35,37-38

       D.  The adultery that James uses here is becoming unfaithful to God by

             becoming involved in the sinful elements of the world.  James 4:4

  II.  Lust practiced

       A.  What causes fights and quarrels?  James 4:1  LUST

       B.  To what does James attribute killing, coveting, quarrelling, and fighting?

            James 4:2 LUST

       C.  These people should have gone humbly to God with reasonable

             requests, but people controlled by LUST can't pray that way. 

            James 4:2

       D.  Some of these people asked God, but they asked with the

             WRONG motive.  James 4:3

III.  Lust controlled:

       A.  We must get rid of pride that is involved, and become HUMBLE

             before God.  James 4:6; Proverb 6:16-17a; Proverb 16:17-18; James 4:10,6

       B.  We must REPENT.  James 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

       C.  We must SUBMIT to God.  James 4:7,10

       D.  We must RESIST  the devil.  James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9

Conclusion:

       A.  lust leads us away from God and constitutes adultery. 

       B.  Let's submit and obey God.  James 4:6