“The Inner Battles that Wage War”

TEXT:        James 4:1-6; Luke 22:39-46

THESIS:    Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, taught us how to win.

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I.  What causes fights and quarrels are the desires that battle     within you.  (vs 1)

A.     Your battle is not without, but within.

 

1.       You desire the peace of God but are a friend of the world.

 

“Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God”  (vs 4b)

 

2.      Ask God with the right motive.  (vs 3)

 

“...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

II.  Jesus experienced inner battles but defeated them by submitting to God and His will.

A.     Jesus was tempted but did not sin.

 

“but we have one who was tempted in every way, just as we are ~  yet was without sin.”  Hebrews 4:15b

 

1.       The devil tried to destroy Jesus in the wilderness but Jesus conquered.

 

2.      The devil tried to detour Jesus’ mission of the cross but failed.

 

3.      Jesus prayed, “...not my will but Thine.”

 

B.      To submit to God and resist Satan is sure victory!