James is called the New Testament Proverbs.
James like a New Testament Solomon, gives a big
message in just a few verses.
1. Submit
2. Resist
3. Draw
4. Cleanse
5. Purify
6. Lament
7. Humble
Therefore submit
to God. Resist the
devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you
sinners; and purify your
hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be
turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He will lift you up.
Submit
In James 5:6, we’re told God resists the proud,
then in 5:7 we’re told to resist the devil.
In many ways, the same thing.
It was pride that lifted lucifer into sin and cast him
down to the ground (Isaiah 14:12-15). And does the same to all who fall under its arrogant spell.
Therefore, resist the devil, and resist
pride.
We do that by first submitting to
God.
To submit to God is to resist the
devil.
Submit:
(Greek: hupotassó) to subject, to subordinate, to be under
obedience.
Luke
2:51-52
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and
was subject (hupotassó) to them, but His mother kept all these
things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Submitting to God
results in increase in wisdom and favor with God and man.
1
Peter 5:5
Likewise you younger people, submit (hupotassó) yourselves
to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one
another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God
resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Submit to God,
is the first step in drawing near to God.
It’s mandatory. It can’t be skipped.
We must first submit.
Okay God, I give up. I’ve tried to be king of my life
long enough. Will you please take the reins, and reign?
He will.
When He does, you’ll feel a million pounds lighter. Like
walking on air.
But it won’t be long until the honeymoon’s over. You’ll
be tested to see if you’re really submitted or just full of hot air.
You see, just like faith without works is dead,
also, submission without obedience is dead.
You’re not submitted until you submit, when
you don’t want to.
What do you do when God says get up early, pray, read
your Bible and go to Church. But you’d rather sleep in, play on the phone, read
Facebook and go to Chik-filet.
Where do you stand when the Word of God steps on your
toes? Will you stay? Will you still slow dance real close? Or do you step back
and look for a new dance partner?
What about when the honeymoon wears off? Are you still
committed? Or, since you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’ do you start searching for
a new fling?
First step: Submit to God.
It looks like this:
Someone in the dark of night, praying hard,
sweating blood, saying, “Not My will but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42.
If we look in the mirror it looks like this:
Galatians
2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Second step:
Resist the devil
If we submit to God properly, resisting the
devil comes naturally, well, Supernaturally.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be battles. In this
world you will have tribulation (John 16:33). The devil seeks to kill, steal
and destroy (John 10:10); he roams about like a roaring lion seeking who he may
devour (1 Peter 5:8).
1
Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
And what is the “way of escape” from temptation?
Matthew
26:41,
Pray, so that you enter not into temptation, for the spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak.
Step two: Resist the devil and he will
flee from you
It looks like this: Matthew 4:1-11.
Someone in the wilderness, weary, very hungry, hadn’t
eaten for 40 days.
Suddenly there’s a serpent’s hiss. You’re so hungry.
If You are the Son of God, command these stones be turned to bread.
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy
city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the
Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over
you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot
against a stone.’ ”
“It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
Again, the devil took Him up on an
exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will
fall down and worship me.”
“Away with you, Satan! For
it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall
serve.’ ”
Then the devil left Him, and behold,
angels came and ministered to Him.
If we look in the mirror resisting the devil looks
like this:
Eph.
6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having
girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, 15 and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above
all, taking the shield of faith with which you
will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God;
Step three:
Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you.
Have you ever heard of a better deal?
God promises a reciprocal relationship.
You take an intentional step toward Him and... His
steps are bigger than yours. You take one step and BAM you’re in His Presence.
Jer.
29:13
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Matt.
18:20
Where two or more are gathered in My name, there I AM in the midst of them
2
Chronicles 15:2
“Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while
you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake
Him, He will forsake you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near
to you.
It looks like this:
Matthew 8:1-3. The
leper came near and worshipped Him. “Lord if you are willing, you can make
me clean.”
Jesus said. “I AM willing, be clean.”
Immediately, the leprosy was cleansed.
Luke 7:48-50. The
woman drew near Him, dropped to her knees weeping, washing His feet with her
tears.
He drew near enough she could hear Him whisper. “Your
sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Now, the next step changes tone from a nice invitation
to urgent preparation.
You must be cleansed from sin!
No time to waste.
Step four: Cleanse your hands, you sinners
The Jews in that day would know that referred to
ceremonial cleansing, symbolizing cleansing from sin.
Not so long ago the entire world echoed those words,
“Wash your hands!”
Physically for cleansing from covid.
Spiritually, screaming, REPENT. (As 2020
exposed the ugliest sins).
Notice those James previously called beloved brethren,
now, he calls sinners.
When drawing near to God, it’s imperative to be clean.
Sin cannot survive in His Holiness.
Darkness dies in His Light.
The closer we draw to His glorious Presence, the more
our sin spotted souls are exposed.
The best disinfectant for sin is His
Light.
Billy Graham spoke of a hillside with a flock of
beautiful white sheep grazing on the green grass. Then, a sudden snowfall
covered the land and a boy said of the same flock, “How is it that the sheep
have gotten so dirty?”
In His Presence our whitest righteousness is as filthy
rags.
We cannot walk in sin and His Presence.
Wash your hand you sinners,
James’ words echo from that day to this.
But washing hands only addresses outward cleansing from
evil deeds.
That just touches the surface, the outside of the cup
and dish, but inside is where the real filth lies.
Psalm
24:3-4a
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? 4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart...
Which brings us to our next step.
Step five: purify your hearts, you
double-minded
If we preach James’ words: “Cleanse your hands you
sinners, purify your hearts you double-minded” How many pews would empty?
How many hearts would fill?
This is where the Word of God discerns the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
Matthew
15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
Jeremiah
17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
James
1:8
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, let not that man think he will
receive anything from the Lord.
Matthew
6:24
No one can serve two masters.
1
Kings 18:21
How long will you falter between two opinions? If the
Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.
Hebrews
3:15
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts
Psalm
51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ezekiel
36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Step six: Lament and mourn and weep
After drawing close, getting cleansed of the stench of
sin, experiencing the love, joy, peace and Power of His Presence and how He
grieves against sin, we can’t help but sorrow over our sin, the sin of our
family and friends, our loved ones and nation.
Matthew
5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be
comforted.
2
Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Psalm
34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the
contrite in spirit
Psalm
51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite
heart— these, O God, You will not despise.
Now we come full circle from submission to
humility with step number seven:
10 Humble yourselves in the
sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Proverbs
16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall.
Proverbs
18:12
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And
before honor is humility.
Matthew
23:12, Luke 14:11
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be
exalted.
Philippians
2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal
with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and
given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those
under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Let’s pray
Lord Jesus, as You submitted the will of
Your flesh to the will of the Father; as You resisted the devil with Your Word,
please help us do likewise by drawing near You, sorrowing for sin, as the woman who washed Your feet with her tears.
Thank You.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
Call or text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
Facebook: Church at WPV
Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling
Watch online:
Facebook: Draw Near to God in Seven
Steps, James 4:7-10
You Tube: Draw Near to God in
Seven Steps, James 4:7-10
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you
to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
No comments:
Post a Comment