Draw Near to God in Seven Steps, James 4:7-10

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.

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Thank you for sharing.

 

Justice in Judgement, Ezekiel 14:12-23

 

Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...”

From April 19-25, America read the Bible, from cover to cover, from our nation’s capital, for all the world to hear.

Then, May 7, as a nation we bowed our heads for the National Day of Prayer. (We read the Presidential Proclamation during Thursday Night Prayer).

Ten days from that date (same number of days as from Ascension to Pentecost) on May 17, 2026, our nation will come together in one accord for Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving.

This coincides with (May 17, 1776) the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress calling for a day of, humiliation, fasting, and prayer, to seek God’s providence and ask for His protection and blessing in their fight for freedom, virtue, and posterity. 

Providence heard. Just weeks later, was birthed our Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

Which wasn’t really a declaration of independence, but of dependence on Almighty God.

Now, since you know the Word of God is timeless, you won’t be surprised that the place we continue our journey through Ezekiel is totally timely. Appropriate. Relevant.

You may even think it hits a little too close to home.

 Ezekiel 14:12-23.

The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: 

The Word of the Lord comes to those who are listening.

Are you listening?

¹³ “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it;

I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. ¹⁴ Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.

¹⁵ “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, ¹⁶ even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.

¹⁷ “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and I cut off man and beast from it, ¹⁸ even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.

¹⁹ “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, ²⁰ even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

²¹ For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it? ²² Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. ²³ And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it,” says the Lord God.

Judgement

God is patient not passive.

He indeed governs in the affair of men.

He warns, yet again, judgement is coming. Only this time He zooms way out with a lens so wide it could include America.

Previously, He zoomed in close, named names and specific sins.

But not in our text today.

He says, “when a land sins against Me I will stretch out My hand against it.”  He doesn’t say: when Judah; your people; Israel... He says, “when a land...”.

When a land sins against the Lord, judgement falls by way of:

Famine – Provision removed

Wild Beasts – Protection removed

Sword – Peace removed

Pestilence – Prosperity removed

Now if you struggle with the idea of your loving, kind, merciful God sending famine, wild beasts, sword, pestilence. Please consider the following.

The earth is under a curse since we sinned and screwed everything up.

Because God is loving and kind and merciful, He extends His hand of provision, protection, peace and prosperity.

However, when a land, keeps biting the Hand that feeds... He simply lifts His hand of provision, protection, peace and prosperity.

Famine and wild beast and sword and pestilence quickly fill the void.

Don’t think it so cruel or strange. You do the same. Someone you’ve bailed out repeatedly, eventually, you stop... and allow consequences to run their course; sowing and reaping to come to fruition.      

Year after year Israel ignored God’s warnings until just as He said, judgement fell and Israel was overthrown by:

Assyrians 722 BC.

Babylonians 586 BC (605; 597; 586).

Rome 70 AD. 

Luke 19:41-45 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, ⁴² saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Before you get too comfortable and say, “Yeah that wicked Israel had it coming...” remember, God includes all of us in this warning.

“When a land sins...”

Our land is a land soaked with the blood of multiplied millions of aborted babies crying out against us.

Our government contains elected officials that hate God, Israel and every good and Godly Biblical principle that makes up the foundation of our nation.

This message would be quite different had it not been for God’s Divine timing orchestrating that we land on this portion of Scripture, now, while we’re smack dab in the middle of a national saturation of Bible reading and prayer.

In this, He extends to US a glimmer of hope, with an urgent call to seize this moment of national and personal repentance.

Additionally, never forget, Israel has an Eternal Covenant with God. Something no other nation has. So, at this moment God’s grace is shed on US as we stand in battle with the apple of His eye.

Those who mess with Israel, (even those He uses to discipline Israel), are held accountable for their sin against Him—and His people.

Consider that the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Roman Empire have all disappeared.

HIStory continues to prove, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Psalm 33:12.

Archeological discoveries and ancient writings attest to the rise of societies as they pursued Godliness, and then, their collapse as corruption consumed them.

What happened to Jew slaughtering nazi Germany after WWII.

Following its 1945 demise, the nation suffered total infrastructure collapse, severe food shortages, mass homelessness, and economic failure. It may have looked and felt a lot like famine, wild beasts, sword, pestilence.

What about Jew hating Iran?

Iran’s Islamic Regime wages war against God by vowing to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

They slaughter Christians in the underground Church. Yet, all that persecution just illuminates the provision, protection, peace and prosperity of the Almighty hand of Providence multiplying His glorious Church that the gates of hell cannot stand against. The Church in Iran increases, while the Iranian regime decreases.  

Today Iran’s economy is in famine mode. The average monthly income is $110 - $150 (USD equivalent).

That equates to $500-$700 for a single chicken.

$60 - $80 for a loaf of bread. (Foreshadow of Rev. 6:6, third seal, a loaf of bread for a day’s wages).

This is just the beginning.

Right now, God is using America, to set the stage for a war where Iran will join a coalition of Russia, Turkey, Libya and Sudan.

(Side note: speaking of Turkey—they are showing off a missile alleging it can reach the US. Why would they do such a thing? Turkey is a member of NATO, thus, supposedly, officially an American ally).

That coalition will attack Israel. It’s called the Ez. 38-39 war.

Five nations (at least) against one.

David verses Goliath.

It won’t be a fair fight.

One side will be totally outgunned.  

One side will end up like Five Guys fries.

God will stand with Israel and stretch out His hand with more than famine, wild beasts, sword and pestilence. His weapons will be an earthquake, torrential rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone. Ezekiel 38:18-23.

It’ll take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to burn off the weaponry.

Today, if you want to see a living breathing miracle, just look at Israel. Against all odds, she stands by God’s mighty hand of provision, protection, peace and prosperity. One of the tiniest nations, yet among the most prosperous and powerful and lush and beautiful.

Yet not so long ago she sat in sackcloth and ashes, barren, dry, withered. Barely any life, human or animal.

Where kings once reigned and angels sang, the land sat in poverty and ruins, uninhabited, untended, unwanted.

Until the owners came home. The ones to whom God gave the land, finally returned, just as He said they would.

And then, upon their return in 1948, the land sprang to life. The nation has grown into the most cherished, sought after, fought over, piece of land on earth.

Ezekiel 36:24, Ezekiel 37:11-12, Isaiah 11:11-12, Amos 9:14-15, Jeremiah 30:3

If you want to see a living breathing example of God’s grace and forgiveness—just look at Israel. She’s turned from Him over and over and over again, and yet, He remains faithful to His Eternal Covenant Promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

He sees the end from the beginning. He knows one day, after the Tribulation, after seven years of famine, wild beasts, sword, and pestilence on steroids, He will return and Israel will recognize Him as the One they pierced, and finally, they will receive Him as their Messiah.

Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37, Romans 11:26, Revelation 1:7.

So, He endures, for the joy set before Him.

Yes friends, God is still alive and well and governs in the affairs of men.

Nationally, and individually.

Which brings us to three individuals mentioned in our text.

Even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.

Noah was asked to do the impossible; save the world. Yet, he couldn’t influence one single person outside of his immediate family. Still, he remained faithful, built the ark, and saved the world.

Daniel was stolen from his family, then had any opportunity for him to have a family stolen from him. Yet, he remained faithful and influenced the most powerful people on the planet and was given some of the most powerful prophecies in all of HIStory.

Job lost his kids, his wealth, his health, his wife and friends turned against him. His own wife told him to curse God and die. Yet, he remained faithful and is forever an example of faith and patience.

 As faithful as all these are, none could save even one from the judgement to come.

As righteous as they were they couldn’t turn impending judgement on a land already past the point of no return.

We all stand alone, before the Judge of our soul, and soil.

I can’t save you. Mom can’t. Dad can’t. Neither can Noah, Daniel, or Job

Nobody but Jesus.

You can’t make their decision, but you can make a difference.

The last part of our text talks about a remnant who will be brought out, they will be both sons and daughters.

Some commentators claim the remnant is wicked, but the original text does not use any such language. In the Bible “remnant” refers to the faithful few who remain loyal through trials and tribulations.

These are called “sons and daughters” who come out and comfort and show that in all the Lord has done there is justice in judgement.

God is omniscient. He knows everything. The end from the beginning. However, just because He knows something is going to happen, doesn’t mean He makes it happen.

As much as He hates evil and longs to bring it to an end; as much as He loves His family and wants to be united forever and ever, amen. He will not take short cuts. He will not compromise Divine Justice.

Furthermore, He knows every single soul that will eventually turn to Him, and so He patiently waits, and walks through the necessary process, even if ever so painful at times. Because it’s not His will for any to perish.

Alas, many will.

You see, God knows, your remnant, your sons and daughters, those who will come out; the one you'll pray for until the day you die. The one that will not turn to the Lord until one day amid the Great Tribulation, that child will remember your life, give their life, and your prayers will be answered, they will come out and comfort you.

God knows that bully from across the tracks who laughed whenever you prayed. God knows, in just a little while, he’ll realize you were right and give his life to Christ. And then, there’s Tom and Heather and Nicole and Deb and Doug and Lydia and Penny and the guy who changed his name to Allah and...

Dear Saint, you are called to make an Eternal difference.

Don’t ever, ever, ever, ever, stop praying, believing, Seed planting. The Word of God will not return void. Your most powerful answers may not come until after you're gone. Your greatest triumphs may be during the most troubled time, but the greatest harvest in HIStory.

So, let’s be busy, living to leave an Eternal legacy.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus thank You for loving us enough to tell us the Truth. Not just the good stuff, but the hard stuff too. Thank You for warning us of our national responsibility and personal accountability. Now Lord, help us follow You, every step. Help us do right, just because it’s right. Please guide us, correct us, and work through us to lead everyone You’ve given us, straight to You.

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:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

Adultery of the Heart, James 4:1-6

 

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

 

Where do wars and fights come from among you?

What wars? What fights? There were lots to choose from back then. And today.

James is not talking about the continuous conflict between Jews and Romans.

Nor is he addressing religious wranglings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  

We’re not referring to wars against Islamic terrorists, or LGBTQ wickedness, or political fights of the left and right.

What we are looking at is those who sit in the pew. This is about me and you. Christians.

Dear Church, where do wars and fights come from among you?

Context is king, so let’s back up a few verses to a question that kicks off this conversation.

James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What we just read is a Divinely inspired description of wisdom from above (verses 13 and 17-18), with, wisdom from below, juxtaposed smack dab in the middle.

If we could paint a picture of what we just read it’d be of Eden.

Created by Wisdom from above, full of good fruits, sown in peace by Him who makes peace.

Smack dab in the middle of the Garden would be the serpent, filled with bitter envy and self-seeking, earthly, sensual, demonic and every evil thing.

With those descriptions of wisdom from above, and below, the Lord makes the answer obvious:

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Answer: Those who have wisdom from above.

And we also know that those who have pure, peaceable, gentle wisdom from above are not where wars and fights come from.

Thus, wars and fights come from those who do not have wisdom from above.

Now, notice the repeated words that describe wisdom from below: envy and self-seeking.

With that in mind consider that in the NKJV, “you” is mentioned fourteen times in the first five verses of today’s text (James 4:1-4). Not as many in the original text, but the envious self-seeking focus is clear.

Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Originally? From Eden, the moment Adam and Eve took that first self-seeking bite.

Now? James tells us to look in the mirror.

Where do wars and fights come from among you?
Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You lust... the lust of the flesh. If only I had a girl, a guy, a wife, a husband, a relationship, like that. So, you commit adultery with them in your heart.

You murder and covet... the lust of the eyes. You want what’s theirs, the house, the car, the camper, the job, the parking spot. So, you murder them in your heart.

You fight and war... Like a sword your tongue lashes out from a heart of bitter envy.

You do not ask... the pride of life. Pride refuses to admit you need help.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God is good.

God is a giver.

God is not an enabler.

The guy in the parking lot says “Since I got laid off, times are tough. I just need a little money for diapers and baby food.” 

Without paying attention or praying for discernment we hand him a $20 or so, while God’s saying “No, they ask amiss, they’re just going to blow it beer and cigarettes.”

Asking, praying, is such an extraordinary thing. It’s like a superpower.

Jesus says:

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 21:22
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

This brings us back to the first question about beautiful, wonderful wisdom from above.

How do we get it?

Ask of God who gives to all...  

But remember, we must not ask amiss.

We must ask, in faith...

James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

How do we ask in faith?

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Christos).

Prayer is powerful.

Asking is amazing.

But must not be handled amiss.

We just quoted Matthew 7:7 above.

Ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened.

But do you know the verse before it?  

Matthew 7:6
Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Prayer must not be cast about flippantly.

It’s a mighty weapon.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed earnestly, fervently, He even prayed to not ask amiss. Not My will but Thine be done. Luke 22:42.

He told His disciples to pray so that they would not enter into temptation.

What a powerful privilege and responsibility we have in prayer.

How do we ask accurately, pray powerfully, know that we’re not asking, amiss?

Well, our text told us that motives matter. Are we committing adultery of the heart? Why are we asking? Why are we praying? To consume it upon our lust? Are we asking amiss. For beer and cigarettes, instead of baby food and diapers?

Pray what Jesus prayed. “Not My will but Thine.”

As far as asking accurately and praying powerfully, we must invest time with Him until we are each other’s friend.

The kind of friend where you know how they will respond, how they’ll answer, how they’ll feel about any given situation.

Do you have a friend like that? Your spouse?

Jesus wants that, with you.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Which brings us to the next verse.

 

⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We were just talking about the Lord’s desire to be your friend, a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A friend indeed, even more.

His Bride.

Note: the original text omits “Adulterers and.” It only says, “adulteresses.” Revealing the Lord is not talking about physical adultery but adultery of the heart against Him.

The Church, in His eyes, is His Bride.

Dear family, pay attention.

God is so serious about this that out of 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, He Divinely timed that we would land in back-to-back services on Scripture focused on this topic. Idols of the Heart, Ezekiel 14:1-11 and Adultery of the Heart, James 4:1-6.

If you scoffed in your heart and said, the preacher’s too melodramatic.

Hurry repent before we read the next verse...

⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Exodus 20:3-5

FIRST COMMANDMENT: ³ “You shall have no other gods before Me.

SECOND COMMANDMENT: ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God am a jealous God...

Ezekiel 8:5. Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

Hopefully, you’ll never know the pain of your spouse cheating, rejecting, leaving you.

They say that pain and grief is akin to if your spouse dies, but with the added pain of rejection.

That is the kind of pain inflicted on the Lord when we commit spiritual adultery with the world.

Now, if you’re feeling awful because you’ve committed adultery of the heart, or because you just scoffed at the preacher, or you’re afraid you’ve been asking amiss...

Don’t fear. God know how you feel and has great news for you.

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Grace, as opposed to disgrace, is honor.

Not just grace once for Salvation, but more grace, because God knows we need more, daily, for our hearts are desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9).  

God gives grace to the humble for they see their need and are not too proud to ask, and will not ask amiss.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace that is greater than all our sin. Thank You for grace to submit to You, resist the devil, forsake all worldly lust and pleasure. Lord Jesus, we invite You to take Your rightful place on the throne of our heart. We choose You as our Best Friend. Thank You for the honor of being Your Bride. Have Your Way through us, so of all those You’ve given us, none will be lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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