James # 10 James 4-6 thru 4-12
All right, were still teaching from the book of James, so on a pickup here with James chapter 4 verse 6.
I) So turn with me to the verse James 4:6.
A) When this verse says, “God resisteth the proud,” the Word “RESISTETH” means, “TO DO BATTLE AGAINST.”
1) Pride is something that a believer needs to stay away from. It is a very dangerous thing. As James puts it “GOD WILL DO BATTLE AGAINST OR BE AT WAR WITH THOSE WHO ARE PRIDEFUL.”
a) In (Proverbs 16:18) it says, “Pride goeth before destruction.”
b) And in (Proverbs 29:23) it says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low.”
c) In (Proverbs 6:16-17) it says that seven things are an abomination to the Lord.
(i) The 1st one he lists is "A PROUD LOOK."
(ii) In the book of Leviticus those that commit and abomination shall be put to death.
(iii) Thank God we live under grace, but you can see the severity of pride.
B) But James goes on to say in (James 4:6), “But God giveth grace to the humble.”
1) The reward to the humble is God’s Grace and that is God’s power, God’s might, God’s ability, and God’s anointing.
a) When a believer truly walks in humility (the act of being humble) he has available to him all of heaven’s power and all of God’s blessings and promises.
b) If you want more of God's anointing and God's power in your life then you have to stay humble.
II) James 4:7.
A) 1st of all James tells us to “Summit unto God.” The Word “SUMMIT” in that verse means “TO RENDER OBEDIENCE.”
1) This is a commitment that the Lord is asking of us: that we would walk in obedience to Him and to His Word.
2) In the last half of this verse James says, “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.”
a) Before the Devil flees from you there are 2 things mentioned that we have to do 1st.
(i) That’s how some Christians messed up in their Christian walk. They don’t put 1st things 1st.
(ii) They want the end result without following the prerequisite.
b) James tells us in this verse 1st of all, “Summit to God.” 2nd he says, “Resist the Devil.” Then and only then will the devil flee.
3) When James uses the Word “RESIST” in verse 7, the Word "RESIST" means, “TAKE A STAND AGAINST.”
a) The Devil isn’t going to flee just because you want him to.
(i) James says you have to deliberately take a stand against him, without giving him anymore ground.
(ii) And resist all of his works.
b) When you’re obedient to the Word of God that’s when you start to reap the promises from the Word.
(i) If you submit yourself to God and resist the enemy and his works, then the Devil and his demonic host has to flee from you.
(ii) When we’re free from the demonic influence, then we can truly experience victory in our lives.
B) James 4:8.
1) In this verse he tells us to draw nigh unto God.
a) But in this same verse he tells us to “Cleanse our hands and purify our hearts.”
(i) “CLEANSE” and “PURIFY” refers to the Jewish ceremonial cleansing.
b) If we want to come into the presence of God, we have to make sure that we’re right with Him.
(i) Before we come to the Lord, we should ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2) James also says in this verse “Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you.”
a) If we want more of God in our lives we have to draw nigh unto Him.
b) And we do that by spending time in prayer, reading is Word, and by setting time aside to praise Him and worship Him.
c) When we do we open the door for God to move in every area of our lives.
III) James 4:9.
A) In this V James is telling us that we should mourn over sin in our lives because it is a very serious thing.
1) It separates us from God, and also hinders and many times stops the blessings of God from flowing in our lives.
B) James 4:10.
1) To humble ourselves before God means 1st of all, that we are not lifted up in pride and that we remain teachable, not arrogant, but have a modest opinion of ourselves.
a) (Romans 12:3) Says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
(i) In that verse Paul clearly tells us that we should not think of ourselves as being better than the next person because God has given us all the same faith.
2) Back in (James 4:10) James says that we are to humble ourselves.
a) By him telling us to walk in HUMILITY and keep a teachable spirit means that it DOES NOT COME AUTOMATICALLY.
(i) We have to keep working at it. And the more knowledge you get of the Word, the more education you get or the more money or things you have the more you have to work at being humble.
b) Turn with me to 1 Peter 3:3-4.
(i) PETER is saying don’t adorn yourself in such away that you’re purposely trying to look better than someone else does.
(ii) Nice clothes is fine, jewelry is fine, but if your motives are to look better than someone else does, then you’re on the borderline of walking in pride.
c) So Peter is saying don’t seek this great apparel and fine jewelry, but instead put on a meek and quiet spirit.
(i) In other words, make every attempt to be humble.
3) Turn back to James 4:10.
a) Notice that James says when you do humble yourselves the Lord will lift you up. He will exalt you and bless you.
IV) James 4:11-12.
A) Right off the bat, James says that we should not be speaking evil of one another.
1) That would include gossip, backbiting, and criticism.
2) Speaking evil and criticizing another is actually placing you as their judge. And by doing that you’re in danger of being judged.
B) (Luke 6:37) Says, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (V 38) give in shall be given.”
1) (Galatians 6:7) Says, “For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
a) If you sow judgement than that is what you’re going to reap.
C) But in (Galatians 6:8 and 9) it says, “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
1) So let us sow to the Spirit so that we can reap that everlasting life, and as Jesus said in (JOHN 10:10) not only will we have everlasting life but we’ll have the abundant life here and now.
W. O. L. C. C. Thursday, May 14, 1998