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Introduction
We have concluded another section of the James 4. Each section is essentially a paragraph.
Section one or paragraph one was James 4:1-6
We finished it.
We have also completed our journey through the second section which was James 4:7-10
So this evening we are going to wrap section two with a review and, next week, as the Lords wills, we will move on to section 3 (paragraph 3).
Let us recap what we have learned.
VERSE 7
Two Key Instructions
Submit to God
The word “submit” comes from a Greek compound word.
A compound word is one compromised to two or more other words.
This particular word comes from two Greek words.
The first is “hupo” which means “under.”
The second is “tasso” which means “to arrange.”
When combined, they mean “to arrange under or to rank under.”
It is primarily a military term.
As we know, with all military, there is a hierarchy of command.
Our great United States Army has enlisted soldiers who answer to non-commissioned officers.
Non-commissioned officers rank under and submit to commissioned officers.
Commissioned officers rank under those given field commands such as Majors and Colonels who answer to Generals.
At the top of the command structure sits the General of the Army.
Even then, the General of the Army answers to the Command in Chief, the President of the United States.
Each soldier as part of our great military understands the term “submit.”
They are taught the importance of following commands from those under whom they serve.
Thus, the Holy Spirit establishes a couple of principles by instructing us to “submit.”
The first principle is that Jesus Christ, who is God, is the Supreme Commander to whom all of us as “soldiers of the cross” must recognize and submit to His authority.
Since the Lord is our Captain and our prince, our simple job as his soldiers is to “submit.”
We are to arrange ourselves under His command.
When He speaks, we listen and obey.
We are to place ourselves completely under His care, power, and strength.
We must yield to His will, commands, instructions, laws, behavior, and word.
There is to be a total surrender of our heart, soul, and mind (our entire being) to Him.
If you want to overcome the temptations of the flesh, the world, and Satan, you must do exactly has He, the Lord Jesus Christ, commands.
Commands which, by the way, are written and spelled out for us in His Word.
We hold them in our hands and stand without excuse in obedience to them.
Here, in this verse, the Holy Spirit (God Himself) is saying “submit” to me, and He will utilize His power and strength to help you face the great spiritual enemies of this life.
In fact, as the Captain of our salvation, He has a battle plan that comes complete with a great arsenal and the mightiest power in the Universe.
He is a force that wrecks anyone who would stand in His way.
This is the strong Captain that we serve.
Therefore, we must simply “submit” to Him.
Here is another principle that comes with the word “submit.”
Submission begins and continues with obedience to His Word.
This means that when temptation strikes in any form, we must immediately focus our minds on Him and His Word.
It is impressive how quickly temptation can arise.
It seemingly appears out of thin air, happening so quick.
For this reason, each believer must rely upon God’s battle plan.
Reading, studying, and memorizing Scripture is essential in overcoming the enemy.
We must commit to memory as much as possible of every detail of the battle plan.
It is a battle plan that knows you as a soldier of the cross and the enemy you face.
However, if you simply toss the battle plan aside, only occasionally picking up and perusing it, you will fall quickly in battle.
A good soldier is a prepared soldier.
We must prepare by knowing God’s Word.
However, a great soldier knows the battle plan and commits to executing it without flaw.
This is where obedience is critical.
Knowing God’s Word is only effective when we DO God’s Word.
Living it daily provides training for those moments when the enemy ambushes you with spiritual temptation.
If we read, study, memorize, and obey God’s Word submissively, we are in a far better position to handle the lusts from within.
Then when those moments come, our submission to Him creates an avenue for Him to work in and through us so that we might overcome the enemy.
Resist the Devil
The word “resist” comes from another Greek compound word.
In fact, we often use the prefix “anti” in many of our English compound words.
For example, we have the word “anti-American” or “anti-christian.”
We hear them a lot today.
The word “anti” means “against.”
Thus, to be anti-American is to stand against what makes America great.
The word “resist” has the Greek word for “anti” in its construction.
The other word compounded with “anti” is “histemi.”
It simply means “to cause to stand.”
Thus, the word “resist” has the idea of standing again, opposing, or, as translated, “resisting.”
With that in mind, we are instructed not only to submit to God but also to resist the Devil.
Just as much as we are to yield to God, we are stand against God’s enemy, Satan.
There are a couple of thoughts here.
First, we can only stand against Satan when submitting to God.
In other words, it is entirely insane to resist the Devil on your own.
You will never cause Satan to flee or retreat by standing alone and fighting without God’s help.
This is our biggest problem.
We try to do so many things our way.
When it comes to resisting temptation, your way will not work.
It never does.
The only way it works is when we have first arranged ourselves under God’s control and power.
To follow that up, refusing to obey God’s commands is a sure-fire way to fall into temptation.
Second, resisting the Devil means not entertaining the things He offers, even for a moment.
Think back to the Garden of Eden.
Do you remember Satan’s conversation with Eve?
It all started when she entertained his thoughts about God in her mind.
Things might have turned out differently had she resisted as God is commanding us.
However, she didn’t.
Instead, she did not submit to God, and she did not resist the Devil.
In the end, she and Adam yielded to the temptation breaking God’s command.
Satan painted her a picture that she could not resist.
It was a picture in which she became like God, only it was a false reality.
Here is the thing.
The moment you turn your ear to temptation considering the possibilities of what it offers, you have already started down the road towards sin.
For this reason, resisting the Devil is equally important as our submission to God.
We must do both.
We must begin with compliance to Him and continue with our resistance to temptations.
VERSE 8
Run Towards God
The significant part of this first command is that He lovingly comes toward us as we move toward Him.
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