INTRODUCTION #20
1. Open your bibles to James 4:7-10.
2. In these four verses Christians are give ten brief, but very demanding commandments and exhortations for Christians.
3. Don’t confuse these ten commandments with the ten commandments of Moses that are recorded in Exodus 20. No, these are not a repeat of Moses’, these are ten commandments that James sets forth. They are ten among many commandments set forth in the N. T.
4. In this lesson we want to discuss three of these ten commandments. I will let you, in your own private reading, read the passage and jot down on paper what you discover as the other seven commandments.
5. Soon, in another lesson we will discuss the other seven commandments.
6. Interestingly, the first three commandments command Christians to be more obedient to God and to turn away from the devil.
7. The last seven commandments give Christians warning after warning against sin.
8. Let’s begin to discuss the first three of these ten commandments that James gives such great importance to.
DISCUSSION
I. COMMANDMENT #1, JAMES 4:7a COMMANDS CHRISTIANS TO SUBMIT TO GOD.
1. James 4:7a, “Therefore submit to God….” “Therefore” at the beginning of a sentence always refers to what was said right before.
2. “Therefore” refers to what James had just emphasized back in vs. 1-4 about man being so prone to engage in worldly things.
James, in vs. 5&6 emphasizes that at the same time man is involving himself in more and more worldly things that God is displaying a jealously to have man as His own.
God’s is engaged in a reluctance to willing turn us over to the devil and the world.
God, instead makes available “more grace” to out do the devil and do His best to keep us for Himself. “Therefore” (v. 7a) man should willing and faithfully “submit to God”.
3. Are you willing to allow God to be #1 in your life? Are you willing to study and live by the bible that contains God’s instructions for daily Christian living. We must never forget that God is the potter and we are the clay and we must allow Him to mold us.
4. Turn to Matt. 7:21-23. In this passage Jesus makes it clear that it is important to do more than believe in Him and to do a lot of things in His name. Along with belief in Christ and doing a lot of things that are done in His name we must make sure we are closely and carefully learning and submitting to the “will of the Father” (v. 21b).
5. Let’s read Matt. 7:21-23 and find out some of the things that Jesus will say on judgment day. “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
6. Many believe and do many things in the name of Christ, but if there is not total submission to God, we will not make it to heaven. “Submission to God” is serious business!
II. SECOND, JAMES 4:7b COMMANDS CHRISTIANS TO “RESIST THE DEVIL”.
1. Let’s read James 4:7b, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
2. Back across the years I have seen a lot of bumper stickers that read, “Say No To Drugs”! Equally so, Christians must repeatedly say “NO” to Satan!
3. Satan would not submit to God and this is why Satan was kicked out of heaven!
4. Satan does not want Christians to submit to God.
5. Christians must keep in mind that they only have two options in life. We can either submit to God or Satan. When we submit to God, at the same time we resist the devil.
6. Turn to Matt. 4:1-11. This passage provides Jesus as an example of “submitting to God” and at the same time “resisting the devil”. Every time the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus quoted a scripture to show his “submission to God” and his determination to “resist the devil”.
(1) After the spiritual battle Satan did flee and leave Jesus, but only for a brief time. Satan did come back and tempt Jesus all through his life and even during Jesus’ death on the cross, but on every occasion Jesus stayed in “submission to God” and this kept Satan at a distance that brought no harm to Jesus .
(2) Let’s read Matt. 4:4,7&10&11, which contain references to Jesus quoting scripture and Satan leaving from Jesus. “V. 4 “4 But He (Jesus) answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” V. 7, “7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” Vs. 10&11, “10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
6. Christians must, like Jesus, know God’s word and submit to God’s word. This will keep Satan at distance from us to where he will not destroy our soul.
7. Turn to Gen. 3:1-7. This passage gives just the opposite kind of example in contrast to Jesus. This passage reports that Eve did not resist the devil. She was able to quote scripture to the devil, but she did not “submit to God and His teaching”. Instead Eve “submitted to the devil”! Let’s read Gen. 3:1-7, “1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [Notice that Eve quoted scripture, but she did not obey and submit to God.] 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes [in this statement we observe that Eve fell prey to being tempted by the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh], and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.[in this statement Eve was tempted by the pride of life. Satan led her to think that eating of the forbidden fruit would giver her opportunity to be as wise as God – the thought of accomplishing such gave her the feeling of pride] She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
(1) Let’s please not follow the example of Eve and Adam. Instead follow the example of Christ.
(2) Turn to 1 John 2:16. Here, we are warned that Satan tempts everyone in the very same three ways that he tempted Jesus and Eve. 1) The lust of the flesh (Jesus to turn stones into bread). 2)The lust of the eyes (Jesus to receive the kingdoms that Satan showed him). 3)The pride of life (Jesus to jump off the high temple and take pride in having the angels swoop under him and rescue him from harm – similar to Evil Knevil being saved from a high motorcycle jump).
Let’s read 1 John 2:16, “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.
(3) Satan is out, as a roaring lion, to capture everyone he can through these three avenues of sin. We must time after time “resist the devil”!
III. COMMANDMENT #3, JAMES 4:8a COMMANDS CHRISTIANS TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD! JAMES PROMISES CHRISTIANS THAT IF THEY WILL DRAW NEAR TO GOD, GOD WILL DRAW NEAR TO US.
1. Let’s read James 4:8a, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
2. James is telling Christians that they will find God to be faithful. God will never abandon a Christian. God will provide everything a Christian needs.
3. James is teaching personal and individual responsibility. It is up to the individual to determine weather their close companion will be God or the devil.
4. Turn to 2 Chron. 15:1-4. This passage illustrates the point James is making. Let’s read 2 Chron. 15:1-4. “1 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “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. 3 For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; 4 but when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.”
5. If you want God to stay near to you and be a shield between you and Satan then you must do your part to stay near God. If anyone takes a step in the wrong direction it will NOT be God.
6. Turn to 2 Chron. 7:14. This reminds God’s people that a nation that wants God near them must repent and turn away from sinful things and turn to God in prayer and godly living. America should apply the teaching of this verse. Let’s read 2 Chron. 7:14, “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
(1) Let’s pray that more and more Christians and people of the world will apply the teaching of this passage in their lives.
(2) It is so important for all people to draw near to God while they have opportunity.
CONCLUSION
1. Turn to James 1:21. Here, James stresses the importance of repenting and turning away from the sinful thing and turn in obedience to God’s word. Let’s read James 1:21,
“21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
2. God’s word provides the plan of salvation to be obeyed that will save our soul. Jesus is declared as our Savior! He shed His precious blood to make salvation possible.
3. We come in contact with that saving blood by believing, repenting, and confessing that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and then being baptized.
4. If you haven’t obeyed that plan of salvation yet we encourage to do so immediately.
5. If you are saved from your past sins, but need prayers we encourage you to come forward as we stand and sing!
Acknowledgments for a lot of thoughts in the development of all the sermons on the book of James are to go to:
(1) Bob Winton CD Commentary on Matthew 27:50-54. 464 Ridgewood Drive Manchester, Tennessee 37355. If interested in CD covering many O. T. & N.T. books call (866) 753-8456.
(2) Miscellaneous commentaries by numerous others.
