Three Of The Ten Commandments From James 4:7-10! Series

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.”