James 4:5-10
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
The Way to Holiness
I. Live the Word
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
James 1:22. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
II. Humble yourself
6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7a So humble yourselves before God.
Luke 14:11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
III. Resist the Devil
7b Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
IV. Seek God
8a Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
V. Purify your heart
8b Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
So how do we purify ourselves??? By the washing of the WORD!!!
Ephesians 5:25-27 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
VI. Repent of your sin
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
Luke 13:3 …And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.
VII. Again Humble yourself
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
In James 4:1-10 We see Cleansing for Carnal christians…. 1. We had evidence of carnality, 1-4 2. God Gives a “Greater Grace” 5-6, & 3. The Way to live Holy 7-10
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
The Way to Holiness
I. Live the Word
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
James 1:22. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
II. Humble yourself
6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7a So humble yourselves before God.
Luke 14:11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
III. Resist the Devil
7b Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
IV. Seek God
8a Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
V. Purify your heart
8b Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
So how do we purify ourselves??? By the washing of the WORD!!!
Ephesians 5:25-27 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
VI. Repent of your sin
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
Luke 13:3 …And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.
VII. Again Humble yourself
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
In James 4:1-10 We see Cleansing for Carnal christians…. 1. We had evidence of carnality, 1-4 2. God Gives a “Greater Grace” 5-6, & 3. The Way to live Holy 7-10