Pastor Jeremy wraps up our series “Didn’t See That Coming – A Skeptic’s Guide to Living Like Jesus” by looking at James 4 and the powerful truth that when we humble ourselves before God and resist the devil, he will flee. When we walk in humility and depend on God’s power, the enemy has no choice but to run!
Notes 📓✏️:
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 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. 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. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”
James 4:7-10 (NLT)
1. We must submit to God – “Humble yourselves before God”
The word submit means to place yourself under authority.
Pride says: “I’m in control.” Humility says: “God is in control.”
“God’s a better driver than you.”
Overcoming begins where your pride ends.
2. We must Resist the Devil – “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“Flee idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14)
“Flee Youthful Desires (2 Timothy 2:22)
That word “Flee” in the Greek means: To run away, escape quickly, avoid danger immediately.
James writes, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
You can’t expect God to remove what you keep welcoming.
Draw Near to God and Wash Your Hands.
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.”
Wash our hands – this points to Behavior.
Sanctification
“…for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
You can’t have your heart chasing after two opposite passions.
What still competes with God for your affection?
Repent
“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.”
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
True repentance means:
• Owning it.
• Grieving it.
• Changing it.
You will never change what you refuse to admit.
Walk in Humility
Do you notice that the process begins and ends with humility?
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 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. 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. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
James 4:7-10 (NLT)
Humility is the key that unlocks a life that pleases God.
When we humble ourselves before God, the devil runs, our hearts are cleansed, and God restores what pride destroyed.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- James 4:7-10 talks about humbling ourselves before God and resisting the devil. What does it practically mean to “humble yourself” before God in your daily life?
- How can we better recognize the difference between being tempted and actually sinning?
- Pastor Jeremy talked about how we can’t expect God to remove what we keep welcoming into our lives. What does this mean in terms or our relationship with sin and temptation?
- How can we identify when our loyalties are divided between God and the world?