Five Steps To More Grace.
James 4:5-10
(5} Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the
Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
(6} But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE
PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
{7} Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
{8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9} Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and
your joy to gloom.
{10} Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
INTRODUCTION:
We should desire more grace. The text gives five areas for our advancement in grace.
1. Sensitivity to the Spirit. v 5
2. Submission the Father. v 6-7 a
3. Stand Against the Devil. v 7 b
4. Separation from the World. v 8
5. Seriousness in Purpose. v 9-10
1. Sensitivity to the Spirit. v 5
{5} Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the
Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
Be Filled with the Spirit
2. Submission the Father. v 6-7 a
{6} But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." {7} Submit therefore to God.
SUBMIT
Strong’s # 5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as’-so); from 5259 and 5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:
1 John 5:14 (NASB) And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
3. Stand Against the Devil. v 7 b
". . . Resist the devil and he will flee from you. " v 7 b
RESIST
Strong’s # 436 anthistemi (anth-is’-tay-mee); from 473 and 2476; to stand against, i.e. oppose:
Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he
was to be blamed. (KJV)
EPH. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of
wickedness in the heavenly {places.}
2CO 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
destruction of fortresses.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls
about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. {9} But resist him, firm in your
faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your
brethren who are in the world.
4. Separation from the World. v 8
DRAW NEAR
Strong’s # 1448 eggizo (eng-id’-zo); from 1451; to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:
Matt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but
are as the angels of God in heaven. (KJV)
CLEANSE - INWARD
Strong’s # 2511 katharizo (kath-ar-id’-zo); from 2513; to cleanse (literally or figuratively):
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission. (KJV)
PURIFY - OUTWARD
Strong’s # 48 hagnizo (hag-nid’-zo); from 53; to make clean, (figuratively) sanctify (ceremonially or morally)
PSA 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
John 11:55 And the Jews’ Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (KJV)
Wax The Car And Wife Did Not Know It; But It Protected The Surface.
5. Seriousness in Purpose. v 9-10
BE MISERABLE Only Time Word Is In N.T.
Strong’s # 5003 talaiporeo (tal-ahee-po-reh’-o); from 5005; to be wretched, i.e. realize one’s own misery:
Strong’s # 5005 talaiporos (tal-ah’-ee-po-ros); from the base of 5007 and a derivative of the base of 3984; enduring trial, i.e. miserable:
MOURN
Strong’s # 3996 pentheo (pen-theh’-o); from 3997; to grieve (the feeling or the act):
Matt 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.(KJV)
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar
off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
WEEP
Strong’s # 2799 klaio (klah’-yo); of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. wail aloud USED 40 TIMES ALWAYS WEEP
Matt 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (KJV)
TURN from Laughter
Strong’s # 3344 metastrepho (met-as-tref’-o); from 3326 and 4762; to turn across, i.e. transmute or
figuratively) corrupt:
Strong’s # 3326 meta (met-ah’); a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; again
Strong’s # 4762 strepho (stref’-o); strengthened from the base of 5157; to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse
9 b. to MOURNING
Strong’s # 3997 penthos (pen’-thos); strengthened from the alternate of 3958; grief:
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (KJV)
9 c. be DOWNCAST Only Time Word Is In N.T.
Strong’s # 2726 katepheia (kat-ay’-fi-ah); from a compound of 2596 and perhaps a derivative of the base
of 5316 (meaning downcast in look); demureness, i.e. (by implication) sadness: KJV-- heaviness. (DIC)
Strong’s # 2596 kata (kat-ah’); a primary particle; down (in place or
Strong’s # 5316 phaino (fah’-ee-no); show KJV-- appear, seem,
10. HUMBLE
Strong’s # 5013 tapeinoo (tap-i-no’-o); from 5011; to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart): KJV-- abase, bring low, humble (self). (DIC)
Strong’s # 5011 tapeinos (tap-i-nos’); of uncertain derivation; depressed, i.e. (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition): KJV-- base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly. (DIC)
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (KJV)
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (KJV)
CONCLUSION
A Handout for the Congregation
1. S__________ to the Spirit. v 5
2. S_________ to the Father. v 6-7 a
3. S_________ Aainst the Devil. v 7 b
4. S_________ from the World. v 8
5. S_____________ of Purpose. v 9-10
