This chapter can be summarized by the call to humility and submission. As we can see, submission is not a bad word! Jesus was submissive to His Father’s will. We are called to submit to God, government, and proper authority figures.
Why is there pride in the church?
There is a real spiritual war going on. The question is, who will we give God’s glory to. The devil tries to take God’s glory away. (V7)
How do we protect from pride?
– Submit to God and resist the devil. (V7)
– Draw near to God. Pray. Repent. (V8)
(In order to repent, we need to be in God’s holy law regularly.)
– Humble ourselves before God. (V10) (Eph 3:12)
(Point of application: I learned from FCC and Dr. Kennedy’s Character and Destiny workbook that commending the character of others is both Godly and humbling.)
– Realize that our lives “are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (V14)
How do we pray?
– Pray with a desire for God’s glory, not my own. (V3)
– Pray for God’s will to be done. (V15) (1 John 5:14, John 14:13,14)
Who is this God?
– He gives grace (V6). (Hebrews 4:16)
– He is loving – he gives us a promise. (V10) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
C.J. Mahaney has a great sermon on James 4:1-2 entitled “Cravings and Conflict”:
Download Here (14.5 MB) / Stream Here
Lenny and I will memorize v3,4,6,7,8,10,14,15,17
