Draw Near to God
TEXT
: James 4:4-10INTRODUCTION
:A. WE WANT TO BE GOD’S FRIEND. OUR TEXT TELLS US TO DRAW NIGH TO GOD THAT WE MAY BECOME HIS FRIEND.
B. JAMES USES THE EXPRESSION "DRAW NIGH." MUCH USED IN THE SCRIPTURES. WE WANT TO INVESTIGATE ITS USES.
I.
EXHORTING GOD’S CHILDREN – WHAT MEANETH THIS?A. Luke 15:1; 1 Sam. 14:36-37. TO HEAR AND ASK COUNSEL.
1. Man cannot guide himself ( Prov. 14:12).
2. We can rely on God (Prov. 12:15; Isa. 55:8-9).
3. Counsel in the gospel (1 Cor. 1:21; Titus 2:11-12).
B. Zeph. 3:2. OBEY, RECEIVE INSTRUCTION, TRUST.
1. Obey (John 14:15; Heb. 5:8-9).
2. Receive instruction, Trust (Heb. 11:6).
C. Num. 16:40; Isa. 29:13. WORSHIP, DO SERVICE, PRAISE.
D. Psa. 69:18; Lam. 3:57. DELIVERANCE, REASSURANCE.
1. God cares (1 Pet. 5:7).
2. He has promised (Psa. 55:22, 18; Rom. 8:31).
E. Psa. 119:169.
F. Psa. 73:28. UTTER RELIANCE AND INTIMATE TRUST (see context.).
II.
IN HEBREWS:A. 4:14-16. TRUST – SEEKING HELP IN ROUGH TIMES.
B. 7:15; 10:1. SEEKING SALVATION THROUGH SERVICE.
C. 10:22. AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION, DEVOTION, INTIMACY.
1. "with a true heart in the fulness of faith" – Proper Spirit. (Lev. 10:1-3; Matt. 15:8-9).
2. "having our hearts sprinkled" – Only as we are purified. (Jer. 30:21; Lev. 21:21-23).
3. "having our bodies washed with pure water" – Reference to baptism. (Acts 2:38; 8:36; 22:16).
D. WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART?
E. HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED?
III.
IN JAMES 4:A. FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD (vs. 4; 2 John 2:15-17; Luke 14:25ff.).
B. SUBJECT TO GOD – DRAW NEAR THROUGH OBEDIENCE (vs. 7).
C. RESIST THE DEVIL (vs. 8; Eph. 6:16; Heb. 12:1-2).
D. ELIMINATE SIN (vs. 8-9).
1. Abhor sin (Rom. 12:9; 2 Cor. 7:10).
2. Repent (Acts 2:38).
3. Pray (Acts 8:22).
CONCLUSION
:A. ONLY IN DRAWING NEAR TO GOD IS THERE SALVATION.
B. WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART?
1. Is it true?
2. Do you have faith?
C. YOU MAY BE CLEANSED TO APPROACH GOD IF YOU HAVE BEEN CLEANSED IN BAPTISM.
D. IS SIN IN YOUR LIFE? THE REPENT AND PRAY, DRAWING NEAR FOR CLEANSING.