James 4:7-8 NIV Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Full Answer
What is the meaning of James Chapter 4?
In this section, James says his readers are guilty of behaving from fundamentally wrong motives. They are acting toward each other in bad faith. He says they seek both to fulfill their evil desires and to have friendship with the world, thereby rejecting their spiritual yearning for God.
What does God mean when he says I will heal your land?
Our land is hurting and in deep need of God's divine healing. Appropriately, this admonition from God addresses the critical fact that the sin and wickedness in our life as a nation has direct — and disastrous — effects on our health as a nation and as a global community.
What does the word resist mean in the Bible?
1 : to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat he resisted temptation.
What does submission to God mean?
Submission to God's authority brings freedom. It sets order and direction in our everyday lives for those found in Christ. And what is to follow is unimaginable blessing for those who are obedient.
Why do we need to take care of our land a prayer for healing?
We all need air, water and food to live. The earth and its atmosphere give us all these. If we want fresh air and water in the future, we must take care of our land, the air around us and the water sources, by not polluting them and by preventing people who try to do so.
How do you pray for healing of the land?
Lord, Heal Our Land! The prayer of my heart in the time in which we are living is, Lord Heal Our Land. We all need to increase our prayer, praise, worship and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in times like these.
What is another word of resist?
Some common synonyms of resist are combat, oppose, and withstand. While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.
How do you resist the devil's temptation?
“How do I resist temptation?”Pray for Strength. To withstand temptation, we first need the will and the sincere desire to choose the right. ... Support Each Other. ... Share Your Beliefs. ... Listen to the Holy Ghost. ... Stand in Holy Places. ... We Can Decide to Do Right. ... Role-play Choosing the Right. ... Have Good Friends.
What does it mean to exert power?
to put forth or into use, as power; exercise, as ability or influence; put into vigorous action: to exert every effort. to put (oneself) into strenuous, vigorous action or effort.
How do I submit to God's will?
2:226:08HOW TO SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo meaning be yoke with jesus. Just walk in time then with him so surrendering all to god andMoreSo meaning be yoke with jesus. Just walk in time then with him so surrendering all to god and allowing. God to be the one that goes away in your life.
How do you surrender your will to God?
To practice proper Christian surrender requires turning in your fears and anxieties for prayer (Philippians 4:6). You are surrendering to Him so talk to Him. You are coming to God for healing and hope, so ask. I recently told God I wanted to give up “being quick to anger” – being snippy with my kids.
What does it mean to be submissive biblically?
It means humbly sharing your opinion with him. It means not invalidating him, especially in front of others. It means trusting his decision as a leader, while feeling empowered to give your own point of view.
What does 4:1-10 mean?
4:1-10 Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God.
Who said "He shall flee worsted as he did from Christ"?
He shall flee worsted as he did from Christ. Matthew Poole's Commentary. Submit yourselves therefore to God; viz. voluntarily and freely, and that not only in a way of obedience to all his commands, but (which is chiefly meant here) in a way of humility, and sense of your weakness, and emptiness, and need of his grace.
King James Version
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
English Standard Version
7 Submit yourselves 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.
The Message
7 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. 8 Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field.
New King James Version
7 Therefore submit 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.
New Living Translation
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.
What does James 4:1-12 mean?
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.". James 4:1–12 builds on the end of chapter 3, describing how living according to the world's wisdom has led to great conflict among James's Christian readers. They were fighting with each other because they couldn't get what they wanted.
What does James say about living that way?
James says that to live that way is adultery, but God gives grace. Christians should repent and move close to God again. We should trust Him to provide, to be the Judge, and to lift us up in His time. In humility, we must acknowledge that all of our plans are dependent on Him, and He can change them at any moment.
Why did James and James fight?
They were fighting with each other because they couldn't get what they wanted. James says that living that way is adultery. It's ''cheating'' on God. He calls them to quit their friendship with the world, humble themselves, repent from their sin, and receive God's grace. God is the Lawgiver and Judge, not man.
Why do people fight in James 4?
In the previous six verses of James 4, James powerfully explains the reason that people, both unbelievers, and believers, fight. He says we lust after things that we aren’t getting, and so we want to murder over it. This is both hard and profound, and it is also true. The only way to combat this pride and hatred within our flesh is to submit to God.
Why is it a shame to resist the devil?
It’s a shame because we can actually resist the devil. After submitting to God, we can ignore his lies. “Take every thought captive” (2 Cor 10:5) and then keep your eyes on Christ, to whom you have given your whole life, joyfully laying down your rights to anger, lust, pride, etc. Satan will flee when you resist.
What does James seem to be bothered by?
i. “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo) ii. Almost all who have such a critical and contentious attitude claim they are prompted and supported by the Spirit of God.
What does James ask us to consider?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away: James asked us to consider the fragility of human life, and the fact that we live and move only at the permission of God. James does not discourage us from planning and doing, only from planning and doing apart from reliance on God. i.
Did James cite a particular passage?
James seemed to present an idea that is alluded to in several passages without quoting any specific passage. i. “More probably is the view that James was not citing a particular passage but summarizing the truth expressed in several Old Testament passages.” (Hiebert) ii.
What does James seem to be bothered by?
i. “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo) ii. Almost all who have such a critical and contentious attitude claim they are prompted and supported by the Spirit of God.
What does James ask us to consider?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away: James asked us to consider the fragility of human life, and the fact that we live and move only at the permission of God. James does not discourage us from planning and doing, only from planning and doing apart from reliance on God. i.
What does James say about uncertainty of life?
ii. Yet we also see that the uncertainty of life, to which James referred to in the previous passage, should not create fear that makes one passive or inactive. The uncertainty of life should make us ready to recognize what is good and then do it. “This uncertainty of life is not a cause either for fear or inaction.