Like a vapor

• 1^st – Path to Humility… vs. 7-10
  • In light of the revelation that God resists the PROUD – but gives GRACE to the HUMBLE…
    • Meaning if we PROUD – we are in trouble – a battle we will NOT win…
    • Making it critical to be HUMBLE – so we can receive the GRACE of God…
    • James gives us TEN commands [imperatives] – that reveal HOW we can be humbled…
    • Interestingly the commands are all one time actions [aorist]
    • The thought being all of these commands are something that needs to be done NOW!
    • Being HUMBLE so we can receive GRACE is such a huge issue – it URGENT!
  • 1^st –  SUBMIT… vs. 7
    • Therefore submit [imperative] to God!
    • SUBMIT – [ὑποτάσσω] – is a military command of subordinance…
    • We will SUBMIT [passive] – because God will break our PRIDE though consequences in life!
    • When a new recruit arrives in BOOT camp – the goal is to BREAK them…
    • They are given a rigorous schedule – impossible tasks – all to destroy their PRIDE…
    • Because a GOOD solider – is one who SUBMITS to authority!
    • In the military when a commanding officer issues an order – it MUST be followed…
    • A private does not debate with the General – thinking he knows better!
    • In the same way we are called to submit to God – and do what He says…
    • God uses life – consequences – to HUMBLE us to teach us to SUBMIT to Him…
    • So no matter WHAT He says – we OBEY His commands…
    • It would be FOOLISH to think that somehow OUR way is better than HIS way!
  • 2^nd – RESIST… vs. 7
    • Resist [imperative] the devil and he will flee from you!
      • RESIST [ἀνθίστημι] STAND AGAINST – know who the ENEMY is…
      • DEVIL [διάβολος] – literally the one who THROWS accusations!
      • Revelation 12:10 – “The accuser… who accuses [us] before our God day and night…”
      • Often in life we miss who the real ENEMY is – we get caught up looking at people…
      • And while people can be VERY frustrating – they are NOT our ENEMY…
      • They are PUPPETS – being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
      • The key is to RESIST the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
      • Rather than get upset with the people – pray for them to believe in Jesus Christ!
    • How to make satan FLEE…
      • Satan tried THREE times to TEMP Jesus – food / compromise / fame – Luke 4
      • Every time Jesus response to satan was to quote from the Word of God!
      • As Jesus resisted the temptations through the WORD – satan had to flee!
      • The key to standing against satan is the Word of God…
      • He is powerless when we come against him with the power of the WORD!
      • Ephesians 6:12-13 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood – but against principalities – against powers… Therefore take up the whole armor of God – that you may be able to withstand in the evil day – and having done all – to stand.”
  • 3^rd – DRAW near… vs. 8
    • Draw near [imperative] to God and He will draw near to you!
    • This speaks of the direction we are heading – near to God!
    • How good of a relationship would we have if we never spent time with a friend…
    • Let me put it on my calendar – I will see you for one hour every Sunday…
    • Our friendship would fail before long – because we are far apart…
    • We must draw near to them – and as a result – we will find they are near to us!
    • How can we have a relationship with God – if we do not spend time with Him…
    • Telling God – hey I set aside an hour a week to hear about you – is NOT enough…
    • We must make the active choice to draw near to Him – spend time with Him…
    • That is when we find that He ALSO draws near to us – God becomes our friend!
  • 4^th – CLEANSE… vs. 8
    • Cleanse [imperative] your hands – you sinners!
      • If we have to CLEAN our hands – the suggestion is that they are DIRTY…
      • This is not speaking of hygiene – we are NOT being giving healthcare tips…
      • Our hands are DIRTY – because of WHAT we do with our hands!
      • In case we missed the point – you SINNERS – literally devoted to SIN!
    • The solution…
      • We pick up dirt every day – get dirt on our hands…
      • The way to get clean when e are dirty – is to wash up with a bar of soap!
      • In the same way when we get dirty spiritually from being in the world…
      • Perhaps an image we see on TV – or something we hear someone say…
      • It gets in our head – perhaps temps our heart – and makes us unclean…
      • The solution – use a spiritual bar of soap to clean ourselves up!
      • I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
  • 5^th – PURIFY… vs. 8
    • Purify [imperative] your hearts – you double-minded!
      • Our hands are not the only things that needs cleaning – so do our HEARTS…
      • PURIFY [ἁγνίζω] – comes from the root word to be HOLY…
      • The idea is our hears should be HOLY – set apart for the Lord ONLY!
    • We are double minded…
      • DOUBLE MINDED [δίψυχος] – 2X in NT – both in the book of James…
      • Means we have TWO minds – one for God and one for the world!
      • I have met so many believers who are miserable – they have no joy in their lives …
      • The problem is they think the world has something to offer them…
      • Therefore they are miserable in the Lord – because they WANT the world…
      • But they are also not happy with the world – because they KNOW the Lord…
      • They are miserable wherever they go – because they are double minded!
  • 6^th  – LAMENT… vs. 9
    • LAMENT [imperative] – only here in NT…
    • From the root words – weigh / trial – to weigh ourselves through trials…
    • Giving an honest evaluation of who we are – the answer is NOT good!
    • Ask the average person if they are a good person – they will tell you yes…
    • But the question is who are they good compared to…
    • God does not care who we think is Good – His standard is perfection – Matthew 5:48
    • And compared to His standard – all of us are in desperate need of Jesus!
  • 7^th – MOURN… vs. 9
    • MOURN [imperative] – to be affected who we are!
    • When we realize we are NOT GOOD – it should cause us to MOURN…
    • Because there are only two destinations when it comes to our eternity…
    • And because we are NOT GOOD – we are not destined for heaven!
  • 8^th – WEEP… vs. 9
    • WEEP [imperative] – the RESULT when we realize we will be judged!
    • Weeping is the natural result when we understand the weight of our sin…
    • If we do not repent of our sin – we will weep for eternity – Matthew 25:30
    • Better to weep now in brokenness – longing for an answer to our sin!
  • 9^th – TURNED… vs. 9
    • Let your laughter be turned [imperative] to mourning and your joy to gloom!
    • TURNED – to turn around – go the OPPOSITE direction…
    • This is not something we do [passive] – it is the result of seeing what we have done…
    • Our LAUGHTER / JOY – becomes MOURNING and GLOOM…
    • GLOOM – only here in NT – shame / dejection / heaviness!
    • If someone was standing on a railroad track – with a train speeding towards them…
    • How foolish would they be to laugh and rejoice at how great life is – DANGER!
    • This is exactly what the world does – seek to be entertained – ignoring the DANGER…
    • How foolish to laugh and rejoice as if there are no consequences for our actions…
    • When we come to the very HUMBLING reality of who we are apart from Jesus…
    • Suddenly all the FUN that we have been having in the world evaporates!
  • 10^th – HUMBLE yourselves… vs. 10
    • Humble [imperative] yourselves in the sight of the Lord – and He will lift you up!
    • TENTH command – HUMBLE – is not something we DO…
    • It is the RESULT [passive] of something that was already DONE – in this case NINE things…
    • When we SUBMIT to God – by RESISTING the devil – and DRAWING near to God…
    • We will want to CLEASE our hands – and PURIFY our hearts!
    • Because we have repented – LAMENTING our sinful state…
    • MOUNRING – WEEPING – because our joy was TURNED to shame / dejection / and gloom!
    • The final result being we were HUMBLED in the sight of the Lord…
    • And when we are HUMBLE – the Lord will be the one who LIFTS us up…
    • Because God resists the PROUD – but He pours out His Grace on the HUMBLE!

• 2^nd – Do not JUDGE… vs.  11-12
  • 1^st – Do not speak EVIL… vs. 11
    • Change the subject…
      • Rather than talk about OUR need to be HUMBLED – we look at the person next to us…
      • Let me tell you – I might not be a SAINT – but they are really a SINNER!
      • If you want to look TALL – stand next to the person who is SHORT…
      • If you want to look PRETTY – point out the person who is UGLY…
      • In the same way  – we tend to look for people who are BAD – so we look GOOD!
    • Do not speak [imperative] evil of one another – brethren…
      • He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother…
      • Speaks evil of the law and judges the law!
      • But if [since] you judge the law – you are not a doer of the law but a judge!
      • Do NOT speak evil of one another – that is JUDGING a brother…
      • When we JUDGE others – we are in effect saying WE are the LAW…
      • We try and be the HOLY SPIRIT – pointing out their sin…
      • But if [since] we judge the LAW – we keep the LAW from doing its work!
      • ONLY the LAW of God – can teach us we are NOT GOOD – Galatians 3:24
      • ONLY the HOLY SPIRIT – can convict the people of their sin – John 16:8
      • When we try and play HOLY SPIRIT – when we try and lay down rules for others…
      • We end up becoming a VERY poor substitute for what can actually help them!
  • 2^nd – Jesus is the JUDGE… vs. 12
    • One LAWGIVER…
      • There is one Lawgiver…
      • LAWGIVER – only here NT – the ONE who establishes the rules…
      • The Bible is CLEAR on many issues as to what is RIGHT and what is WRONG…
      • But how about issues that are NOT as clear – who makes the RULES!
      • Are we allowed to smoke – listen to secular music – see movies [what rating]
      • As a believer can we– drink coffee – have tattoos – wear jewelry!
      • If I have a PERSONAL conviction that is it wrong to watch R rated movies…
      • And I tell you that you should also NOT watch them – I have given you a LAW…
      • The problem is I have NOT changed your heart – you still WANT to see movies…
      • I have set you up for FAILURE – you will watch a movie – then feel you have SINNED!
    • ONLY Jesus has the POWER…
      • [Jesus] is able to save and to destroy – who are you to judge another!
      • ONLY Jesus has the POWER [δύναμαι] to SAVE us – or CONDEMN us…
      • Who are we to play HOLY SPIRIT police on every issue…
      • Who are we trying to pass off PERSONAL convictions as RULES to live by!
      • Romans 14:4 – “Who are [we] to condemn someone elses servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall.”
      • We should be pointing others to the LAW GIVER – ask Him if what we should do…
      • God will tell us – and if He says NO – He will CHANGE our heart so we do NOT want to!
      • God does not just give us His RULES – He gives us the ability to live up to His RULES!

Anything less than that would be SIN – because it would be a life defined apart from Jesus!

3^rd – Planning for the Future… vs. 13-17

1^st – Just a vapor… vs. 13-14 / 16

Trusting in the Lord every day…

Come now you who say – today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city…

Spend a year there – buy and sell [subjunctive] – and make a profit [subjunctive]!

COME NOW [imperative] – pay attention – those who have PLANS…

If we think we know the FUTURE – we are ARROGANT…

Now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil!

ARROGANCE –  2x in NT – means empty assumptions – I John 2:16

The LORD is the ONLY one who knows the future!

We cannot even see tomorrow!

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life…

It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away!

None of us KNOW what will happen TOMORROW – much less NEXT year…

Our LIFE – is just a wisp of SMOKE – that APPEARS for a moment and is GONE …

APPEARS [passive] – we do not have control over when we come into this world…

GONE [passive] – we do not know when we will leave this world…

Why would we think we have any CONTROL over what happens while we are here!

I often hear people make plans for the FUTURE – and treat them as if they are FACT…

But we do NOT see the FUTURE – so our plans tend to fall apart…

The only one who knows the FUTURE is the Lord – only He can SEE tomorrow…

But trusting the Lord does not mean we do NOTHING – it is good to have a PLAN…

It means that we do not do anything before SEEKING the Lord…

We NEVER want to get a head of God – we do NOT want to miss His plan for our life!

Proverbs 19:21 – “There are many plans in [our] heart – nevertheless the LORDS [plan] will stand.”

2^nd – If the Lord wills… vs. 15

LORD willing…

Instead you ought to say – If the Lord wills – we shall live and do this or that!

Paul PLANNED to come and visit Corinth a THIRD time – II Corinthians 1:15

But his PLANS changed – some called Paul a LIAR – he did not keep his WORD…

Yet Paul had NOT lied to the church – he just did NOT know…

Paul had made his PLANS – but he remained open to being LED by the Lord…

Paul could not tell the FUTURE – he could not guarantee the TOMORROW…

He gave them his PLANS based on what he knew – but he was FLEXIBLE!

If we try and rely on the PROMISES of men – we will be disappointed…

Not that all people are LIARS – they just do NOT know…

The reality is we do NOT know what the FUTURE holds – we need to be FLEXIBLE…

We can tell people our PLANS – but always add – LORD willing!

The ELEVENTH commandment – blessed are the FLEXIBLE – for they will not be broken!

When God says something…

If we want to know for certain what to do – what the future holds – go to God…

He SEES everything – from the beginning of time – to the END – Isaiah 46:10

God CANNOT lie – and He NEVER changes His mind!

Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man – so He does not LIE. He is not human – so he does not CHANGE his mind. [He has never] spoken and failed to act. [He has never] promised and not carried it through.”

3^rd – Doing good… vs. 17

Therefore – to him who knows to do good and does not do it – to him it is sin!

We conclude with a CONTRAST and a WARNING….

Those who chose to go to DO [ποιέω] – buying and selling to make money – James 4:13

Are ONLY if the Lord wills – will what we DO [ποιέω] be successful – James 4:15

The question then must be asked – what does God want us to DO [ποιέω]

We already KNOW [perfect] – we are to DO [ποιέω] good!

Obeying TEN urgent commands so we are HUMBLED and receive GRACE from Jesus…

Not JUDGING our brothers – instead pointing them to the Jesus!

Being FLEXIBLE – so we are dependent on the ONLY one who knows the FUTURE – Jesus!