Study # 69
January 27, 1999
Harlingen, Texas
(Download Audio)
Thesis:James calls upon those who have been attempting to force their will upon others to deliberately stop.
Introduction:Last week we saw that James calls for a cleansing of the hands (i.e., a correction of the actions of offense to others) and a purification of the heart (i.e., a determination to put God solidly at the core of our values) so that God may draw near to us. In that study we attempted to clarify what we should expect when we "draw near to God" and we concluded that we should not read our human closeness into the promise of divine closeness (i.e., we will not likely hear voices, feel touches, or see visions of glory).
Instead, we will have an undergirding of peace, and a clarification of Truth that gives us a sense of freedom with God and sacrifice for men.
This evening we are going to focus a bit more upon the process of what James calls "drawing near to God". We have seen that he has called upon us to "cleanse our hands and purify our hearts". This evening we are going to see that he includes in that a call to a very sober consideration of the meaning of spiritual adultery.
- I. James' Five Imperatives and Their Implications.
- A. Be miserable...
- 1. This word group is used in contexts in which there is a very strong contradiction between what is valued and what is possessed/going to be possessed.
- a. Romans 3:16.
- b. Romans 7:24.
- c. Revelation 3:17 and James 5:1.
- 2. This command presupposes the somber consideration of God as Husband and an adultress as the wife...
- 3. It also requires that we "enthrone" a final want.
- B. Mourn...
- 1. This word is used in contrast to laughter and in contexts of deep relational losses.
- a. Luke 6:25 and James 4:9
- b. Mark 16:10
- c. Revelation 18:11,15,19 -- where wealth has been used to substitute for relationships.
- 2. This command presupposes the FACT of loss; not the potential, but the after-the-fact loss.
- 3. It also requires that we recognize departure on our part.
- C. Weep...
- 1. The Online Bible's synonym study says that this means to weep like a child.
- 2. It is used in multiple contexts where the person has suffered an enormous loss...
- D. Let be turned...
- 1. Your laughter to mourning...
- a. Requires a value shift.
- b. Requires a personal involvement deep enough to bring tears unfeigned.
- 2. Your joy to gloom...
- a. Deeper than the laughter; deeper than the mourning.
- b. Getting to the very roots...
- E. Humble yourselves...
- 1. Lower yourself into the dirt...
- 2. Basically it means to deny your right to...
- II. James' Promise and Its Significance.
- A. He claims that God will exalt us...
- 1. The Old Testament pictures God as unwilling to watch His children suffer...
- 2. There are no time-frame indicators in the promise.
- B. The ultimate exaltation is His acceptance of us because we were valuable enough to die for, and His placement of us because He was valuable enough to live for.
