KingSHIP 002

'SHIP 002

James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

"Submit."  We can find all kinds of soft ways to translate this word but in the final analysis it means, "to obey."  In a military usage it means to obey the commands of a superior.  In non-military usage it is a voluntary "giving in," or "cooperating."  Now which do you suppose is intended here?

For me the non-military usage would only result in a hypocritical obedience.  It is voluntary - a giving-in, a mere cooperation.  The military usages however is more to the point.  One does not "cooperate," with one's King and one only "gives-in" under pressure.  We are called to obey not cooperate.  We are called to kneel, fully acknowledgeing our sovereign Lord, not just give-in.

So we might consider actually putting in the word, "obey," to replace "submit."  Submissison/obedience is not something God asks.  It is something God commands - demands.  We can't satisfy this by just cooperating or givein-in.

Now along with the fact that God has every right to command our obedience there is the second side to this.  That is the command to resist the Devil.  This word means to oppose, to set one's self against.  It's more than a "No," it is a "Not ever!"  What part of "adversary" (1 Peter 5:8) do we not understand."

Now, many people may "resist" the Devil - they do not give in to the worse of their inclinations - but--BUT, they do not stand a chance because although they may be saying "No," there is nothing behind it.  We, on the other hand are first saying, "Yes," to God's commands and then we are opposing the Devil.  It is only the resistance of those submitted - under the command - of God whose resistance has any value.

Ok - we're not talking legalism here.  But, how any true believer can get around the need for obedience to the Lord God is beyond me.  To paraphrase Bonhoeffer, "Only those who obey beieve and only those who believe obey."  

Now, according to the Jewish rabbis there are 613 Law/Commands.  Well and good, no arguement.  But, having the full revelation of God we can begin with what Jesus told us are the two key commands.  Love God (utterly) and love your neighbor.  It is not beyond our abilities (guided by the Spirit) to start there and figure it out.  Is it?

But - God is really really good.  He has provided well:
Ephesians 4:11 ESV
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Ok - we have no Apostles today (see the requirements in Acts).  Prophets?  Well that all depends upon how you define prophet.  We do not need any new revelations.  But we do need those called to warn us, to cajole us, to call us back to Him.  So if that's the type prophet you have in mind -Ok - I can go with that.

But we do have evangelists, shepherds and teachers (not to mention elders and deacons) who are all called to serve the Body in their callings.  So, we do not need to stumble around in the Word with no direction, guidance or help.  Actually I don't think we honor God when we forgo the ministry of those He has called for our instruction. 

We are commanded to renew our minds, to grow in His likeness and we are given those He has called to walk alongside us and guide us.  To me, to refuse their ministry is to be disobedient.  As I like to say, "There are no Lone Rangers is the Kingdom!"

So, let me ask you.  Are you under the guidance, shepherding, teaching, etc. of a godly and sound teacher?  And - are you part of a submitted fellowship where you are challenged in and by the sound teaching of the word of God?  Be careful here.  It's common in our day to suppose that we are becasue there are lots of people and we feel good about the sermons.  That is not the measure of soundness not godliness.  The Roman Circus always drew more people than the early church.

Are you convicted where you are?  I mean are you consistantly being called to holiness and realizing how fall short we all fall and are you challenged and encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to grow in your faith?  Or is it more a case of "I'm OK-You're OK - and here we are together?"  

The whole of the passage we're launching from in James reads:
James 4:7-10 ESV
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. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I would draw your attention to verses 8b and 9.  Hello!  That should be a part of your Christian experience along with joy and peace and comfort.  No?  Mmmm curious, it was Paul's experience and he was a wonderful teacher.

Romans 7:21-25 ESV
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Submit - Resist > aptly describes the contenders for our attention and efforts.  

Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:8-9

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  ESV

"Be sober-minded; be watchful"  = be watchingly watchful with watchfulness.

Or --  PAY ATTENTION !!!!!!!!  Think it through - don't react – respond, even if the response is to do nothing!!

We have an adversary - note please that Peter makes it clear that the devil is "our" adversary - OURS.

"Adversary" here refers to an opponent in a law suit.  A persecutor or at least an accuser.  

What does he accuse us of?  Being sinfully unworthy of any of God's attention of providence.  

Well, ya know, he is absolutely right.  Except for one minor point.

That would be Jesus and His redemption of us.

We are worms - worthless slimy worms - until God calls us and makes us His own.  Then, our worminess is changed in God' sight to wonderfulness.

Satan tells us we fail God.  We need to respond, “Duhhhhh, what's your point?  Talk to Jesus about that!"

Oh, but we don’t do that - do we?  Nooooooo.  We try to prove the devil wrong.  We read more Bible and pray more prayers and do more nice stuff - which isn't bad but it proves nothing.  The only proof we have is the blood shed for our redemption.  Just point out the cross to the devil - it really makes him mad.

The death AND resurrection of our redeemer and savior is all the value we have.  The devil wants us to think and/or feel that this is not sufficient.  And he's very, very good at it.

But Peter knows his lions.  Here's what I understand.  Lions are basically lazy.  They rarely hunt.  They leave that to the lionesses (go girls!).  But the lion is king of the beasts (note the comparison - the devil is like a beast).  So, I am told, the lion will go to the north side of a herd of whatever and roar like crazy.  The herd, not wanting to be dinner, will flee south.  Guess who is to the south.  There ya go, the lionesses.  So fearing the lion’s roaring the herd runs right into the real danger.  Of course, once the prey is taken, the lion shows up and takes the most and best pieces parts.

So, we need to watch watchfully and thoughtfully and prayerfully.  We cannot let the devil spook us into a trap.  

Now, who are the lionesses?  I'd put my cookies on the world and the flesh.  We flee either to the world or to the flesh to escape and then we're in a real mess - pretty much of our own making.  If I've done it once, I've done it a hundred times.  Fight or flight - without thoughtful watchful watchfulness, we'll default to one or the other in a heartbeat.  Not good - not healthy - gotta give that up -!!!

Peter tells us to resist the devil.  No knee jerking!  

James 4:7-10

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. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.   ESV

Oh, looky here, confirmation and advice!!  Submit to God - resist the devil - and the devil will flee.  Get that?????

What is resisting the devil?  That would be verses 8-10 - duhhhhhhhhh!

Let me put it this way.  Follow Jesus!  Plant your nose right between His shoulder blades and stay in step with Him!  Get His view of reality, His view of truth - interpret everything according to that.  Get in the Word.  Fellowship and worship with other believers.  Become a fanatic for the preached Word.  Pray like mad.

Never knew how critical humility (acknowledging our moral littleness) was, did we?  It is only as we humble ourselves before Him that He can lift us up.  Get it?