James 4:7-10
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. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Getting Close to God begins with SALVATION
Getting Close to God involves
An UNCONVENTIONAL PRIVILEGE
James 4:8
8 Draw nigh to God…
Getting Close to God involves
An UNSPEAKABLE POWER
James 4:8
8 Draw nighTO GOD, and he will draw nigh to you.
Getting Close to God involves
An UNCHANGING PLAN
James 4:8
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye SINNERS; and purify your hearts, ye DOUBLE MINDED.
7 Characteristics of the Great Awakening Preaching
- They taught the supremacy of the Holy Scripture.
- They preached the total corruption of human nature.
- They taught that Christ’s death upon the cross was the only satisfaction for man’s sin.
- They preached the doctrine of justification by faith.
- They taught the universal necessity of heart conversion and new creation by the Holy Spirit.
- They spoke of God’s eternal hatred against sin and of God’s love for sinners.
- They preached that there was an inseparable connection between true faith and personal holiness.
Getting Close to God involves
An UNBEARABLE PAIN
James 4:8
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Getting Close to God involves
An UNMISTAKABLE PROVISION
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Getting Close to God involves
An UNBREAKABLE PROMISE
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE SHALL lift you up.