James 4:8
Pastor Rick
Jackson
If I asked
how many of would like to be closer to God than you are now I daresay most of
us would raise our hands or nod assent to such a thought. Close to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, Oh to be Like Thee …this is the theme of many a
song, the heart of many a prayer, and the longing of many a soul. Here are 3
simple steps to be closer to God. Some of these you may already be doing,
others may not have occurred to you, but we can all profit from these simple
reminders.
I. LIVE
BIBLICALLY [Joshua 1:8]
This book of
the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day
and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success.
1. In Thought
[2 Cor. 10:5, Phil. 4:8]
-Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ;
- Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
2. In Philosophy
[Col. 2:6-10] why we do
what we do and how we do it
As ye have
therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built
up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and
not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
3. In Deed [James
1:22-25]
But be ye
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any
be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his
natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
II. WORK
LOCALLY “Brighten
the corner where you are!”
1. Family [Jn.
1:41, Lk. 8:38-39]
- He first findeth his own brother
Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being
interpreted, the Christ.
- Now the
man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with
him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how
great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published
throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
2. Friends [Mk.
5:18-19, Jn. 1:45-46, Dan. 2:49]
- And when
he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him
that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him,
Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for
thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
-Philip
findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And
Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip
saith unto him, Come and see.
- Then
Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over
the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
3. Community
[Mk. 5:20, Acts 1:8]
- And he
departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for
him: and all men did marvel.
- But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
III.
THINK GLOBALLY [Jn. 3:16]
1. Give to
missions [Phil. 4:14-19]
- Notwithstanding
ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Now ye
Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed
from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my
necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to
your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a
sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2. Go as God
calls [Acts 13:1-4]
Now there
were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as
Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered
to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said , Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed,
and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by
the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
3. Pray for
missions [Eph. 6:18-19]
Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may
open my mouth boldly , to make known the mystery of the gospel
