Draw Nigh to God
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Introduction: If we were honest this morning, I believe we would all have to agree that none of us are as close to God as we should be. None of us are as close to God as we think we are. None of us should be satisfied with where we are spiritually.
As I watch the world around us literally falling apart, I recognize more than ever our desperate need to draw nigh to God.
A. The Reality of Drawing Nigh to God
The Bible is clear, so we can rest assured in this fact: we can get close to God.
One of the greatest mysteries of the universe is why God would want to be with us.
Why would He want to get close to us?
Why would He “draw nigh to you?”
Job was mystified by this fact.
Job 7
· 17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
· 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
Job went on to say it like this:
· Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
The Psalmist David found this to be a mystery also.
· Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
· Psalms 144:3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
B. The Reassurance of Drawing Nigh to God
God gave us a promise; if we get close to Him, He will get close to us.
· John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
C. The Responsibility of Drawing Nigh to God
DRAW NIGH in the Greeks means: to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to approach
According to this verse, we have a responsibility to desire it.
There must be a desire within us to want God on an intimate level.
· Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
You and I can get close to God in several ways. Let’s examine the Scriptures.
I. Draw Nigh to God through Salvation
Ephesians 2
· 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
· 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
· 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
· 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
· 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
· 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
· 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
· 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Prior to salvation:
· We were without Christ, aliens, strangers, having no hope and without God.
· We were “far off.” – vs. 13
· There was “a middle wall of partition between us.” – vs. 14
· We were at enmity with God – vs. 15, 16
· We were foreigners – vs. 19
But thanks be to God – through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been made nigh.
We have been reconciled to God.
We have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
We are fellowcitizens with the saints and are now a member of the household of God.
· Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
II. Draw Nigh to God through Separation
One of the biggest lies being spread today is that you can live in sin and still be close to God.
That you can embrace a life of unrighteousness and still embrace a thrice holy God.
In case anyone thinks that I am out in left field, I want you to look at our text.
· James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Our text verse literally finishes out with “cleanse your hands” and “purify your hearts.”
Verse 4 clearly tells us that if we are a friend of the world, we are an enemy of God.
· 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Make no mistake: you cannot draw night to God and live in sin at the same time!
God clearly told His people:
· Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
We cannot even get a prayer through until we have dealt with the sin in our lives.
· Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isaiah 55
· 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
· 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
In order to experience an intimate walk with God, a person must forsake his unrighteous ways and thoughts.
We cannot bring our wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts with us!
· 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
1 John 1
· 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
· 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
2 Corinthians 6
· 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
· 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
· 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
· 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Old Testament Illustration:
· Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Matthew 15
· 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
· 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
God is not interested in cheap talk; He demands a life that backs it up.
III. Draw Nigh to God through Supplication
Psalm 34
· 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
· 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 69
· 13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
· 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
· 15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
· 16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
· 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
· 18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
· Psalms 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Conclusion: There should be a strong desire this morning to Draw Nigh unto God. It begins with being saved. Then, as a believer, it is important that you and I strive to live a life of holiness and have a fervent prayer life.
God has promised us that if we will draw nigh unto Him, that He will draw nigh unto us.