The Book of James 11: The Way to Overcome Temptation

James 4:7–10 KJV 1900

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.

I. Step 1: Submit to God - resist the devil. v.7

Ephesians 4:26–27 KJV 1900

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

James 4:7 KJV 1900

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

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Matthew 6:10 KJV 1900

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 26:39 KJV 1900

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Luke 1:38 KJV 1900

38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Psalm 143:10 KJV 1900

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Proverbs 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men.

II. Step 2: Draw near to God and repent. v.8

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Hebrews 2:18 KJV 1900

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15–16 KJV 1900

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 28:7 KJV 1900

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.

Psalm 73:28 KJV 1900

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.

A. Must have clean hands.

Isaiah 1:16 KJV 1900

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Jeremiah 4:14 KJV 1900

14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Acts 22:16 KJV 1900

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

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.

2 Timothy 2:21 KJV 1900

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

1 John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

B. Must have a pure heart.

Matthew 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Luke 9:62 KJV 1900

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 16:13 KJV 1900

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Hosea 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: He shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

James 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

III. Step 3: Be disciplined and deeply — mournfully — concerned. v.9

IV. Step 4: Humble Yourself.

Luke 14:11 KJV 1900

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

James 4:6 KJV 1900

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Romans 12:3 KJV 1900

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Philippians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

1 Peter 5:5 KJV 1900

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Psalm 138:6 KJV 1900

6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.

Isaiah 66:2 KJV 1900

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word.