Getting Right With God

There was man I heard about who bought a parrot. It was a beautiful parrot but he had a really bad mouth. He could swear for five minutes straight without repeating himself. The man was embarrassed because the bird was driving him crazy in front of people. He tried to appeal to the bird by asking him to clean up his language. The parrot promised to change but nothing happened. In fact, his swearing increased in both volume and frequency. It finally got to be too much, so the guy grabbed the bird by the throat and started shaking him and yelled, “Quit it!” But this just made the parrot angry and he swore morethan ever. Then the guy got really mad and locked him in a kitchen cabinet. That really aggravated the bird and he started clawing and scratching and making all kinds of racket. When the guy finally let him out, the parrot let loose with a stream of swear words that made the man blush. At that point, the guy was so ticked off that he threw him into the freezer. For the first few seconds the bird squawked and screamed and thrashed around. And then there was silence. At first the guy just waited, but then he started to wonder if the bird was hurt. After a couple minutes of not hearing anything, he was so worried that he opened the freezer door. The bird calmly climbed onto the man’s outstretched arm and said, “I’m really sorry about all the trouble I’ve been giving you. I make a solemn promise and vow to clean up my language from now on.” The man was astounded. He couldn’t believe the transformation that had come over the parrot as a result of being in the freezer for only a couple minutes. The parrot then turned to the man and said, “I just have one question…what did the chicken do?”

That parrot reached the point he was willing to change! Knew he needed to change! Do you need to change anything in your lifethis morning? Maybe you need to finally open your heart to the Lord…maybe you need to get things right with God in your life!

In James 4:7 you and I are told how to get right with God! And I pray will not take some “freezer experience” for you to do so! James 4:7

James 4:7 NASB95

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

This morning we’re told here there are 2 things we need to do…and it’s a 2 step process. The 1st one…

1. SUBMIT TO GOD.

- The word James uses here for submit is a military term and literally means “to rank under” - it means to be subordinate to, to submit one’s self to.

- The tense of the verb here is a command and it calls for immediate response - a pointed and forceful way to demand action.

- The command and action is submission

- But to submit to who? Submit yourself to God!

- This is what Paul is talking about in Rom. 12:1…when he says… Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

- This submission is you giving yourself to God and then seeking to obey Him and live for Him.

- Used in the passive form as it is here, it indicates this submission is voluntary= in other words, not forced but entered into willingly – with a willing heart and spirit.

- James is talking about the need to bring yourself under the Lordship of Christ!

- To submit your very life – heart and soul - to God.

- It’s to say, “Lord, I’m yours and I’m going to seek to live for You in my life every day.”

- There’s simply no such thing as trusting Christ as Savior without at the same time submitting to Him as Lord! You see when you come to Christ = It’s SAVIOR AND LORD!

- Whereas the believer was once under the lordship of satan, through saving faith he eagerly places himself under the Lord of Jesus Christ. Whereas he was once the enemy of God and the slave of sin, he is now the loyal subject of his Lord and Savior!

TS – Which brings us to the 2ndstep in this process…

2. RESIST THE DEVIL.

- When you are submitting to God, you will resist the devil! The 2 go hand-in-hand.

- The word James uses here for resist is also a military term and it means to put up resistance, to stand against, to oppose, to withstand.

- And it too is a command and calls for immediate response - a pointed and forceful way to demand action.

- In other words…don’t give in to the devil…be determined you are going to withstand him…his temptations…his attempts to lead you into sin and away from God!

- Understand: the devil seeks to gain footholds in your life – footholds he can then use to move you away from God - but you must resist the devil – and not let him gain any foothold in your life!

- What do you have to do? You have to stay vigilant – keep your guard up…

- Know where you are weak…vulnerable.

- Strengthen your defenses.

- Don’t allow yourself to get into compromisingsituations.

- Don’t crack the door open where he can slither in!

- Use the weapons God has given you to overcome him: 1) The Bible 2) Prayer 3) Your Church (being involved/active in) 4) Bible Study Group (Sunday School) 5) Accountability partner.

- These things will help you resist the devil…but ultimately it comes down to you being determined that you are going to resist the devil = win out over the devil with God’s help = that you’re not going to let him defeat you, destroy you!

- And what will be the result of you SUBMITTING TO GOD and RESISTING THE DEVIL? He will have to flee from you! He won’t be able to hang around.

- As powerful as he may be in this world, satan can be resisted and defeated and overcome in your life!

- In fact, the force of the word flee used here means to flee to safety = meaning, he’ll have to get away from you and leave you alone…at least at this time!

Conclusion

JOHN WOODEN, the famous UCLA coach who won 10 NCAA College Basketball National Championships in 12 years, was once asked: ‘What does it take to make a winning team? He said THREE THINGS = each which are significant to us in the church:

1) Get players in right condition (right with God/Salvation)

2) Teach them the fundamentals (Discipleship)

3) Teach them to play together as a team (fellowship)

These 3 things were significant to his basketball teams and they enjoyed great success…

These 3 things are significant to the church today!

How? The 1st one…

1) The right condition = we need to get right with God! – we need to stop “playing” Christian and start “being” Christian!

2) Teach the fundamentals = need to know and understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ – a follower of Christ!

3) Teach them to play together as a team = we need to learn how to work together as the Body of Christ!

It all starts with the 1st one = Getting right with God.

Are you right with God?