“I groaned under their bondage and cried out for help and God heard their groaning.” Ex. 2:23 “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us?” Duet. 4:7 “Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf and the Lord answered him” 1 Sam. 7:9 “I cry aloud to the Lord and He answers me from His holy hill” Ps. 3:4 “The word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jn. 1:1, 14

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Jas. 4:8

4:1 – people fighting among themselves 4:2 – people whose passions are at war; people who desire and do not have so they kill, people who covet and cannot obtain so they fight 4:3– people who ask God for the wrong things for the wrong reasons 4:4– unfaithful creatures seeking to be friends with both the world and with God Is God open to all?

“Do not pray for these people and don’t intercede with me, for I do not hear you” Jer. 7:16 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” Jas. 4:6

Circumstances in Which We Can Meet God 4:7 – Submit yourselves to God and resist the devil 4:8 – Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts 4:9 – Mourn over your sins 4:10 – Humble yourself before God

# 1 There is an immediacy about meeting God “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Jas. 4:8

# 1 There is an immediacy about meeting God God’s Love is Shown in 5 levels 1.Personal love for the Son and Holy Spirit 2.Providential Love for all He has created 3.Yearning love for the lost 4.Wooing love expressed in His grace 5.Relational love given to believers “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”Jas. 4:4

# 2 There is a Graciousness in Meeting God “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Jas. 4:8

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Jas. 4:6 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”Jas. 4:8

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Jas. 1:16-18

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Jas. 4:1-3

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Jas. 4:8

In Christ = SAVED Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Hear (Rom.10:17) Believe (Jn.8:24) Repent (Lk.13:3)