THE PROMISE
James 4:4-8

The New Year always brings the “Supermarket Prognosticators”
• Predictions for the New Year
• Most of us are skeptical

Promises in the Bible
• Not all promises are for us
• Over 70 promises in New Testament alone that are for us

“Outrageous” Promises of Scripture
• Adam and Eve – God promised to send one that would restore man’s relationship with God
• Moses – He would deliver Israel from slavery
• David - He would become Israel’s greatest king
• Isaiah – He would prophesy the coming Messiah
• Mary – Angel announced she would become the mother of Immanuel
• Joseph – Angel assured him that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and he would be the surrogate father of the Son of God who would save the world.
• Jesus promised He would be crucified and raised from dead!

Each promise was kept! You can check them off! Promises kept in the past give us confidence that promises not yet fulfilled will become reality.

One Promise to Receive this Christmas! Found in the book of James – the “In your face” book of the Bible!

Context of the Promise (James 4:4-8)
• Christ is the Bridegroom; we are His bride and married to His agenda, not the world’s.
• When we love the world and world system, we are guilty of adultery.
• We are to be in the world but not of the world (swallowed up by the world).
• Grace and “Greater Grace”
o We are saved by grace and receive Christ as Savior and Lord
o God’s “greater grace” helps us through life’s difficulties
o Grace is like bread and water – it nourishes and refreshes

The Promise – Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

How Do We Draw Near to God?
• Have clean hands and a pure heart
• Stay single-minded
• Receive God’s gift of His Son

Think It Over
• In what areas do you need God’s “greater grace?”
• Take a moment to ask God to cleanse your hands and purify your heart.
God offers to all the Greatest Gift Card one could ever receive – His “Indescribable Gift” of Jesus. Have you received God’s Gift Card? If so, with whom can