Bible study notes

This semester I've been participating in an inductive Bible study on the book of James. This week's in-depth look at what James 4:1-10 says about pride and humility was amazing -- very convicting and packed with practical application. As I was going over my notes I decided that this is too good not to share. So, below you'll find my scrawled Bible study notes. I hope they're coherent!

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?" James 4:1-5, NAS

Pride

Pride shuts itself off from God in three ways:

1. Pride doesn't know its own need, thus negating the reason to pray.
2. Pride cherishes its own independence, thus negating the authority of scripture.
3. Pride does not recognize its own sin, thus negating the need for grace.
   

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:6-10, NAS

But, [He] gives grace to the humble.*

Humility=Lowly

1. verse 7 tells us to "submit" -- submit means "under rank", our voluntary independence goes away, we recognize that there are benefits in submitting to God
2. verse 7 tells us to "resist", to stand opposed to the devil and he will flee=vanish
3. verse 8 tells us to "draw near to God", to come closer, A.W. Tozer notes that "nearness is likeness" -- we can draw near in faith that we will become more like Him
4. verse 8 tells us to "cleanse your hands" -- deal with your sin issues
5. verse 8 tells us to "purify your hearts" -- confess! -- our hearts are desperately wicked, deceitful over all things
6. verse 9 tells us to "be miserable and mourn and weep" -- in true contrition mourn over our sin
7. verse 10 tells us to "humble yourselves" in God's presence THEN He will exalt you and pride is shut down

When we humble ourselves we can 1) know our needs and take them to God in prayer, 2) release our independence and come under the authority of scripture, 3) recognize our own sin and our need for grace.

*All emphasis is mine.