James 4:7-8 Sacrifice of Loyalty

James 4:7-8

7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The Old Testament/Covenant, a scripture, required a sacrifice for sin. The animals sacrificed in the first covenant were all innocent of sin, so they were meaningless. Adam, the first sinner, had difficulty killing an innocent animal for his sin. The Lord had to do it for Adam and Eve. Scripture says God covered their shameful nakedness with skin. When you and I become a complete bondservant of the Lord, the Devil will have no use for us.

Genesis 3:21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

God is a life-giver. He does not enjoy killing, especially anything innocent. It took Adam some time to get used to sacrificing innocent animals because it was a bloody mess. The animal does not want to die either; it will fight and struggle to stay alive, but humans are stronger. Hundreds and thousands of years later, sacrificial worship was ordinary. I desensitized the Hebrew people to the bloody mess and their sins. Jesus, the Son of God, did not look forward to the cross. Jesus indeed did not look forward to taking on the sins of mankind or losing connection to Father God. Nevertheless, He did it anyway because it was the reason for His birth and Father God’s will.

Matthew 26:41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.”

When Jesus made it His entire purpose to do His Father God’s will, He accomplished it. Without opening His mouth to protest or defend Him, Jesus fully submitted to Father God’s will. Jesus did it entirely on the cross. Of course, He could protect Him many times. Of course, He could have refused to carry His heavy cross a mile uphill, but He continued to do Father God’s will. Of course, He could have removed the nails from His hands and feet, then lowered Himself, but He did not. Jesus accomplished His Father God’s will, all the will to death and the grave. A few days later, when He rose from the tomb, Jesus defeated the wages of sin. When you and I do the same and fully submit to the Lord, the Devil will have no power. Temptation of sin from the Devil is no longer pleasurable; everlasting life in Jesus’ name is more treasurable. So do yourself a favor, brothers and sisters, fully submit to God and do not flirt with sin, do not have double-mind faith; that is entirely losing all your salvation. Give the Lord all of yourself, and you will receive all of Him and none of the Devil or his hell. God bless you all; the Lord Jesus loves you, and so do I. His bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.

John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.