HUMILITY ENGENDERS GOD’S GRACE AND EXALTATION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 2023.

SUBJECT: HUMILITY ENGENDERS GOD’S GRACE AND EXALTATION!

Memory verse: "Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (First Peter 5 vs 6.) 

READ: James 4 vs 6 - 8 & 10:

4:6: But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

4:7: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

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

4:10: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

INTIMATION:

Humidity engenders God’s grace and exaltation. God’s grace is extended toward those who have humbly submitted to Him (Romans 5 vs 20). Those who are arrogant and proud will not submit their lives to the will of God. They resist submission, and thus, God resists giving His grace to them in order that they might be saved. Since God will resist those who are proud, it is imperative that men submit themselves to the will of God. When one does submit to God’s will, he will be lifted up. 

Being humble involves having a true perspective of oneself. It does not mean you should put yourself down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realizing their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strength and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic self-assessment and commitment to serve. It means proper respect for God.

Obedience to God begins with humility. When we look at creation, we often feel small by comparison. To respect God’s majesty, we must compare ourselves to His greatness. This is a healthy way to get back to reality. We must believe that His way is better than our own. We may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. We must remember that (1) God’s ways are best; (2) God wants our obedience more than anything else; (3) God can use anything to accomplish His purposes.

Since God will not save the proud or arrogant, the apostle James plea is that the first step in repentance must be to submit to the will of God. Only through the spirit of submission is God able to mold the demeanor of the obedient for eternal dwelling. When one submits to God’s will, he or she will be lifted up. However, we must first recognize the sovereignty of God over all things before we will humbly submit to His will. 

The proud person will seek to rule his own life. They take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above the frailties of common people. In this state of mind they are easily tripped up. In thinking that he or she has his or her life in control, the proud person usually tries to bear all his or her burdens without asking for the help of others. He tries to walk alone. Ironically, proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem, although everyone around them is well aware of it. 

The humble person, however, who has cast his or her burdens on the shoulders of God, will find peace and security in the care of God. It is our responsibility to take the initiative to deal with our pride. We cannot exalt ourselves before God on the basis of our works. Man’s pride detours him from submitting to the Will of God. 

Let us not loose sight of the end result of all our humility and self-sacrifice—a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless he plans to replace it with something even better. Jesus is not calling us to join Him in a labor camp but in a feast—the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19 vs 6 - 9), when God and His beloved church will be joined forever.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue  me with the spirit of humility that I will humble myself before You at all times and to do Your Will in all things, knowing that I have no power of my own to accomplish much without You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!