6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ” God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
James 4:6-11 ESV
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The same grace that initiates believers into fellowship with God (Eph. 2:8) is able to sustain that fellowship in spite of the passions, pleasures and pressures of this world.
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“Those who proudly turn from God and choose to be friends of the world must face God’s opposition. The world with its more immediate rewards ministers to their pride, and its wisdom can foster human egos and often advance their ambitions. God, however ministers His grace to the humble. Those who are willing to acknowledge their need, repudiate selfish ambition, and let God’s wisdom guide them, will find that God’s provision of grace for each day will be their greatest resource”
Homer Kent
Faith That Works
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Principles for “More Grace”
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1. _Surrender_ control.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God”
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Submission to Christ is a surrender of my rights to run my own life, to think or say or do as I please. It is the recognition that only God can deal with my rebellious tyrant self.
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2. _Resist_ evil.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
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At rebirth (salvation), we are given grace and that grace and “More Grace” empowers resistance to cause the devil to flee.
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3. _Restore _relationship.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
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(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:19 ESV
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In the very act of calling us to draw near to Him, God has initiated our response.
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4. _Remove_ sinful actions.
“Cleanse your hands, you sinners.”
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5. _Reject_ sinful attitudes.
“and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
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6. _React_ to sin with sorrow and sadness.
“Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.”
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7. _Respond_ humbly.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
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- Humility is a fruit of the Spirit therefore it is not generated by human effort or manufactured by emotions.
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- True humility blossoms in the heart of someone who is submitted to God walking in the Spirit and growing in grace and maturing in faith.
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8. _Refuse _to slander others.
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.”
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“devil” is the Greek word “diabolos” meaning “slanderer”
(1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:3)
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If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV