Am I humble?
Yesterday
We LOOKED at God gives grace.
Today
We want to see who God gives grace to: those who are humble.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, the giver of grace, may we come to You today in humility to hear what You have to say to us. May we be sensitive to You Holy Spirit as You teach us these vital Truths. Please grant us the understanding we need to live in the light of what You show us. Thank You!
LOOK at What God Says
Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.
What will you do first?
READ God’s Word
Read James 4:6-10, asking the 5W and H questions.
Now, let’s continue LOOKING at verse 6 and concentrate.
Do you remember who the proud are?
Unlock the Meaning
Perhaps we should check out the meaning for humble.
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Dictionary Tutorial >
Humble, tapeinós; Low, not high, particularly of attitude and social positions. Of the mind, meaning lowly, humble, modest. Elsewhere with an accompanying idea of piety toward God (. . . Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5).
TIP: Remember to take the meaning back to the text.
“But He (God) gives a greater grace (divine influence upon the heart that is reflected in life; power) to the humble (a mind, meaning lowly, modest; the idea of piety, reverence toward God).
Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD (those who despise, reject God) , BUT GIVES GRACE (unmerited favor to sinners to save them from sin, a divine influence upon the heart that is reflected in life) TO THE HUMBLE (lowly of mind; piety, reverence toward God).””
LISTEN…
Am I proud, despising and rejecting God?
Or, am I humble, having a reverence toward God?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
LOOK at Other Truths About
The Humble
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Unplug Your Ears!
1. Who does God look to and save?
a. God will look to the one who is humble, contrite of spirit and trembles at His Word. (Isa 66:2)
We see: humility is linked to being contrite (crushed, crippled; broken and remorseful over one’s own sin) and trembles at God’s Word.
b. God will save the humble person. (Job 22:29)
We see: humility is linked to salvation.
LISTEN…
Am I contrite and broken, weeping over my sin?
Do I tremble at God’s Word? If not, why not?
Has God saved me?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
2. What does God require of us?
The LORD requires us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. (Mic 6:8)
LISTEN…
Do I do justice, live with a sense of right and wrong?
Am I loyal in my love toward God, thus being loving and kind to others?
Do I walk humbly with the Lord, depending on Him, not myself; not letting pride in, in any way?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
3. Who are the humble?
The only way into the kingdom is to become like children, humble ourselves. (Mat 18:3-4)
LISTEN…
Have I become like a child to enter His kingdom?
If yes, how so? What does that look like in my life?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
4. What will the Lord do to those who humble themselves before Him?
Whoever humbles himself, the Lord will exalt. (Mat 23:12)
STOP and THINK and REASON:
Understand: There is an answer for a life of conflict – conflict with others, yourself and God.
Understand: The conflict will stop if one would humble themselves – admit they love the world; admit they need forgiveness for their sins; admit they are lost apart from God; admit life is found only in Him!
Does this mean:
If you have genuine faith, but slip into pride and are not humble, you don’t receive grace?
God withholds grace from His children?
NO, NO, NO!
God’s grace is always there for those who have humbled themselves, submitted themselves to Him, willing to come under His authority.
When we are willing to confess our pride to Him and our lack of humility, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jo 1:9)
Understand:
The contrast James is giving is between how God treats the proud (the one without true genuine faith) vs. how He treats the humble (those who have submitted to Him by faith).
We see: Grace is there and available to those who are friends of this world, so they can become a friend of God!
LISTEN…
Have I humbled myself before the Lord, receiving His grace, now His friend?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
What Have We Learned
Let’s Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
Grace ends conflict with others, ourselves and God.
Grace is God’s power that is always there which is sufficient to cure our sinfulness, our fleshly desires, and friendship with the world.
God gives grace (unmerited favor that saves a sinner; divine influence upon the heart, reflected in the life) that is greater.
God is opposed to the proud (the wicked, the scoffers, those who do not have genuine faith)
We LEARN:
God will curse, scoff, and not let the proud go unpunished.
BUT
God gives grace to the humble (the righteous, the lowly, those with faith).
God is looking for those who are humble, contrite and tremble at His Word.
God will bless the righteous and lowly; save and exalt the humble.
We LEARN:
To receive grace, one must humble themselves before the Lord.
That’s It For Today!
Meditate on all God is teaching you about the solution to conflict.
Chew on humbling yourself before God to receive His grace!
Journal What Your Discovery
Don’t forget to take the time to put what you learned in your Notes, and your hard bound Bibles.
It is wonderful to have later on down the road for review, as your notes will remind you of past discoveries, and help stimulate new ones.
Turn What You LEARNED into a Prayer
Perhaps. . .
GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, we praise You for who You are, and thank you again and again that You are the giver of grace. Oh Father, I so pray we have heard You. Move us Lord to do what is necessary to humble ourselves before You. Help us to be contrite and broken over our sin. Oh, may we tremble at Your Word that You are speaking to us here, right now! If we are still walking according to this world and its wisdom, loving the world and it’s pleasures, prideful, disregarding what Scripture says, oh tug on hearts today, cause us to humbly receive Your greater grace! We ask this in Jesus name! Amen!
I thank you for spending time with the Lord today in His Word. And so pray you are grasping hold of how to engage with God, your Creator. And that you are excited to hear Him speak to You personally, drawing you into a more intimate relationship with Himself!
Next: we will LOOK at what it takes to be humble.
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