Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Daily Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Why did God leave us with conflicts and struggles?
What is His intention?
To answer this we need to know that God originally created man to be dependent upon Him.
But due to the fall, man became proud and independent of God.
Now God is at work to humble us and make us dependent on Him.
For this He uses everything, including our problems.
When James says that God gives grace to the humble, it means that your conflicts and struggles are intended to humble you in order to receive fresh supplies of grace.
We can position ourselves for grace, even though there is a nature within us that is at enmity with God.
James is speaking to believers who have wars and fights among them due to the warring pleasures in their members–all this conflict (4:1-5).
Then he tells them that God is going to give more grace.
How does God give more grace?
It happens by our drawing near to Him and dealing with our sinful doings, dealing with our divided heart.
When we admit we are wretched, when we admit there is nothing good in us–that is the best place to start.
James 4:9 says, “Lament and mourn and weep!”
The Greek word for lament is the same word Paul uses in Romans 7:24 to describe his inward condition of wretchedness: “O wretched man that I am!”
So James is saying, “Be wretched!”
Simply admit that in yourself dwells no good thing.
In James 4:6 we read that God gives more grace.
Then in verses 7-8 we see how this can happen: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
This is James’ way of saying “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).
Paul uses the word “law” in Romans.
This means that if you touch the Spirit, if you go to the Spirit, you are going to a higher law in you.
The Lord lives in you 24 hours a day.
He is in your spirit–deeper than your mind, your emotions, and your will.
You have a spirit and I have a spirit.
We are joined to the Lord.
Our mind may be going one way, and our emotions another way.
But that is okay.
Simply stay in your spirit.
Call “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Pray.
Sing to the Lord.
Open yourself to the Word.
Share the gospel with others.
Fellowship with believers.
By activating your spirit, you get into another law that frees you from the law of sin and death every time.
This is Paul’s way of describing the divine solution to our problems.
Until Tomorrow
With a Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
…….
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Bill Lawhead
Doris Strickland – Better
Jeff & Kristen Fowler
Johnny Page – Better
Pastor Tony Howlett – Covid
Richard Blount – Better
Tyler Welborn – Better
Amy Garner’s Mother
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Barbara Shed’s Family
Bill Moody
Carol Lawhead
Charlie Sessom – Waiting
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray For Grace
James Garner’s G’Son
Joyceann – James Garner’s Daughter
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lynn – Nancy Brown’s Daughter
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford – Pray For Guidance
Michael Stanley
Nancy Brown’s G’Daughter
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom
Pastor Stucke– Nikki’s Dad
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sharon Blalock
Sheila Simmons Cousin
Tom Witcher