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.”
The phrase “He gives more grace” can also be translated “He gives a greater grace.”
James is saying, “Saints, in the midst of your problems, regardless of what is rumbling, God’s life is in you and He is going to give you a greater grace.”
And right in this context James says, “Humble yourself.”
That means let your problem do one thing.
Let it humble you.
Just let your weakness humble you to come to the Lord, to draw from Him.
God resists the proud.
The pride in us is self-sufficient.
It can make it.
It can do better next time.
It will not make the same mistake again.
These are all forms of pride in us.
Actually, we will make that same mistake again until the day we die.
What we need is to be humbled, which means to be dependent upon God.
Humility is not a “pious virtue.”
Humility is recognizing that in me dwells no good thing, and that I need the Lord every hour.
Just tell Him, “Lord, I need You this morning.
I need You this afternoon.
I need You in the middle of the afternoon.
I need You in my relationship with my associates, in my relationship with my spouse.
Lord, I need You.
Apart from You, Lord, I can do nothing.”
This is humility.
Humility is dependence upon God.
God gives a greater grace.
That means supply.
And that supply causes me to sense that God Himself is sufficient.
My God is my sufficiency.
The self-life is propped up with all its supports.
It lives off of others.
It lives off of convenience.
It lives off of what can be done for it.
When its supports are taken away, it whines, it cries, it complains, it blames, because it is so centered on itself.
But in grace, God Himself becomes the sufficiency for the four walls of this body, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.
Throughout my mind, emotion, and will, God becomes sufficient for me.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
John McCain -Hospice
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
Joe Shelnutt
John Austin
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Marlon Cook
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Pat Chupp
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher