Humble Power

James 4:1-10 (NLT) 

    What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? [2] You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. [3] And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. 

     [4] You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God. [5] What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful?

[6] He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

        "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble."

    [7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. [9] Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. [10] When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men and women into angels.”  St. Augustine

“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”  Thomas Merton

Rev. 5:5-6 (NLT) 

    But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." [6] I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been…

1.  Recognize our own pride

Those who choose genuine humility will receive power and favor from God

James 4:6, 10 (NLT) 

    He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble."…When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

2. Genuine humility…

a) …chooses not to bear grudges and hold on to anger or jealousy but instead chooses to forgive

Ephes. 4:32 (NLT) 

    Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Col. 3:13 (NLT) 

    You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

b)  …moves us from a spirit of un-teach-ability to a spirit of teachability that leads to wisdom

Psalm 25:9 (NIV) 

    He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

c)  …transforms our fear into courage

Proverbs 22:13 (NLT)

    The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, "If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!"

Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) 

    The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.

3.  We can be forced to be humbled by God or choose to humble ourselves before God

1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) 

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.