August 30, 2020
Sunday AM
James 4:6But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
With authority comes responsibility. With privilege comes responsibility. To whom much is given much is required. As humans, we have the authority on earth. The devil is only defeated to the degree that we enforce his defeat. We have to know who we are, what belongs to us, and we have to use/enforce it.
Never turn to the wisdom of men, until you get the wisdom of God. If you’re not hearing from God, you better get around someone who is. God will warn you ahead of time, that is His mercy! He does not want us to suffer!
Nothing going on around you, no one around you is your problem. They might be causing problems, but it is in your hands whether it affects you or not. The reason you have such a problem with other people, is because of selfishness. Selfishness is the love for one’s self, first. Selfishness is only interested in personal interest. The most miserable/ depressed people on earth are the selfish people. We’re not here to “live our best life now.” We are here to serve Him. If you think that does not involve other people, you are wrong. We’re here to give our life for others! God’s love can change anyone. The love of God is a self-denying love that puts others interest above all and before itself. Selfishness and pride are deep-rooted. You will never get free of it if you don’t acknowledge it. You know your love for God is growing when your love for people is increasing.
4 types of love:
1. Philia – friendly love
2. Storge – parental love
3. Eros – Marital love
4. Agape – Intense desire to bless. Deserving or not. Self-denying on the behalf of others. Its sole interest is giving and blessing other people.
The first three are human love. They originate from man. They are selfish. It’s human nature to be self-protecting. If you deal with fear, selfishness is your problem. Its self-preservation. “what will happen to ME?” The human heart is deceptive. Your own heart/soul will side with you against God/ truth about you. Everything Jesus did, He did out of love. Agape is not found on earth. It comes from God only. The only way to get it, is to jump in the pool of it, and let it saturate you. You’ll have to do it on a very consistent basis because everything outside of that pool is contrary to it.
There’s a certain behavior to the love of God. When you are operating in the love of God, you will respect everyone, no matter if it’s earned. Love also has a way of speaking. The bible says, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Love does not gossip. Love does not criticize. Ephesians calls it “evil speaking.” Gossip is any conversation that leaves the person in discussion looking worse than before. Gossip is prideful!
Critical- when you’re critical you tend to point out other’s faults and errors. You’re inclined to find fault or to judge with severity and often too readily. Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments based on perceived thoughts or mistakes. Criticism in the heart of a man is the evidence of pride. God resists critical people.
Proverbs 14:1-3 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all!