Impedance to the Supply of Grace( 2)
Text:
But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty , but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness]..”
James 4:6 AMP
For though you are lofty and exalted, you stoop to embrace the lowly. Yet you keep your distance from those filled with pride. Psalms 138:6 TPT
Pride is a Grace blocker! The Word says God (who is the giver and supplier of Grace) resists the proud. It takes humility to receive the Grace of God. So to enjoy the Grace of God, we must embrace humility.
It is good to define Pride from the perspective of the Word of God so that we can understand what it is and examine our lives from time to time to ensure we are not prideful.
- Self-conceit: Thinking “too” highly of yourself and “too” lowly of others. Not willing to accept the opinion or input of others. Superiority complex.
“Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility, put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 TPT
- Self- Praise, Glory, Worship: Taking credit for personal accomplishments and endowments. When you believe that your achievements are purely by your own merits ( skill, strength, and status) without the input of anyone or boasting.
Thus says the Lord, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance; but let the one who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me [and acknowledges Me and honors Me as God and recognizes without any doubt], that I am the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 AMP
Looking again at the Story of Naaman we can learn a few more lessons.
Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was considered a great man by his king and was highly respected because through Naaman the Lord had given victory to Aram (Syria). He was also a man of courage, but he was a leper. The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife [as a servant]. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you, and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought, ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’ Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’ ” So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-3, 9-14 AMP
- His accomplishments in battle and his recognition as a great commander were because the Lord helped him.
2 Kings 5: 1 ” through Naaman the Lord had given victory to Aram (Syria).”
Dear beloved, there is nothing good a man receives that does not come from God. Whether beauty, academic brilliance, wealth, and skills, always recognize and acknowledge the hand and providence of God.
John answered them, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless God bestows it.
John 3:27 TPT
Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalms 100:3 AMP
Let me give an analogy, imagine a beautiful car ( that happens to have the ability to talk ); everyone who sees the vehicle admires its beauty and elegance and sometimes remarks to express how beautiful and elegant the car is.
Will it be right for the car to accept the praises and say thank you to those praising its beauty? Or rather say, thanks to my maker or inventor. The car didn’t design or make itself. It is the conceptual design and invention of the maker or manufacturer. No wonder the Psalmist says
Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His)
If you noticed, Naaman had an attitude of Pride. He was angry that the Prophet did not come out to see him but instead sent his assistant; secondly, he felt the instructions from the Prophet were demeaning and derogatory. With that attitude of pride, he couldn’t receive from God. Why was he asked to go to Jordan? I believe it was to humble him.
The literal meaning of Jordan is to ” flow down” or” to descend. ” It was when he humbled himself to dip himself in the Jordan that Grace located him. Indeed God gives Grace to humble.
Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge that everything I am, own, and achieved has been by Your help. I declare boldly that I am what I am; I have what I have by the Grace of God. I ask for your service to remain humble and to walk in this consciousness in Jesus’ name continually. Amen
Chuks