The Humble Exalted

We love our passions (verses 1-3)

The reason we fight and argue is because we want what is not ours (verse 1)

We want so badly that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get it, whatever the cost.

Don’t believe me? How many times have you yelled at your parents because something didn’t go your way? How many times have you let one thing ruin your whole day, or week, or month, or year? You don’t get something that isn’t even yours, and your whole life goes south.

If you are lacking something, it is because you have not asked God for it (verse 2)

English Standard Version Chapter 11

9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

We have a perfect Heavenly Father who has the entire cosmos at his disposal, and he seeks to generously give to his children.

But then you’ll say “I’ve asked God for this thing every day for the last month and I still don’t have it!”

Well, you must ask carefully, and we should be grateful that God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

If you have asked God and still don’t have, it would not be good for you (verse 3)

Illustration: when Elsie wants to eat wires plugged into the wall and screams, i don't give it to her

Second Illustration: If Elsie turns seven and decides that she wants to move out and live in South America, there are a lot of reasons that I wouldn’t let her. 1) Seven-year-olds don’t know how to make a hot dog, let alone make a living for themselves 2) If she is in South America, she is far from me and I can’t take care of her. It would be horrible for her.

To Love Our Passions is to Hate God (Verses 4-5)

Friendship with the World is Enmity with God

You cannot have both, one is the opposite of the other.

We are actually asking for God to help us make ourselves his enemies

Can you imagine if God was like a genie who gives us everything our heart desires? We would be in so much trouble!

Illustration: Jafar in Aladdin

Beyond that, the desires of our hearts show that our desire is to be God’s enemy. In other words, if we were able to receive all of our hearts deepest desires, we would be as far away from God as possible.

Even though we are unfaithful, God still desires a relationship with us. Verse 5 says that God yearns jelously over our spirits, yet we would turn our backs to him! Who are we, that God should be jealous for us, and we still would refuse him!

That is why verse 4 accurately calls us an adulterous people, or an unfaithful people. Truly we are adulterous, unfaithful and wicked towards God.

God Gives Grace to the Humble (verses 6-10)

God Gives Grace

And yet, God gives grace. Even in the face of our unfaithful hearts, he heaps more grace on where judgement ought to be. (verse 6)

But how does he do it?

Only by the free gift of grace found in the blood of Jesus! (Romans 5:8)

But, not everyone receives this wonderful grace. He gives grace to the humble, but opposes the proud.

What does it mean to be humble before God? (verse 9)

First, we must recognize the wrongs we have done. They ought to grieve us. We need to let ourselves feel the weight of sin, for only then will we feel the wonderful freedom of Christ taking it away from us.

What does it mean to be exalted by God?

Christ lifts the lowly and the downcast. We are raised to life everlasting by the power of Christ’s sacrifice.

Although we are unfaithful and love this world, God shows us immense grace and pulls us near to him. Humble yourselves, and be exalted by freeing blood of Christ.