Divine Resistance
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· 518 viewsOften we equate the word resistance with our enemy’s efforts to oppose us. We certainly know what it is to deal with Satan’s constant efforts to “wear out the saints”. This morning, I want to draw your attention to another resistance that is in play in the spiritual realm. God resists the proud. On the other hand there is a Divine flow of grace that propels the humble.
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5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
As a young man I experienced the power of a the always dangerous Current River. Young, strong and feeling invincible, I determined to swim to the far side of the river at Moore’s landing. The swiftest and most powerful current was in the last last 20 foot before reaching the other shore. Having underestimated the resistance, I fought, but the river just kept coming.
The river won that day. Fortunately, I was able to float downstream toward shallower water where a gentleman pulled me to safety.
River currents can carve canyons and power cities. Wind
Often we equate the word resistance with our enemy’s efforts to oppose us. We certainly know what it is to deal with Satan’s constant efforts to “wear out the saints”. This morning, I want to draw your attention to another resistance that is in play in the spiritual realm.
God resists the proud
God resists the proud
God resists the proud because God hates the sin of pride (Prov. 6:16–17; 8:13).
Other sins flee from God: pride alone opposeth itself to God; therefore God also in turn opposes Himself to the proud (Gerhard in Alford).
The Sinfulness of Pride:
Turned Lucifer into Satan (Isa 14:12-15)
It was pride—a desire to be like God—that stirred Eve to take the forbidden fruit.
A characteristic of the Anti-christ (2 Th 2:4)
“The pride of life” is an evidence of worldliness (1 John 2:16).
The Bible is full of warnings against pride:
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.
19 I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.
6 Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
Jesus taught:
12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
The Apostle Paul taught:
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Jesus told a parable:
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
“Is it not of great significance that humility and reason returned to Nebuchadnezzar together?
‘At the same time,’ added the humbled king, ‘my reason returned unto me.’
The King’s pride was to him a kind of insanity which drove him at last into the fields to dwell with the beasts.
While he saw himself large and God small he was insane; sanity returned only as he began to see God as all and himself as nothing.”
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5)
The word “resisteth” in the Greek is a military term, used of an army drawn up for battle.
Pride calls out God’s armies.
God sets Himself in array against the proud person.
There is a tide
There is a current
There is a resistance
God Gives Grace to the Humble
God Gives Grace to the Humble
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5)
Humility is the vessel of all graces (Augustine)
There is much to be had in the Kingdom of God. The promises of God are yea and amen. But, Jesus
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Jesus compared the crowds that had come out to John in the wilderness, and that now followed him, to a mighty army surrounding and besieging a city.
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
