JesusWalk Bible Study Forum: Q3. Humbling Ourselves - JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you?

If we are to reap the fruits of God’s grace, we must turn from the devil and his worldly lures and submit ourselves to God. How difficult this is as our “human” (fleshly) instincts seek immediate gratification. We want our rewards now! James commands us to end our sinful foolishness and to repent of our self-satisfaction. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2Ti 2:22)

Before I asked Jesus into my life, I scoffed at hearing I was a “slave to sin”. Now I realize how true that is. Although I’ve not had a drug dependency in my life, I am more understanding of the struggle of those seeking release from its bonds. Sin is the same. I can’t do it alone. Sinful behaviors torment and beckon me daily—some of which requires God’s hand to resist the devil and prevent me from slipping.

The Apostle Paul summed up the struggle aptly when he said “For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me.” (Rom 7:18-21)

We can’t sin and exalt God. We must choose our path wisely. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1Co 10:12)

These actions are vital because we have freedom of will and we must willingly obey the Lord. If we don't have humility then we have pride. God cannot work with pride because it shuts Him out. If we submit and obey in humility, it automatically means we are humble, submitting to God, resisting the devil and coming nearer to God. To remain humble we must constantly turn from/avoid sin thus purifying our hearts. Man is corrupt from the beginning there is not one righteous so it's a continual cleansing and turning to God. Once we take our eyes off of Him, we sink into the world. It's an continous effort and a willing effort on our part. Our nature is to fulfill OUR needs. In order to fulfill Christ's commands, we must concern ourselves with fulfiling OTHERs needs. To submit continually to His will is difficult because I'm very impatient. If I go my way it enivitably leads to unnecessary suffering. It is a continual self-discipline. How I wish I would be more like Brother Lawrence who put Christ continuously before him. I'll get there!

1. These actions are neccessary in order to live joyfully, without guilt.
2. For it seems easier for us to take the easy way out.
3. Resisting the devil

These io commands are very vital because they enable us say no to the devil's temptations and say yes to God.
They are however against our nature because we are always seeking the easy way out.
The most difficult is resisting the devil.

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[color=blue]3a.) They help us to focus on God and His purpose.[/color]
3b.) (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. In what way do they go against our nature?
[color=blue]3b.) Because, don't we want what is best for us (in a worldly way of thought)? Look out for number one...this is not the case if we focus on God's purpose which is to bring salvation to all men. "[/color][color=purple]He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe[/color][color=blue]." (John 1:7) Talking of John the Baptist. [/color]"[color=purple]..He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance[/color][color=blue]." (2 Peter 3:9b)[/color]
3c.) (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Which of these commands is most difficult for you?
[color=blue]3c.) Humbling myself.[/color]

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you?

If we do not humble ourselves before God, we are holding on to our pride--a very common sin for all of us I think. At least, it is to me and the one that I see in those who resist God. (We usually see in others first the sin that is in ourselves!)
We like to think we can take care of ourselves. What's wrong in going it in our own power? We piously say God gave us our brains--or this or that--to use, so we should use them and thus we are doing God's will. But, don't ask us to check with Him first to see if this thing we want to do really is God's will! We do things and then ask God to bless our doing! That's backwards. If we stay close to Him, desire to know and do His will, and willingly step out in faith that He is in control, then He will bless the effort with His strength and His blessing. As Paul often said "When I am weak, then am I strong (in the Lord)!" I've often seen this when talking to churches about our mission work. I rejoiced when I had some illness or other problem that made talking in my own power futile, for then I knew God would take over and He would make what came out of me be from Him, not me! Always that brought results that people shared with me--and I could share with them that it was not me!! The glory always goes to Him!
Yes, I know. I'm preaching to myself! So be it. Perhaps I'll listen this time!

The commands are vital because they relate to repentance. Our God wants us to submit to him.This is not easy as we all have to fight the fleshes desire for recognition and self importance. The most difficult are
1. Submitting to God
2. Resisting the devil

Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands.
it's alright to be proud of the lord but not of yourself, for that is a reward.

Why are these actions so vital?
you're suppose to be thinking of the lord not yourself. GOD gives out the rewards, not you

In what way do they go against our nature?
it's human nature to feel good for doing something righteous.

Which of these commands is most difficult for you?
the one most difficult for me is changing my laughter to morning and joy to gloom.
how can you get anyone to listen to you if you're in that type of mood. i want all to see how happy i am being with and knowing GOD, and that they can be the same.

These 10 commands are vital because if we don't submit ourselves to GOD we cannot resist the devil. Trying to resist the devil on our own is futile and will cause many problems.

Submitting to GOD and humbling ourselves goes against our nature because we want to lift ourselves up. We want to be the one that others see and admire.

Verses 7-10 contain different commands.

Why are these actions to vital?
So that we might live godly in Christ Jesus and to take our sin seriously.

In what way do they go against our nature?
They go against our fleshly nature which is ruled by pride.

Which of them is the hardest for you?
Draw near to God.

God Bless!
Jen
Numbers 6:24-26

[[color=purple]SIZE=1]But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”[a]

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. [/SIZE][/color]

Funny this should come up. I went shopping this weekend. Didn't need anything just "went to look". Anyway, I bought some stuff and justified the purchase by saying they were Work clothes and of course, they were on sale and I had the money . And I felt great and confident in my purchase. The minute I left the store I felt convicted. This is not what God had in mind for me. He wants me to turn my back on this worldly stuff, to quit shopping on Saturday and running to church on Sunday !! The clothes are not what is going to make me feel good about myself - my relationship with God is. I lost focus of the reason I had the money was because He gave it to me, not to squander but to do good. I felt bad for a long time, even now sometimes, but the second part of this message is repent and get over it - God does.

I think this is precisely what the passage means. You will be tempted, you will get caught up in situations and when you do, you need to stop, repent and reorient your life toward the One who makes it worth living.

Thanks for listening.

susan

These actions are vital inasmuch as we are to walk worthy of the Lord , unto
all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. After all, we are admonished to live up to the standard
Jesus has revealed to us, and His standard was to do always what the
Father wanted Him to do.

These things go against our nature because we were born into sin and thus
slaves of sin and we are subject to the things that please the flesh.

Drawing near to God seems to be the most difficult for me. I believe that one
has to pay a high price to come into His presence, and have a burning bush
experience (as one example). I believe that there are a few in the forum who
could relate to the rest of us, just what the cost factor is in drawing nigh unto God. The scripture exhorts us to take up OUR cross and follow Him.

Because you can not straddle the fence without getting hurt. All these commands are vital to being in alignment with God and His will.
We don't like to be told what to do. We are independent people. (prideful) We are rebellious by nature. It is hard work to keep oneself from the evils of this world.
I think humility and being humble is the most difficult for me. I don't like to admit that I am weak in areas that I should be strong. It is that root of pride again showing it's ugly face. I haven't got it quite under the blood yet, but I will conquer it in Jesus' name. For He is my strength and I can do all things through Him..

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are
these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature?
Which of these commands is most difficult for you?

I think its every vital to help us to see that we need to repent and draw closer to him. Helps us to see that we need a clean heart. And by this we need to resist the devil and turn back to God. But this is hard for us to do cause we want our way in everything. When we need to remember God's way is always better than our ways.

Its sometimes hard to humble myself

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you?
They tell us what God expects of us and the way to reach out to him to be able to live for him and be expectable to him. We can't please God unless we are willing to humble ourselves and do what is right in his sight.
Our nature does not want to admit that we are wrong. It wants us to be able to do what we want without any thing stopping us. We are in human form but we need to live Godly this is never easy unless you are willing to submit to the will of the living God.
It is hard for me to take things before the throne and then leave them there. It is like I think in my mind at all times that I can do something to help this problem if I just work at it. We know that is wrong it is taking the faith out of our walk and we are not trusting God to handle what we need. The human nature is one to try to fix everything. This is hard for me because I was taught that if I work hard and do my best that things will work out for the best. That is not always so. We can do all we can and still fail if we don't trust God for help us. Knowing his will and his way is always best. Jesus is all we need so we need to put thing in his hands to help us and not try to do everything ourselves. Help me Lord to do this more.

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital?

Because the commands take the 'focus' from ourselves and direct it toward God and the things of God. We must both submit to God AND resist the devil. We must draw near to God so that He can draw near to us. Knowing that we are not right, that we are wrong, that we have evil ways and can be evil people, is an afflicting, mourning,and heavy realization.


In what way do they go against our nature?

Our nature is to do as we think to be right. This is enmity against God.

Which of these commands is most difficult for you?

Resisting the devil.

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you?


[color=blue]These different commands are interlinked and consist of our response to the Lord. If we love the Lord and are obedient unto Him, we will obey all these commands and live a life that pleases Him. These actions are necessary for a true Chrisitan to be fruitful for the Lord as that is the purpose of our very existence. We have to glorify the Lord through our life.[/color]


[color=green]The basic nature of humanity is rebellion. We rebel against any rule. Since all the different commands are of the servitude type, that is, humbling ourselves, grieving and mourning for our sins, purifying ourselves, getting closer to God etc, mean that we have to fight our basic nature to do all these things. In other words, we have to deny ourselves to go closer to God. [/color]

[color=red]Submission to authority of God is perhaps the most difficult part. I might submit a part of my life to Him, but submitting everything is difficult. I have to stop living for myself and start living for the Lord. That's a tall order but God is helping me realise His goal for me slowly. I am grateful to Him for His endless mercy for me. [/color]

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital?
We are to humble ourselves before God and keep our focus on Him.

In what way do they go against our nature?
For most of us, our basic nature is to take the “easy” way out. We don’t want to have to make any effort to follow God’s commands.

Which of these commands is most difficult for you?
This would be a tie between submission to God and resist the Devil.

Q3
1. Our Lord wants to "lift us up." We can never be used of God if we continue in our old ways. I was lost, but now I'm found. The Lord is wanting the church to walk in His ways. We are to be a light to the unsaved world. If we act as thought nothing has taken place in our lives after salvation, then we sure can't be a wittness for Christ Jesus.

2. I don't know if "nature" is the right word there. My old nature was to walk after the "flesh." Since Salvation, I have "put on Christ", which is now my new nature to walk after Him. II Corinthians 5:17 goes like this: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Refer back to II Cor. 5:13 through 16 to show why there is a "Therefore" in verse 17.
Also in Galatians 5:16 Paul tells us to ". . .Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the **** of the flesh." We need to remember, the flesh did not get saved. Our Soul (the real me) got saved. The flesh lusteth after the things of this would. That is why we must walk in the Spirit of God to give us the POWER to walk as the verses 7 to 10 prescribe to those that are the bride of Christ.

3. To think about this question, I would have to say the flesh goes a whoreing after any one of the ten at one time or another. You get your eyes off Christ and you will fall. James 4:7 tells us to "submit ourselves to God." The Lord is our strength. Thank the Lord the saved have Power over sin. We can also thank the Lord that He will forgive us if we fall.