Extreme MakeoverA Hunched Back

James 4:1-10

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A HUNCHED BACK WILL BE A DEFINING ITEM IN OUR EXTREME MAKEOVER.

James 4:1-10

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you

James 4:1-10

do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do

James 4:1-10

you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:1-10

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

James 4:1-10

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

We are Not Used to Humility

Things Like

• submitting

• yielding

• obeying

• surrendering

Instead of

• winning

• succeeding

• overcoming

• conquering

A Hunched Back

Humility defines a right relationship with God

The On Going Conflict

My Way God’s Way

A Hunched Back

Humility defines a right relationship with God

It’s absence leads to a Santa God Relationship

My Santa God

•God is expected to give me what I want.•If he doesn’t give me what I want and when I want, then I’ll throw a tantrum.•He exists to serve me.

Asking, Begging, Crying, Acting Out, Pouting and Finally Hating

A Hunched Back

Humility defines a right relationship with God

It’s absence leads to a Santa God Relationship

It’s presence leads to a Sovereign God Relationship

A Hunched Back

Humility defines a right relationship with God

Humility leads us to a right relationship with the world.

James 4:1-10

4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

James 4:1-10

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble."

A Hunched Back

Humility leads us to a right relationship with the world.

The World (other passions, interests, obsessions) will remain alluring.

A Hunched Back

Humility leads us to a right relationship with the world.

God is Jealous Envious (desiring exclusivity).

A Hunched Back

Humility leads us to a right relationship with the world.

The choice remains ours.

The On Going Attraction

World God

Other Passions

Other Interests

Himself

Obsessions

A Hunched Back

Humility leads us to a right relationship with the world.

Humility impacts the choice by reminding us of what we received.

Developing a Hunched Back

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Developing a Hunched Back

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Developing a Hunched Back

Submit Resist Draw NearDo Reality Checks Reap

Prayer:

Jesus, I see in myself the conflicts that still rage. My will fights against your will. Other attractions too easily lure my heart from you.Teach me the humility that says your ways not mine. Remind me of my past so in humility I might cling close to you. Amen