# Prayer for Ukraine

Date: June 7, 2024

We try to slip so much in on a Sunday morning where it feels like we’re rushed sometimes, but it’s a good rushed. And we’re changing the order of service just a bit this morning because I want us as a church family—I believe God wants us as a church family—to pray for those in the Ukraine. And for what’s going on over there, I know you’re probably very familiar with it, and you’ve seen it on the news, and it bears our praying. I think just as a church family, you know there’s power in collective prayer. And when God’s people pray, and I think most of you know, but I’ll just say a few words about it.

But it was very unprovoked, and Russia has invaded the Ukraine. Ukraine is over 43 million people. It’s the second largest country in Europe, land-wise. And so it’s not a small situation here. And thousands have already died.

Less things change, more will, of course. So it bears our prayers.

Now, I’m going to ask you. I’m going to ask you. I think it would be good if many of you—of course, it’s your decision, and some of you won’t be able to physically—but many of you came down here just on our knees and asking God. Now, I’m going to ask you to pray for several things. One, I’m going to ask you to pray for God’s protection on the people of the Ukraine, for God to protect them. They are fighting for their independence just like we fought for our independence. In fact, they won it years ago, 1991, and now they’re having to fight for it again. And so I want you to pray for their protection. I want you to pray.

There are many Christians in the Ukraine. In 1991, they won their independence from the Soviet Union. And, of course, the Soviet Union, they’re atheist, communist. They have a false or a fake state church. And so when they got their independence, it was very—a vacuum was there, if you will—and they wanted to learn no more.

And since then, many Ukrainians were saved. If you look at websites and whatnot, and the evangelicals they’ll call them are typically those that preach and teach salvation, right? They were growing fast and strong in the Ukraine. In fact, some talk about how the Ukrainians were sending more missionaries to Europe than anybody else. I don’t know if that’s true or not.

But many were saved, and there was a growing, thriving church in the Ukraine. So I’m saying that there’s a lot of brothers and sisters that are in harm’s way. Many of you’ve seen the news reports and whatnot of some of the missionaries trying to get out of the country and even some personal stories there. So let’s pray for all the Ukrainians, for the protection.

And then for the Christians that are there. And then let’s pray. Would you pray for people to be saved? Can I say this? Even Russians to be saved. And let’s pray for the salvation of many. You’ve heard it said, and I believe it’s true, there’s no atheist in a foxhole.

And when you’re facing life or death, you have a better chance to look to the Lord than just about any time. So let’s pray for salvation. People be saved. Ukraine, Russia, this changes our globe in many ways around the world. Pray for people to be saved. Would you do that?

And then let’s pray for our country, our country, to do what it ought to do. And I’m not going to go into specifics what we ought to do. I think we’d have a diverse opinion about that in our—and you have the right to do that, all of us do. But I don’t think anybody would really doubt or argue this: America is weak right now. And so it changes our whole globe because of the weakness.

And let’s pray for our country. It also shows the value of what you’re doing today. Because good, godly churches in America, if we’ve got enough of those, enough people getting right with God, God shows mercy and gives us some better leaders. And just say the importance of what you’re doing, trying to reach people. It’s so very, very important. So I want you to pray for our country.

And whether we like it or not, we, the world, pivots in many ways around America. You realize the weakness of America, of course, now Russia is invading Ukraine, and China has been flaunting more and more over Taiwan. And Iran is, everybody knows, they’re getting as quick as they can to nuclear power. They’re very close. And you realize just the changing of the globe and the importance of America.

So I’m going to ask us to pray sincerely in faith. He said, I debated, should we take some time out on Sunday morning just to pray? Well, of course, the resigning answer came from Scripture: “My house should be called a house of prayer.” In church, I’d be known for praying. And I’m going to ask all of us, young people, teenagers, I’m going to ask you to pray.

It’s very interesting to me when the Bible is speaking of Ishmael, but God heard the lad. He was praying. God heard that young man, a teenager maybe or younger, praying. I’m going to ask all of us to pray for the protection of the Ukraine people, all of them, many Christians there. Pray for salvation—both sides, people to be saved.

Russia too, I say, we don’t hate the Russians; we hate what they’re doing. We hate the sinfulness of it, the wickedness of it. And the Bible does—and I’m getting off. You’re getting me to preach them before we’re supposed to be preaching—but Genesis 9:6 does say, “If a man sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” That is biblical. We don’t hate them. We want them to get saved. They need Jesus, just like the rest of us need Jesus. So we need to pray for people to be saved. Let’s pray for our country.

And just one more word. I’m just going to ask you come pray. But it is a great opportunity for God to work. Many realize how this is drawing us closer to the end. I’d encourage you go read Ezekiel 38-39: Gog and Magog and the Northern Confederacy coming out against Israel. Of course, Russia’s heading that up.

And Russia is going to be around until the very end. Somewhere along the line, the dating of Ezekiel 38-39, a great debate. But at the end times, there’s going to be a great battle, and Russia is going to lead that against Israel. Of course, God will step up for his nation Israel, and it’ll be amazing. They’ll get what’s coming to them for sure at that time. But these signs of the times, I’ve talked to many people, and so many of them have said, “Wow, boy, we need to live for God. We’re getting close,” and we are. And you pray God will use this in so many ways he can use it, even in our own country, in our own lives, and our own lives, and people get saved. Second largest nation in Europe, there’s not a small matter, land-wise, and over 43 million souls in Ukraine. Let’s pray. Pray for salvation, protection, God to work in a great way.

Would you just come? Would you come down? Let’s just come down. If you want to stand in your seats, you can. Let’s come here. Let’s pray for this country. I think it would be a great time for many of us. Just come get on our knees in sincerity. You don’t have to pray on your knees. God hears you anywhere. There’s a little sign of humility, humbling ourselves. God gives grace where there is humility. So let’s just go pray. Let’s pray for the people in Ukraine. And would you do that? Would you do that?

And I’m going to ask Brother Josh. Brother Josh, thanks. I just got on my knees. Would you come lead us? And I’m going to pray also. Let’s pray for this situation. Would you do it? Brother Josh, would you lead us? Hang on, Brother Larry, not right now. I’m sorry, brother. But Brother Josh, would you come lead us? And then I’ll lead us in a prayer also.

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today on our knees, praying to you at your throne. We pray for the peace to break out. We pray for the citizens and all the souls in Ukraine. We know that they’re being persecuted and it’s an unjust war. And Lord, we pray for their safety. We pray that through your power, you can protect them all.

And Lord, we pray that you use this to help guide people to you. And we know that there are many Christians in Ukraine. We pray that you’re with them all and that they can use this even though it is the shadow of death or the valley of death. Lord, we know that you can guide them out of that and build your church there in all Europe. Lord, we pray that as a family here, we can use this to be bold and spread the gospel to our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, our family. Lord, we just pray that you protect us all. We pray that you protect our soldiers that are in neighboring countries. We pray for all the refugees. We pray for everybody that’s being affected by this, either personally or through the news, through worry, through stress, Lord. Pray that you just give them that calming effect. You allow them to just turn to you, listen to your word, find peace and faith in your word, and just follow it as you direct us. In Jesus’ name, we pray all these things.

Lord, we continue to come, Father. Lord, we’re burdened. Lord, we think about these people. We love them, Lord. Father, I pray you to show your hand of mercy, Lord, on the Ukrainians. Lord, even on the Russians, turn them to you. Father, I pray that you would protect those who are trying to defend their country, their independence.

Lord, would you, as you did in our country years ago, you gave us our freedom? Would you give it to them, Lord? Father, would you let people be saved? Lord, here in the United States from just the hearing of it, and you convict and draw them to you. Lord, in the Ukraine, let people be saved. Lord, give the Christians there boldness and faith. Lord, give them peace in their heart.

Father, comfort them in a special way. Would you do so, Lord? Father, I pray that Russians would be saved. Lord, I thank you for the citizens, many citizens of Russia that have protested against this. Give them wisdom, keep their minds free from perversion and twisted thinking. Lord, have mercy on our world.

And Lord, I pray that many people be saved through it. Neighboring countries, refugees. Lord, give us Christians wisdom how you’d like us to use the situation for good, Lord. And Father, would you bless our country? Have mercy on us, Lord, we need your mercy. Forgive us for our sin and our perversion. Lord, would you give us leaders, politicians, godly men across our country that line up with your principles, your truth, your word, Lord? Father, help us to be the leader of the world that we once were. And Lord, we come as a church family. Father, we come burdened, but Lord also in faith. You told us to cast all that care upon you, so we do so, Lord.

Thank you. You’re capable of handling even situations like this and bringing so much good out of it. We ask you to do that. We’re going to trust you. Lord, we’re going to go in your joy because of our faith that you can handle it. Thank you, Father, for being our God, our Savior, and, Lord, omnipotent. We trust in you, Lord. You’re wonderful. Bless our people for praying. Help us to handle it as you have us to.

And we’ll thank you, Lord, for what you do. Father, we ask for this in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Prayer is the key. Prayer is the key. You say, I don’t know everything about the situation. God does. I don’t know everything about it either, but God does. And let’s go in faith. Thank you so much for praying. Now, here’s the thing: We don’t go for the rest of the day just pouting. We’ll go for the rest of the day and say, hey, we did what God wants us to do. We’re praying about it. Let’s put it in His hands in faith. He can handle it. And even the biggest trials God can handle. God, I’m glad I serve a God that can handle these things, don’t you? We don’t go in fear, we go in faith, but we take them to God. We trust God, and we seek God’s mercy and His grace in these situations. Thank you for being a good church family that’s going to praise. And if we were in their situation, that’s what we’d want at least that. So let’s continue to pray.

James, Chapter number four, and the title this morning, How to Make the Devil Run. How many of you like to make the devil run? I don’t know about you, but I would, amen. We shouldn’t hate any person, any one, but we hate the devil, amen. You ought to have a good hater for the devil. Every heartbreak in the world, he’s behind it all. And how to make the devil run. James chapter number four, and we’re going to start in verse number six. James four, verse number six. Would you please stand if you’re able to just to show the word of God respect? And we try to do that around here best we can. And we got a lot to cover in a short amount of time to cover it. Can you all listen real fast out there?

Well, I thought you’d say yes because lunch is coming, but you didn’t. Even if you’re surprised, if you can’t listen fast, it’s longer. So can you listen fast? Good deal. You’re like, yeah, you better make it fast too, right? You know. And amen. Help me out with time. I thought it was so necessary for us to pray for Ukraine. That took some good amount of time. But we don’t want to leave without God working in our heart from His Word.

James chapter 4 verse number 6 if you would please. James 4 verse number 6. But he giveth more grace.

I pause. My mind’s here, there, and yonder. It’s the last announcement I make, I promise we’re going to get to preach. You. We were going to show a video this morning. We’re coming out with a new just short series on the Bible and the issues as the title of it. It’ll be just like five, six minute clips. I was going to show you the first one, and it’s the Bible and transgender.

And we’ll show it tonight. We took that out because we need to pray for Ukraine. But here’s why I mention it, because I want you to share it. Tomorrow morning, 8 o’clock, I’ll come out on our Facebook account, our YouTube account, and I want you share it everywhere you can. Not because I’m a part of it—somebody does a much better job than me—but because we want the truth to get out. And the truth’s got me. And young people typically in our day and time go to the Internet. And we’re trying to flood the Internet with truth.

And so tomorrow morning would you be watching, or better yet, come tonight and you’ll see it. And then it’ll come out on YouTube and Facebook tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock. And I want you to share it everywhere you can, both of those platforms, just trying to get the truth out. He said, well, I already know the truth. They can share it with somebody else who won’t know the truth. Just share it everywhere.

And all right, I promise, we’re going to get down to brass tacks here. All right, verse number six, I’m sorry. But He giveth more grace.

“Wherefore he saith, ‘God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’” Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Did you notice that word “you”?

Would you do this? I’m going to read it again. Would you put your name in there? You’re a you, aren’t you? Now I want you put your name in there. I mean, whatever it is, would you put your name in there? When we get to that you, that last word of this verse, would you put your name in it? And would you say it out loud? Would you do that? Here we go. I’ll pause before that last word, all right? Here we go. Submit yourself, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from—that’s biblical. It’s a promise from God, His word—flee from you.

Let’s pray. We’ll get going just as quickly as we can. Father, give me wisdom, Lord, I sure need it, to say what I believe you want me to say, but in a short amount of time. Lord, these are great people. I believe they’ll be patient on that, but I want to be wise also. So help us, Lord. Big thing, would you send your Spirit moving amongst us? That’s what we need, Lord. You could accomplish what I, in just a second of time, what I cannot accomplish in years. So would you work, Father, please? We’ll thank you and rely on you for what you do. Father, we’re asking for that in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

You may be seated. I’m going to confess a sin right off the bat. Now, don’t look at me like that because I think many of you are guilty of this sin also, all right, so stick with me here. How many of you have been to the pet store, PetSmart, Petco, one of these places, and you go by the fish section, and you see all these little fish in that aquarium, and you can’t resist it?

You know what I’m talking about. You’re getting ahead of me. You just can’t resist that aquarium’s right there. And you can’t help but you put your hand right there. And you see all those, boom, you know. And you think you’re cool, you know. Look at me, man, I got power. You just put your hand there and they run. Come on now. Be honest with me. I’m confessing here. Come on now. If you don’t confess, you need to go to the altar. How many did it before? Come on now. Come on, come on. Confess up, there we go, there we go. The rest of you, you know you did it before, you need to come to the altar later on here. And then after you do it about three times, five times, do you see that sign, “Please do not tap the glass”? How many people?

Now, look, the Bible says Satan—not exactly like Satan will flee from you. That’s a promise. That’s not what Pastor Paul says. That’s what God says. Satan will flee from you. There’s power in that promise for him.

Now we’re going to go through this and we’re going to try to get the whole context a little bit here in that. So y’all stick with me, all right? We’re going to go back up to verse number one. Get your Bible. You got your Bible out? Everybody got your Bible out? If you don’t have a Bible, you can pull it out in a chair in front of me underneath there. There’ll be one somewhere. We’re going to go up to verse number one. James 4:1, verse number one. James 4:1, verse number one. You’re there? Amen. We’re just going to look at the Bible a little bit this morning, verse by verse by verse. We get these verses here. Just a minute, we’ll get there.

Here we go. “From whence come wars and fighting’s among you? Come they not hence, even of your lust that war in your members?”

He’s saying this, he’s saying, look, you have all this outward fighting, wars, groups of people fighting against groups of people. We see that in the world. It’s sad when you see that in churches sometimes. And this clique is fighting against this clique. Praise the Lord, we don’t have much of that in our church, and I’m so thankful for that.

But it’s sad when that happens in the Christian world. But this group fighting with this group, or sometimes just fighting among you, two individuals just fussing with them. It’s sometimes husbands and wives.

But where’s this fussing and fighting? Where’s it coming from, fighting amongst you? Where does that come from? Brothers and sisters fight. And he’s saying these outward fightings come from inward—something inside is going on. Something on the inside’s not right. You have issues on the inside.

Sometimes we don’t deal with issues on the inside, and it comes out in bad ways and starts fights with others. But verse number one, you have all this outward fussing and fighting because you’ve got inward issues. All right, y’all with me here? Let me go quick. Verse number two, verse number two. “Ye lust, and have not; ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” This is coming from God, speaking through James. He’s saying, look, you want all these things, and the reason why you never get to obtain—my, the most important things: love, joy, and peace—you never get to these things, and it might not be the reason, but there are things you won’t. You never get there because you don’t pray. Remember old John Rice used to say, “Every problem you have is a prayer problem.”

You said, “What?” That’s what he’d say. Every problem you have is a prayer problem. Verse number one, you got all this fighting among them. By the way, you’re fighting everywhere, every relationship you’re in. Better look at the mirror. Okay? But so you got all this fighting out here because something’s not right in the inside. Then it goes the next verse. He said, you never really get any of these things, whatever they may be, because you don’t pray.

Someone said prayer is one of those things we talk about so much and practice so little. I wonder if we somehow could put some kind of a monitor on me and on you, and we can find out how many times throughout the day we truly, honestly, connect and talk with God. How much would it be? I wonder. Wonder for me. Let’s keep going. This is a sad, depressing picture.

All the way down to verse number five. Verse number three, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your own lusts.” That “amiss” has to do with your request or desire. They’re sickly. He’s saying verse number three, all right, you got those inner problems. That’s why you’re fighting with each other, verse number one, verse number two. He says, you’re never going to get them because you don’t pray. Number three, you finally start praying, but all your requests are just so selfish, and it’s all about you, you, you, you, you. And all about you consuming upon your own lusts. It’s just such… And by the way, one of the things that describes the end-time people is they are lovers of self. We’re there, and it’s sad when it seeps into my world. We’re just selfish people.

And it’s all about me, me, me, me, me. If we could put a monitor recorder on us, I wonder how much of our conversation throughout the day would be about us, me, my life, not about others. And God sees just a pitiful situation. The guy that’s fussing because you’ve got inner problems and then you don’t pray, you’re not getting anywhere. Then you’ll finally start praying, but it’s still all about you. Kind of a sad commentary.

Verse number four, if you would. Verse number four, James 4:4. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses.” Wow, those are some strange, excuse me, strong words. Wow.

He’s talking about somebody that’s cheating on their spouse. He’s using a spiritual application here, but a bit of strong language God uses. He says, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” Enmity has to do with enemy. Is enmity with God? “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Wow, that’s some strong language God uses. Can I say in America it is a sad condition—not all, and I can follow this category sometimes, unfortunately—but it’s a sad condition when worldly Christianity—notice I use that wording biblically—becomes the popular Christianity.

And God says it breaks my heart just like when a spouse cheats on a spouse. Someone said the church is so much in the world, and the world is in the church, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. Now, the world is in the church—excuse me, the church is in the world to reach the world. We ought to be there reaching out with the love of Christ. But when the world’s in the church, we’ve got problems. And it’s just a sad commentary. God said, my heart is breaking.

Because, can I just say this, Christians that are persecuted in many nations for the cause of Christ—China, the Ukraine right now, and others, other places—Ukraine is going that way if they take them over. These places, friend, you realize to some of them, I heard some of them say from some of these places, “Wow, when I moved to America, I thought I was going to kind of like moving to the Mecca of Christianity, but I was shocked how weak the faith of Christians are in America.” It’s kind of like, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.” And we’re not careful. We don’t want to stand up and identify Christ, so we blend in with the world. And God says, man, that breaks my heart. You’re going over the world system that killed Jesus Christ. It breaks his heart.

Let’s keep going. Because we’ve got to get some good news because y’all are looking sad out there. My goodness. Man, we’ve got to get some good news here. Where we have verse number five. Verse number five, “Do you think the scripture saith in vain, ‘The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy’?” I do not believe he’s talking about the Holy Spirit. I believe he’s talking about our spirit, our fleshly spirit. The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.

He says, you get to the point where your spirit, your demeanor, your attitude, you’re just always envious. You just want more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more hours. You’ve got to have more freedom, you’ve got to have more things, they’ve got to have more popularity, got to have more friends on social network, whatever it may be. You’re just more, more, more, more cars, more houses, and you’re never just happy. He says, sad thing when you just get to the point, you’re just to the point your spirit just lusts to envy. It always wants just, just want more.

It bothers me sometimes here, and I’ve been guilty of it. I hear somebody getting a new car, new house, or somebody gave somebody something. I said, “Well, I need their address. I sure wish I had one of those.” Well, shame on me. Praise God, they got that. Be happy for it. I mean, the point is it’s just all about just wanting more, more, more. It’s kind of a sad commentary where we’re at. Y’all with me out there?

Here’s a good thing, all right? Here’s the wonderful thing. It’s sad. Verse number one, you got all this fighting because something going on inside ain’t right. Number two, you never really get anything because you won’t pray. Number three, you finally pray, but it’s all selfish, selfish, selfish. Then number four, you put on this form of God, and there’s got no power; it’s just this worldly Christianity. And verse number five, it’s finally your spirit dwells—you’re just lusting, always wanting; it gets envious. You’re jealous of the whole world, if you were.

Here’s the best, I think I’m right in saying the best part of this whole thing. Look at verse number six, right here, verse number six: “But he giveth more grace.” Oh, praise the Lord for that.

If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t stand there. By the way, he’s talking about some of that’s had some grace. God’s people so often. That’s why he’s talking about this worldly Christianity and everything. But he’s getting down and he said, but after all, after all our failures, God gives more grace. Man, I’m so glad I serve a God that’s so gracious. Man, if I got what I deserved, friend, it wouldn’t look pretty, that’s for sure. If I got deserved it, I’d be burning in hell. But praise God, even after he saved me, he changed my life, I still messed up, but he gives more grace. Praise the Lord for the more grace. By the way, the grace is not me getting where I deserve something. Grace is me getting something I don’t deserve. It’s God’s blessings, God’s riches at Christ’s expense. He paid for them on the cross at Calvary, and I’m getting these blessings not because I’m all that, but because Christ paid for those blessings. Praise the Lord. At the end of the day when I fall flat on my face, I’m so far from being what I ought to be, God gives more grace. I’m so thankful for that. It would be a dark—not just picture, but a dark world if it wasn’t for His grace. A dark life if it wasn’t for His grace. Praise your Lord, but he giveth more grace. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, amen. It’s all His grace. That’s why when we go to heaven, we won’t brag on ourselves and look at me. We’ll say, “Jesus, all these crowns belong to you anyway. Let me lay them down at your feet; it’s your grace.” Hebrews says we serve Him out of grace anyway.

We’ve got to hurry along, but we’re going to get off on too many rapid trails. Amen, we’ve already been on a bunch of them this morning. It’s all your fault; y’all get me off on everything. What a blessing. Man, Satan’s got us. By the way, I’m talking to even Christians. Yes, you can’t be demon-possessed, but you can be demon-oppressed. Just like you can go home, but you rented out, and somebody moves in that place and tears it apart in a Christian’s life and just tears that thing apart, though they’re a child of God, and it’s sad to see. You say it so often.

To that, it’s kind of like we’re in the ring with the devil, and the devil’s got his foot on our neck, and he’s up there laughing, and he’s about to squash us, and praise the Lord, grace steps in the ring. Praise the Lord for that. He’ll win every time. Jesus beat him on the cross. Now let’s keep going. Let’s keep going this verse. But He giveth more grace.

Wherefore, or if we will, because of this thing here, wherefore he saith, “Wow, look at this. God resisteth the proud.” Wow. You know God never says in His word—many of you have to, but I’ve read it too many a time—I’ve never read one time in God’s holy word where he says, “God resisteth the homosexuals.” Now I hate the sin, but he loves the sinner. And the homosexual individual is all proud, and how did God resist them? But God never says—God never says He resists the drug addict or the alcoholic or the murderer. In fact, I met with a homosexual that was battling it. We showed them from Scripture how it’s wrong, and they admitted they faced it and they needed victory, but they were battling it, and they were humble, and God was so merciful and gracious to that individual, trying to help them win over that sin.

But you let some of us think we got it all together, and we look so good on the outside, and we got self-righteousness, and we’re always criticizing everybody else and blaming everybody else. You let somebody like that get to God, and God says, “No, I resist the proud.” Sad thing is many people living those lifestyles that just talk about are proud why they’re there and stay there. But the same thing can be true of us.

God’s amazing. God, he said, look, the thing is because God gives more grace, why in the world are you proud? But when I resist God—I mean, excuse me, when I get proud, God resists me. The Bible says the proud He knows afar off. You won’t get close to God.

Here’s the thing. Here’s the thing that’s so sad. God gives more grace, but when I’m proud, even grace won’t help me. Did you hear that? That’s a bold statement, but it’s a sad statement too, but it’s a truth. When I get proud, even grace won’t help me. Y’all are quiet. You can say amen there.

God resisteth the proud. Let me read for what Spurgeon—and I love to, I don’t read as much as I should, Spurgeon and stuff—but I love some of this stuff. Let me read for what Spurgeon said about this verse. This is what he wrote about this: “The testimony of Scripture concerning man’s nature is manifestly true. We are by nature selfish and envious, but grace will enable us to conquer our inbred sins if we humbly own them and ask for help to overcome them.” See, the thing is, well, verse number one is not me, verse number two, four, five—I’m none of those. I got it all together. Well, you get no grace. I don’t know about you. How many out there? You need grace. I need grace. I need grace real bad. And he gives more grace, but God, he said, no, hey, second, because I give grace, let me tell you what to do: I resist the proud.

Shame on us and shame on me. I don’t get the grace of God because I’m proud. I don’t deserve this. I’m going around pointing out everybody else’s flaws, and I’m no better than that, and look at me. I don’t deserve what’s going on in my life because of me, me, me, me. I would just own up and say, you know what? I’m envious. I’m always… I don’t pray like I ought to. I pray too much about me. I’m always focused on me. I got those outward fightings because something’s going on inside. Something ain’t right. I got some issues inside. We just own it. Well, that’s a little humbling. As long as I’m pointing out everybody else’s flaws, nobody’s looking at me, we think so far from the truth. I want to just own it. I got problems. God’s so gracious.

That homosexual that I mentioned earlier wasn’t planned on, but they had somebody, a friend of theirs, go to my house, and they were with them because they’re so burdened. I think one night after the church service, so burdened about it. And my children were little, so we went down in the garage and met in the garage. You know, they were humble enough to say, “Man, I’ve got to have some help. I just, I got, I got a problem.” God had grace for them. If I just humbly own my problems, we all got them for Him. Only one that didn’t have problems, and he walked on water, and I haven’t seen any of us walking on water. I try to even float on water, I drown. Man, it doesn’t work for me, you know.

Look at the next part of this verse here. I love this verse. It’s wonderful. Look at this thing. First statement really makes: “But he giveth more grace.” Praise the Lord, that’s our only hope for Him. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore God, he said, if God resisteth the proud. Here it is. Look at it: “But giveth grace unto the humble.”

Oh, my goodness, we just humble down, He gives grace.

You know, the Bible many times talks about us humbling ourselves. I’ve said it many times from the pulpit, God can humble us, and He will humble us. Pride goeth before destruction, and the haughty spirit before it fall. D.L. Moody used to say, “Stay humble or stay true.” God, you get proud, God will humble you, and no problem for God to do that. But the Bible often talks about us humbling ourselves. The verse we use about a nation a lot, 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, upon whom my name is called, shall humble themselves…” Over there in Peter, “Humble yourselves, therefore.” Many passages. Humble yourself, therefore. Humble yourself. That’s what God says: “I got grace for you.” Oh, it’s so good when somebody just says, “I got problems.”

Look, nobody’s ever going to get saved until they admit they’re a sinner. Come humbly. Can’t save themselves. Nothing they can do to save themselves. They just come humbly, and God’s got grace. He’ll save them. But they got to admit they’re a sinner and can’t save themselves. They’ve got to admit that by trusting and trusting fully in Christ. God’s got grace for them. It’s available. Let me ask you this question. We’re trying to move along quickly. We’ve got to move along quickly. Let me just ask you. I want you to think about it.

All right, God, the Bible talks a lot about us humbling ourselves, all right? Let me ask you, how good are you at humbling yourselves? I mean, you humbling yourself. How good are you at that? He gives grace to the humble. Oh, He’s got grace where you can abound to every good work.

He gives grace to the humble. William Carey, a great missionary years gone by, he’s known as the father of modern missions, William Carey, great missionary. He, at the end of his life, was known in some ways around the world. And God used him so very, very greatly. He was an intelligent man.

He spoke many languages. Nobody really will put a number on it. I would dare say he knew at least part of a dozen languages. I mean, he knew multiple languages. He was known even in the secular world for the linguistics, just an amazing man. And he went to India, I believe it was, and he received so many honors. Now here’s the thing: he would not receive an honor unless in some way it helped the cause of Christ in India. That was his standard. Now as young, he started off as a shoemaker. A shoemaker, somebody back in the day used to repair shoes. Okay? That’s how he started off. Years later, when he was very known, he translated the Bible into several languages, at least partially in several of them, I think completely in one or two. Just amazing man.

But later on, he was known around the world, and they were having a large English party where English officers and everybody, the elite, were there, and they invited Dr. William Carey. He was known around the world in some ways, very known at this point. And he’s at this state dinner.

And they were there socializing, and he heard one of the English officers behind his back talking. He overheard him. And this is what the English officer said. He says, “Was not your great Dr. Carey a shoemaker at one point?” And Dr. Carey heard that. And he turned around and he spoke to the man. And this is what he said. He said, “No, sir, I was only a cobbler.”

In other words, he said, “I wasn’t even good enough to make shoes. I was just a shoe repairman at that point.” A friend, you say that’s somebody that’s good at humbling themselves. How good are you and I at humbling ourselves? God gives grace to the humble. Someone said it’s only the small birds that sing; the large birds, they crow. Humble Christians are happy. They’ve got the grace of God in their life.

Now we’ve got to hurry along because we’ve got to get to the heart of the mess about those fish running, right? We haven’t gotten to the fish running. Verse number seven, we’ve got to hurry along. Y’all still with me out there? Good deal, good deal. Trying to hurry along. Verse number seven, verse number seven: “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

It all starts with submitting yourselves. By the way, part of the submitting is humbling yourselves and submitting yourselves to what God’s allowing in your life. I don’t like these problems. I don’t like this situation. I don’t like these rules. I don’t like my parents. I don’t like the school. I don’t like my boss. You submit. You will not have the power to resist the devil until you first of all submit to God. You submit.

“Submit yourselves, therefore, to God.” It’s so key. To have time for a little illustration about that. Thank you for Brother Marlin, Brother Frank. If you want to go, it’s all their fault. All right? Shoot spitwads at them, not at me, amen. A very dear friend of mine said they were going through some problems at their church and a lot of problems in their life.

And they said they had—it seemed like the attack of the devil one night. They were laying in their bed. They said, just—they’ve never had anything like it—just the devil was their oppression or a demon, whatever it was. And they’re just sweating profusely. And just their spouse couldn’t sleep. They had to get up and leave because it just—it never had, it never felt anything like that in all their life. And so they started—they started going through their life, just submitting themselves. They were having problems with their church, their pastor, and they submitted themselves to the pastor as far as a pastor or authority. They submitted themselves, it was a lady, to their spouse. They submitted themselves to the Lord in every area of their life, and they said the more they submitted, the more they felt the power to resist this demon that was trying to oppress them.

“Submit yourselves, therefore, to God.” What’s the next thing? Resist. Resist. Resist. Don’t debate. We talked about that in Sunday school. Don’t debate. You resist. Can I give you a couple of things that we like to do, at least my flesh likes to do? I don’t like to resist. I like to wallow in the sin.

Have my little field day, but there’s always scars that last when you wallow in sin.

Or we like to wallow in pity. “Oh, I got it so bad. Nobody knows how bad I have it.” Don’t wallow in sin. Don’t continue in the sin, and don’t wallow in self-pity. Resist the devil. He’s going to tempt you to sin. He’s going to tempt you to fall. He’s going to tempt you to get proud again. He’s going to tempt you to get bitter. You resist the devil. Don’t go over there and butter up with him. Don’t walk on the edge of the cliff. He’ll lead you to fall pretty soon. Get away from the cliff and say, “Satan, I’m resisting you. I don’t want to go anywhere around that sin, whatever may be in my life. I want to stay 10 miles away from it.” I’m resisting the devil. Resisting.

Now we get to the fish finally. “And he will flee from you.” You can win. You don’t have to fall away in Satan attacks. You don’t have to live in pity. You don’t have to live in regret for the rest of your life. You can win. Friend, it all starts with us. Man, I got problems. God said, “I got more grace for you.”

And you humble down, God gives you grace. You say, “All right, Lord, I’m going to submit to everything you have going on in my life. I don’t like it all, but I’m going to submit to it. And I’m going to resist the devil with everything I’ve got.” I’m going to—the Bible talks about Hebrews, fighting against sin, even the blood tried against sin. I mean, you say, “I’m not going there, not one inch. I’m not giving up an inch of ground. I’m going to stand firm, and I’m going to resist you, Satan.” Just like you boom, with that fish take, Satan, he flees from you.

Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please? Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. I’m going to do a little differently. I’m going to pray up front and I’m going to answer some questions.

Father, Lord, would you bless our invitation now and help us to come humbly and get the grace you have for us? And Lord, help us to resist the devil. Lord, I pray this would represent many victories and the devil fleeing from them.

Our heads are bowed and eyes are closed. You say, “Preacher, I need grace. I got problems. Problems inside. Got wounds, got issues, got weaknesses, flaws. I need to pray more. I tend to pray so much so selfishly. I can get envious, always wanting more. Preacher, that’s me. I need grace. I need grace.” If that’s you this morning, you slip your hand up. “Preacher, that’s me. I need grace, I need grace.”

I see many, many hands. Would you do this? Would you come to an old-fashioned altar? Let’s all stand if you would, please. Let’s all stand. Would you stand? Would you stand? If you just raised your hand, would you come down an old-fashioned altar? Would you do that? Our instruments just play. Let’s just play. Let’s just say, “Lord, I need grace.” Oh, I need it. I need it. That’s good. You say, “It’s a little humbling to come.” Yeah, yeah. That’s not a bad thing. He gives grace to the humble. Let’s just come. Our instruments just play softly, if you would, please. Just softly.

Oh, that’s good, that’s good. Man, I’ve got—we all have it. I for sure do. My hand’s up on this one. Our heads bowed, eyes are closed. You say, “I need to resist. I need to resist. I’m too prone to pity parties or blame or justification or self-righteousness. I just need to resist the devil. I need to resist.” Sometimes I can wallow in it. God spoke to my heart. I need to resist. I just need to resist. If that’s you this morning, you slip it up. “If I need to resist. I need to resist.” That’s you. You just slip it up. God bless you. God bless you. If you would, would you come down an old-fashioned altar? Having to resist. Having to resist. We’re all there. Don’t think somebody looking down on you. We’re all there, friend. All in the same boat. Coming to an old-fashioned altar. It’s great. Right now, you can come right now. The altar’s open. That’s right. Just come.

Helping to resist the devil, having to resist him. Maybe you’re there and you say, “Preacher, I need to get saved. I realize it all starts at salvation. I don’t want to go to hell. I want to go to heaven. I need to become a child of God. I need to get saved.” Maybe there’s somebody here: if you were to die, this was it, today was your last day, I don’t know if I’d wake up in heaven or hell. I need to get saved. I don’t want to go to hell. If that’s you, if that’s you…

Now, heads bowed and eyes closed. “Preacher, I need to get saved. I don’t want to go to hell. I need to get saved.” If that’s you, would you slip your hand up? “Preacher, I need to get saved.” Anybody like that? I need to get saved. Just slip your hand up. Slip it up. Anybody like that? Would you slip your hand up? I need to get saved.

I don’t see any hands. Man, let’s just come get the grace. “But He giveth more grace.” Praise the Lord. Grace available. Grace available. What a wonderful thing for His grace. Would you just spend some time thanking Him for the grace and loving on Him? Humbling ourselves. Tell Him how much you need Him. You need His grace. It’s available. Just spend some time drawing nigh unto God, getting His grace. It’s available.

Maybe you and the Lord right there where you stand and make your plan: how are you going to resist the devil? How are you going to resist it? How is it going to happen when that besetting sin comes? How are you going to overcome? Make some plans with Him. Maybe you’ve fallen. We all have. Praise the Lord, He gives more grace. Would you come to Him? Don’t run from Him. Come to Him. He’s got more grace. No reason we ought to leave here. God’s got more grace. Got it all available. We all need it. I needed it.

Praise the Lord. “But He giveth more.”

Are you glad you serve a God that gives more grace? Would you say amen right there? Boy, I’m so glad about that. I hope that was a help. I hope you think through all that, which I rushed through it. But if you remember anything, remember He gives more grace. Praise the Lord for that. We’ll all need that. And praise the Lord, He’s got it. Let’s just come humbly to Him, and He’s got it available for you. He really, really does.

Are you glad you’re in church today? Would you say amen? Good deal. Go home. Go home and say, “Hey, He’s got more grace,” and it’s got all the grace you need. When you eat that dessert you ought not to have had, say, “All right, Lord, I’m sorry.” Tomorrow. It’s always tomorrow, you know. Well, we’ll see. Hopefully you’ll win over that. Some of you do it better than others, but me, I’ll say, you know. But praise the Lord for that. But He gives more grace, praise the Lord for it. So glad you’re in church this morning. Don’t forget tonight, 6 o’clock. Be back in your place, God’s house. God’s so pleased with you being at His house this morning, right where you ought to be, and we’re glad you’re here also. Praise the Lord for a lot of us, and that is. And amen.

Original File: How to make the devil run - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday AM 22722