So, does God go with us when we go to unholy places? Absolutely. He is everywhere, watching everyone.
But not everyone gets the same benefits from His presence. He hears the prayers of some, but His face is against others. He gives grace to some, but He resists others.
Does He love some more than others? Not at all. God is love, and that holds true all the time, everywhere, in every situation. He does not play favorites.
So what's the problem? The problem is us. We all live in God's presence, but we don't all live under His influence. We are all under God's watching eye, but we are not all in His guiding hand.
What is the distinguishing characteristic between the two groups? Peter said it: some are proud, some are humble. The proud man trusts in himself. He thinks he can handle the situation. He doesn't feel he needs God's help. As such, he is not prepared to be influenced and empowered by God's grace.
But the humble man is altogether different. He distrusts himself and his ability to handle any situation in his own strength. He feels the constant need for God's help. As such, though he is weak, he is ready to receive God's grace, and God is more than willing to give him all that he needs.
So, the proud goes into unholy situations feeling confident in himself, but the humble goes into it submitted to God's power. God is with both, but only the humble will fully benefit from His presence.
This post has gotten too long already. If you want more details, listen to the next installment in my sermon series, From Sinners to Saints.
But not everyone gets the same benefits from His presence. He hears the prayers of some, but His face is against others. He gives grace to some, but He resists others.
Does He love some more than others? Not at all. God is love, and that holds true all the time, everywhere, in every situation. He does not play favorites.
So what's the problem? The problem is us. We all live in God's presence, but we don't all live under His influence. We are all under God's watching eye, but we are not all in His guiding hand.
What is the distinguishing characteristic between the two groups? Peter said it: some are proud, some are humble. The proud man trusts in himself. He thinks he can handle the situation. He doesn't feel he needs God's help. As such, he is not prepared to be influenced and empowered by God's grace.
But the humble man is altogether different. He distrusts himself and his ability to handle any situation in his own strength. He feels the constant need for God's help. As such, though he is weak, he is ready to receive God's grace, and God is more than willing to give him all that he needs.
So, the proud goes into unholy situations feeling confident in himself, but the humble goes into it submitted to God's power. God is with both, but only the humble will fully benefit from His presence.
This post has gotten too long already. If you want more details, listen to the next installment in my sermon series, From Sinners to Saints.