Thursday, November 25, 2010

Pride & Humility

Psalm 10:2-4 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."

In last Sunday’s sermon, our Pastor gave a message that each and every one of us need to reflect upon and take to heart. He asked, “What is life worth living for?” Honestly, who do we listen to and work to please – the enemy (the flesh, the world, & the Devil) or God (Father, Son & Holt Ghost)? Proverbs 16:17-19 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Temptation surrounds us, seducing us to grumble and complain about what we want, what we do not have and the way that we desire. Pride competes with God, as we want things our way, not His. The flesh tends to worship disobedience and rebellion and takes pleasure in fighting conformity. The notion that we are individuals that desires to do “our own thing”, even if it involves breaking the rules. That is the sin nature.

Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

There is a doctrine of “Regeneration” that involves God do a work in us. This change in our heart is initiated by the Lord and we need to respond. This is not a change in mindset or behavior, but our will. We are transformed from the inside out and receive a new heart bent towards God. Not because we have to do the “right” thing, but because we want to do the “right” thing in the eyes of the Lord and His desires are our deepest desires, for His purposes, His good pleasure, and His glory as we cling to the redemptive blood of Jesus.
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

We live for something higher then the distractions and temporary pleasures of this world. We put it all on the line for God and to be a part of where the Lord is moving today, as He cultivates our faith and knowledge of Jesus for our growth and maturity, while we depend and rely on His love and provision in aligning our desires with His and our moving with His movement in the world today. With love, joy and peace in humility, we affect the world for Christ. Amen

Colossians 3:11-13 “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
In Christ, Brian

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