Pride... will bring you down!!!

In the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 13, vs. 1-11, 15-16,  prophet Jeremiah writes,

This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not wash it." So I bought the belt as the LORD directed me and put it around my waist.  Then the LORD gave me another message: "Take the linen belt you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks."  [Away from the care of the owner - master - LORD.] So I went and hid it at the Euphrates as the LORD had instructed me.

A long time afterward, the LORD said to me, "Go back to the Euphrates and get the linen belt that I told you to hide there."  So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it.  But now it was mildewed and falling apart.  The belt was useless. [The atmosphere or the elements to which the belt was exposed to in the cool, damp, wet soil caused mildew and it ate away at the belt. A sin filled, worldly life will have the same effect on our bodies and our spirit. In the begining it may look like we are in control, then comes a time where it will own you.]  Then I received this message from the LORD: "The LORD says:  This illustrates how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.  These wicked people refuse to listen to me.  They stubbornly follow  their own desires and worship idols.  [What are the idols in your life?] Therefore, they will become like this linen belt - good for nothing!  As a belt clings to a person's waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, "says the LORD."  They were to be my people, my pride, my glory - an honor to my name.  But they would not listen to me...

...Listen! Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken.  Give glory to the LORD your God before it is too late.  Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the dark mountains.  For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon learned this the hard way. As the king stood atop his palace roof and looked out across the city of Babylon, he said to himself, "Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor." As he stood there filled with pride, the Bible in the Book of Daniel 4:31-32 says, "While he was still speaking these words a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you ! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.'

Another person who got a lesson in God's hatred of man's pride, but was too late to profit from it, was King Herod. Book of Acts, chapter 12 speaks of King Herod making a speech to a delegation from Tyre and Sidon. The Bible says in Acts 12:21-23, "...When the day arrived Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne and made a speech to them.  The people gave him a great ovation, shouting.  "It is the voice of a god, not of a man!"  Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died."

God gave Nebuchadnezzar an opportunity to learn from his mistake and he did well, and God restored him. The Book of Daniel 4:36-37, Nebuchadnezzar is quoted as saying, "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud."

If God has to rot away your pride, it will be a painful process, everything you trust in, rely on and take pride in, he will remove one by one to teach complete dependence on him.  If you think of a fruit rotting after a worm gets into it, its a slow process.  From within the rot starts, the splendor fades, the aroma fades, the taste fades, until it becomes unappealing.  Pride is like that worm in the fruit.

God wants his children to cling to him, like that linen belt around Jeremiah's waist. This thought runs completely contrary to our present day society where independence and self identity (or self promotion) is the theme of the day! Pride does not allow for dependence on God, it's all about ME, MYSELF and I!  It's about who I am, What I do, What I have, Which address do I live at, What clubs do I belong to, What labels do I wear... If God is clothed in glory, we who are his handiwork should display his glory from within us. When you realize your dependence on God and submit yourself in to his hand, he will display his glory and his might through you - as he did through the shepherd boy who slew the Philistine giant Goliath - King David.  The book of Zechariah 4:6, it is said, " it is not by force, nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty."

Jesus Christ himself teaches you in Mathew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls." To a humble and gentle God, who took humanity's sin upon himself, PRIDE he hates; in fact the Bible states, God abhors human pride.

Pride tears apart families, husbands from wives, fathers from their children, brother from brother, sister from sister, tears a country apart, causes ethnic cleansing/violences around the world, and prevents man from recoganizing God;  if only we would recoganize PRIDE in our lives!  My God, I pray for your grace in my life (for there is so much in me that needs change), to be humble and gentle as my savior, the LORD God Almighty himself!

Paul recognizes (in 2Corinthians 10:5) that it is the proud arguments that keep people from knowing God.  May God help us to bear a good testimony, as Paul says, spotless and unrebukeable, until the end of time.

When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor... James 4:10

Jeremy Camp - lay down my pride

God bless you!

Simply Amazing!

Amazing Grace - 7 yr old Rhema Marvanne

Where does your heart lie? (A thought from May 28th, 2010; 6:45 am)

Abraham waited 25 years for a blessing God had promised him - a son, Isaac - but he did not hesitate for a moment to return the blessing back to God upon God's asking for that blessing as a sacrifice.

1. What place does God have in your life?
2. Are you willing to part with your most treasured possessions for God?
3. Do you love Him with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength and all your soul?

The Bible (New Living Translation) in the Book of Mathew 19:16-24, talks of a rich young man and a question he posed to Jesus Christ,

16.  Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?"

17.  "Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied.  "Only God is good.  But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments."

18 - 19.   "Which ones?" the man asked.  And Jesus replied: " 'Do not murder.  Do not commit adultery.  Do not steal.  Do not testify falsely.  Honor your father and mother.  Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

20.  "I've obeyed all these commandments, " the young man replied.  "What else must I do?"

21.  Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me."

22.  But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions.

23.  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"

Are you compromising yourself?

I had previously written a blog, "Are you prepared?" based on the book of Mark, chapter 13, regarding how the passages made me think about: What were the priorities in my life? Did I have the assurance of salvation if I died this moment? What was I pregnant with? What was I nursing? Would it be the winter of my faith life if Christ's second coming was now?

The God of Israel, the God of the Bible...

Ever wonder about all the names for God that ancient Israelites used? I've heard many different names used in church worship and prayers, and have wondered what they meant.  So I read up on it; each name meant something God was for the Israelites.  Each name indicates the relationship of God to his children.  I think understanding the meanings of these names will help us better relate God to our situations. Here I post some names that I came across and there are many others.

As I was compiling this post, I came across a song - Yahweh - by Hillsongs with an introduction to who YHWH/Yahweh/Jehovah is and thought it would be an apt intro to this post...

Among the ancient Hebrews, the names for their God were:

El - a root name for God in the Old Testament

Elohim - is the plural form of EL or the triune God of Genesis or the Supreme God

Eloah (Elohim)

Adonai - "my Lord" (It became a practice in Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the name of God - YHWH outside the temple, but to say instead "my Lord" or "Adonai")

Ehiyeh sh'Ehiyeh - "I Am That I Am" a modern Hebrew version of "Ehyeh asher Ehyeh"

Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh - "I am that I am" (see YHWH)

Shaddai - Mighty one or Almighty

Tzevaoth (Tsebaoth) - "Heavenly Hosts"

Adon Olam -  "Master of the World"

Aleim - sometimes seen as an alternative transliteration of Elohim

Avinu Malkeinu - "Our Father, our King"

Boreh - "the Creator"

Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak ve Elohei Ya`aqov - "God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob"

Elohei Sara, Elohei Rivka, Elohei Leah ve Elohei Rakhel - "God of Sarah, God of Rebecca, God of Leah, God of Rachel"

El ha-Gibbor - "God the hero" or "God the strong one" or "God the warrior"

El Olam - "The Everlasting God"

El Shaddai - "The God Almighty"

El Elyon - "The Most High God"

El Hai - "The Living God"

El Ro'i - "The All Seeing God"

Emet - "Truth"

HaKadosh, Baruch Hu - "The Holy One, Blessed be He"

Kadosh Israel - "Holy One of Israel"

Melech HaMelachim - "The King of kings" or Melech Malchei HaMelachim "The King, King of kings", to express superiority to the earthly rulers title.

Magen Avraham - "Shield of Abraham"

Ribbono shel `Olam - "Master of the World"

Ro'eh Yisra'el - "Shepherd of Israel"

YAH - YHWH - JEHOVAH

YHWH (pronounciation Yahweh; Jehovah) - "I am who I am; I will be who I will be"

YHWH-Yireh (Jehovah-jireh) - "The LORD will provide" (Genesis 22:13-14) - My Provider!

YHWH-Rapha - "The LORD that healeth" (Exodus 15:26) - My Healer!

YHWH-Niss"i - "The LORD-Is-My-Banner" (Exodus 17:8-15) - My Vitctory!

YHWH-Shalom - "The LORD-Is-Peace" (Judges 6:24) - My sanity in struggles. They don't overcome me!

YHWH-Ro'i - "The LORD my Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) - Thank you Lord, for you are!

YHWH-Tsidkenu - "The LORD our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6) - My Counselor, my Defender!

YHWH Mekaddishkem - "The LORD our Sanctifier or the LORD Who makes You Holy" - Thank you Lord!

YHWH-Tsebaoth - "The-LORD-of-Hosts" - the One who fights my battles!

YHWH-Shammah - "The LORD-Is-there" or "The Lord is present" (Ezekiel 48:35) - My constant  companion!

YHWH Elohe Yisrael - "The LORD-God-of-Israel" - My God!

El Elohe Yisrael - "God, the God of Israel"

Tzur Yisrael - "Rock of Israel"

Abir - "Strong One"

Abir Yisrael - "The Mighty One of Israel"

Netsah Yisrael - "The Strength of Israel"

Bethel - "the House of God"

Gabriel - "Strength of God"

Michael - "Who is like God?"

Raphael - "God's medicine"

Ariel - "God's lion"

Daniel - "God's Judgement"

Ishmael - "God Hears"/"God Listens")

Peniel - "the Face Of God"

Yisrael or Israel - "God strives" or "one who has struggled with God"

Immanuel - "God is with us"

Shekhinah -  is the presence or manifestation of God which has descended to "dwell" among humanity.

Word - God (John 1:1, 14) - Jesus Christ

Your Name...Paul Baloche

Faith

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, it is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.  It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

Sometimes it is just so hard to hang in there waiting for God's deliverance or for Him to act. But in those times we have to make a practice of worshipping and praising God in faith, believing against all odds, pushing aside all doubts, just trusting in God to act. In the case of Abraham, Romans 4:20-21 says, "Abraham staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief [though he knew his wife was barren - Genesis 11:30]; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Recently, I had a bad experience trying to do the right thing. It sort of took the wind out of my sail, so to speak.  Sometimes we do things with the right intentions, but they bear the wrong results.  Very much troubled by what had happened I prayed and asked God why? I prayed for him to show me the way and point out what I may have done wrong. The scripture from 2 Chronicles below pulled me through, encouraging me that it was my job to plant the seed and it was for the Lord to water it and tend to it. The battle was not mine to fight, but the LORD's, though I should be ready and waiting patiently, prayerfully, and courageously for God's timing.  The Bible says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to rely on your own understanding." The scripture in 2 Chronicles talks about the reaction of King Jehoshaphat of Judah when he heard the alarming news of three separate armies marching together on his kingdom...

2 Chronicles 20:1-4,  After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.  Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, " A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.  They are already at Hazazon-tamar."  (This was another name for En-gedi.)  Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought the LORD for guidance. He also gave orders that everyone throughout Judah should observe a fast. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD.

Jehoshaphat's and Judah's cry to the Lord was,

vs. 12. O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us.  We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.

13. As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,

14. the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there...

15.  He said, "Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16. Tomorrow, march out against them.  You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that open into the wilderness of Jeruel. [An omniscient God who knows where your enemy is and what they are up to at all times!]

17.  But you will not even need to fight.  Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD'S victory.  He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"

Further into the chapter we read that as the people of Judah worshipped and sang praises to the LORD, the LORD threw the three armies into confusion and they started fighting amongst themselves. By the time the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point all they saw was dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see.

I had also been reading the Book of Acts and certain incidents in Paul's life seemed to be in parallel with what I had read in 2 Chronicles. The difference was that in Acts we see what happens if we do not stay within God's plan for us even as the circumstances seemed contrary to God's instructions, and our instincts say "flight" rather than "fight" our doubts and fears.

As we read Acts, chapters 21 through 27, Paul, following his second missionary journey, returns to Jerusalem knowing very well, forewarned by the Holy Spirit that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem. One day while he was at the Temple performing certain purification ceremonies (Acts 21:24), some jews from Asia who were there incited the crowd against Paul and attacked him.  The local Roman regiment commander intervened and arrested Paul. Let me summarize what we read in Acts chapters 21-27.  Paul was arrested and brought to trial, first in front of the Jewish High Council and as he gave his testimony, he realized (Acts 23:6) that some members of the council were Saducees and some were Pharisees.  Relying on his wisdom and intelligence, he took advantage of this and tried to manipulate a favorable outcome by telling the Pharisees in the council that he too was a Pharisee (true prior to becoming a disciple of Christ) and that his belief in the resurrection as a Pharisee was on trial. The Pharisees in the council agreed with Paul, but the resulting clamor amongst all who had gathered failed to accomplish what Paul had hoped for - his freedom. The Roman commander fearing that Paul would be killed, arrested him again and imprisoned him.  The Lord that night appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome."

The following morning Paul heard even worst news through his nephew that there was a powerful plot to kill him.  A group of Jews had taken a vow to not eat anything until they had killed Paul and they planned to carry this out when he appeared again in front of the Jewish high council.  Fearing for his life, Paul brought this to the attention of the Commander and Paul was escorted from Jerusalem under heavy guard to Caesarea where he faced trial in front of Governor Felix. Here Paul ends up spending 2 years in prison while his trial continued.

In the meantime, Felix was replaced by a new governor, Festus. The new governor wanting to please the powerful Jews asked Paul to stand trial in front of him back in Jerusalem.  Paul, realizing the danger in going back to Jerusalem to stand trial appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:9-11).  Apparently, under the Roman rule any one who appealed to Caesar would then have to be tried/heard in Rome and so Governor Festus complied. While waiting to be taken to Rome, King Agrippa, the local ruler (son of Herod Agrippa the emperor of Rome - the Caesar) who was visiting Festus, heard of Paul's story and was very much interested in a hearing. King Agrippa had the authority to settle local cases unless it had been appealed to Caesar. After listening to Paul's testimony, King Agrippa found him innocent of all charges the jews had brought against him and would have set him free, but because of Paul's appeal to Caeser, King Agrippa did not have the authority to do so anymore.   King Agrippa said to Governor Festus, "He [Paul] could be set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar!" (Acts 26:32)

Think for a moment, the Lord had promised Paul deliverance and safety (Acts 23:11) when He told him "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome." God was telling Paul that there was still work ahead for him and that his life would be preserved by God for the Good News to be preached.  But the circumstances were stacked so high up against Paul that it was humanly impossible for him to grasp what God was telling him... (He couldn't see past the painful and extremely stressful "present" experiences of his life.)  Paul was a highly educated man, trained under the best teacher there was of that time - Gamaliel.  Paul was an extremely intelligent man, well versed in all sorts of disciplines including religion and law, and based on his experiences that were choking his faith made decisions based on his intellect that did not give him a favorable outcome as he desired. Following his hearing in front of King Agrippa, Paul was taken to Rome with other prisoners. As we read Acts, chapter 27, we see all the dangers he had to face while sailing to Rome, almost losing his life, but for the hand of God delivering him at the proper time.  His decisions caused him years in imprisonment.

The lesson from these scriptures is also echoed in Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."  When you hear God's gentle whispers, hang in there within his plan even when your senses advise you to the contrary. God will grant victory to those who wait on him to act. Isaiah 30:15 says, "The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved.  In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it." The end of verse 18 of the same chapter says, "Blessed are those who wait for him to help them."

Hillsongs - Mighty to Save

Assurance in Jesus by Roy Lessin

Cousin Liz sent this encouraging devotional to me and I thought it'd be worth sharing with whomever stopping by my blog. A link is provided at the bottom to Roy Lessin's blog Meet Me in the Meadow.

Assurance

May Jesus assure you that as you follow Him

you will never meet a fear He cannot conquer,

you will never face an enemy He cannot defeat,

you will never enter a battle He cannot win,

you will never have a need He cannot meet,

you will never face a temptation He cannot overcome,

you will never have a burden He cannot lift,

you will never face a problem He cannot solve,

you will never have a bondage He cannot break,

you will never have a moment when He does not care,

you will never have a time when He is not there.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

A Devotional by Roy Lessin, to read more and comment, visit his blog Meet Me in the Meadow »

Hillsong - You alone are God

A t C a l v a r y by William R. Newell, 1895

Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died

On Calvary.

Refrain:

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty

At Calvary.

By God's Word at last my sin I learned;

Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned

To Calvary.

Now I've giv'n to Jesus everything,

Now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing

Of Calvary!

Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary!