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1 Peter 5 The Distinction of Humility

5/27/2016

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Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10
​1 Peter 5
We’ve been learning about the distinction we have in following Christ and what an honor it is to suffer for Him. Brothers and Sisters, we do not suffer alone. We have one another. God established the church, the body of Christ in a model of His relationship with us. He works and speaks through us, His chosen and holy people to encourage, exhort, and edify one another. We do so in a model of Jesus relationship with us as we strive to always move forward in our transformation toward His image. One of the most important aspects of Jesus’ character and the most difficult to live is humility. But love is communicated most perfectly in humility. Verses 1-4 read,
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
 
The Lord put our pastors, deacons, and elders in place. He honored them by making them servants to His people as Jesus lived as a servant to us. Their job is difficult, their responsibility is immense. They will be judged with greater strictness than the majority (James 3:1). The longer we are walking in Christ, the more we ought to look act like Him. As we mature, we should be becoming teachers, mentors, and servants in the Kingdom (Hebrews 5:12). People in the position of elder must walk in humility and act in love. They are a living example of Jesus Christ to us. So we need to make sure we are showing them the respect they deserve. We need to model the humility of Christ by submitting to our pastors and other elders, by giving them the reverence they deserve as God’s anointed servants. Verse 5 reads,
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
 
Pride is a sneaky thing and it is in opposition to God. Atheism is not the opposite of Christianity; I-theism is. It is the exaltation of the self, the serving of one’s self, the living to please one’s self that opposes the Lord and serves Satan. But pride sneaks in. When we judge the elder or one another for imperfections, pride is showing its ugly head. When we look at the good works we’ve done for Christ and give ourselves a pat on the back, we open the door to pride. When we plan a mission to bring the lost to the Lord yet control every aspect because only we can do it right, pride walks in that door. When we accept the glory that belongs to God for the works being done, pride takes over, quenches the Holy Spirit and makes us ineffectual at best and makes people follow us straight to Hell at worst. Pride is at the core of sin. Lucifer fell because of His pride (Ezekiel 28:17). Adam and Eve sinned because of pride (Genesis 3:6). Judas betrayed Christ because of pride (Luke 22:3). Peter denied Christ because of pride (Luke 22:54-62). Peter was reconciled with Christ because Jesus loved him enough to forgive him and offer him the honor of caring for His church (John 21:15-19). Jesus exemplified humility for Peter and Peter was able to follow that example and submit to Jesus. Verses 6-7 read,
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
It is prideful to worry, to be anxious, and think that we have to take care of our problems on our own. All we have to do is humble ourselves before God and trust Him. He promised if we concerned ourselves with His kingdom, He would take care of all the details. In Matthew 6:33-34 Jesus said,
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Satan works through pride. He makes the lost think they do not need God and he makes Christians think they should depend on themselves rather than God for their transformations, good works, and provision. So be careful of pride. Verses 8-11 read,
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
 
You know, the devil your enemy is not all that. He’s puffed up with pride. He tries to look beautiful for the world and terrifying to Christians. But he isn’t. He attacks in fear. Do you know that you don’t have to fight with him or engage him at all? All you have to do is resist, to say, “Nope, not gonna give in” and he takes off like a coward.  To fight the enemy is to say you don’t trust that God will fight for you. It says you do not believe Jesus already overcame Satan, sin and death. Submit to God and trust Him to be God. James 4:6-10 reads,
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
 
Pride tells us that we can earn favor from God. Pride makes us trust the Law instead of the Lord. Peter closes this letter in verses 12-14
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
 
Believer, I encourage you today stand firm in the true grace of God, to ask God to reveal hidden pride in you, to look at your relationships and see if you are submitting to one another, and to submit yourself to God. You do not have to be afraid to submit to God, He loves you so very deeply.
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Esther Chapters 5 & 6 Haman’s Haughtiness Brought Him Low

5/1/2016

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For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6
​Esther 5 & 6
The Bible has a lot to say about haughtiness, none of it is good. Here are just a few verses about haughtiness:
Proverbs 16:8 is perhaps the most well-known. It is not a joke. Lift yourself very high and any trip can make you fall a long way down.
Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 reads,
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
The Lord hates haughtiness Proverbs 6:16-19 reads,
There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

Arrogance not only puts us first in our own eyes, it blinds us to everyone else’s needs, wants, and hopes. It blinds us to reality. And haughtiness or pride can sneak up on us, so that we don’t realize that it has taken over. It can be dissuaded and prevented though by how we handle the favor, blessings, and honor given to us. Today, we’ll read about Haman and how he handled favor and honor.
But first we will look at how Esther handled the very real problem of how to approach the King with the crisis of the saving the Jewish people from the law he had decreed via Haman. She, her personal servants, and the Jewish people of Susa had all fasted for three days. God gave her the answer she needed. Chapter 5 verses 1-8 read,
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.”5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
She would have been put to death for approaching the king. In her humility she turned to the Lord and He gave her the answer, to let the king see her and call her to him. Her obedience to the Lord also told her not to come straight out and explain the problem but do it this way so that rather than accuse a man of wrongdoing, God would reveal it. Verses 9-14 describe Haman’s pride stopping him from seeing anything but himself.
And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
Rather than be thankful for his immense blessings and enjoy life, haughtiness led Haman to want more. Instead of counting his blessings and being glad, he recounted his accolades and renown. His hate of Mordecai, to see the man not bow down before him or even acknowledge his nobility infuriated him. His fury made him forget he was not actually king and he decided to destroy Mordecai in grand fashion and have a 75 foot tall gallows built. That would allow everyone to see the price paid for not trembling before him.
But God had other plans. God planned to save His people. God planned to avenge His people. Chapter 6 verses 1-3 read,
On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 
While Haman wanted to bring Mordecai dishonor and death, God had made a way to bring Mordecai honor he had not sought and give him life. The King wanted to reward Mordecai for saving his life. Verses 4-6a read,
And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?”
I interrupted the verse because I want to ask us to consider what our answer to the question would be. This powerful king is asking his most trusted official for some advice. How would you answer the question? What is the best way for the king to honor a valiant act? Verses 6b-11 read,
And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
Would you assume the question is about you or would you think of the best way to honor someone? Haman assumed it was all about him and the answer he gave was something he wanted for himself instead of something appropriate to honor a person for a heroic deed. Everything he said should be done had to be done for Mordecai. Haman wanted nothing more than Haman’s disgrace and death and he had to lead him through the city wearing the king’s robes and riding the king’s horse ordering people to pay him homage. Haman didn’t take it well. His pride wouldn’t let him learn a lesson. His conceit didn’t remind him that the king might discover his plot and so it would be best to come clean and try and fix things. His arrogance wouldn’t let him see that Mordecai was not the evil man he supposed him to be. His pride had him acting like a spoiled child. Reflect and see if your pride, like my own has blinded you to reality, deafened you to God’s voice, or silenced your conscience. Verses 12-14 read,
Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Haman whined and complained to everyone about what had happened. Do you wonder if his friends thought he wasn’t acting very honorably or nobly? Do you wonder if they were tired of listening to him honk his own horn? They knew about his plan to kill Mordecai and now they knew how he had been forced to honor him. Accolades are not supposed to come from ourselves; then they are not really accolades. Proverbs 27:1-2 says it this way,
Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips.

Believer, ask the Lord to reveal pride to you so that you can repent before you fall. Do good works and let your honor come from others. Honor Jesus Christ with your entire life. Put your trust in God, not in yourself.
 
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Esther Chapter 1 Pride Keeps You Away From The King

4/28/2016

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One's pride will bring him low,     but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23
Frank Miller's rendition of Xerxes for his graphic novelFrank Miller's rendition of Xerxes for his graphic novel
Esther 1
King Ahasuerus was most likely also the same king known as Xerxes and Artaxerxes II Mnemon. He was one of the most powerful ancient kings. He ruled Persia for 46 years from 404 to 358 BC. He is portrayed in the Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300 as an unbeatable and terrifying giant warrior king. History remembers him as powerful, wealthy, and a great king with but not quite as evil as Frank Miller would have us think. 






​
Verses 1-9 describe him,
Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
 
For 180 days the king showed the riches of his royal glory and his greatness. That is a nearly six months of showing himself off. But it made people understand that he was not someone to be reckoned with. Afterward, he threw a week long feast for the men and His wife Queen Vashti hosted a similar feast for the women. Wine flowed freely and after a week of partying and drinking the king decided to brag about and show off his beautiful wife. Verses 10-12 read,
 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.
The king and queen were by no means equal. She was queen, but had no power except to give birth to an heir. She was in every way subservient to the king and the only power she had was to try and sway him. If the king called her, it was her responsibility to obey. She had no right to refuse him. Perhaps her privileged position as the chosen wife of King Ahasuerus made her feel entitled. She was his only legal wife, though he had many concubines. History infers that they loved one another or at least he loved her.
I think that sometimes we can tend to forget that God chose us, not because of anything we did, but simply because He loves us. He thinks we are beautiful and wants the world to see it. God chose Israel too and pride caused her to forgot the privilege of her position as God’s chosen nation and begin disregarding God’s law.
I imagine Vashti was showing off in front of the women. She was hosting a party to honor the king’s riches and power but she was parading it as her own. When the king called her, she didn’t want to be humiliated by proving herself a servant; she wanted to demonstrate her own power over him by refusing him. The women might have been impressed and likely shocked, but Vashti’s pride would cause a problem for her and for them.
God loved Israel enough to become very angry with her. Ahasuerus loved Vashti enough to become angry and he reacted in his rage. Verses 13-15 read,
Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media,who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”
The king was prudent enough to have advisors, but one wonders if he didn’t lean too much them. He perhaps was not wise enough to consider the ramifications of their advice. Throughout the book of Esther he tends to listen to his wise men and just do whatever they tell him to do. Verses 16-20 record the opinion they gave the king.
Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”
In his anger this advice seemed sage. Mecuman had his own agenda; other noble women (his wife included) would not put up with the men as their masters if the king let the queen get away with insubordinate behavior. They would begin to question and disobey their husbands. They likely already were, Prince Memucan wanted an obedient and submissive wife. He played on Ahasuerus’ machismo and pride. Since King Ahasuerus was already angry he wasn’t thinking clearly and he heard Memucan’s counsel and went for it. Verses 21-22 read,
This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.
The edict sent out made women second-class citizens all because Vashti pride led her to disobedience, and the king’s pride and anger led him to a rash and foolish decision. What has pride done in your life? Pride is dangerous. It brings people down, and since it causes us to exalt ourselves so high, the fall is a long and hard one.  Proverbs 16:18-19 says it this way,
Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.

God’s Kingdom is backward from the way the world sees it. Honor doesn’t come from us lifting ourselves up, it comes from the ability to submit, to bow down and be lifted up. Jesus described it this way in the parable recorded in Luke 14:8-11,
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Although it doesn’t say it in this chapter, we know that the king obeyed Memucan and banished the queen and sought someone to replace her (Esther 2:1-4). Like Israel was banished to captivity for her pride, Vashti was banished from the king’s presence for hers.
Our pride can keep us from The King as well. It can make us unwilling to obey, unwilling to acquiesce, and unwilling to hear reason. Rather than answer the call to be with Him, we will promote our own agenda and stand on our own strength. Rather than glorify Him by our beauty because of His splendor and riches, we choose to glorify ourselves and show the people around us how we do not need anyone. Believer, don’t let your pride keep you from entering The King’s presence and don’t let it keep the people around you from Him either.

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Deuteronomy 19:1-13 Jesus is our Refuge

3/19/2016

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Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!     Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8
​Deuteronomy 19:1-13
The Lord is our Refuge, Avenger, and Justice. In this chapter of Deuteronomy Moses reminded the Israelites about God’s provisions for refuge, vengeance, and justice. There are many sins which required Israelites to be put to death, but not all of them. One such sin was manslaughter, accidental killing without malice or intent. Verses 1-3 read,
“When the Lord your God cuts off the nations whose land the Lord your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess. 3 You shall measure the distances and divide into three parts the area of the land that the Lord your God gives you as a possession, so that any manslayer can flee to them.”
 
They were to make three cities a safe haven for the person who had committed manslaughter. If a person found himself in that situation, he could flee to one of those cities and be safe. But there was no pleading down from murder to manslaughter. There were specific rules which made killing manslaughter and not murder. Verses 4-5 describe what manslaughter is.
“This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past— 5 as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live,”
 
Even an accidental death could not be considered manslaughter if the slayer had hated his victim in the past. If he had hated him in the past then the death was murder. How often do we let our anger or bitterness simmer and come out in hurtful ways? I did that very thing recently. I was upset over a situation, letting my pride take over. Although I had no intention of hurting my friend, I let my emotions rule and said something that hurt her. Perhaps that is why Jesus told us to be in control of our anger, because it can so easily turn to hateful actions and put us at risk of the punishment for murder. In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
 
Allowing anger to stew into bitterness results in hurtful actions. Love on the other results in mercy, forgiveness, and joy. Paul told us to take every thought captive to obedience (2 Corinthians 10:5). He reminded us that the Holy Spirit is in us and that the manifestation of God’s presence in us is love demonstrated as joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
 
Of course accidental or not, with or without malice, killing hurts people. Those left behind want vengeance. They cry out for justice, but most often what they really want is vengeance. God knows this. He understands our hearts, emotions, and intentions. He did after all create us. So The Lord gave people a haven from the threat of vigilantes. Verses 6-7 read,
“lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past. 7 Therefore I command you, You shall set apart three cities.”
Emotion can and does affect us in ways that it should not. Anger becomes outrage and the hot headed will lash out and hurt someone thinking that it will somehow ease his pain. The cities of refuge gave the avenger an opportunity to cool down, to turn to God and understand that if he killed in anger, it would be him that was now a murderer.
Our first reaction does not have to be the one that rules us. Reacting in our hurt, will almost definitely result in sin. When we are hurt by someone, isn’t it usually our pride that let us be hurt? Whether we are the one who did the wounding or the one who was wounded turning to God is the key to being angry but not sinning. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. We are capable of holding our tongues, when Jesus holds our hearts.
And when we do need refuge Jesus is never far. He makes provision so that turning to Him is easy. Verses 8-10 read,
“And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers— 9 provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you today, by loving the Lord your God and by walking ever in his ways—then you shall add three other cities to these three, 10 lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.”
 
There had to be enough cities of refuge so that there was one within fleeing distance. Refuge had to be close by. Jesus is always close to us. He is near to the broken hearted. Psalm 34:17-18 says,
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

 
Broken heartedness is not all about feeling sad, it is more about a contrite or remorseful heart. When pride is gone, repentance and submission may take its place. Pride puts me on the throne, a crushed spirit puts The Lord on the throne. Pride leads to vengeance; but a broken heart knows that our God is Just and vengeance is His. All sin is paid for, either by the perpetrator or Jesus.
Sometimes pride will keep us from recognizing our own sin. Recently, I was talking to a friend who said something incredibly hurtful to me. I was very angry and walked away. I remained angry with him but said nothing. I waited for him to apologize. He never did. But after some time, I realized I had just as much to apologize for as he did. I had sinned too. We made up within a couple of hours. But for those hours, my pride wouldn’t allow me to see my sin, only his. Sin is sin whether we think it is intentional or not. If we hate someone, are bitter towards them, or hold onto the wounds they’ve inflicted, we will eventually let those feelings out. Passive-aggressive words hurt just as much as straightforward words. We cannot hide behind our pride and pretend to be innocent. Verses 11-13 read,
“But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.”
 
You can’t take refuge in Christ, if you have guilt on your hands. Taking refuge in Him requires your sins to be paid for. In Ancient Israel that meant letting the avenger take the life of the killer. Today it means professing Jesus as Christ and Lord of your life. When you do that with a truly penitent heart, your guilt is gone, your sins are forgiven, and you are righteous. Christ is your refuge and no one can take your life to pay for those sins, because they are atoned.
Have your sins been forgiven? If not, you can ask Jesus to forgive them right now. You can ask Him to be The Lord of your life and make you a citizen of His city of refuge. Death will no longer threaten you, because you have eternal life.
Have you let pride take over your heart? Have you refused to recognize your own sins and declare yourself innocent? If you are trying to pretend you are innocent and still take refuge in Jesus, you will find yourself turned over to the one who will avenge the blood of the innocent and you will die.
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2 Kings 20:12-21 Pride Usurps Faith

2/14/2016

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How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44
2 Kings 20:12-21
Hezekiah was a faithful king. Because of his faith, the Lord had given him fifteen extra years of life. And for His glory, the Lord had delivered Jerusalem from the hands of Assyria during Hezekiah’s reign. Isaiah gave Hezekiah God’s word, “and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” (2 Kings 20:6). Like many of us who have had spiritual triumphs, Hezekiah took credit for his faith and blessings himself. He didn’t turn from the Lord, he didn’t declare it to the world, he probably didn’t even say it to himself, but he did take pride in his good works. Pride doesn’t come in and announce itself; it is sly. Pride sneaks in and often we do not know it has taken a place in our hearts until it has placed us on the throne for a while.
Hezekiah had recovered but news of his illness had spread to a far off country, Babylon. Babylon was not a threat, they had barely heard of the country before. The king wanted his representatives to pay Hezekiah and Jerusalem, this city that had somehow not been conquered by Assyria when every nation around them had. They wanted to visit the king and ally themselves with him. Babylon worshipped the sun and the sun had taken 10 steps back for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:11-12). They wanted Jerusalem on their side when they decided to usurp Assyria. Verses 12-13 read,
“At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.”
Hezekiah proudly showed off all that Jerusalem had, all their wealth, treasures, and weapons. He was pleased with himself for how he had rebuilt Jerusalem’s stocks and resources after Assyria had depleted them. But had pride not usurped the throne in Hezekiah’s heart, he would not have made his stores worthless by letting this nation see them. He didn’t know Babylon would be the worst enemy Israel and Judah had ever faced. But he should have known that Babylon was a servant to Assyria (2 Kings 17:24). He certainly should have known he did not need to make an alliance with idolaters (2 Corinthians 6:14). He should have known he did not need to impress Babylon or anyone else, He needed to only please The Lord. Jesus spoke about the danger of seeking praise from men instead of The Lord. John 5:44 reads,
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
But self-satisfaction clouded the king’s judgement.  The Lord sent Isaiah to Hezekiah immediately. Verses 14-18 read,
“Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 18 And some of your own sons, who shall be born to you, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
Imagine hearing that everything you have worked for will be gone in the next generation. Consider how you would feel to hear your own children would be mutilated and forced to serve a foreign king. Hezekiah had been reproofed by The Lord through Isaiah and he gave him the answer he thought Isaiah and the Lord wanted to hear. Verse 19 reads,
“Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”
Out loud he thanked Isaiah for the chastisement; he said what looked right. But in his heart, he didn’t care about his son’s reign or his other sons’ enslavement. He was just happy his reign would be okay. What happened to the man who had been told he would die but asked the Lord to let him live? What happened to the man who knew The Lord could and would do the impossible for him? What happened to Hezekiah’s deep faith? Pride had snuck in and knocked his faith out. Hezekiah had taken the lordship of his life away from The Lord.
Jerusalem no longer worshipped idols because of Hezekiah’s good works but now Hezekiah worshipped himself instead of God. He may not have realized this was the case. We usually don’t know it when we have taken the throne away from God. But God knows. He knows our hearts better than we do. (Jeremiah 17:10). That is why it is so important to ask Him to search our hearts for us and lead us back into alignment with His image. Psalm 139:23-24 reads,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!”

It is too easy to let pride sneak in and take over. It is not so easy to kick pride out so we can get off the throne and put The Lord to take reign of our lives again. 
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2 Kings 15:1-7 Pride Sneaks in and Replaces Honor with Shame

2/7/2016

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​2 Kings 15:1-7
2 Kings 15 is a list of two kings of Judah and three kings of Israel who reigned contemporaneously and in succession of one another. It says very little about each king and makes me wonder how I can apply this to my life. But 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds me,
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
So I dig in and cannot wait to see what The Holy Spirit teaches me today. As I read, prayed, and studied, God really used the sword of the Spirit in the first seven verses to reveal the sins of my heart to me and correct me.
Verses 1-7 read,
“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7 And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.”
Azariah’s reign was long, it began well because this king did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But something happened and he was struck with leprosy. For the last part of reign he did not actually govern Judah, or live in the palace. He as king in name only. 2 Chronicles 26 fills in the holes for us. In that book Azariah is known as Uzziah and differentiated from the chief priest Azariah. Uzziah intentionally sought The Lord and God really prospered him and all he did. 2 Chronicles 26:6-15 describe his greatness.
“He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. 10 And he built towers in the wilderness andcut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.”
All that success and valor went to his head. He became very proud of his army, might, and skill. He must have thought he could go anywhere and do anything as The Lord’s chosen warrior king. So he did. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 describe what happened.
“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the Lord had struck him.21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.”
Pride got him and took away all his honor. He lived alone in shame and couldn’t even carry out his duties as King. Pride took away his privilege to worship The Lord at the Temple because, he decided that he didn’t need a mediator between himself and The Lord. The Lord exalted Azariah to be the king of Judah. Azariah exalted himself to the office of priest. The Lord took all that away by making him unclean with leprosy.  Is that a sin you have committed? Has pride gotten in the way and said, “You don’t need Jesus. Your good works are really good! You are a good person, not a sinner, certainly not as bad as that guy or that girl.”
Jesus came to save the sinners, if you don’t think you’re a sinner, you can’t ask Him to save you. If you do not think you’re unclean, He won’t cleanse you (Luke 5:31-32). And without His righteousness, without your scarlet robes (sin) cleansed white as snow (forgiven by Jesus’ blood) your good works don’t mean squat. You could feed every hungry person in the world, you could free every wrongfully convicted prisoner, you could take care of every orphan and you would still be unclean, sinful and be banned from entering the City of God, New Jerusalem in eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-10 reads,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
You can do all the good things in the world, but without Jesus, it is not Love, since God is Love (1 John 4:8). You glorify yourself not Jesus and so it is meaningless. You efforts cannot save you, no matter how ‘good’ you are. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says it like this,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
It is The Lord who appoints us to our positions, it is He who gives us gifts and blessings. He is sovereign. In Daniel 2:20-23 “Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

You are not God, no matter how blessed, forgiven, and strong you are, you are not God. It is not you who has done the good or great things you’ve done. Have you prophesied? Have you taught scores and scores of people? Have you led nations to Christ? Have you fought wars for Him? You only did that because God allowed you to do it. You only did that because The Lord enable you to it. You can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5).  It was not you who saved you. John 15:16-17 reads,
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Pride is dangerous. Azariah actually thought he was doing a good thing by wanting to burn incense to The Lord, but he was not. He was glorifying himself, he was disregarding The Lord and His priest to burn incense he had no right to burn. He should have offered a proper sacrifice of Thanksgiving per the Law, but his pride made him usurp the Law and do things his way.
Don’t let pride over how good you are make you forget how it is we who need God and not vice-versa. Believer, The Lord smiles when He thinks about you. He loves you. Even that is not a reason to let pride come in. You are a sinner who cannot save yourself. We do not take pride in ourselves but in Him.
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2 Kings 14:1-22 Amaziah’s Might and Pride

2/4/2016

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But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
2 Kings 14:1-22
God blesses those who walk in obedience to Him. That was how it was for Judah’s new king Amaziah. His father Joash had been murdered by his servants and Amaziah had become king in his place (2 Kings 12:19-21). Verses 1-6 read,
“In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. 4 But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father. 6 But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”
Amaziah was a good king, who walked in obedience to The Lord, but like his father and so many of the kings before him, he did not remove the high places, Asherah poles, or other places for idol worship in Judah. He showed his condemnation for his father’s assassination by putting the servants who had committed the crime to death. But in obedience to The Lord, he spared their children. He did the right thing.
Perhaps like so many of us, doing what we know is right in The Lord gave him some boldness to keep doing what is right, and fight the wrongs done to Judah and to The Lord. Perhaps that boldness had a bit of pride mixed in with it. He took credit for being the king who had avenged his father and would now God’s vengeance on Edom, who had rebelled against Judah in the days of Joram and Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3). Edom was distantly related to Israel, they came from Essau, Jacob’s brother. Amaziah took their insurgence personally and retaliated. Verse 7 reads,
“He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.”
Amaziah gave credit to The Lord for his victory over Edom, he called it Joktheel, which means ‘subdued by God.’ But perhaps his pride got a little more puffed about his goodness and might. How often does this happen with us? We make the right choice, we exercise self-control, or we do some good work for The Lord and yes we give credit to God, but a part of us takes some credit for ourselves. We think, “I am pretty good!” or “Wow, look what I just did!” Let’s be clear, we are not good. We have no righteousness of our own (Philippians 3:9). If we are able to behave well, if we are able to do great things for The Lord, heal the sick, evangelize, teach, comfort, prophesy, or clean someone’s toilets, it is not us who makes that possible. It is The Lord God. It is the Father who called us to do it. It is Jesus Christ’s righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit’s power.  Philippians 3:3 says we can’t even worship God from our own power.
“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”
Galatians 6:14-15 exhorts us not to take pride in the works which prove our faith, the works which look good to others (despite being from The Lord or from our own hearts), or our faith.
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
Amaziah took a lot of pride in defeating Edom. Now he turned his fervor for The Lord and his pride and turned it against God’s own people, Israel. Edom was Israel and Judah’s cousin, but Israel was Judah’s brother. They were not really two different people, but one nation split into two. Amaziah probably looked at King Jehoash who did evil in the sight of the Lord and thought he was better than him. The fact was his victories had swollen his pride so much that he turned from worshipping The Lord and brought Edom’s idols back to Judah and began practicing idolatry himself (2 Chronicles 25:14).
He had taken vengeance on the men who killed his father, he had punished Edom, the country who rebelled against Israeli rule, and now he decided he had to retaliate against Israel for their evil against The Lord, but what he really wanted was to become king of Israel as well as of Judah. Verses 8-10 read,
“Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”
Jehoash, Israel’s king refused to fight Amaziah. He even warned Amaziah that he was letting pride get in the way of right thinking. Jehoash might have done evil in the sight of The Lord but God still prophesied through him. But Amaziah was too filled with himself to listen to God’s counsel. Verse 11-14 describe what happened.
“But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.”
They fought and Judah was badly defeated by Israel. The Lord handed Judah to Israel and Amaziah to Jehoash to punish him for turning away from Him. So Jehoash captured Amaziah, but he did not take over rule of Judah. Israel ravaged Jerusalem and destroyed about 600 feet of the wall surrounding the city.
Verses 15-16 record the death of Jehoash.
“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash that he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.”
Verses 17-22 record Amaziah’s death.
“Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 18 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19 And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 20 And they brought him on horses; and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.”
The reason the people of Judah conspired against Amaziah was because he had turned away from The Lord (2 Chronicles 25:27). He ran away to Lachish but they went after him, put him to death, and made his son king in his place. The king turned away from God but the people did not. His pride made him judge Israel for their wrong worship of The Lord, when he was worshipping the false gods of Edom. The people did not follow him to his idolatry. They wanted a king who would restore them to The Lord.
Believer, I encourage you today to be sure that you are judging with righteous judgement, not by what appears right to you (John 7:24). Make sure the sin you accusing someone else of is not the sin you are committing (Matthew 7:1-5). Be careful of your pride. Give credit to The LORD your Maker, Sustainer, and Savior in your heart and by your lips. Proverbs 18:12 warns us,
“Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.”

​
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 2 Kings 1 God Saves the Humble, but the Haughty are Brought Low

1/14/2016

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For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Psalm 18:27
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Psalm 18:27
2 Kings 1
After the death of Ahab, his son Ahaziah ruled. He ruled two years and did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 22:51-53). Verses 1-2 begin his story.
“After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.
2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.”
Accidents happen. Bad things happen. When they do, we have choices of how to respond. We can respond by leaning on ourselves, the world, our idols, or on God. We can answer by fear or faith, pity or compassion, love or anger. Our response is our choice. Proverbs 3:5-8 says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.”

Ahaziah was hurt really badly. He responded by leaning on the world, on the idols he served. He served Baal like mother Jezebel and that is what he turned to for answers and hope. How many times have we turned to money to solve our problems instead of The Lord? How many times is prayer our last resort after we have exhausted every other resource? But we forget that God is the source of every resource. He is The LORD. He is able.
So Ahaziah’s messenger left to inquire of Baal-zebub. Baal-zebub means lord of flies and Ahaziah thought that this god could heal his injuries or at least tell him how long it would be before he recovered, since he credited it with sending his injuries as well. But even though Ahaziah completely disregarded God, God still knew what was happening with the King of Israel. Verses 3-8 read,
“But the angel of the Lordsaid to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went.
5 The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
God confronted Ahaziah with his blatant disbelief when He asked the king, “Is it because there is not God in Israel…?” He asked him why he had not just asked Him instead of turning to an idol. But Ahaziah was so proud that he completely ignored the God who had given him his throne. Had he called on God things would have ended differently. God could have saved him. God does not help those who help themselves. He helps those who need Him. Ahaziah refused to need God. Psalm 72:12-13 says,
“For he delivers the needy when he calls,
    the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy.”

Even at this point Ahaziah could have listened to the words delivered by Elijah and humbled himself. He chose instead to react in anger and haughtiness. Verses 9-10 record his reaction.
“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.”
The king was so angry at Elijah’s message he sent fifty men and their captain to apprehend him. When we overreact to such an extent, it is usually because we are trying to protect a lie. Ahaziah was trying to protect the lie that God was not The One True Living God, The LORD.
Fifty one men sent to apprehend one man is a bit much, but it could have been 501 men. They would have been no more successful. They depended on the king. Elijah depended on the King of kings who created the universe. How did Ahaziah respond? Did he humble himself and admit that The LORD is the Almighty? Nope. Verses 11-12 read,
“Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king's order, ‘Come down quickly!’” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.”
Ahaziah did exactly the same thing and it had exactly the same results. What did he do next? Well, if the definition of insanity is ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’, then Ahaziah was insane because he sent a third captain and his men to bring Elijah in. But the captain was not crazy. Verses 13-15 read,
“Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. “
Even though the king refused to submit himself to The LORD, his representative was smart enough to recognize God’s power in Elijah and humble himself. And he got a different result, The Lord told Elijah to go with the captain and his troops. The captain’s humility saved his life and gave him what he asked for. Verses 16-18 continue the story.
“and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”
17 So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?”
God’s message had not changed. Ahaziah had not changed and he refused to acknowledge the LORD or be contrite for his idolatry. So he died. He was king for a mere two years and his brother became king in his stead because he didn’t have a son. His line ended with him because he was too proud to ask the Lord for help. He died because he was too haughty to think soundly and recognize the greatness of the Lord and the love, healing, and salvation He offered.
What about you? Have you turned to your idols, money, power, business, intelligence, charm, recreation, or something else to help you instead of turning to the Lord? Have you sought answers from these things instead of asking the Lord? Do you believe He is who He says He is? The way to strengthen your faith is to exercise it. In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus said,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
​
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Revelation 18 The Fall of Babylon

1/4/2016

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​Revelation 18
Yesterday we read about the prostitute, Babylon the Great, the city which represents the earth’s evil. It is a city (or nation or nations) of great prosperity. A place where people live to satisfy the flesh through lavish living and sexual immorality. It is a hedonistic city that sounds like much of the world we live in today. Today we will read about her fall which is one of the effects of the seventh plague, the seventh bowl of God’s wrath (Revelation 16:17-21). We have already been told how she fell but now we hear why she fell as it is proclaimed in Heaven. Verses 1-3 read,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
    She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

The city where once people lived opulent lives fed by thriving commerce and insatiable appetites will become a place where no one lives. It will be a ghost town where unclean birds and creatures scavenge the dead, where idols lay broken and useless and demons freely roam in the remnants of evil. She will be used up, her resources sucked dry by the beast and the kings who follow him. All the hatred she directed at the saints will be repaid to her. Jeremiah 51:34-37 describes Babylon’s demise this way,
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me;
    he has crushed me;
he has made me an empty vessel;
    he has swallowed me like a monster;
he has filled his stomach with my delicacies;
    he has rinsed me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,”
    let the inhabitant of Zion say.
“My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
    let Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will plead your cause
    and take vengeance for you.
I will dry up her sea
    and make her fountain dry,
37 and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins,
    the haunt of jackals,
a horror and a hissing,
    without inhabitant.”

What awaits her citizens is horrible. But every one of us has been warned. Some chose to repent and become believers, but most were too stubborn, arrogant, and prideful to yield to The Lord, to the Truth of Jesus Christ. And they will get what they deserve. God will avenge the saints they murdered, He will receive recompense for their sins. Verses 4-8 read,
“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
    and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
    and repay her double for her deeds;
    mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
    ‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
    and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
    death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
    for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

The crux of her fall, what tips her over the edge toward her doom will be the saints she hated being called home to Jesus. When the saints leave and the Holy Spirit is not there anymore, she will not hear, see, or recognize God’s warnings or His wrath. And God’s wrath can freely be poured out so the bride will not be harmed alongside the prostitute. We will be gone and the vengeance of the Lord will be on her for her sins. What are her sins? What are the deeds she will receive double payback for?
She glorified herself. She exalted herself. She was filled with pride. Look around you and look at yourself. How is your pride? Are you a “can do” person? When you accomplish something, who gets the credit? Are you glorified for your strength, your goodness and your ability or is the Lord glorified? Pride is deadly. We can so easily become prideful and forget that apart from Christ we can do nothing and we have no righteousness of our own. Psalm 16:1-2 says it this way,
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Pride causes us to take credit for what God has done. Babylon’s pride led her to a languid lifestyle. Verse 7 tells us, “she glorified herself and lived in luxury” She feels she deserves to “sit as a queen” even though she has done nothing to earn that rank. She is so full of self-importance believes she should never have to suffer. She refuses to mourn the losses she had already faced and repent.
There does come a time when people deserve to rest from their hard work and suffering and be taken care of by others (1 Timothy 5:3-16). The problem is, the people of Babylon all look for early retirement, they all look for wealth and set themselves up as royalty by living as if they are kings and queens. They look for money to support them and provide for them instead of God. They choose to let people serve them instead of using their hands to work. It is God who provides for us, including the work we do. Psalm 90:15-17 tells,
“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!”

The fall of Babylon has worldwide impact. All those kings who used her as the prostitute will no longer be able to use her. All the wealth she floated and the promises she made will be gone. Verses 9-20 record the reactions,
“And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas! Alas! You great city,
    you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
    has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
    are lost to you,
    never to be found again!”

15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
    that was clothed in fine linen,
        in purple and scarlet,
    adorned with gold,
        with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”

And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
“What city was like the great city?”
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, for the great city
    where all who had ships at sea
    grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,
    and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!”

 
One day she stands arrogant and enticing, the next she is desolate. She cannot lead the world in sin or promise riches, she is gone. Her future is promised. If her citizens will listen they can recognize it, repent and put their citizenship in Heaven, their faith in Jesus, and their future in New Jerusalem. But the future that awaits Babylon is not only bleak, it is nonexistent. She will be utterly wiped from the earth. Verses 21-24 read,
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
    and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
    will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
    will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
    will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
    will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
    will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
    and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
    and of all who have been slain on earth.”

There will be no more celebrating for Babylon, no more money making, and no more killing and hate of saints. She led the world to sin. She was prideful. She thought she was the greatest in the world. She hated the children of God. She did her best to stop people from believing in Jesus. And she will pay the price Jesus promised for that grievousness.  Matthew 18:1-6 reads,
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Reader, are you proud of your accomplishments? Does your life glorify the Lord or yourself? Is your pride leading people to follow you or is your humility leading people to follow Christ. Babylon’ sins are rampant and easy to fall into. The prostitute calls herself a queen and she will suffer eternal death for it. The bride lets Jesus make her a queen and she will enjoy eternal life for it.
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Acceptance: Why You Might Be In Bondage To It (And Not Even Know)

11/5/2015

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I think that the genuine, sincere desire to be liked is responsible for some of the worst behaviors that humanity can produce.
 
In the closing words of Galatians 5, immediately after describing the Fruit of the Spirit, Paul cautions his readers, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  No sooner has he taught them the importance of love than he has to turn around and caution them: "Look, if you start excelling in this fruit of the Spirit stuff, don't get a big head about it; don't start strutting around like you're something special.  Don't go rubbing it in if the Spirit is working in you more than in other people - and, likewise, don't get jealous if the Spirit seems to be working in someone else more than in you."  This great and liberating truth, this Fruit of the Spirit that changes lives, also has the potential to become a divisive distraction, if it's allowed to become the ruler by which we measure our spiritual potency against someone else's.
 
Bottom line, we all want acceptance and approval, and we're all willing to do pretty much anything to get it.  This makes sense, if you think about it.  Way back in Genesis 1 and 2, Adam and Eve walked face to face with God, basking in his glory and enjoying his love and approval in a way none of us have ever known.  Their relationship was flawless, unstained by sin, just the sheer joy of God's children knowing beyond any shadow of a doubt that they were loved by their daddy.  But in a moment, sin shattered all of that.  God's approval was smudged by the shadow of sin, and we as a species have spent thousands of years trying to plug that God-shaped hole inside us with everything in the universe other than God.  That's what makes approval from other people such an appealing option: since humans are made in the image of God, approval from others is the next-closest thing we can get to approval from God.  It doesn't make the pain go away, but it does ease the burn a little bit.
 
I find, in my ongoing research into sociology and social science, that the need for approval is one of the fundamental things that drives all human nature.  Among the age group I focus on the most, many of the worst behaviors are not the result of bad kids or even bad parenting, necessarily, but simply from the child's compulsive need for affirmation.  When teens arrested for gang violence are asked why they joined gangs, the leading response is that they were looking for someplace to belong.  Among teenage girls who engage in sexually promiscuous behavior, a statistically significant number come from fatherless homes.  They're not looking to get pregnant, not looking to become floozies; they're just looking for the acceptance and affirmation they never got from any other male in their lives.  The class clown isn't out to ruin the teacher's classroom; he just wants other people to approve of him, and that's the only way he can think of to get it.  I could go on for far longer than your patience would last, but I think the point has been proven.
 
My ten-year high school reunion is this weekend, and during high school I was one of a large number of kids who loudly claimed not to care what anyone else thought of me.  The only thing that enabled me to say that, though, was that I had a small but important core of people who did think highly of me.  The sole reason I didn't feel compelled to seek the affirmation of a larger group is that I had the affirmation of a small one already.  I talked a big game, but I wonder how what would have happened if I had truly not enjoyed the affirmation of anyone else.  Actually, I don't have to wonder, because I reached a point during college where I had no close friends (by my own choice, because I was a very broken person then and unwilling to trust anyone), and because of that my life felt so insignificant that I was driven to the point of suicide.  French sociologist Emile Zola concluded that a person's susceptibility to suicide was directly related to how many friends they had; that's how much approval and affirmation matter to us on a soul-deep level.
 
None of this, as I've described it, is inherently good or bad; it simply is.  It's exactly what you would expect to see if a God who is relationship (Father + Son + Spirit in tri-unity) created relational human beings to share life with each other because "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).   The need for acceptance will draw us to anyone or anything which promises the thing we need, which can be disastrous if we find ourselves chasing something other than an eternal and timeless truth.
 
It gets more disturbing.  Early in my sociological studies, I watched a videotape of an experiment, which I believe was done at Stanford.  The test subject was put into a room with about 20 other people, all of whom were in on the experiment; the subject was the only person who didn't know what was going on.  The room was shown three lines and were simply asked to say which one was the longest.  At first all 20 of the conspirators answered correctly, as did the one test subject, but over time a few of the conspirators slowly began intentionally saying wrong answers.  Then half of them said wrong answers.  Then all of them said wrong answers, leaving the bewildered test subject as the only person saying the right answer.  I'll never forget the haunted and dejected look on his face as the peer pressure finally got to him, and, slumped in his seat with his face toward the ground, he began repeating the group's wrong answers.  His need for acceptance, even from this group of strangers, was so strong that it left him unable to even make a simple statement if his answer was not going to match everyone else's.
 
I doubt the man even knew what was causing him to do what he did; he was driven by a primal, soul-deep need for acceptance, but it's a need which runs so deep that most of us aren't even aware how enslaved we are to it.  That's why I subtitled this essay "Why you might be in bondage to it (and not even know)."  As Paul told the Galatians, most of us will stoop to whatever lengths we can to snatch an ounce of acceptance from anybody, even if we're the people who best embody all the fruit of the Spirit, so I'm thinking it's a safe bet we're all guilty of this kind of acceptance-whoring he's talking about.
 
The only cure for this is humility.  Obviously I don't think that a single essay can magically cure your soul-deep problem in one easy step, but I hope I've at least served to demonstrate to you how deep and insidious the problem runs in every human with a pulse.  Now consider this experiment with me to help illustrate the problem and perhaps help you begin to overcome it.  For the next week, I want you to be anonymous.
 
If you come up with a great and witty saying, don't take credit for it.  Donate money to help somebody and stay anonymous.  If you help out at church, take a week off.  If you're known for offering great advice, stop it for a while.  If people think you're hilarious, stop telling jokes.  If you write go on a seven-day sabbatical.  Basically, I want you to stop doing the things that cause people to approve of you.  You will be able to see for yourself just how strongly your flesh rebels - especially if you take me seriously when I suggest taking a week off of church ministry, which opens you up to all manner of "Why should I stop doing the Lord's work?!"  Look, the church got along fine for 2000 years before you showed up; it won't all come crashing to a halt if you take a week off.  In a way, that proves my point, because you can see the lengths to which your heart and mind will demand that you stay in those settings where you can bask in others' approval, and in the feeling of being needed, which is like approval raised to the tenth power.
 
How does it make you feel to know that you aren't needed, that the church will hold together without you?  How does it make you feel to know that your friends will have a fine week if you're not there entertaining them and listening to their problems?  How does it make you feel when other people aren't constantly feeding you praise or appreciation?  If it feels just a slight bit empty, you might be in bondage to acceptance, and not even know it.  What you see is pride and arrogance masquerading as a desire to serve God, because many times a person's satisfaction comes not from serving God at all, but from having a reputation as a person who serves God.
 
You were wired to get your approval and acceptance from God, and if you allow it to come from anything else in the world, you're selling yourself short.  It might feel great to have people applauding you and calling your name, but that's nothing compared with the feeling of knowing for a fact that God loves you and is thrilled to have you as his child, even if nobody on earth appreciates what you do or knows you exist.  Learning how to live in his approval is a lifelong journey; like I said, it's not something I can fix with a single essay.  My only purpose is to raise the question of whether you, my dear reader, might be in acceptance to bondage without even knowing it.  Any one of us might be that person Paul wrote about, who excels in love and joy and peace but is so obsessed by that identity that we slide into conceit and strutting.  It's not about what we do, and it's not even about who we are; it's about the God we follow.  Any glory that we take for ourselves diminishes what is given to him, and stealing his glory is not something he tends to be joyful about.
 
One side note: if you've been reading this and thinking, "I know exactly who needs to read this article," the person who needs it most is probably you.  Scripture is a double-edged sword, which means if you're not using it against yourself as much as you're using it against others, you're doing it wrong.
 
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    October 21st 2015
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    September 27th 2015
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