Daily Armour Devotional- 5th January BOASTFUL AND PROUD By: Pastor Sunday Bankole “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” – Philippians 3:4, 7 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” - James 4:6-7 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” - 2 Timothy 3:2 To be boastful means to be self-promoting; having an ungodly sense of self-importance and bragging about ones worth and achievements. In our text, Paul warns against it. This attitude is unacceptable to God because it focuses on self-glorification rather than God. Note that at times, our minds deceive us to think we are boasting in the Lord, but it is self-deception. The reason most people talk about their achievements is more of self-projection and propaganda. Boastfulness may not appear sinful to human sense but it is a sin before God. It is so much an evil act that the bible names it among the woeful signs of end-time. If you notice, you would agree that one of the major patterns of the world is to glory in self. The bible calls it vain-glory. King Herod died because of this act; King Nebuchadnezzar was humiliated and made to eat grass, living in the forest because of this sin. You will find these accounts in Acts 12:21-23 and Daniel chapter 4 respectively. This practice is totally worldly but unfortunately, it is rampant in the church now; the display/show of affluence has replaced the manifestation of Gods power. Churches are measuring their success by worldly external parameters, pastors are determining their ministerial success totally without considering Gods standards but by physical measures, children of God are boastful about their money, beauty, career, travels, buildings, vehicles/aircrafts and many more. The way we boast of self and materialism makes issues of eternal value to be gradually and stylishly relegated; thereby shifting the focus from God and Heaven to this earth. Pray that God will make you give Him all the praise and that vain glory will not replace the value for eternal investment and pursuit in your heart. Pride is an attitude or spirit of the peacock. It is a high or inordinate opinion of ones dignity, importance, merit or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in conduct. It is also one of the woeful attributes of this perilous time. One of the major principles the fallen nature lives by is pride. It is an attitude whereby self is gratified and satisfied against Gods will. Pride of life is a foundation to many sins and wickedness on earth. Eves desired pride of being knowledgeable like God was the bait Satan used to tempt her to fall. See Genesis 3 and 1 John 2:15-17. In this end-time, people seek the pride derived from achievements and wealth, hence, the pursuit of worldly things. Many struggle because of pride, many want and crave for material things because of pride, many flirt because of pride. Ask yourself; why do you want what you want? God warns in 1 Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”. Also, in Romans 12:3, God exhorts, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”. Repent of your pride and pray that God would drive out the spirit of pride from your life. PRAYER POINTS •Father, deliver me from every self-glorifying attitude •Spirit of vain-glory, get out of my life in Jesus name. •Father help me to give all the glory to you concerning all my achievements and success. •Father, destroy the root of the spirit of pride in me •Father, grant me grace to humble myself before you and men. •Father, help me to be sober in all my ways.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 03:07:13 +0000
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