Voiceofgod

Luke 14:11 CEV
[11] If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

Pride is Self gloryfing, Self seeking driven by evil desire of wants .

Isaiah 14:12-15 CEV
[12]  You, the bright morning star, have fallen from the sky! You brought down other nations; now you are brought down. [13]  You said to yourself, “I’ll climb to heaven and place my throne above the highest stars. I’ll sit there with the gods far away in the north. [14] I’ll be above the clouds, just like God Most High.” [15] But now you are deep in the world of the dead.

Before his fall, satan was a super natural being, in possession of supernatural powers.

But satan missed the fact that he did not become what he was on his own.

Pride is a subtle emotion of all. Pride goes before fall.

Having fallen from heaven, now satan had done his part and first adam fell.

The fallen nature of humans is that it is always self-seeking, it asks equality with God his creator and that is the seed of the devil.

God in His divine wisdom calls us to His work of salvation. He himself equips that person with tools(gifts) and skills(abilities). 

In the worldly system people develop skills and when they master it, they display it with Pride.Wanting recognition, respect and admiration.

But a child of God even in the worldly system should acknowledge God thankfully for the skills and talents.Because it is our Lord who bestows gifts on His Children ,for He desires good for them.

Even the Pharaoh or the Nebuchadnezzar cannot boast for who they were for it is our good Lord for His great purpose raises one, even that was going behind the donkey,a king.

If you are a song writer and a music composer, the song is yours, the melody and tune is yours and even the choice of instruments are yours.

should an instrument boast of being used ?rather, being thankful that it was found useful in the master’s hand.

Our calling and commission is His and not of our own.

Romans 12:4-5 CEV
[4]  A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. [5] That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

So wonderfully we are intervened , knitted together, to pull the church together.

We are Potter’s vessels made for different use in the house of God.

We know that we are not better than the other but this knowing is only at the knowledge level.

We seek out differentiating treatments at social gatherings, even in social media,we want men to Spot light us , give likes to our posts and acknowledge our comments. Aren’t we?

We do seek preferential seats and to get special offerings at every event we are called.

Luke 14:10 CEV
[10] When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the worst place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, “My friend, take a better seat!” You will then be honored in front of all the other guests.

We can forget our sins but not the fact that we are washed sinners. We did not choose Jesus but Jesus chose us.

We can learn a life saving lesson from Paul and Bernabas .

“Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
Acts 14:8‭-‬11 ESV 

“Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Acts 14:12‭-‬15 ESV. 

“We are also men of like nature with you”

The same words we can hear from Peter too

“Stand up! I am nothing more than a human.”

Acts 10:25-26 CEV
[25] When Peter arrived, Cornelius greeted him. Then he knelt at Peter’s feet and started worshiping him. [26] But Peter took hold of him and said, “Stand up! I am nothing more than a human.

Even today’s society  does what the lycoanions or Cornelius did, maybe not in the same manner but the pattern will be similar as per present social setup.

Maybe starting with overdosed greetings, to special treatments at gatherings ,to garlanding, to touching the feet etc. But the acknowledgement is “God’s have come in human form”.

May the act of the apostles help us learn to differentiate ourselves from our God given mission. Because the Lord has promised to act this way when we journey in His mission.

Mark 16:15-18 CEV
[15]  Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. [16] Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned. [17] Everyone who believes me will be able to do wonderful things. By using my name they will force out demons, and they will speak new languages. [18] They will handle snakes and will drink poison and not be hurt. They will also heal sick people by placing their hands on them. 

A wise man’s saying ..

Do give yourself space to reflect upon the wise saying that will help you travel light in your life’s journey.

Ecclesiastes 4:15-16 CEV
[15] I once saw everyone in the world follow a young leader who came to power after the king was gone. [16] His followers could not even be counted. But years from now, no one will praise him—this makes no more sense than chasing the wind.

For the Church..

Believers should seek fruits in preachers rather than displaying of gifts and power.

Believers should uphold the preachers and pastors in prayers and intercede for them to God.

More importantly try to see anointed people , pastors and any man or woman of God as human beings carrying God’s anointing.The anointing belongs to God.

It’s like the respect for any person from the uniformed services .The respect is only for the uniform as long as it hangs on that person.
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