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To Be Humbled - part 1 Deu 8:2-3 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. (3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Do you feel like you are being humbled? The test of the heart is to humble you. God does not judge us according to what we think we are, or by our good intentions. God’s perfect judgment requires that He wait until we actually do something. Then He judges the deed in accord with the standard of Christ’s righteousness. 2 Cor 5:10 (NIV) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” “The things done.” The testing seems endless right now, but we must not get hooked on the testings. Your real life is hidden at the right hand of God and you are under the blood atonement, being saved while the testing process continues. If it becomes obvious we are not going to pursue the program of transformation, and that we are not going to press into the rest of God, and that we will not pursue the perfect will of God for our life, then the testing will cease. The plan of salvation for your life will stop and you will be set aside for the final judgment. The Bible states we will not escape punishment if we neglect our salvation. But if we bear our cross as patiently and cheerfully as we can, laying down our own soul for the sake of the gospel, Christ will protect us during our hours of great testing. Be like the Apostle Paul – Count all you have gained as loss for Christ. Suffer joyfully for the cross that is set before you. Regard all ambition and covetousness as garbage. This is your protection from the spirit of antichrist. Wait on the Lord. Don’t kindle your own fire (Isa. 50:11). Don’t walk in the light of your own fire. This is what Abraham did when Ishmael came forth. Remember how God promised and promised. Abraham waited and waited year after year. Sarah gave Abraham her maid Hagar and Ishmael came forth because Abraham couldn’t wait. Ishmael is the wild man – even today. He is still attacking the promise and the inheritance for the people of God. There is no peace as long as Ishmael is with us. The issues of the heart produce Ishmael unless we send them to the cross. Every test brings forth pride or humility: “I’m proud of myself” or “I’m greatly humbled by what I went through.” We are being prepared for the Priesthood. I am not your Priest. That is why I do not wear robes while I minister. I am no different than you. Jesus said not to make any man your Priest. He wants you to be a Priest unto Him and then for those you will rule over in the age to come. The true priest will rule all of God’s creation for eternity. While we are being tested, proven, and humbled, the power of Antichrist is growing in the spirit realm. The first to be affected are those who are hidden with Christ in heavenly places at His throne. God will not have any rebellion in His kingdom. Daniel 8 explains what is happening throughout the shaking that is taking place. The powers and authorities of wickedness and moral evil are increasing. IF WE WANT TO BE GUARDED AGAINST EVIL, WE MUST CAREFULLY PROTECT THE WORD OF CHRIST’S PATIENCE. Too many become troubled with what they hear in the church and because of doubt or disbelief, the enemy of their soul comes and snatches away the Word of Truth: How? When you hear and don’t take the initiative to understand, the wicked one takes it from you and sows deception, tares When you hear and receive it with joy, and then testings come, things get rough, because you don’t watch over that word, keeping your heart because of issues; you become offended because of that word. When you hear but the cares of this world become more important than you working out your salvation daily. Believing you have too much to do to serve the Lord, to give, to assemble, that same word is choked out and no fruit is produced. Only when you hear and you take the time to understand is your heart kept. Only then are your issues dealt with and your life or decisions ruled by the Spirit and not by the world. Only then does the Word produce fruit and the ability to overcome the darkness of life. -Pr. Steve December Newsletter 2003 | To Be Humbled | The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | I Give You Me Pastor's Journal December 2002 | The End of the Beginning | A People Plundered part 3 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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