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Exaltation – Whose? - part 1 of 3 (Amplified and KJV) “…I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!” {Psa 46:10} The word “exalt” means “to raise or lift up, to extol.” That which we exalt we place above and beyond, counting all else as inferior to or less than by comparison. Within Lucifer’s heart, the passion for self-exaltation began. That battle as to who or what will receive man’s exaltation still rages. “And you said in your heart, I will ascend…I will exalt my throne…I will ascend…I will make myself like the Most High” {Isa 14:14}. Using lies and deceit, as well as appealing to the “…lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]…” {I John 2:16}, satan tempted the man and woman whom God had made in His image and likeness. In surrendering their allegiance and obedience, they also exchanged their spirit-life for a life lived out of the longings of the soul. Of these desires, the strongest is pride and craving for self-exaltation. Prior to their own individual baptisms by fire, the disciples were contentious about the subject of greatness. “…What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?” Jesus asked them. “But they kept still, for on the road they had discussed and disputed with one another as to who was the greatest.” In His response, Jesus spoke pointedly yet paradoxically: “And He sat down and called the Twelve [apostles], and He said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all” {Mark 9:33-35}. Rather than admitting that much of today’s contention centers from desire for “greatness,” we prefer to attribute it to the question of “Who is right?” But at what price do we insist on “being right”? Certainly, Jesus was “right,” but for sake of a greater good, the will of His Father, He refused to justify Himself. Only through the Spirit of Him who made Himself of no reputation in order to do the Father’s will can we, too, walk in Christ-empowered humility, not a false humility assumed by self-effort, but true humility flowing from a transformed nature. As modern-day disciples, we may not openly discuss and dispute with one another as to who is or will be the greatest among us, but how often by our words, intonations and actions do we reveal the rotten residue of this desire still residing deep within our hearts? In contrast, how seldom do we see Christ’s humility demonstrated in response to judgmental, harsh or often unjust criticism or treatment? In our relationships, and even in our prayers, which do we manifest, self-exaltation or self-effacement? Nowhere is self-exaltation more repugnant than in the church. Peter warns both church leaders and those under their charge against self-exaltation: “I warn and counsel the elders among you…Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint…Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons]…but being examples (pattern and models of Christian living)…Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders...[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another…humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in you own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you” {I Pet: 5:1-6}. The more we allow the resurrection life of Christ to reign over our carnal nature, the more Christ will be exalted in our earthen vessels. And as He increases, ultimately becoming our all in all, the more sensitive we will become to the misappropriation of the importance we have appropriated to ourselves, our positions and our abilities.
-Ruth French April Newsletter 2006 | Fullness of Ministry | Here, World, Take My Children part 3 of 3 Pastor's Journal April 2005 | Said and Saying | Exaltation - Whose? part 1 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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