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Exaltation – Whose? - part 3 of 3 (Amplified and KJV) Satan’s enticement to partake of the forbidden fruit sowed within the first couple mankind’s perpetual desire to be “like God” {Gen 2:5}. From that time on, man has sought to exalt himself by increasing his own wisdom, knowledge and glorification, even to the point of deification. Prior to the fall, man had no acquaintance with evil or calamity; but acting independently of God’s command indeed opened their eyes to the knowledge of good and evil, just as the serpent had said. Thereafter, those of every succeeding generation would either accept or reject God’s promised Redeemer. So desirous was Cain of setting his own terms for what constituted a satisfactory offering to God that he brought a bloodless sacrifice from the work of his own hands, and with those same hands he jealously murdered his brother whose sacrifice God had accepted. Rather than being exalted as they had hoped, the parents were driven from God’s garden and their murderous son was cursed, destined to become “a fugitive and a vagabond” {Gen 4:12}. Never quite forsaking the hope of becoming “like God,” man has become a god unto himself. Of Nimrod, a descendent of Noah, we later read, “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Babylon)…{Gen 10:10}, a kingdom whose people desired to build a tower (self-effort), “…whose top may reach unto heaven” and whose desire for self-exaltation prompted them to agree, “Let us make a name…” {11:4}. How appropriate that the building materials are noted as being “brick” and “slime” {v. 3}. Such are man’s attempts at self-exaltation. In contrast, how honorable the prayer of the Psalmist, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory…” {Psa 115:1}. How many today shun the Lord’s warning “And beware lest you say in your [mind] and heart, my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” {Deut 8:17}? Neither are men to accredit God’s gifts as the result of their own self-righteousness: “Speak not in thine heart…For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land…” {Deut 9:4}. “I said to the arrogant and boastful, Deal not arrogantly [do not boast], and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn of personal aggrandizement], Lift not up your [aggressive] horn on high…For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion and lifting up. But God is the Judge! He puts down one and lifts up another…All the horns of the ungodly also will I cut off [says the Lord], but the horns of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be exalted” {Psa 75:4-7, 10}. Left to themselves, men will first exalt and then deify either themselves, one another, or the work of their own hands. Many today walk so far from their God that they boldly declare the non-existence of a Creator, regimenting any hint of “divine miracles,” and even Christ’s crucifixion on the cross and resurrection from the dead as “myths” only to be believed by the “lowest and the least.” But to these “least,” the Father assigns positions of true authority, sharing with them the greatness and true riches of His Kingdom. As participants in the building of Christ’s Kingdom in these last days, may we surrender all self-serving and all self-seeking exaltation to follow in the steps of the Pattern Son whose sole desire was to exalt His Heavenly Father by humbling Himself in obedience to all that was required. May we not fear to speak forth the Name of Jesus Christ, the only Name by which men must be saved; and may we be prepared, equipped and enabled to show forth His Word in power and demonstration—all for the exaltation of His Name and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. -Ruth French June Newsletter 2006 | Agape Love part 2 of 2 | Kingdom First part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal June 2005 | God Revealed | Exaltation - Whose? part 3 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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