Tag: pride

How To Become Rich In God’s Way

how to become richA psalmist lamented and voiced his concerns as he witnessed how wicked people prospered on earth.

The man thought God was partial to have allowed the prosperity of such evil people. However, God opened his eyes to reality as he confessed,

envy“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies” (Psalm 73:16-20 NIV).

Become Rich In God’s Way: Pursue Honest Riches

Children of God are to focus on receiving their riches from God, and not to envy the wicked people.

Wicked people may prosper today but their prosperity would remain temporal – They will not last, but soon vanish.

 

Become Rich In God’s Way: Why?

    • The prosperity of the righteous people will last a lifetime – It will also abide in heaven.

 

    • The prosperity of the righteous people will be inheritable.

 

  • God will spare their descendants to enjoy the benefits of their labor!

People who have made their choice to pursue righteous riches and serve God well should not hesitate their efforts, since they will receive better and lasting success from God.
confidence

Bible Declares,

“Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 25:12-13 NKJV)).

Pray To Become Rich In God’s Way

Dear God please give me grace to pursue riches that come from you!

    • Let my efforts be effective towards righteousness.

 

    • Do not let me envy the wicked people, or follow their footsteps.

 

  • Let my efforts glorify your name in this life to receive abiding success and also qualify for your eternal blessings in heaven.

Please do these things and more for me!

For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

CHRISTIANS MUST POSSESS THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY

humility

Humility is an excellent virtue that God’s children must possess.

Jehovah requires all his children to live humbly and uprightly before him at all times.

A good child of God would not seek for an excuse to entertain pride.

Christians should learn from King Uzziah in the bible who practiced both sides of the coin and reaped the consequences.

Uzziah lived in humility at the beginning of his tenure, but switched to entertain pride at the end.

 

Explore the Life of King Uzziah from 2 Chronicles 26

King Uzziah succeeded many wayward kings in the land of Judah.

His predecessors disobeyed God but he chose to act differently.

King Uzziah satisfied God.

Against the common practices of his time, Uzziah prioritize serving God and ruled his people with Godly fear.

God compensated King Uzziah for his faithfulness by helping him to become prosperous.

Uzziah was more famous than his neighboring kings.

Other kings looked up to his success.

 success    

The Coin Flip of King Uzziah – Pride Took Over His Humility

It is unfortunate that King Uzziah who started well with God did not end well.

Uzziah allowed fame and success to blindfold him, and sinned against his God.

The king let down his guard of righteousness; he allowed pride to set in, and was derailed!

The end game wasn’t palatable for King Uzziah. His exploits ended terribly!

The scripture reported,

“When he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16).

Despite all warnings that King Uzziah received to repent from his sins, he persisted to pursue God’s forbidden task.

He crossed his boundary to usurp the position of God’s priests – Which was beyond his customary roles.

Uzziah’s action upset God as the bible reported,

“Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar.

And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place.

Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death.

He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord.

Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).

 

 A believer must have a servant-heart always!

person

Learn Some Important Lessons on Humility

Christians are required to fear God, and serve him with humility.

We must understand that our acquired success comes from the Lord.

No matter the amount of success we might have achieved, we must not forget our little beginning.

 

    • Believers must remember how God has helped us in the past.

 

    • Jehovah provided for our needs when we lack.

 

  • He performed miracles to turn our impossibilities to possibilities!

pride

Not A Christian-By-Chance, But A Christian-By-Grace

Christians must remember how God adopted us to become his children.

We were once staunch sinners, and have no hope of eternity; yet God forgave our sins and saved us though grace of his Son Jesus Christ.

No Christian should take his salvation grace for granted.

It is the most precious gift of all times.

Christians are saved by grace as the bible stated,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Bible also stated,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV).

It is important to emphasize that God will bless people that are consistently loyal to him, and live in humility.

No Christian is allowed to live in pride.

 

A good Christian must always say: “I am what I am by the grace of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

 

pride

 

Some Consequences of Pride

A person who lives in pride will pay a heavy price in the hands of his/her Maker.

 

    • God will not lightly esteem anyone who arrogates God’s glory unto himself.

 

    • God will not be proud of a Christian who wears arrogant look.

 

    • God will not honor a person who secretly lives in pride but camouflage humility.

 

    • God will distance himself from a person who forgets his/her little beginning and refuses to honor him.

 

  • God will punish anyone (whether Christian or not) who lives in pride.

pray

 

Pray to Walk in Humility before God

Dear God please give me grace to serve you in humility at all times.

Help me to respect you always!

Please let your Holy Spirit guide me to make decisions that satisfies you.

Enable me with grace to always appreciate you for everything that happens in my life.

Empower me through your Holy Spirit to keep focusing on you during my trying moments and success moments.

Help me to live in humility and glorify you always, so that you can be comfortable to bless me more.

Please take all glory over my life!

For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

CHRISTIANS TO BEWARE OF PRIDE AND AVOID PITFALL

pride

Everyone (including Christians) is prone to temptation of pride.

Children of God must take extra caution not to fall into the pitfall.

Every child of God must cautiously make efforts not to fall for Satan’s trick of self-pride!

No doubt that Satan – the enemy of righteousness – would first attempt pride as an attack tool to make a successful Christian stumble into sin.

The enemy would tempt a Christian to be self-focus and/or be self-gratifying without the consciousness of glorifying God. (A practice considered detestable to God).

Instead of anyone becoming obsessive of his (or her) achievement, he should make efforts to divert due glory to God.

A good Christian will divert people’s attention to God under whatever circumstance!

It is un-disputable fact to state that no one can successfully make anything happen without the help of God.

“…A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27 KJV)

Christians to learn from Apostle Paul (in the bible); with the use of his personal experience, he analyzed how Satan can manipulate anyone into pride – through his personal achievements.

Paul stated,

“…And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

 self-belief

 

Summary Lesson on Humility vs Pride

 

  1. God created humanity to depend on him. He wants us to look up to him for our needed help.
  1. God does not want us to be self-gratifying or be self-sufficient.
  1. Satan will attempt to make anyone be obsessed of his achievements without the consciousness of glorifying God.
  1. God wants us to gratify our success to him – Even if our personal efforts are involved.

 

life

 

To Be Reminded Of Christians’ Need To Take Caution

 

  • Flesh wants self-gratification. We must not allow it.
  • Satan wants us to choose pathway of pride to trip and fall. We must not allow him.
  • God dislike any gratification that voids the praise of his name. We must give God his due honor.
  • Christians must yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and refuse to satisfy desires of self.

Don’t get confused about Pride

 

  • It is important to note there is nothing bad in taking pride in an achievement if due honor is given to God.
  • Pride of an achievement is only considered erratic when a person pretends he has earned his success without God’s help.

Never Forget!

 

    • God wants to take pride out of us to bless us more.

 

  • God wants to demonstrate to everyone around that he is the brain behind our success.

 

A thoughtful believer will honor God for his/her achievement.

Will you pray for grace to do so?

prayer

 

Prayer of Grace to Practice Humility Before God

Dear God, please make me a Christian that appreciates you for my achievements.

Give me grace to appreciate your help in everything I do.

Enable me with courage to honor you over my achievement so that you can be happy with me, and be motivated to bless me more.

Empower me through your Holy Spirit to live a pleasant life before you always.

For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Humility in Service to God and Man

humilityHumility is the key. Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples to demonstrate humility, and he challenged them to do likewise. Jesus Christ said,

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:13-15 NIV).

 

Lesson of Humility

humilityBelievers in Jesus Christ are required to be humble and serve other people.

We should not only faithfully serve God, but we should also provide for the needs of other people. Christians should help their fellow believers and seek for their welfare.

It is important that God’s saints work in unity, and they should understand that “whatever happens to one believer has happens to all believers!”

It is ungodly and un-scriptural for any Christian to look down on others as if he or she is more spiritual than them.

In other words, no Christian should be obsessed with his or her position (or personal integrity) and consider others to be inferiors.

While we cannot all be leaders, we are all called to serve one another – and we must do so with all humility and sincerity. Every Christian must honor the true symbol of Christianity – which is love!

 

Prayer to serve with Humility

humble prayerDear Jesus Christ, I receive your grace by faith to love other people genuinely.

I want to make positive contributions to other people’s lives.

Please help me to achieve this!

Empower me to support my fellow Christians whatever I can offer within my capacity.

Let me have genuine interest in the success of others, and let me contribute my quotas of positive efforts into their lives.

Please, help me to represent you well here on earth so that you can be pleased and bless me.

Please let your love dwell richly in my heart from now on and always.

For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Don’t Fight for Religion, We Serve a Real God

real godDemetrius who made materials for shrines of goddess Diana at Ephesus insinuated uproar against God’s evangelists; the Ephesians supported Demetrius to defend their idols.

They chanted songs of praise to their idol goddess Diana in protest  or fight against God’s evangelists and their gospel message.

The scripture reported,

“When they found out that he (Alexander – one of the evangelist) was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:34).

 

Lesson on Services to a Real God

 

 

authenticityHow amazing is it to realize that human beings can go to any length to defend their religions? People fight and kill others in the name of religion.

Meanwhile, common sense tells us that we do not need to fight for any deity.

A deity should be strong enough to defend himself or itself. Whether god of Iron, Wood, Water, Buddha, Hindi, Islam, Sikh, or Christianity. Let any god who feels that he is strong enough defend himself.

 

stamp-924571_640As for Christians, we believe that the living God of heaven is the real God. Our mission is not to force other people to believe our religion.

Our mission is to say the truth and preach the gospel to the world. We are to make people aware of the salvation offer that God gives through his Son Jesus Christ.

The rest of the job is left for God to complete. God will convince people and save their souls by his mercy and grace.

 

Prayer on God Authenticity

 

 

royalI believe that the living God who lives in heaven and reigns in the affairs of men is the real God.

I also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I understand that my faith in Jesus Christ will rescue me from the wrath of God that is coming upon the earth.

 

I strongly believe that there is no other God except the living God and no one can get to the presence of God without first believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is my declaration, and this is my testimony. Amen.

Satan Is A Traitor and He’s Doomed for Hell Fire

hell fireThe scripture described Satan as a traitor who wanted to usurp the position of his master. The traitor fell from grace, and Jehovah who is the master of all judged him immediately.

Satan the Lucifer will be permanently hurl to hell fire on the last day.error

 

The scripture explained, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the
Pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

 

Lesson to Learn from Satan Who Is Doomed for Hell Fire

 

 

fallen

Satan abused his position in heaven, and God promised to cast him to eternal damnation of hell fire.

Although the arch-enemy may still be causing uproar on earth, but his time is limited. He will not trouble the world forever!

When God’s appointed time come, Satan would be chained and cast into unquenchable fire of hell.

He will remain there permanently. However, it is unfortunate that the enemy might have some company in hell.

 

errorThose who fall for his deceits on earth will share hell fire with him (Matthew 25:41).

Meanwhile, everyone has a choice to either follow devil to hell or follow Jesus to heaven.

All it takes to go to heaven is confession of sins, and declaration of Jesus Christ as the true son of God.

Anyone who confesses Jesus as Lord and accept him as his/her personal Savior will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).

 

Prayer of Victory over Satan and Hell Fire

 

 

prayerDear God, I understand that Satan (devil) is bound to go to hell fire, but I do not want to follow him there.

I want to follow Jesus Christ to heaven. Therefore, I confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and I accept him as my personal Savior.

 

I believe he died on the cross for my sins, and I believe that he resurrected to give me eternal life.

I confess Jesus Christ as Lord today, and I will serve him forever! So help me God. Amen!

Nation that Honor God is Secured

God HonorGod promised to correct self-sufficient nations that solely believe on human knowledge and military strength for their means of security, who honors Him not.

God warned through his prophet that nations that fail to honor him will suffer.

 

warriorGod said,

 

“Woe to the land of whirring wings along the rivers of Cush, which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech,  whose land is divided by rivers.

All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.

This is what the Lord says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place,
like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches.” (Isaiah 18:1-5 NIV).

 

Lesson on God Honors

 

assassination-attempt-268910_640God honors His name, and He expects every human to honor Him as well.

The Creator will suppress any individual or a group of people that fail to duly recognize him.

Also, a nation that fails to put God first in their practices will stumble.

The heavenly Father hates arrogant looks and prideful hearts – whether it comes from a person or a nation.

championAll people should submit to God and duly honor his name.

People and nations must put God first in their practices so that the Creator can bless them.

In addition, no child of God should be self-sufficient, but we must all submit at the feet of the Creator and satisfy him with praises.

God’s blessings will pursue his faithful children that  honors Him.

 

Prayer to Honor God

 

 

Dear heavenly God, you are the first and the last; you are the final authority, and no one can question you.

My life goal is to hands-1201826_640be humble before you and give you due honor. Please give me the grace to do so.

Empower me to arrogate every victory I have to the praise of your name.

 

I also pray that you will enlighten people to realize the greatness of your power over their situations, so that they can praise you.
For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

CHRISTIANS SHOULD POSSESS LOVE AND HUMILITY

bible devotion

Love and humility are excellent virtues that God’s children must practice.

Jehovah requires all his children to live uprightly before him.

A good child of God would not seek for an excuse to hate others, or entertain pride.

Christians should learn from King Uzziah in the bible who practiced both sides of the coin and reaped the consequences.

Uzziah lived in humility at the beginning of his tenure, but switched to entertain pride at the end.

 

Explore the Life of King Uzziah from 2 Chronicles 26

King Uzziah succeeded many wayward kings in the land of Judah. His predecessors disobeyed God but he chose to act differently. He satisfied God.

Against the common practices of his time, Uzziah prioritize serving God and ruled his land with Godly fear.

God compensated the King for his faithful by helping him to become prosperous.

Uzziah was more famous than other kings that reigned during his time.

 

The Coin Flip of King Uzziah – Pride replaced Humility

It is unfortunate that King Uzziah who started well with God did not finish well.

He allowed fame and success to blindfold him.

Uzziah he let down his guards and stumbled into sin. The king allowed pride to set in, and was derailed.

The end game of Uzziah’s exploit was horrific!

The scripture reported,

“When he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16).

Despite all warnings that Uzziah received to repent from his sins, he persistent to pursue the tasks that God forbad.

King Uzziah usurped the priest’s position, and his action upset God. The bible reported,

“Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar.

And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place.

Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death.

He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord.

Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).

relationship

Important Lesson on Love and Humility

Children of God must operate in love

Christians are required to love God, serve God, and fear God.

Most importantly, children of God must operate in humility.

Children of God must have servant-hearts

Believers must have servant hearts. We must not forget our little beginning, no matter what we have become.

Christians must remember that we were once sinners saved by the grace of Jesus Christ to befit God’s benefits. We must not abuse our grace opportunity.

Christians are saved by grace as the bible stated,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

It is important to emphasize that God will bless people that are consistently loyal to him.

In contrast, he will not withhold his correcting rod but punish anyone who refuses to repent from his or her sins.

humility

Prayer to Walk with God in Humility

Dear God please give me grace to serve you in humility at all times. Help me to operate in fear and respect.

Please let your Holy Spirit guide me to make decisions that satisfies you.

Also, help me to love other people dearly as Christ demonstrated his love for the world.

Please ever keep me fit for your eternal kingdom. For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.