A LITLE HUBRIS WILL DO YOU (IN)

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Hubris means extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality, and an overestimation of one's own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

It seems that the prince of Cyrus was following the same path that Satan had used, which led to Satan’s downfall. His actions are described in the book of Ezekiel 28:13-16

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “ You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 “ By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.

As GOD warned the prince of Cyrus so also the warning is to all born again believers. We have a high position in the courts of GOD for he has made us kings and priests

Revelation 1:6 He has made us to be a kings and priests to serve our God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever!

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Revelation 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

I must remember that hubris is at hand and to beware that pride and arrogance could easily lead me astray as it did Satan.

May Hubris not be found within.

This post is linked with

Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty  on Monday

And with Shanda’s On your Heart Tuesday  

PROPENSITY

I have written that it is my firm belief that babies are born without sin, and remain so until they with full knowledge, do that which they know is wrong. At that point they join the rest of the world in need of a savior.

Even so each and every one of us is born with a propensity toward sin. Sin interacts on this propensity like a magnet to draw us toward it. If you take a young child and tell them “Don’t step on these flowers,” something happens within the child, and they have a strong urge to step on the flowers. It is more than temptation; it is temptation plus the power of sin.

Once man was not indwelled by this force, but when granddaddy Adam disobeyed God, the power of sin came to stay within. When there was no law this power was active, but was not revealed as such.

In the 6th and 7th chapters of Romans, Paul tries to expose the power of sin within man. Then he declares we who are saved are free from its power. He basically says; there is something in us, that is not us, and it tries to cause us to act in conflict with who we are.

I didn’t struggle with sin before I was saved; I just did it and in some cases enjoyed it, consequences not withstanding. My official title was “Servant of sin”.

But now I’m born again and have become “The servant of GOD.” Still there is inner conflict, from which Paul declares most emphatically, we are free from it. But sin has a strong drawing power much like the Sirens of mythology. Their song could not be resisted without aid from outside.

The story of Jason and the Argonauts tells of when they sailed into the sirens lair, and the sailors plugged their ears so they could not hear the song they sang, but Jason had himself tied to the mast, and as he listened to their song it nearly drove him crazy. When one hears the siren calling; his only defense is the deaf ear. What ever you lust after will be your undoing for that is what you will be seeking. Jesus said; take heed how you hear.


The term “World” is used to depict external lures, those things to which you can be drawn toward. Whether wine, women and song; or wine, men and diamonds. Whatever stimuli that causes the target to drool, this the world provides.

Jesus, the man, faced the strongest of temptations that the evil one could present to him. This was done when Jesus was at his physically lowest, and He was weakened from forty days of fasting. The reason He was able to withstand this onslaught was because there was nothing IN him that responded to any of the tempters wiles.

James 1:14-15 Each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

James understood this principle and warned against it.

Even though we are free from the power of sin, it will attempt to enslave us, and all it requires is our cooperation with it. But if we resist it, the power is broken and that which is in us, and is not us, and sin will not be manifested by us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhtD3TsftI&feature=related

This post is linked to Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem
And with Michelle’s  Hear it on Sunday

CROUCHING SIN

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Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.

"Proverbs 5:18-23
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love. For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner? For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths. His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

The popularity of adultery, fornication and deviant sexual sins has almost matched the time of the Roman Empire and that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

For the unsaved it just compounds and adds to the difficulty in finding their way to Christ. The desire for emotional and sexual fulfillment is stimulated by both natural and artificial means found in books, magazines, movies, television, and now on the Internet plus the brag- a-dociousness of peers.

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The picture in Genesis 4:7 is you and I standing at the door of decision when opened you and I are going to be overpowered by the force of sin. Once the door is opened we have already sinned in our heart even before any act is consummated. Whoa !!  Bolt that door shut !!

The Christian has no excuse for committing these sins for; one the scriptures forbid it, two the Holy Spirit convicts you at the point of considering it, and three you know it is wrong.

One scripture that should ever be you mind is; John 14:17 That is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be IN you.

As a Christian the Spirit of GOD is “in” you. No matter what the sin may be HE is a party to it. If you fornicate - - HE is in you while you fornicate.

To me this is a scary thought and yet many Christians ignore this fact and proceed to do what they know is wrong. Don’t lose this thought; if I sin the Holy Spirit is in me as I do it whether it is lying, cheating, stealing or any other sin.

Rob Harbison preached a workman like sermon on fornication for those interested. Http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/moral-issues-fornication-rob-harbison-sermon-on-adultery-36096.asp

This post is Linked with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

INEQUITY IN THE KINGDOM ??

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“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others,” declared the revised commandment of the animals in Orwell’s Animal Farm.

In America we aspire to the thinking that all men are created equal. While this is a lofty thought, there is an unrealized reality even within the kingdom of GOD.

Where do you start? Let’s begin with physical stature. Now are all men and women created equal? If you said yes you are ready for the Looney bin. If not equal physically then it must be intelligence where all are intelligently equal. A quick check of school records of grades might disagree on that point especially on the “SAT” scores.

Moving on and looking at social status. I don’t get many invitations to the White House functions or to any uppity social functions. Society pigeon holes us into classes. Even in school there was a great distinction among the students. Some were looked down upon and not accepted based on personal preferences.

But finally we come to the place where we all attain equality, “The church.”

Some churches have artificially tried to make this equality a reality, but it is a strained effort for some just don’t fit in, and further more they don’t want to.

Romans 12, and 1Corinthians 12 try to bridge this anomaly that we see within our brotherhood, but even there we find that there are the weaker brothers. Honor is lavished upon some to a greater degree than others, and it is something we all have participated in doing, and are guilty of it.

Skipping over other examples we come to our final rewards and even there we will experience a difference in the rewards earned; Revelations 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

All of the inequities of life will reflect upon our ability to earn a greater reward in heaven.

Christians are being slaughtered around the world just because of where they were born and their ethnicity, while here in America we do not suffer that fate this is an iniquitous position some are placed in.

If the above premises are anywhere near being true, then we are living in a world that isn’t fair, and we shouldn't expect it to be.

The age old question is what should we do? The answer is accept the world as it is for it isn’t going to change.

Accept yourself and refuse to accept the label the world has placed upon you.  Constantly reinvent yourself through faith in yourself. It is okay to have your head in the clouds as long as you keep your feet on the ground.

Find your potential and meet that standard for that will the best you can be. To do less will have wasted your greatness.

While we all have a common salvation it is obvious that there is inequity therein for some receive greater benefits from being born again than others do.

Linked with Laura at Brag on God Friday

ALMOST Persuaded

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There is a reoccurring theme we all experience during our lifetime and that is our list of “ALMOST.”

There are both positive and negative aspects to our almosts.

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The girl that almost married the wrong guy, and is happy she didn’t.

The guy almost didn’t buy that stock when it was cheap.

He almost was on the plane that crashed.

Retrospect is always looking back at things that could have been and both ruing and being joyous about a past event, most of which could have present day implications.

Eve may have looked backed and said, “I almost didn’t listen to that snake in the grass and eat that fruit.” Peter might have said when Jesus said, “Come follow me,” ‘I almost kept on fishing.‘

What ever the case may be we have to live with our decisions and at times they affect others also.

There is an old song I often would hear in the church I attended called, "Almost Persuaded."  It was used as an altar call urging sinners to receive Jesus.  I found the lyrics;

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;” Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,” Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day On Thee I'll call.”
“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come!
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail —“Almost,” but lost!

I fear that many who we know will be in that almost group and they will have to say, " I almost was persuaded to become a Christian, almost but I didn’t."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGZG7BkyPd4

Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
And with Jennifer at: God-Bumps and God-Incidences

WHY AM I ME?



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 Why am I me? 

Starting way back to Adam and coming all the way down to my present; how did I turn out to be me?

Some search genealogies hoping to find some clue as to something in their past generations that would help in answering this puzzle thinking that knowing where I came from possibly might help me in my quest for my identity and personage.

It has been said that I basically am the product of all my experience and learning but if I had a different experience and learning would I be someone else?

Joe Finkle; “The theory that meshes best with science is that consciousness is an emergent phenomenon that stems from the biochemical processes in the brain. There need not be any inherent special thing about you. Each of us can only possibly be ourselves and each of us can ask this question equally.”

The above quote from Joe sounds like he has been reading “Questions without answers,” and other scientific novels.

How about this; The "You" of today is the product of your unique set of life experiences, which have generated your unique set of memories, values, morals, and ethics, as well as your unique character and personality.

Your only way of distinguishing yourself from the other people and your environment is the huge content of your memory. If for any reason the memory is paralyzed or lost, the consciousness disappears once again, and a new you appears. Again we ask if we had different experiences would we be a different person?

If we consider that we have changed as we have grown up starting as a babe we could say that it is a different me at each stage of development.

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The intellectual changes along with sexual drives, physical development and psychological perceptions create my concept of who I am at a given period. 

This thought begs a further question; “Am I who I think I am?”

If we start with an absolute which is Almighty God whose declaration was “I AM THAT I AM,” The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and an Eternal Being. ACTS 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.’

We are HIS children, HE is our FATHER creator, and as such we are HIS children by generation. As Christians we are HIS children by generation and regeneration, and as such we have two identities.

Who I was before being saved and who I am after my new birth. The immediate issue for the newly born Christian is to understand this fact that while he has two identities he is to function only as the regenerated child of GOD.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Any time we act unchristlike, we are doing despite to the Spirit of grace and are not being led by the Spirit as in Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

In the flesh, meaning walking after the desires of the unregenerate man. We are not in the flesh yet we can walk after the desires of the flesh. So why am I me?

It is because I am a New Creation Man as stated in
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

Galatians .2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As long as I keep this reality before me I will not fail to act like the new me.

Think about this; you have to have a fake ID in order to act unchristian for you are not that person any more.

It is only when we don’t know who we are, that we allow sin to dominate us.

This post is Linked with

Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty Monday
And with Shanda’s On your Heart Tuesday  

SPOT REMOVER

spot remover
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If you want to get someone’s attention just mention a tip for getting stains out, and how to remove spots from clothes and carpets.

This is a problem we have to deal with often due to either our own or someone else’s carelessness.

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of stains and some are set to the point where they fall into the category of “Live with it.”  This is especially disturbing when it is a new and expensive garment.

I like the information given in a “Quick and easy stain removal guide.”

“The following general procedures apply to nearly all stains. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so take care of stains promptly.”

In the book of Ephesians the fifth chapter right in the middle of how to treat your wives Paul interjects the following verse;

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

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The church is alluded to as the bride of Christ to whom He is espoused. 

Ephesians 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

If you view this in the context of a young bridegroom taking a wife and behold she comes forth with a spotted and stained wedding dress, all wrinkled up with blemishes, and she expects him to be pleased with her.

Then consider the church, His body with the same imagery and the picture isn’t pretty.

Paul is trying to show forth the church as being chaste, and most desirable to Christ. And even though she has spots and wrinkles He has made provision for his church to be without spot or wrinkle, and expects us to use His cleansing remedy.

In Romans 7 Paul uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate two states of our being. He uses the law to represent us in an unsaved state (being married to the world) and then shows us in a saved condition whereby we are married to Christ.

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

So what is it to be; are you going to be the spotted, wrinkled, and blemished bride or the unspotted, fresh, young bride who keeps herself for Christ alone?

Remember; Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so take care of stains promptly.

Don’t ever go to bed in a spotted condition.



This post is linked to
Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem
And to: Michelle’s  Hear it on Sunday