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Philippians 2:3-4 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. NKJV
Philippians 2:3-4 - Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 4 Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Do you remember when Paul calls Peter out for being a hypocrite? This story of Paul and Peter's encounter can be found in Galatians 2:11-13? Peter would eat with the Gentiles until some Jews from Jerusalem came to town and then he wouldn't associate with his Christian brothers any longer. He esteemed himself and his Jewish brothers better than the Gentiles. This hypocrisy even engulfed Barnabas. I knew of a congregation that wouldn't allow the men to serve at the Lord's Table without being dressed in a suit and tie. I always found this very sad because two of the men that would come dressed in their suits were later found to be guilty of being sexually immoral.
Keep your focus on Jesus and expect Christians to let you down and then it won't take you by surprise. Some people are motivated by "selfish ambition and wanting nothing more than being on the top rung of the ladder". They have made the wrong choice in life. We are not to be hypocrites. We are to be followers of Jesus. We are to allow His light to shine through us. Just remember the Bible states in numerous places that God will have the final words. His judgments will not be biased, they will be true and there is no way anyone can obstruct His justice. Think About These: If you hate hypocrisy then you really want to go to Heaven. Hell will be the last stop for all hypocrites. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Luke 10:20 - "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." NASU
Well, they went out like He said and they were actually able to accomplish what He had asked of them. They come back all fired up. I mean they are excited. The exuberance is overflowing from them. They inform Jesus that even the demons have to listen to them when they cast them out in His name.
Jesus says, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." If you have experienced some great accomplishment(s) in your life it is okay to be happy and excited, but don't forget Jesus said this, if you want to rejoice in something rejoice in this, "that your names are recorded in heaven."
It is easy for us to lose sight of our goal from time to time. So let me encourage you to never lose sight of the fact that if you are a Christian your name is recorded in heaven. This world is not our home we are just passing through. The best news we will ever hear is our name is recorded in heaven. When we think about that truth for 10-15 minutes it seems to make the troubles we face less stressful. In fact, I would say our troubles completely vanish when compared to the "good news" that our names are recorded in Heaven. I would like for you to say this to yourself numerous times today: Your Name, rejoice because your name is recorded in heaven. When I say it I will say it this way: Gary Serago, rejoice because your name is recorded in heaven. Now you say it using your name. Think About These: He who seldom thinks of heaven is not likely to get there. The road to heaven is never overcrowded. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Ps 71:5 - "For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth." NASU
The best way to gain confidence in your abilities is put them into practice. In other words, execute your abilities in the areas you need to increase your confidence. The more you practice or execute your abilities the more your confidence will grow. If you ever have the opportunity to watch a high school or college wrestling team you will see them doing something known as "drilling". When the wrestlers are "drilling" they are doing the same move over and over again to the point that it becomes automatic.
When I became a believer I was a few months away from turning 24 years old and I must admit I didn't immediately have 100% confidence in God in all things. It took me quite a few years to be able to say I have 100% confidence in God in all things.
How will your confidence in God increase? It has been my experience your confidence in God will grow as you walk with Him through your trials of life. Life has a way of putting some enormous pressures on us. Some of these pressures may be financial, health or family and they are so extreme we believe they are going to kill us. It is when we are experiencing these difficult times that our confidence in God has an avenue for growth. Don't detest the trials of life that you experience. Instead, see them as a great opportunity for you to increase your confidence in what God is able to do. To be the best you can be you need confidence in yourself and in God. Think About These: The strength that comes from confidence can be quickly lost in conceit. A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him; a great leader inspires men to have confidence in themselves. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt 22:41 - Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: NASU
Their trick question backfires on them when Jesus says, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven…." The Bible says, Acts 2:37-38 - Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. When they heard this what is this? It is the gospel that Jesus had died for them. Once they believed that Jesus died for them what were they to do? They were to "repent and be baptized". Guess what? There are Sadducees still around today. I have had people come up to me and say a person doesn't have to be baptized. They generally want to give me some hypothetical situation (like the Sadducees above with their seven brother's scenario). In their story they have a person who starts to believe in Jesus but there is no water around and he dies. They state God is an all loving God and this person is a believer but there wasn't any water near for him to be baptized. So is God going to send him to hell?
God through the prophet Ezekiel informed us of God's love for sinners. When in Ezek. 33:11 - "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. I believe if a man truly wanted to repent and be baptized God would see to it that it happened. Some would say but there is no water and I would say have you ever read Nehemiah 9:14-15 - Through Your servant Moses. 15 "You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst,…" God is able to make bread fall down from heaven and water to come from a rock. I don't think we should short change His power and what He can do when a man is trying to obey His commands. What question would God ask you? Would He ask you why you haven't obeyed His commands? Or would He ask you what made you want to obey His commands? I believe it would be great to quote this passage of scripture to God: Acts 5:32 - "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." We all need the Holy Spirit in this life and God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. As it says in Acts 2 repent and be baptized and God will forgive you of your sins and give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. I hope you won't argue with God or try to make up hypothetical questions where you try and place God in a corner for when you do that you are displaying you really don't know the power of God. Think About These: God isn't asking you to figure it out. He's asking you to trust that He already has. Faith is trusting God even when you don't understand His plan. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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