Confidence, Pride, and Humility

There have been a lot of sons and daughters of Yah speaking out lately. It seems that the Spirit is giving them boldness to speak the truth. Now, we also know, this will draw many who will challenge and even scoff  at the words spoken. And that's expected from those who the bible says don't understand spiritual matters because they are trying to understand with a natural mind. But what I have been shocked by are the many professing believers that will roll their eyes and scoff as well.

One thing I have noticed is what the truth will do among believers is separate those who are the "chaff" from the "wheat". There will be a difference in those who are, for whatever reason, lukewarm or not entirely confident in their faith. They may even be hypocritical (putting on the air of religion but living a different life). Sometimes jealousy will creep in and hardened hearts will develop against their own brother or sister in Christ. All the while the other believer is growing spiritually in Christ, gaining more knowledge, insight, boldness, and confidence.

Those are really disheartening actions from a people that should be encouraging Yah's truth - no matter who is speaking it. If Yah said it and it is the truth, so be it. And let all who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. And I believe one reason why is because we have a distorted view of what confidence, pride, and spiritual pride is. And that is what I want to explore in this blog.

Every born again believer will have some confidence and every Spirit filled believer will exhibit some type of boldness. These qualities are not apart from the power of Yah and His Son, but because of the power of Yah and His Son.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. - 1 John 5:14-15

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. - Proverbs 14:26

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. - Ephesians 3:11-12

Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold... - 2 Corinthians 3:10-12

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. - 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Confidence in Christ is something that continues to build in the believer. The more they study, pray, go through different trials and temptations, and hear the voice of the Father, the more confident they become. That confidence leads to a boldness and a willingness to do the will of the Father no matter what.

Stephen, the apostle, stood before those who were picking up stones to kill him, looked into heaven and saw Christ at the right hand of the Father. He continued to preach with boldness and fervor even the more until he, with his last breath asked for forgiveness for those stoning him. Those who stoned him more than likely thought he was prideful for speaking the gospel and not conforming to their demands, but it wasn't pride. Stephen knew what he knew and wasn't afraid to share it (Read about Stephen's death in 6 and 7) even unto death.

And that is the confidence that every believer should have. Yah did not give us the spirit of fear! So many times He tells us to be bold, courageous, and to fear and fret not. There is work to do, we are storming the gates of hell, and a soldier in Christ should not be faint of heart.

Now, there will be some that will not understand this confidence. Instead, they will wrongly label this confidence as "spiritual pride" or "pride". However, in studying, I have discovered, there is the overarching "pride" - but within it, two subsets. Pride against Yah and pride against your fellow man. Let's see what the word says about the two types of pride. Yah gives a GREAT definition when He reminds His people in Deuteronomy not to fall into such foolishness.

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Also, great descriptions of pride against fellow men here:

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 16:5

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. - Galatians 6:3

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. - Romans 12:16

...do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. - Romans 11:18-21 

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’... - Luke 18:11-12 

 Now, let's explore some verses that show pride against Yah....

“How you are fallen from heaven,O Day Star, (S)son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the  heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ - Isaiah 14:12-14

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”...4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” - Genesis 3:1,4-5

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. - Acts 5:1-5

Do you notice a key difference here? What I have discovered is that there is a vast difference between "fleshly pride"  and "Spiritual pride". Fleshly pride is to esteem or think of yourself more highly than another fellow human being. The bible calls it "puffing yourself up". Today's vernacular may call it "looking down on someone". It is to think you have attained such a high status on your own, under your own "hard work" and power. Fleshly pride is to forget Yah and to believe you have done it all on your own. I have noticed, in my experience, many people who have a lot of "things" whether tangible or intangible, or have (or have begun) to attain status often fall into pride. They forget that at the move of His hand, everything can be taken away, down to their very breath.

But Spiritual pride is something completely different. Spiritual pride is what made Lucifer fall and become satan. Spiritual pride is not to think of yourself more highly than another person, but to think of yourself more highly than Yahweh-God. Spiritual pride is satan inspired. Spiritual pride will keep you from being corrected because - "you know more than Yah" - therefore, you know more than the corrective word someone is trying to bring to you. Spiritual pride will make you make others question the truth of Yah's word - "But, did God really say that?". Spiritual pride will make you think you can get over, pull a fast one, and can outsmart the One that knows and sees all - Yah.

These things are vastly and completely different than confidence and boldness. With confidence and boldness you will:

• Speak the word of Yah
• Correct in the love and Spirit of Yah
• Judge in the righteousness of Yah 
• Stand against sin with the word and guidance of Yah
• Use His gifts for the glory of Yah 

And these things are not prideful or in the least bit Spiritually prideful.

Ok, so what about being humble? Humbleness doesn't mean being "mousy", being a "door mat" to others, debasing ourselves, or "loving someone in their sin".  Our humbleness makes us aware of those who still need salvation and more importantly, it keeps us realizing that we need HIM.

If we are not careful, we will also fall into what is also known as "false humility". False humility is akin to hypocrisy as described in the bible. It has much to do with appearance and image control, rather than substance. Often times, the two (appearance and substance) will contradict each other. We see it often when someone talks down on themselves, or thinks down on themselves as to seem more humble. We hear it with Christians who say things like:

"I'm just a sinner, no better than you"

 "Oh I'm just tryin to make it in..."

"I'm just a worm..."

To that I call HOGWASH! That is not being humble, that is pride clothed as humility. Yah does not call those who belong to Him those things. He calls us things like "ROYAL PRIESTS", "JUDGES OF ANGELS", "RIGHTEOUS", "HEIRS TO THE THRONE OF CHRIST", "SONS AND DAUGHTERS". Yes, He warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought - apart from HIM. We can not claim these things on our own, but only through being grafted in by the gift of the sacrifice of Christ. The command to be humble was never meant to be used as a tool to berate ourselves for "humbleness sake". The Father tells us to come boldly to His throne asking for the things of Him. How can we go to a mighty God as "just a worm" or "just a sinner"? How do we fight and overcome a formidable enemy as "just a...."? REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

So, these are things that where shown to me as I have been doing some serious reflection. I hope I was able to give you some encouragement. Being born again, you have confidence in Him and the gospel. Speak boldly. Those opposed, both unbelievers and professing believers, will be dealt with by Him. Their opinions don't matter so don't let that shake your faith. The Father says the one who obeys Him and does His will loves Him.

Correcting, judging, teaching, and guiding as long as it is done in truth of Yah and guided by His Spirit, is not being prideful. Remember, the word tells us to correct each other. This means, we will always know more and be able to teach another person in certain areas, just as another will always know more and be able to teach and guide us. Don't reject that. But, be careful lest your knowledge makes you start to think that you know more than Him, committing spiritual pride. Remember, we are nothing apart from Him, but we are everything, and can DO everything with Him...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

Things Christians Say...(That Are Demonically Inspired) Part 5 of 5

At last, we come to the 5th and final thing, in this series, that Christians say that are demonically inspired. I had no intention on having five parts to this series. I was going to stop at four. But as I was writing the first blog, I got into a conversation with a professing believer about an opinion she was trying to pass off as truth and in turn using that opinion to dictate how the Spirit should have used a person in a particular way. This opinion lead me to try and help her see the truth to her error, but the correction wasn't accepted. In fact, she actually blocked me from her Facebook page and deleted all of my comments. I am not telling you all this to "whine" - but to warn you all to be very careful of three things the Father showed me that came out of this situation.

1. Opinions are just that, opinions. And opinions are fine until you decide to make that opinion (your own thoughts, feelings, and wishes) truth (facts, and God's word) while trying to make others abide by your opinion.
2. Don't let your need to be "right" and your emotions get in the way of true, godly, and loving correction. Many people say "it's not what you say, but how you say it". But the truth of the matter is as the word says "truth offends". One can give truth in the gentlest way possible, and for those who have an issue either with the messenger or with their own ego, it will still make them mad. It is one who seeks truth and wants to be righteous that will accept the truth (not opinion) with gratefulness and seek the Father to change.
3. It is ok to disagree. But don't suppress truth. There is a verse in Romans 1 that says: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."   It also says in 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." In this case, deleting the truth so that all that stood was opinion passed off as truth showed a lack of maturity and wisdom. But also is deceiving those who will eventually read that stat with no biblical basis. The secular world would call this "Information Control" - only showing what you want shown as to have a favorable outcome. But, the Father calls suppressing truth wicked, unrighteous, and ungodly. She, as well as others, who read our conversation, and chose to not speak truth but chose to stay quiet or unify and applaud over something false will have to answer.

So, what happened that spurned me to write this blog? This one thing may seem so benign, but in actuality, it has major spiritual implications. This demonically inspired thought is "Stop giving the devil glory." Or, it is said by taking scripture out of context (which is what happened in this case) "Stop giving the devil place". 

In my experience, this thought process usually comes about from well meaning Christians that only want to think and speak about the "good things of God". They usually get upset when sin or the enemy schemes are pointed out - or done in a way that makes them upset. And I get that, but it is faulty thinking based on scripture taken out of context that will lead many astray.

Before I get into the faulty thinking and the scripture out of context, I want to point out one thing. In the bible, we are compared to soldiers in Ephesians 6:11-18 and 2 Timothy 2:3-4. You will also find a reference that Yah makes comparing Ezekiel to a "Watchman on the Wall" in Ezekiel 33.

Now, anyone who has served in the U.S. military knows these truths - know your rank, know your superior, and know your enemy. In times of war, they do not just focus solely on their General or

other superiors. The time that they have spent with them training has passed. The time they spent with them getting their orders have passed. In war, they are now focused on their enemy. They may have spent time studying the enemy - their tricks, schemes, tactics, stations so that they can be prepared for and warn their fellow soldiers of seen or unseen threats. It would be negligent for a soldier to go into war and say "I don't want to focus on the enemy...let's just think about our General!". Would you agree?

The concept of not focusing on the devil and giving him "place" is derived from this verse taken out of context:

Neither give place to the devil. - Ephesians 4:27 (KJV)

What is done here is called eisegesis, or "twisting scripture". Twisting scripture is done when someone chooses a scripture, usually out of context and partially quoted, to support an opinion they have or to try and justify their actions. The person pretty much makes up their own interpretation of what the verse means. We see that with the "don't judge" movement, or a very popular "touch not my anointed" that some use to protect their pastors or leaders who are being called out on sin. Well, in our conversation, this scripture was twisted because the true context is something different:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:22-32

The verse in context is strictly talking about a born again believer's conduct. Verse 27 specifically is giving warning to not become so angry that you sin - thereby "giving the devil place". Cross referenced, it is the same warning that Yah gave Cain in the garden before he murdered his brother. It is not talking about giving the devil "glory" or "place" in your or other's lives for exposing him and his schemes. In fact, if we continue seeking scripture, we see several places that contradict this frame of thinking:

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. -Ephesians 5:11-12

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. - John 7:24

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. - Titus 1:10-13

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. - Ezekiel 3:18-19 (also see Ezekiel 33)

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. - Isaiah 58:1

Now, we have clearly seen that the word gives us instruction to expose evil. So, let's tackle why this line of thinking of not exposing for fear of giving the devil glory is demonically inspired. To say that exposing him and evil isn't something we should do is to call Yah and His word a liar:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Also, to make this claim that we would be glorifying satan is to say that we are giving him the place that Yah only holds in His people. That is nothing more than what the enemy would want. But, we know Yah will not share His glory or throne with anyone or anything else:

I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. - Isaiah 42:8

You shall have no other gods before me. - Exodus 20:3

Now, let's use some quick and simple logic. Why would Yah tell us to expose satan, stand against his schemes and warn others if He knew in turn it would cause us to give satan glory, honor, and "a place"? I'll let you think on that one a little bit.

Be careful of what you learn from people and their opinions. I pray the Father speaks to your heart and you either start or continue to expose evil and tell the truth how the Holy Spirit leads you.

...so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:14-16

Things Christians Say...(That Are Demonically Inspired) Part 4 of 5

Be tolerant because I am tolerant said the Lord
 -Things God Never Said

Here we are in part four talking about things Christians say that are demonically inspired. "Be Tolerant...and loving!!" has been zooming around "Christian circles" at enormous speed lately.

I began doing my biblical research for this blog earlier today. I started gathering, researching, and rechecking contexts of scriptures that were coming to mind. As I was researching scripture, a link came up. Out of curiosity, I clicked to see what this person's thoughts were about this subject. I began to read and found myself nodding in agreement. Please keep in mind, I do NOT endorse the site from which this writing is found, nor do I fully endorse the author as I have not properly and completely vetted either of them. However, I can say that I agree with what is written in this particular paper.

This write up is all that I would have said and maybe even a little bit more. It is very concise and if you read it through the eyes of the Spirit, easy to understand. So, instead of recreating the wheel, I'd like to share this write up with you - on "Tolerance" as the enemy of our souls would love to do nothing more than inspire us to overlook truth and sin in order to "keep the peace".

What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? - Galatians 4:15-16

A Biblical Perspective On Tolerance by Rebecca S. May

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3