Tag: Arrogance

20.y. “Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Psalms 55:21   His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

 Psalms 36:4   He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

 Proverbs 8:13   The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

 Proverbs 26:25   when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

 Ezekiel 33:31   And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

 Psalms 34:14    Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

 Amos 5:15   Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

 Psalms 101:3   I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

 1 Peter 3:10-11  For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

I like where David says “ I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”  He has purposed in his heart to know what is good, true, and right and by knowing this he is able to discern what is evil and worthless.  Though he sees it and though others are doing or following after it, it will not cling to him.  He has purposed in his heart to keep his life from evil and to do that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ.  

How is a person to know what is worthless and how to keep it from clinging to us?  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  We need to be able to recognize and discern the difference between that which is worthless and that which is right, true, pure, honorable, and lovely.  God’s Word will always bring to mind the difference.  Sometimes this wisdom comes immediately and other times it is a work in progress.  The problem is that God’s Word does not reside in the hearts and minds of many.  Meditation on His Word is what is able to soak in on a Sunday morning a couple of times per month.  There is so much distraction in the world today.  It is at our fingertips all our waking moments and unless there is a purposed restraint it will consume our hearts and minds.  It is in this consumption that we become neglectful and complacent to the Word of God and things of God.  Take an inventory of what is worthless in the world.  Make a list of what you see as worthless.  Spend some time looking at God’s view of what is worthless in this world.  Seek and desire to know the difference.

12.t. “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Zephaniah 2:10  This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty. The Lord will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Distant nations will bow down to him, all of them in their own lands.

Isaiah 16:6     We have heard of the pride of Moab— how proud he is!— of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.

Daniel 4:37    Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 5:20-23     But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Obadiah 1:3    The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”

1 Peter 5:5    Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Isaiah 37:23    “‘Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel!

This shall they have for their pride,…. This calamity shall come upon their land, for their pride, which often goes before a fall; and has frequently been the cause of the ruin of kingdoms and states, and of particular persons; and indeed seems to have been the first sin of the apostate angels, and of fallen man. Because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts; they looked with disdain upon them, as greatly below them; and spoke contemptibly of them, of their nation, and religion; and “made” themselves “great”, and set up themselves “above” them, opened their mouths wide, and gave their tongues great liberties in blaspheming and reviling them: what was done to them is taken by the Lord as done to himself;  (Gill’s Exposition)

A little pride is enough to drag a person into the pit of arrogance and self-reliance and self-worth.  Humility is replaced by that which glorifies self rather than God.  Pride is  deep rooted in our sinful nature.  It will battle for control of our thoughts and actions.  It will make unrighteous statements that bring no glory or honor to Jesus Christ.  How do we recognize pride in ourselves?  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see it cleary when we look into the mirror?  We would be able to address it the minute it appears.  But that is not the case.  We can’t see it in the mirror.  Others might see it in us in how we talk but for sure we will not.  The only way to clearly see pride in our lives is through the Word of God, desiring Him to show us, having a willing heart to receive His Word, and humbly seeking the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives.  There is no other way for pride to be exposed so we can repent and turn away from it.  Ask God to show any prideful ways in your heart and be willing to confess and turn away from them.

10. h. “The people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’”

Obadiah 1:1  Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

Proverbs 16:18    Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23    One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Jeremiah 48:29-30    We have heard of the pride of Moab— he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.  I know his insolence, declares the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.

Malachi 1:4    If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’”

Obadiah wrote this shortest book of the Old Testament probably soon after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem (586 b.c.). During this conquest, the people of Edom helped capture fleeing Israelites and turn them over to the Babylonians. They even took up residence in some Judean villages. This angered the Lord, for the Edomites, as descendants of Esau, were related to the Israelites (Gen. 25:21-26, 30) and therefore should have helped them. Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be repaid for mistreating God’s people. Obadiah also asserted that God is sovereign over the nations and that the house of Jacob would be restored because of God’s covenant love for his people.

The spirit of pride is a parasite upon the souls of men. It never forgives. Nor will it receive forgiveness. So the human hearts over which it rules remain “unforgiven”. The Edomite nurses his anger; he “keeps his wrath forever”. And he never surrenders to God. He remains “unforgiven”. He never finds peace with God, peace with his fellow man, or peace with himself. Unless he repents, he cannot be saved from the wrath to come.  He goes to the judgment shaking his fist at God. And descends into the fires of hell in a torment that will last forever.

He will wipe away every tear

“No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.”

Exodus 1:8  Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.  And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”

Psalms 10:2     In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.

Psalms 83:3-4     They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.  They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

Proverbs 1:11    If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

Numbers 22:6    Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Job 5:13    He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

Proverbs 16:25    There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20     Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,  and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

James 3:15-18    This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

In the change of one King all the benefits of Joseph and the Israelites was forgotten.  In a short time, going from being found in favor to being treated ruthlessly, shrewdly, and as slaves.  Can you imagine what this change would do to everyday life?  A change so fast and dramatic that you can’t even think it possible but yet there it is.  You feel as though you are living in the blessings of God and then in a moment it all changes.

When I was 21 I was working as a plumber in a house under construction.  At 8:00 that Saturday morning a colleague went to light his torch and there as an explosion and fire due to a gas leak in the house.  We were both burned severely. (In a moment my life changed) I was able to return to work after 6 months.  Some might say how unfortunate to have this happen, yet I know it was the best thing ever in my life, for within a year and 11 days later it brought me to saving grace knowledge of forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.  It did seem bad but God used it for good.

Another time I lost my job after 20 years.  I was so confused, lost, and defeated.  (In a moment my life changed) Looking back I can see how good this was for me for God needed to show me that I was not my job.  My identity was in being His child not in the title I held.  My job was what I did and not who I am.  I am a child of the King.   He did many things during this time to confirm His loving hand and presence in my life.  These and more trials have come and gone.

Did any of these seem good at the time – no.

Was this time easy – no.   

Did my current state of normal change – yes.

Do doubts attack my faith – yes

Can I look back and see God’s hand in all of it – yes.

Did God ever leave me alone – no.

I guess what I am trying to get at is that all things work together for good to them called according to His purpose and plans.  I don’t understand it but I know it to be true.  I have grown in my trust, faith, reliance, worship, obedience, because of what has happened and where He leads me.  I find Him opening up understanding to scriptures and knowledge of Him.  He allows me to see His hand at work and as well exposes the work of satan in this world. 

He feeds my soul and breaths hope that overshadow my doubts and concerns.  I do not have to know the reason behind that which I deem bad, untimely, hurting, overwhelming, crushing, traumatic, shattering, terrible and devastating, for God is in control, He loves me, He will never leave me or forsake me, He will guard me, He will lead me, and in Him and His hands I find peace and rest knowing that all things work together for good to them called according to His purpose.   A trial or trouble placed in the hands of God will bring rest and peace to the heart and soul and mind.

Remember here will come a time, in a moment and blink of an eye, when Christ will return and this short vapor of life will leave and eternity starts and where every tear will be wiped away and we will be in His presence forever.

God of Knowledge

“ Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.”

“knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

“Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Malachi 2:17  You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Psalms 95:9  when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”

Isaiah 1:14     Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

Isaiah 43:24     You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.

Jeremiah 15:6    You have rejected me, declares the LORD; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.

Ezekiel 16:43    Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have enraged me with all these things, therefore, behold, I have returned your deeds upon your head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed lewdness in addition to all your abominations?

Psalms 73:3  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.  They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.  Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.  Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.  They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.  They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.  Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.  And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”  Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

Zephaniah 1:12    At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

Discerning the will of God is a life long process.  Each day we are led into new understanding of serving Him.   Each day we find new mercies and blessings given to us by the grace of God.  This we find when we have a heart desire to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  However if we do not we will find ourselves like many in the past who have become complacent and turned away from full commitment to Him.  These scriptures today explain the mind and thoughts of man.  You can see the application of the word of God and service to Him being diluted by complacency.  They do not even see that the path they are on is not God honoring.  Let each of us learn from this.  He will reward those who fully delight and desire to serve Him.

Unless the Lord builds

“He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?”

“Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?”

Malachi 1:2  “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!”

Isaiah 9:9  and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:  “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

James 4:13  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Job 12:14    If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.

Job 34:29   When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

Psalms 127:1  

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Proverbs 21:30  No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Matthew 12:30   Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Revelation 3:15  “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Joshua 24:15  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Pride, arrogance, strength and riches have been the fall of many.  They stand out and are easy to see.  They boast in what they have and what they have accomplished.  What is hard to see are those who are luke warm in humbly serving, complacent in giving their whole heart, mind and soul, , and negligent in following and obeying.  These are people who we see everyday and they pass through life on false hope, no joy, and little substance of faith.  Their mouth speaks of believing but their actions and maturity in God’s word reveal no depth, understanding, wisdom or discernment.  Those who boast with pride and arrogance absolutely know they have chosen live without God and reject Him in their life.  Those who are lukewarm deceive themselves into thinking their life is secure.  Satan has deceived them into thinking they can go through life with lukewarm commitment, being good or at least better than others, and spending no time in God’s word seeking understanding, wisdom, and discernment.  They actually feel safer living apart from full commitment to God.  This lie brings these who fall into it’s trap thinking they can pretend everything is ok or perform works that will make them right before God.  Commitment to God wether seen by others or not is most definitely seen and known by God.  Though others may be fooled He is not. Commit fully to Humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.  Spend time in His word and seek His guidance, leading and perfect plan for your life.

Known by his acts

“By steadfast loveand faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”

Psalms 36:1   Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Proverbs 20:11   Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Matthew 7:16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 12:33  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Titus 1:16   They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Proverbs 8:13   The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Ecclesiastes 12:13   The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Romans 3:18   “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The heart of man is deceitful and full of arrogance and pride.  We can know this and always be on guard for when it wants to raise its ugly head. Or, we can say it is not there and never be looking.  How sad is it when we choose to deny there is any thing wrong with our thoughts, intents, words and actions?  Out of the abundance of our heart our mouth speaks.  It is also true that what fills our mind and thoughts feeds our heart.  How is a person to recognize right and wrong thoughts, intents, speech, and actions?  A live time could be spend on what it means to Love, and the same for Joy, or Peace, or Patience, or Kindness, or Goodness, or Faithfulness. The only way to understand our own heart is to examine it in light of scripture and seek God to reveal that which is opposing to living, acting, speaking in such a way that humbly serves, honors and obeys Him.  Filling our mind with His word on a daily basis will start this never ending  growth in our service to Him.  Rejecting or putting off time with His word allows our heart to become complacent and hard.  We are unable to grow, unable to display fruits of His indwelling in our lives, unable to serve Him,  and unable to honor and glorify Him.  Our actions, thoughts and words are a direct reflection of our walk with God.  David wanting to humbly serve, honor and obey God put it this way. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”  You know you are on the right path when your prayer is in line with this.

Steadfast vs Meaningless

“I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”

Hosea 6:6
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”

Isaiah 1:11
“The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.

Jeremiah 4:22
“My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children;
they have no understanding.

Mica 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Matt 12:32
Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

I recently spent time in Roatan, Honduras and met some fine young men.  The one thing I was so encouraged about was their heart for God and how open they were to talk about it.  There was no desire on their part to impress or judge it was a pure heart to talk about God and their walk and struggles with this walk.  Their heart desire was to seek knowledge and understanding of His word and being able to apply it in their lives.  These young men have struggles that we can’t even comprehend.  Little or no father figure in their lives, cultural pressure from their friends, lack of consistent water, food, shelter, clothes, and yet they have chosen to serve, honor and glorify God.  They spoke openly about sometimes not walking close to  Him and I was so humbled by this openness.  When we talk about how we are doing in our walk with God we don’t seem to open up and speak about all that sets us back.  Even worse is sometimes we don’t even see how lacking we are.  We pretend or perform trying to make ourselves right before God and man in our own eyes.  The truth escapes us in this matter because we lack knowledge and understanding which comes from His word in our hearts and minds.  I wonder if our submission to Christ is nothing more than an insurance policy against eternity in hell.  How sad is this?  Rather than being open and honest about our time in God’s word and application of it in our thoughts and actions we shrug it off because we don’t  see immediate need or find time.   I am not sure if I will see these young men again – I certainly plan on it – their names are written on my heart “Bebe, Jorvick, Pablo, Menfy, Hubert, Richard, Jonny, Jason, Christopher, Bryan, Carry, Oral”.  Please keep them in your prayers of protection, guidance, and blessing from God.