Are you dead (Part Three)

In the previous message we started looking at what is it in us that should die?

The next thing that should die is our pride. If we look carefully at our lives we will find a lot of pride. Maybe you will see what I am getting at by answering the following questions.

·         Do you get agitated when someone underestimates your ability, understanding, intelligence etc?

·         Do you get envious of someone whose gift appears to be better than yours?

·         Do you get jealous when people appear to adore or enjoy someone else's ministry gifting or style?

·         Do you jealously hold onto the power that you have obtained over time?

·         When your faults or errors are pointed out, do you retaliate - even if only in your heart and thoughts?

·         Are you acting in self defence when you feel threatened regarding your power, popularity or position of influence?

·         How dependent are you on the Lord? Do you consult Him in everything you do, because if we don’t, we tell the Lord in essence we can do it ourselves and don't need Him - pride?

·         Do you try to control – even the works of the Spirit?

·         When you pray publicly or minister, do you catch yourself thinking whether you impress God or listeners?

I think you get the gist of what I am saying. “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” (Matthew 23:11-12). I think the reason why we do not see the kind of power that Jesus and the apostles used to see is because pride stands in the way. Most of us want to be seen. When a move of God happens somewhere else, we often want it as well. Why would that be? What is the motive behind our desire?

Jesus' focus was completely on His Father (John 8:27-29) and the disciples' focus similarly on Jesus via the Holy Spirit (John 15:5). We say all the right stuff, but what do we think? Are you like the apostles who gave their lives for the Kingdom's sake, or are you like Ananias and Sapphira who lost their lives lying to the Holy Spirit in order to impress others to maintain their pride.

Jesus humiliated Himself to the lowest possible level and the result was that He was exalted to the highest possible level. Even in this high position He still humbles Himself by pleading on our behalf before the Father.

How low are you prepared to go or is pride standing in the way? Do you think if pride stood in their way the apostles would have been so recklessly obedient. Paul used to be a man of stature (Acts 23:6), yet he did not think twice to obey to the point of a life as described in 2 Corinthians 11:22-29. How do you think a man of his position felt about being flogged, thrown into jail, and chased out of town by hooligans? If you were in his position, would your pride not have retaliated?

Take Jesus - how many times do we see Him defending Himself? Who was He and where did He come from? If He had any pride, how would He have reacted to the way He was treated? If you were in His shoes, how would you have dealt with it?

And Peter? He had a good deal of pride that Jesus had to deal with, but when the Holy Spirit took over it all changed. Maybe this is the secret. Who controls us - our pride or the Holy Spirit?

If pride is altogether dead and we have no self centred motives left, we are about ready to move in the same power Jesus did. Miracles and healings are not the only manifestations of power - any evidence of God's power backing His servants is a manifestation of the humble being exalted. I am thinking of teaching, serving and witnessing that result in salvation and faith.

The letter kills, but the Spirit brings life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). A word uttered or a deed done in pride is void of power, even though it is from the Word of God, whereas the latter done in humility in the Spirit works change.

Just after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts, Peter simply witnessed without signs and miracles and well researched words and 3000 got saved in an instant. What happened? After the recent events and his experience with the Lord Jesus Peter was humble enough to have the right motive for his actions – the will of God. With him out of the way the Holy Spirit had the stage to show God off. They same happened throughout the book of Acts with all the believers.

Who do you show off? Remember there is no point in only answering with words. What is in your heart?

Lord, please reveal my pride so I can humble myself completely.