June 8, 2009 "There's Pride and then there's Humbleness"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
By: Teresa Criswell

"A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor."
~ Proverbs 29:23 ~

Pastor Kim was teaching last night as we were wrapping up our last bible study on praying the Word of God. As she taught, I heard or 'saw' a word continually in my mind when she said the word, 'yeast'. As I wrote it down it took me back for a moment. The word I wrote down was 'lukewarm'. As I have made bread and remember our son saying something about the temperature of the water when stirring the yeast before placing it in the flour, I realized how the yeast is activated. It is activated by lukewarm water.

It was a quickening 'word'; a litmus test so to speak. I realized when pride comes in it is many times activated by being in a lukewarm spiritual state, many times revealed in legalism or 'religiosity'. It then brought me to the words of the Lord Jesus when He said as recorded in Revelation 3:16, "So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!"

The 'lukewarm' life creates or activates the 'yeast' or pride in our life which God hates. I can see why He hates it...for it takes us out of the area where He can bless us. He so desires to bless us, yet many times we remove ourselves from the blessing.

It only takes a small amount of yeast to see the flour raise. I believe when we become lukewarm, it is when our focus is no longer on God but on ourselves and our circumstances that subtly takes us from the HOT to the lukewarm 'state' of living.

How do we maintain being Hot? By being as our Pastor Stephen says, "To be impressed with God...Where God can impact He can make an impression...As we are impressed by Him, it brings change."

Just imagine as we are continually impressed by Him moment by moment, He changes us and as He changes us He is making an impact. As He makes an impact, who are we able to impact by our being impressed by Him?

Have we all drank lukewarm water before? It isn't the most delightful way to quench our thirst.

It brings me to the verse in Proverbs 16:18, which says, "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Isn't it interesting that as yeast which describes sin or pride, it raises itself up. However, as we humble ourselves, keep in mind it's not God humbling us, for He tells us to humble ourselves (James 4:10), He will raise us up. At the end of the 'day' as yeast is raised it falls sooner or later, and in humbleness as it seems low, God raises it up.

I love how God doesn't have us do what He has called us to do that have 'logical' results. I believe I can safely say that in EVERY situation it is the opposite.

Lord, I see a greater revelation in Isaiah 55:8 when You said, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord."

May we continue to be HOT in our passion for the Lord as we stay impressed by Him. How do we stay out of pride? As my friend Judith in Michigan once told me as I was concerned with living in pride. She said, "Teresa, if you aren't fighting pride then you're living in it."

Let us be aware of our temperature moment by moment. I need this litmus test continually. Woooooo! What freedom to know that we don't have to be swept away by pride as it results in destruction.

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