UPDATE: Don’t stop praying for those impacted by the latest natural disasters. The hard work begins now. People are still trying to put their lives back together again in Houston. Dominica, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the Caribbean are still without electricity, and they may be that way for months. So please don’t forget about those impacted. Pray for them and pray about DOING something to help them.
Today we continue our series, “As Jesus Is”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at 1 John 4:16,17 for a couple of months now. I have been adding other passages to it. Right now we are looking at 1 John 4:16,17 and Philippians 2. Let’s get to it.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The Apostle Paul said:
“Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.
In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form.
During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.”
(Philippians 2:1-9 ERV)
Today I will focus in on this statement, “In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Bishop T. D. Jakes once called pride the silent killer of the church. A person can do a great things for others, but if he/she does it in pride, they will receive no reward in heaven for it. He called it the silent killer, because it’s hard for us to see pride in others. We may not know their motives. We may not be able to discern the intentions of their heart. But God can and He does. God will know if you are doing what you are doing in love or in pride.
- Don’t do what you do in pride. Do it in love. Love genuinely cares for and goes out of its way for others. Love does not do it to be seen. Love does not do it to be recognized. Love does not do it to be repaid. Love does it from the heart. Guess what? God is love. When you operate in love, you operate in God.
- Putting on the mind of Christ means you die to self, selfishness, self-righteousness and pride. You cannot think like Jesus and operate in selfishness or pride at the same time.
- Seeing yourself “As Jesus is, in this world”, means you also develop the mindset Jesus operated in while He was here. This mindset will help you be both humble and bold at the same time. You will be humble, because you know you cannot do ANYTHING without God. You will be bold because you know there is NOTHING you cannot do, because God lives IN you! He is the one living in you. He is the one giving you the words. He is the one doing the work. As you humble yourself and allow Him to flow through you, you will live with a level of Godly boldness that will glorify God and horrify satan.
- If you are Born-Again, you are a human with a God living on the inside of him/her. You can choose to continue to rely on the human side of you. If you do, if you choose to live in “the flesh”, you will feel a sense of human pride that will keep God from being seen. People won’t see God IN you, because there will be too much of YOU in the way. But if you choose to DIE to your humanity, the divinity INSIDE of you will be on full-display. When you get to this point, pride won’t be an issue for you, because you will know that you are NOT the one doing it. It is the Father, living in you, He is giving you the words, and He is performing the work. This is how we live, “As Jesus is, in this world!”
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I am ONE with You and and You are ONE with me. I refuse to allow selfishness or pride to be my guide. I refuse to allow pride to rob me of the crowns I will receive in heaven. Therefore, I willingly die to self. I release every self-righteous thought. I am NOTHING without You. But I am EVERYTHING in You! I can do all things, because I am not the one doing it. It is You Father, living in me. You give me the words. You perform the work. This is why I boldly declare: As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
