HUMBLE BEFORE WHOM Newsletter PM May 2000 Many Christians falsely believe that the Bible instructs us >

to be humble before everyone. As a result, they allow the world to > make second-class citizens of them. We are to be kind and humble > only to those that deserve to be treated as such. Christians should > always be humble before God. Don't ever allow someone to tell you > that God's Word instructs Christians to be kind and humble to our > enemies. They will take advantage of you, if you do so. We are > supposed to be salty. We are supposed to make a difference because > you have Christ within you. We are going to begin our study with the > teachings of Paul. > > 11 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness > and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but > being absent am bold toward you: > > Paul is asking the Corinthians to allow him to be humble and > gentle towards them; however, if he hears of strife and backbiting > among them, he will be bold enough to straighten them out. > > 11 Corinthians 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when > I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold > against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the > flesh. > > This is an important lesson for you. You should be bold > towards others, when it is deserved. > > 11 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war > after the flesh: > > We do not use carnal weapons to fight Satan. We utilize > spiritual weapons to fight the powers and principalities in dark > places. I advise you not to fight these demonic powers unless you do > so in the name of Jesus Christ. For it is His power that assures the > victory. > > 11 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, > but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) > > If you attack Satan with carnal weapons, he will laugh at > your futile attempts. Spiritual weapons are capable of tearing down > any strong holds Satan tries to build in you life. Use those > spiritual weapons boldly in the name of Jesus Christ. Satan will > have you in his pocket, if you humble yourself before him. > > 11 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing > that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into > captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

> > Boldly cast away those things in your life that exalteth > themselves above the knowledge of God and that are disobedient to > Christ. > > 11 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all > disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. > > Does the Word say to be meek and gentle? No! The Word says > revenge all disobedience. Take names and "Kick Dragon". > > 11 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward > appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him > of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we > Christ's. > > Don't be deceived by the outward appearance of those that > claim to be of Christ. Look in their heart. If they have Christ > within them, it will be very apparent. > > 11 Corinthians 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our > authority, (which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not > for your destruction,) I should not be ashamed: > > Authority is not given so you can run over people. Authority > given of God is for edification. Paul would not be ashamed to > utilize this authority to correct and lift others up. That is true > love. > > 11 Corinthians 10:9-10 That I may not seem as if I would terrify > you by letters. V10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and > powerful, but is bodily presence is weak, and his speech > contemptible. > > There was contention in the church even in the early years. > Paul was accused of being bold in his letters, but weak in his > speech and presence. Paul's character could stand up to these > accusers on his worst day. If you follow Christ, be prepared for the > world to attack you. Armed with God's Word, you can boldly set the > world straight. > > 11 Corinthians 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we > are in word by letter we are absent, such will we be also in deed > when we are present. > > They had better not tell Paul that he was weak to his face. > The authority given him by God would allow Paul to be just as > powerful whether by letter, or face to face. > > 11 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, > or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they > measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among > themselves, are not wise. > > Wisdom is comparing your behavior with what God's Word

> states your behavior should be. Fools commend themselves and measure > themselves by their own behavior. > > 11 Corinthians 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our > measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath > distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. > > Measure yourself to God's Word, not man's words. What man > has to say usually doesn't amount to much, and it is often contrary > to God's Word. > > 11 Corinthians 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our > measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far > as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: > > Paul is saying we brought the gospel of Christ to you in the > first place. Why are you listening to fools? > > 11 Corinthians 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, > that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is > increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule > abundantly. > > That little seed planted by Paul was filled with hope that > the fruit produced would be magnified many times. > > 11 Corinthians 10:16-17 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond > you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to > our hand. V17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. > > Take the truth you have been given and spread the good news. > If you want to boast, then boast in the Lord. Be bold in the Lord. > > 11 Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is > approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. > > Humble yourself before God. If you will do this, He will > raise you up as a spiritual warrior fit to serve Him. God's Word > will make you salty. Study His Word. You will become able to make a > difference in this world of darkness. Let's turn to the Book of > James. > > James 4:10 Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD, and He shall > lift you up. > > Don't put anything, or anybody, above the Lord. That > includes yourself. > > James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that > speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil > of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou are > not a doer of the law, but a judge.

> > This only applies to your brothers and sisters. Setting > yourself up as a judge is dangerous. Why? Let's read the next verse. > > James 4:12 There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to > destroy: who art thou that judgest another? > > There is only One that is able to save your soul or to cause > your soul to perish. God is the Judge. > > James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, "To day or to morrow we will go > into such a city, and continue there a year, and but and sell, and > get again:" > > Come now, you will say, "I will go to a city and start a > successful business because my idea is so foolproof." Did you notice > anything missing? Those who would say this are leaving God out of > the equation. If you leave God out of your decisions, they are bound > to fail. > > James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For > what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little > time, and then vanisheth away. > > The word "vapour" could be translated "mist". Life in the > flesh is like a morning mist that quickly vanishes as it evaporates. > The point is that you had better have God in your equation for this > flesh life doesn't last long. Seventy years can vanish as a mist > before your very eyes. > > James 4:15 For that ye ought to say, "If the Lord will, we shall > live, and do this, or that." > > You should do everything in the Lord's will. How do you know > if something is the Lord's will? He will let you know in a hurry, if > what you are doing isn't His will. > > James 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing > is evil. > > The word "boastings" should be translated "pride". Boasting > in what you have done, or will do, with your own hands is evil in > the eyes of God. Humble yourself before God, and He will lift you > up.. > > James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it > not, to him it is sin. > > Don't put things off. Procrastination, especially to do > good, is evil. Include God when you are making major decisions in > your life, and don't forget to ask in His will. You should always do

> work that you are proud of; however, it is a sin to take all of the > credit for what you have done with your own hands, or mind. Give God > the glory and the credit. Without His gifts you would be nothing. If > you are doing God's will, your efforts will be blessed. If you > aren't doing His will, you may expect chastisement. Always remember, > God only chastises those who He loves. When He chastises you, kiss > the paddle, say, "Thank You Father", and straighten yourself out. > There is work to be done. Humble yourself before God. > > In His Service, > > Arnold Murray