41 Evidences of the Idol of Pride

 

41 Evidences of the Idol of Pride by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

1. Do you look down on those who are less educated, less affluent, less refined, or less successful than yourself?
2. Do you think of yourself as more spiritual than your mate, others in your church?
3. Do you have a judgmental spirit toward those who don’t make the same lifestyle choices you do . . . dress standards, how you school your kids, entertainment standards, etc.?
4. Are you quick to find fault with others and to verbalize those thoughts to others? Do you have a sharp, critical tongue?
5. Do you frequently correct or criticize your mate, your pastor, or other people in positions of leadership (teachers, youth director, etc.)?
6. Do you give undue time, attention, and effort to your physical appearance—hair, make-up, clothing, weight, body shape, avoiding appearance of aging?
7. Are you proud of the schedule you keep, how disciplined you are, how much you are able to accomplish?
8. Are you driven to receive approval, praise, or acceptance from others?
9. Are you argumentative?
10. Do you generally think your way is the right way, the only way, or the best way?
11. Do you have a touchy, sensitive spirit? Easily offended? Get your feelings hurt easily?
12. Are you guilty of pretense? Trying to leave a better impression of yourself than is really true? (Would the people at church be shocked if they knew what you were like at home?)
13. Do you have a hard time admitting when you are wrong?
14. Do you have a hard time confessing your sin to God or others? (not just in generalities but specifics)
15. Do you have a hard time sharing your real spiritual needs/struggles with others?
16. Do you have a hard time praying aloud with others?
17. Are you excessively shy?
18. Do you have a hard time reaching out and being friendly to people you don’t know at church?
19. Do you resent being asked or expected to serve your family, your parents, or others?
20. Do you become defensive when you are criticized or corrected?
21. Are you a perfectionist? Do you get irked or impatient with people who aren’t?
22. Do you tend to be controlling—of your mate, your children, friends, those in your workplace?
23. Do you frequently interrupt people when they are speaking?
24. Does your spouse feel intimidated by your “spirituality”?
25. Does your spouse feel like he or she can never measure up to your expectations?
26. Do you often complain—about the weather, your health, your circumstances, your job, your church?
27. Do you talk about yourself too much?
28. Are you more concerned about your problems, needs, burdens than about others’ concerns?
29. Do you worry about what others think of you? Too concerned about your reputation or your family’s reputation?
30. Do you neglect to express gratitude for “little things”? To God? To others?
31. Do you neglect prayer and intake of the Word?
32. Do you get hurt if your accomplishments/or acts of service are not recognized or rewarded?
33. Do you get hurt if your feelings or opinions are not considered when your mate or your boss is making a decision or if you are not informed when a change or decision is made?
34. Do you react to rules? Do you have a hard time being told what to do?
35. Are you self-conscious because of your lack of education or natural beauty, or your socio-economic status?
36. Do you avoid participating in certain events, for fear of being embarrassed or looking foolish?
37. Do you avoid being around certain people because you feel inferior compared to them/don’t feel you measure up?
38. Are you uncomfortable inviting people to your home because you don’t think it’s nice enough or you can’t afford to do lavish entertaining?
39. Is it hard for you to let others know when you need help (practical or spiritual)?
40. When is the last time you said these words to a family member, friend, or co-worker: “I was wrong; would you please forgive me?” (If it’s been more than a month, mark it down!)
41. Are you sitting here thinking how many of these questions apply to someone you know? Feeling pretty good that none of these things really apply to you?

From Spring 2012 “Eternal Perspective Magazine”,
Eternal Perspective Ministries, 39085 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 206,
Sandy, OR 97055 http://www.epm.org/

Legends, Heros, & the Stuff of Real Men #46

Dr Mac Brunson Pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida

In the link below go to sermon #28 June 15, 2014 for this excellent sermon on Barnabas. Barnabas discipled Paul and Mark. They wrote a major portion of the New Testament.

http://www.fbcjax.com/media/archives/action,view/id,30

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ #45

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ

” I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The desision has been made; I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

“I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the poll of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, go making disciples until all know and work until He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – – – my banner will be clear!”

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This is the testimony of a man in Africa who was writing in the time of severe persecution. It would be impossible to express the challenges of living for Christ in a godless world any better than that.

At His judgment seat how will God judge me (2 Corinthians 5:10 & 1 Corinthians 3:11-15) for my progress during my life as a disciple from a just saved infant disciple to a reproducing disciple maker? What is my goal for the rest of my life?

Original Document from Unknown source. June 15, 2014 Henry Luke June 18, 2014

Kurds, known as the Medes in the Bible, seize oil-rich region of Iraq. What does it mean? #44

With prophetic implications, the Kurds, known as the Medes in the Bible, seize oil-rich region of Iraq. What does it mean?
Joel Rosenburg Blog June 17, 2014 at 12:39 pm
(Washington, D.C.) — Could recent developments in Iraq have prophetic implications? Actually, the answer may be yes — especially with regards to the Kurdish people who live in northern Iraq. Let me explain.
As we’ve been seeing in recent weeks, the Radical jihadist forces of the “Islamic State of Iraq & al-Sham” (ISIS) are on the move towards Baghdad. They are leaving a trail of bloodshed and carnage in their wake.
The objective of the ISIS leaders is to topple the Iraqi government, seize control of all of Iraq, establish a jihadist state under Sharia law, and use Iraq to begin a regional — and eventually global — Islamic caliphate, or kingdom. see entire story

http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/with-prophetic-implications-the-kurds-known-as-the-medes-in-the-bible-seize-oil-rich-region-of-iraq/

IS ISRAEL REALLY IN DANGER OF ANNIHILATION? #43

THE HEADLINES AND NEWS BROADCASTS PROCLAIM THE UPHEAVAL AND PERIL CONFRONTING ISRAEL FROM SYRIA, IRAQ, IRAN, AND SUNNI RADICAL TERRORISTS.

IS ISRAEL REALLY IN DANGER OF ANNIHILATION? WILL ISRAEL LOSE THE WAR FOR ITS SURVIVAL WITH 20 TO 1 ODDS AGAINST IT?

Amos 9:13-15 (KJV)

13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

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In spite of Israel’s failings from time to time, God promises to keep His covenant with Abraham and his descendants and not destroy the nation. He does so, not because the nation merits and deserves it, but simply because God has spoken it.

“I will restore!” (Amos 9:11-15)—From the time Judah went into Babylonian captivity to this present hour, there has been no Davidic king or throne ruling over the Jews. The geographical nation and throne disappeared over 2000 years ago, and though the Jewish nation and Hebrew tongue were stunningly restored in 1948, Israel has had no king, priest, temple, or sacrifice.

But oh, friend, one day, the Lord will restore, repair, and rebuild the dynasty and throne of David and re-establish the kingdom He promised. And ultimately, when Christ returns, God will bless the land and the people, and His people shall live in peace and security. It will be a time of peace and prosperity to the glory of the Lord.

Amos ends his prophecy in verse 15 with the wonderful promise that Israel shall be planted, protected, and never again pulled up from her land “says the Lord your God.” What a great encouragement for the Jews to know that, in spite of their unbelief, their God will be faithful to keep His Covenant with them.

We, in the soon coming days, will witness with our eyes the miracle of Israel’s preservation and victories in spite of the most hostile of enemies, adverse international conditions, and seemingly insurmountable odds.

“Stand back and behold the salvation of the Lord!”

By my friend and used by permission Henry Luke June 16, 2014

Why is Israel the catalyst for the unrest in the middle East? #42

Once again our news is flooded with accounts in the Middle East about terrorists in Iraq, Syria, and the surrounding region. Biblically and prophetically, Israel is at the forefront of the news because of the peril that exists for it from these nations and sects. Clearly, Israel is the catalyst for the unrest.

Just look for beginners at this fact: The total land surface of the earth is right at 57,269,000 square miles. Israel’s total land surface is 8,630 square miles. The percentage of Israel’s compared to the earth’s is .00014 percent (or 1/10,000 of 1 percent). Astounding! In fact, unbelievable! We shouldn’t even be hearing and reading about this little nation with so many larger territories and nations and international issues abounding. But we do! And daily!

I suggest its worthy to again read the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant made by God to Abraham. I think it will help us understand—I know it does me—the geopolictical dynamics occurring.

Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV)
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 13:14-17 (KJV)
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Any rational person with an ounce of intellectual integrity must ponder this Covenant and its effect on the world scene today; and the integrity and reliability of God’s Word.

Here’s the penultimate question: If the word and promises of God are inescapably true dating back to Abraham, is it also true when God says, “I will come again and receive you unto myself…”.

From my friend and used by permisssion. June 15, 2014

Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged: Matthew 7:1-6 #41r3

By Pastor J. D. Greear, Summitt Church, Durham NC & Oswald Chambers (below)

“Judge Not” is one of the most popular verses in our culture because it seems to fit in with two of our culture’s most basic assumptions: that a) religion is private and b) morality is relative. But what does Jesus really mean? I recommend starting with printing the fairly short transcript.

For Transcript go to http://www.summitrdu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4e-Matthew-7-1-6-Judge-Not.pdf

For Small Group Guide go to http://www.summitrdu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Difficult-Sayings-of-Jesus-part-3-SG-guide.pdf

To watch video go to http://www.summitrdu.com/messages/
Then under “Browse Series” select “Difficult Sayings of Jesus”
Then select “Judge Not, that you be not Judged” May 4, 2014
Then select “watch”

To Listen go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-summit-church/id616256661?mt=2&i=312039915

Beware of Criticizing Others 06-17-2014 Oswald Chambers utmost.org
Judge not, that you be not judged —Matthew 7:1

Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.

There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.