Topic: Power of Pride
Today's message is that we may do not hear often as we should, because it seemed that the subject may seem is too personal. If we look where the world is going today is that anybody would like to seek something more upon them. As we look on the TV, many Christian programs now advertise more of their products than sharing on the Word of God. If we watch TBN Praise-A-Thon, people always talk about giving or donating some money to their TV network. Or many TV programs would give name after the name of the church leader.
Look King Solomon. Although he ended his kingship with a bad result, he always seeks after God as his father, David, did. In I Kings 3:1-15, Solomon had a desire something to have in his life, but he didn't ask Him what he wanted for himself. We may ask, "What kind of the king was that?" Being a national leader, he can do anything to get what he wants. No! Even though King Solomon had the freedom to be a worldly rich, he didn't ask anything else rather than requesting wisdom. So he can help his people (I Kings 3:16-28).
The letter I can use in both good and bad way. For instant, if you say to your friend, "I want to make it works." In this sentence, you want something done for yourselves and not both of you. It's not a suggestion. But if there's the word "would" between "I" and "want," your friend would have chance to express the idea to you freely. If there's too many "I" in a paragraph without any suggestion word or phrase, there's problem in the whole subject.
Now let's go to reality.
There are two letters are hidden in the letter "I" unless we would use it wisely. It's spelled SIN. Committing sin can make us to live selfishness and turn away from God and people. In Isaiah 14:12-14, Lucifer was trying to be the higher ruler than God, because of sin that he committed and would like to be a ruler over God's kingdom. His main goal is all about what HE WANTS (or WHAT I WANT). There's nothing wrong saying I WANT, but if we keep repeating it to God or somebody, we would likely to become self-righteousness. And it's considered as SIN. I = SIN.
Although we were born from the sin nature, it doesn't mean that once we born, we committed sin. Babies have no idea if they are born from sin nature. While we were babies, God covered us with His grace. As we are getting older, we have the choice which way we learn to reach our destiny. But that doesn't mean that God doesn't protect us anymore. No! It's time for us to choose which way we'd live for.
Now if those would like to live with Jesus Christ. We may not have much to live in this planet. In His word says, God demonstrated His love toward us by brining His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay all of our sins from the darkness. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. But He did more than any god cannot do. He demonstrated to us that He can give us the new life to live with Him by showing us through His resurrection. But that doesn't mean that we don't have sin anymore. Although we deal with sin, Jesus Christ can help us in the midst of tribulation through His grace if we'd accept Him.
Are you saved? Are your love ones and friends saved in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? The purpose of this study is to help you to become closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3.)
If you are lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus Christ and want to know Him as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life. Paul says, "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done in your private room or workplace, then you need to tell to your friends or love ones about what you have done, so they may rejoice with you and want to have that relationship with Christ in their own life. There are many occults in the world, which do not know the love of God and His great plan for those who believe in Him. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."