Pride Makes Us Fall

Proverbs 16:18 NLT Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Pride is defined as inordinate self esteem, an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office which manifests in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often in contempt of others.

Pride is a slow killer like asphyxiation, the airway closes up slowly as the person is left gasping for air.

Did you know that Carbon monoxide has been compared to pride because you can’t see it and it sneaks up on you and slowly takes you out. In order to recognize carbon monoxide you need a detector. Thank God we have an internal pride detector. Our sin detector The Holy Spirit!

Pride focuses on self/ego. It exalts itself above God. It makes self the focus and not God. It kills our love for God. It is a heart posture issue. No let me say that correctly it’s a heart sin. It’s at the root of every sin. It truly affects everything. Pride is said to be the great destroyer.

Pride says that I deserve better, treat yourself where Jesus says don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to and He tells us to follow Him we must deny ourselves. The world says those otherwise. Its not wise to follow the world, we follow Jesus.

If we are not careful we can kill ourselves not recognizing our pride issues in our hearts.

God wants our true humbled hearts not the hearts that become hardened. Not hearts that don’t trust Him or rely on Him. He wants hearts that are fully His much like how we want our mates all to ourselves. God does not want our hearts divided.

To get free from pride we must humble ourselves and repent. God is looking for contrite hearts, remorseful not arrogant or proud.

2 Chron 7:14 if my who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Humility opens up doors that pride closes.

Here’s some help to get free

1 Ask the Lord where did it begin and to show when we were prideful?

2 Humble ourselves pray seek His face and repent

3 Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s nudges then repeat steps 1-3

I pray this message has touched in the way that the Spirit of the Lord has intended to and that pride will not be the sin we struggle with.

I love you.

Be blessed but more importantly be a blessing

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT I know the plans I have for you. Plans for good and not disaster to give you a future and a hope.  

We tend to get in the our own way at times and then get upset about the results. The block is the thing in the way,  it is the inner Me and the enemy fighting against us and what we deep down know to be true. The enemy is using what the inner me is holding on to to get keep us distracted and in our own way. The disappointments, the guilt, shame, pride, regret, bad attitudes, bad character, unforgiveness,  and non repentant behavior. We spend so much time going for the gifts and not the Giver. Battling unnecessary battles  because the inner us is in the way and the enemy is aware of where we are! What we are in position to do. We allow ourselves to get bound to avoid the job, the assignment the next level that we know we are called to.We turn on God, others and ourselves for the choices we made. Sometimes, that choice is just choosing to see the negative in situations creating allow and even create stumbling blocks that God wants to make stepping stones. Much like what He did with Job (Book of Job) and Joseph (Genesis 37-50). Sometimes seems we're dealt a "bad" hand or handed lemons but it's how we look at it and what we do with them that counts. God is saying to us get those things  out of the way, regret, guilt, fear shame, what ifs, anxiety, disappointment, distractions, jealousy.  They must go. It' time to tear down the wall those things built that we put in the path to keep us running into it and not through it.The enemy has a plan for our lives as well, a plan to steal kill and destroy. John 10:10 so, he will throw distractions at us to get in our way as well. That's why we are to remain alert and be vigilant. Jesus came that we would have life and life more abundantly. A life of freedom but, we have to choose. We have a choice to let go and let God. God assures us that He knows the plans He has for us we don't need to know, we just need to trust in Him.  Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.  Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it. Travel it's path, and you will find rest for your souls. But, you reply, "No, that's not the road we want!"  It's up to us to get out of our own way.  Be blessed but, more importantly be a blessing.  I love you and you can't change that!

God wants to set again and adjust Fellowship, The Importance of Community.

What is fellowship? Association, partnership, Companionship society, agreement.

What is community? Society agreement

Fellowship is not just left to the 4 walls, but as we talked about last week it is a part of God’s plan that we meet together in the 4 walls and beyond.

Fellowship is community, community is communion. We are created for communion with God, the Son and the Holy Spirit and also one another. We know that we are the Church and wherever we gather in his name He shows up. 

Acts 2:46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

It's very important for us to be in a good Community and be ready and willing to fellowship with God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and each other.

I pray this lesson blesses you as it did me. Be Blessed but more importantly, be a blessing. I love you.

God wants to set again and adjust Fellowship, The Importance of Community.

What is fellowship? Association, partnership, Companionship society, agreement.

What is community? Society agreement

Fellowship is not just relegated to the 4 walls, but as we talked about last week it is a part of God’s plan that we meet together in the 4 walls and beyond.

Fellowship is community, community is communion. We are created for communion with God, the Son and the Holy Spirit and also one another.

Acts 2:46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

It's very important for us to be in a good Community and be ready and willing to fellowship with God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and each other.

I pray this lesson blesses you as it did me. Be Blessed but more importantly, be a blessing. I love you. 

This is Part 1 to the 2 Part Series "The Reset- Church and Fellowship"

Acts 2:44 NLT  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

I believe God is resetting our outlook on who is the church, when do we have church, where we have church, how we have, what church means to Him and should mean to us, and why church is important. He’s Resetting our minds and heart postures to bring us into new ways and mindsets and restoring us to some ways we put down. Bringing us back to Biblical truths.

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can't entertain things that are going to distract us. We can't come down off our post. The enemy wants to distract us from our purpose but, he’s a liar! We may get distracted but, don’t STAY distracted. Don’t take on the things Jesus died for us to be FREE from. Let that guilt and shame roll off our backs like water on a duck. We have work to do. Let’s adjust our vision and remember how good God is and that He loves us. Focus on the sound of His loving voice.God knows us best and has the best plans for us. The enemy knows that too and to keep us from being who we we're created to be he tries to get us to fall fo distractions. Nehemiah was no fool he saw the distractions coming via Sanbalaat and company. Lies are a number one distraction. They get us to spin, to join in arguments or fights that are made up to destroy us and our destiny. We must be like Nehemiah and tell those distractions that come up against us "I Can't Come Down! I have GREAT work to do!" Nehemiah stayed in position and so must we. Staying in position means staying in His word and staying sensitive to His leading. Continuing to do only what God has said to do. Not taking our eyes off our road.  I love you. Be blessed but more importantly be a blessing.

Nehemiah 6:1-16 NLT

Weapons of Warfare. All though this is a fixed fight we have to be geared up for the war. The victory belongs to Jesus and as His warriors He has told us put on our full armor of God. There's a war going on in this world. Be prepared and Ready!!!