Act 12:25–13:3

Have you ever had a moment when you needed God to speak to you? We all have, and often we are in a moment of crisis and are so desperate we can't hear because of the circumstantial noise. We are often reacting in hurt or confusion instead of acting with intentionality as we hear from God. Slow down, breathe, trust, and pray.

But have you ever had one of those moments where you knew God was speaking to you? What were you doing at the time? How did you know it was the Lord? I suppose at that moment you were in some way sacrificially serving the Lord of glory and others.

We all want to hear from God, yet often we are seeking some earth-shaking, sky-splitting moments of revelation. However, He often speaks in quiet moments of selfless service when we have surrendered ourselves to His kingdom. (See Galatians 2:20; 1 Kings 19:11-13)

Paul said something remarkable regarding our discovery of the will of God. Remember also, that sin will never be God's will for your life. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1–2)

God's will is often clarified in moments of worship. Not the songs we sing, but a life being lived for His kingdom.

References:

Hebrews 10:24–25

Prov. 19:17

Matthew 25:37–46

James 1:26-2:1

1 John 3:17–18

Proverbs 3:27–30

1 Timothy 5:22

Numbers 27:15–20

Deuteronomy 34:9

Have you ever met someone that was so full of themself that they sucked the air out of a room? Everything for them is well, about them and "their opinions" and "their accomplishment" that they feel everyone must highly respect.  

         Pride is a sin of attitude, heart, and spirit, much like covetousness. (See Romans 7:1ff.) Now, pride can be reasonable or justifiable self-respect, like taking care of yourself and faithful stewardship. But improper and excessive self-esteem, known as conceit or arrogance, is the pride we avoid. This is the one most often found in the texts of both the OT and the NT. 

         Pride cannot only bring the downfall of individuals, as we see in our text, but also of nations. Because of its deadliness, Israel is warned explicitly against pride and the tendency to forget God. (Deuteronomy 8:11–17) “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 

 Therefore, it is no surprise that pride is one of the seven things the Lord hates. It is at the top of His list. Proverbs 6:16–19 reads, "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. 

 Remember, kingdom culture has no room for self-centered arrogance, which is never born out of love for God and others. In 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a, Paul says, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

References:

Isa 42:8

Revelation 19:10

Revelation 22:9

Proverbs 16:18-19

1 Peter 5:5–11