Tag Archives: Pride

What is the “mother” of all sins?

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Psalm 138:6, Lowly…humble. YHVH prefers the lowly (Isa 66:2; Matt 5:8; Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5) and finds human pride to be abominable (Prov 6:16–17). Human pride is perhaps the mother of all sins. It prevents Elohim from working with a person, for a proud person is unable to see themselves as they really are, and fails to recognize their sinfulness and their need for a Redeemer, and thus is unable to come into alignment with commandments of Elohim that produce his character in a person, thus bringing the person into a spiritual relationship with Elohim. Pride prevents and destroys relationships between humans and between humans and Elohim. That’s why Elohim hates it so much. Humility brings a person closer to Elohim; pride keeps a person far from Elohim. 

 

Humble yourself willingly before Elohim has to force you to do so !

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Exodus 10:3, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? The sovereign Creator ultimately demands that everyone submits to his will and purposes. Those who refuse to do so imperil themselves. The Scriptures record that YHVH also held other political leaders in addition to Pharaoh accountable for exalting themselves against him and for refusing to humble themselves before him. These include Nebuchanezzar (Dan 4:19ff), Belshazzar (Dan 5:22), Zedekiah (2 Chron 36:12), Lucifer (Isa 14:13ff) and Herod (Acts 12:21–23). 

Furthermore, those who put their trust in false gods will come under the judgment of the one supreme and true Elohim or Mighty One of the Bible. Elohim uses men’s false gods or idols as a judgment against sinners to help them to see the futility of their idolatrous delusions and to bring them to repentance (e.g. Isa 66:4–5; Prov 10:24).

As Elohim judged the false gods of Egypt one by one and brought that arrogant nation down, he will do the same in the end days with Babylon the Great and the gods or idols of this world. We see a striking parallel between the plagues YHVH brought upon Egypt and those he will bring upon the rebellious inhabitants of earth just prior to Yeshua’s second coming. For example, the seventh plague of the seventh vial is an ultimate expression of the fierceness of Elohim’s wrath upon a rebellious and still blaspheming world (Rev 16:17–21). Seventy five pound hailstones will fall from heaven and the earth will quake beneath. There will be no hiding place from Elohim’s wrath. Additional end-time plages that replicate those of Egypt include grievous sores to come upon men (Rev 16:2), the seawater and fresh water turning to blood (Rev 16:3–4), and darkness upon the earth (Rev 16:10). After this, Babylon the Great will fall (Rev 18:2), even as ancient Egypt fell under the mighty blows of YHVH’s judgment.

Psalm chapter two summarizes the rebellious arrogance of men, and their conspiracy against the Creator to keep control of their earthly kingdoms. Elohim will laugh at them from heaven and will send his Son to judge them and to break their kingdoms in pieces with a rod of iron. Kiss Messiah the Son now and worship him if you expect to escape these judgments (v. 12)!

What gods or idols do we have in our lives that we are holding on to? Each of the plagues against Egypt was a direct strike against one of the many gods of Egypt (Exod 12:12; Num 33:4). Elohim will destroy all pretenders and imposters who dare to challenge his sovereignty. (See notes at Exod 7:14.) The god of self will is the most powerful false god each human will ever face!

 

Are you “naked” before Elohim?

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Psalm 102:17, Destitute. Lit. naked; fig. poor or destitute. If we expect the Almighty Creator of the universe to hear our prayers, we must come before him naked and poor, devoid of all pride, facades and pretense. He sees us as we really are anyway, so why pretend that we’re otherwise? 

We’re really fooling no one but ourselves when we put on prideful pretenses. Adam and Eve were literally naked before Elohim and walked with him in perfect fellowship, until they sinned. After sinning, they clothed themselves to hide their nakedness. 

When the first humans sinned, Elohim asked them, “Where are you?” In other words, they were hiding their true selves behind a covering of fig leaves because of their guilt and shame due to sin. Thus Elohim was really asking them, where are your true selves without the masks and cloaks? 

Previous to their sinning, they were naked and unashamed. Afterwards, they were clothed and ashamed and separated from YHVH. 

There’s a lesson here. YHVH wants us to be truthful, open, honest with ourselves and with him as if totally naked. Only then will he hear our prayers, otherwise we’re praying deceitful, empty and meaningless prayers, which is the Hebrew definition of the word vain as in vanity. The prideful and vain cannot stand before Elohim, for human pride is an abomination to him, which he hates the most of all human sins (Prov 6:16–17).

 

Numbers 16—The Dynamics of Pride and Rebellion and Elohim’s Response

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Numbers 16:1–3, Took men…rose up…gathered together against. Notice a progression (or downward spiral) of actions on the part of Korah and his rebels. They separated themselves from fellowship, rose up against Moses, gathered together others of like mind and falsely accused leadership of wrong doings. This is the world’s formula for achieving political (humanistic) power and domination. It is the opposite method of advancing in YHVH’s kingdom where the way down is the way up; that is, when one lays one’s life down in service, spiritual reward, advancement and blessing will occur for that person (Matt 20:27; 23:10).

Rebels, like Korah, tend to separate themselves from fellowship, seek out other like-minded rebels, and then rise up in defiance and accusation against godly leadership. Again, this leads to political power. The way of spiritual power is laid out in Acts 2:42–47 where the followers of Yeshua continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, breaking bread together, in prayer and sharing their goods with one another. The result was real spiritual power authority and anointing from heaven, and not power based on usurpation, human pride, degradation of others and self-promotion. This can only happen as people forsake not the assembling of themselves together (Heb 10:25), function according to the place and spiritual calling within the spiritual body of Yeshua submitted one to another as they walk in the spiritual light YHVH’s instructions in righteousness—the Torah.

Additionally, Yeshua taught that true power in the kingdom of Elohim is a result of one laying one’s life down for his brother and serving him in love and humility. Such a person will be elevated to a position of influence and authority because he has learned to serve others in love and selflessness rather than seeking to be served, which stems from a heart of selfishness and pride (Matt 20:25–28; 23:11–12).

The Jewish sages note that Korah and his band of malcontent had come under the power of resentment, which grew and festered until open rebellion broke out. Korah was a fellow Levite and cousin of Aaron who was among those “overlooked” for the priesthood and who were relegated to being “mere” assistants to the priests. He was also a firstborn of his household (Exod 6:21), and when the tabernacle sacrificial service was inaugurated Aaron’s sons replaced the firstborn Israelites in offering sacrifices. Furthermore, Dathan, Abiram and On were of the tribe of Reuben, the first-born child of Jacob. These men had their own grudge, since Reuben had lost his birthright as the firstborn son to the sons of Joseph because of sin (note 1 Chron 5:1). 

What do we see here? Resentment (a function of pride and selfishness) leads to bitterness, which then leads to separation, then to uprising, then to accusation, then to rebellion against YHVH-ordained authority, then to attempted usurpation of authority, and eventually it leads to judgment and death. Is this not the path Lucifer took in his rebellion against YHVH Elohim? (Read Isa 14:12–23.)

Numbers 16:5–6, Who is his…take censers. Incense is a biblical metaphor for the prayers of men coming up before YHVH’s throne (Rev 5:8; 8:3). YHVH accepts some men’s prayers as holy and rejects the prayers of other men whom he deems not to be holy. The story of Korah teaches us that YHVH doesn’t hear the prayers of self-centered, self-seeking, prideful Continue reading →

 

Be Not a Mocker or a Scorner—Curses Result!

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Proverbs 9:7, Scoffer. Heb. luwts meaning “to scorn, to deride, to mock, talk arrogantly; to be inflated.” (See also Ps 1:1; Prov 9:8; 13:1; 14:6; 15:12; 19:25, 29; 21:11, 24; 22:10; 24:9; 29:20.) One’s propensity to scorn or to mock others is born out of a spirit of pride and self-inflation or self-importance (Prov 21:24; Ps 119:51). It’s about building up oneself in one’s own eyes at the expense of other. This is done through engaging in the destructive habit of mocking, ridiculing, scorning, criticizing others or by, in one way or another, putting or tearing others down.

Scoffers are contentious people (Prov 22:10) because they’re always attempting to exalt themselves at others’ expense. This leads to argumentativeness—the “I’m right, you’re wrong” syndrome, which is the scoffer’s trademark. This engenders strife, reproach and contention in relationships. They blame others and refuse to take personal responsibility for their own sinful actions. For this reason, they seldom admit guilt, culpability, and you seldom hear the words “I’m sorry” come from their lips.

The Bible says that who scorns or mocks another person is a fool. Because of this their own sin of pride and self-importance causes them to mock sin (Prov 14:9).

Because of their failure to recognize their own pride, a scorner brings Elohim’s disfavor, curse and judgment upon themselves and those in their own house (Prov 3:33–34; 19:29). Eventually a scoffer brings about their own demise or is brought to an end or consumed (Isa 29:20).

Because of pride, the scorner will not find wisdom (Prov 14:6). This is because they’re blinded to receiving wisdom because of their own ego, that is, by their own pride and sense of self-importance and by the beam in their own eye. Wisdom comes as a result of receiving correction and then repenting of sin, which is something that a mocker isn’t able to receive because of pride (Prov 15:12).

The more one gives oneself over to a spirit of mocking and scorning others, the more they strengthen their bands of enslavement to this evil spirit, and the more they bring YHVH’s judgment upon themselves (Isa 28:22).

 

Mr. President, please give the glory to the Almighty Creator Who deserves it!

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Despite all odds, Donald Trump became the president of the United States. Many Christians view it as a miracle—the hand of Elohim. For better or for worse, I tend to agree.

In my opinion, although President Trump is just a man—a very imperfect one, like all of us—he has done many good things that have helped the cause truth and righteous, even though his methods may be somewhat unconventional and even distasteful so some.

Regardless, the Bible, the Word of Elohim, is very clear about those who boast of their accomplishments and neglect to give the Creator the glory. Please be careful, Mr. President, about boasting and self-exaltation. The Bible has some powerful admonitions in this regard.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jer 9:23–24)

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 For 10:12)

Blessed are the poor [contrite, borken] in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3)

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Rom 12:3)

Whether Elohim the Creator was instrumental in President Trump’s victory or not is not the issue. The fact is that each of us owes our very existence and every breath of life we take to our Heavenly Creator. He is the one who has given us not only the gift of life, but everything else that makes our life possible. As such, it’s wise that we give him the credit and glory that he deserves, for we are only one breath, one heartbeat, one bullet away from cessation of life.

Please earnestly pray for President Donald Trump that Elohim will give him divine wisdom, guidance and protection for him and his family, and that he will do will of the Almighty and give Him the glory that He deserves!  Amein.

From https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-genius-twitter/2018/01/06/id/835531/

Trump: I’m ‘Like, Really Smart,’ a ‘Very Stable Genius’

Image: Trump: I'm 'Like, Really Smart,' a 'Very Stable Genius'
(AP)

By Sandy Fitzgerald    |   Saturday, 06 Jan 2018 08:10 AM

President Donald Trump early Saturday morning railed against questions concerning his mental stability following the publication of a controversial book about his tenure in the White House, describing himself as being “like, really smart,” and saying that he is a “very stable genius.”

“Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart,” Trump said in his early morning Twitter messages.  “I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star … to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius….and a very stable genius at that!”

Read Full Article Here Trump: I’m ‘Like, Really Smart,’ a ‘Very Stable Genius’
Follow us: @Newsmax on Twitter | Newsmax on Facebook

 

Children at the seashore waving their Bibles…

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We are all like little children playing by the seashore with our pails and shovels as we wave our Bibles at each other saying, ” Look at me! See me scoop some sand into my little pail. My pail is yellow and pink. My pail is prettier than yours. Look at the little hole I dug in the sand. See the ocean water fill my little hole.” Some of us are even building sand castles for ourselves that the next wave will wash away. How special!
 
I wonder what the Creator of the ocean thinks of us?
 
Thus says YHVH “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am YHVH, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says YHVH. (Jeremiah 9:23–24)
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of YHVH? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33–36)