God's children are to be the salt and light of the world to shine God's love and Glory so that other may be drawn to HIM. Whether we are given wisdom, revelation, power, spiritual gifts, talent, singing, intelligence, discernment, healing gifts, beauty or other anointing, we must know such glory comes from HIM and are HIS. If we take it upon ourselves and become full of ourselves with such gifts, we would then be stealing His Glory. It would then be pride working in us and thus we would be falling as the devil had fell.
Proverbs 3:6 (AMP) In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Many today continue to steal His Glory including His own children. People do not realize how it can be so dangerous to receive spiritual gifts and power. Many do not have the foundation of His Word but desire the higher things of God. We must ask ourselves for what reason are we asking? Are we asking to strengthen our low self esteem? Are we asking so that we can feel good of ourselves? Are we asking because we are seeking attention? Are we asking for all the wrong reasons? Yes, Paul said to desire them but as we receive more, we must die more. We must be grounded in His Word. Otherwise, we can become corrupted and deluded.
Isaiah 10:15 (AMP) Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who wields it back and forth? As if a rod should wield those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift itself up as if it were not wood [but a man of God]!
We are to be empty vessels for His Word, Power, and Glory to flow through. We were created for His Glory. As the verse states, if we are the ax, are we to boast of ourselves or against the one who chops with it? If we were an ax, then our part would be to obey and let God use us. But there are too many Christians who would boast of how beautiful they are with their words, deeds, and attitude. Even our physical beauty is His and from HIM. If they were removed, then what would we be boasting of ourselves? Let us give the credit and glory where it belongs. Let us decrease and He increase! We must no longer exist and when people see us, they must see Jesus in us. They must see God! They must no longer see the old you. It is not about your individualism. It is about becoming more like HIM!
Isaiah 60:1 (AMP) Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you
God lets us bear His Glory to so that our lives will Glorify HIM! When we rise to a new life, when we become reborn, when we are new creations, when our old is gone and the new has arrived in Christ, then we can shine the Glory of the Lord and His Glory may rise upon from us. Know your places. Whether we have been called to be servants, preachers, apostles, preachers, teachers, or evangelists, know the responsibility and accountability and serve HIM with love but also with trembling and fear. For we are serving a KING OF KINGS!! We are not serving a teddy bear! We serve a Living God! Do not serve HIM with complacency or negligence.
Isaiah 66:2 (AMP) For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.
Jeremiah 48:10 (AMP) Cursed be he who does the work of the Lord negligently [with slackness, deceitfully]; and cursed be he who keeps back his sword from blood [in executing judgment pronounced by the Lord].
Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord; that is My name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.
Paul addressed the Corinthian church that many were taking the bread and cup in an unworthy manner and thus many were in judgment, sick, and dying. They were bringing a sentence of their own verdict of judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:29-30 (AMP)For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ’s] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. 30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death.
Today, this still rings true in many of our churches. But at the same time, many serve HIM or had served HIM negligently stealing His Glory. And this is the reason why many are weak and sickly falling into the sleep of death as well.
Many people do not see their own pride. And it is such pride that prevents people from repenting and seeing the truth. We all need more humility. The Lord said, it is through humility and when we humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways He will heal our lands. May He put salve on our eyes and ears so that we may humble ourselves seeing our own error so that we may repent. May you continue to stay in that First Love state always.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMP) If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
He will not hear us from heaven nor forgive and heal us if we do not humble ourselves. Perhaps it is time to ask God if we have been prideful?
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
June 7, 2012
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