July 29th – Proverbs 29: Brought Low

“A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.” – Proverbs 29:23

Over the years, I have been shocked by how LOW believers can go. You expect the crack heads and degenerates that don’t know Jesus to hit bottom, but rarely do you expect born again Christians to bottom out. Many people come to Jesus when they hit bottom but we’re not supposed to bottom out as Christians! If we do, this Proverb tells us why.

The ONLY reason that we bottom out and “hit the skids’ is because of pride. Pride is that amazing ability to COMPLETELY ignore the facts and be utterly deceived by our own “greatness”. The root word for pride in the Hebrew means; to mount up, to grow up, to rise up, swelling. Think of a loaf of bread rising before baking. That leaven gets in there and releases gas, making the dough rise to two and three times its normal size. But the second you touch it, or “punch it down” it releases the air and goes back to its ACTUAL size.

Pride has the same effect in the life of the believer. A little “leaven” of pride and we swell up like a tick. We’re fooled by our “growth”, barley recognizing that it’s all just hot air. It’s not real growth. Pride brings us LOW. I have known believers to completely bottom out financially, physically, relationally and emotionally. Now, everyone goes through hard times, even good people. But the kind of lowliness I am talking about here is extreme and totally unnecessary. Things like blowing through hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling, getting caught in multiple affairs, wrecking their lives and reputations with alcohol and even going to jail for not paying traffic tickets!

The scriptures say,

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." – James 4:6

Humility is not walking around with your head hanging low or speaking softly. No, humility is being aware of your need for God! When humble people hit a wall (and they do!) instead of try to tackle the impossibility themselves, they call on JESUS for help! Yes, they go to God in prayer, but God answers them THROUGH PEOPLE. Remember, he called us the “Body of Christ”! So they humble themselves to their spouse when they are struggling with lust, averting adulterous disaster. They confess their lack of self-control with drinking to their pastor or friend and GET HELP. Instead of “press through” financial impossibility, humble people ask for wisdom. It’s humbling in the moment, but in the end, it brings honor.

People that humble themselves are honored and people that honor themselves are humbled.

LIFE LESSON:

The grace we need to overcome whatever difficulty we’re encountering is only one act of humility away.

July 28th – Proverbs 28: Rebuke a Man = Gain Favor

“He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.” – Proverbs 28:23

I’m not known for giving praise. In fact, I seem to be developing a reputation for being a straight shooter that will more likely rebuke you than praise you. This isn’t a bad thing. Sure, I have a LOT fewer friends than the person who praises everyone, regardless of whether that person is deserving of praise or not. But in THE END, it will go better for me.

Many who are easy “praisers” have such low standards that everyone deserves praise, everyone deserves honor and respect. You know the type; they endorse EVERYONE’S book with glowing accolades. But if you read the book, it’s crazy! They endorse EVERYONE’S ministry, even if they have a long history of immorality, alcoholism and greed. But this is NOT biblical teaching. Some in fact do NOT deserve honor or praise but they are DUE a stern rebuke!

“Therefore give to all their dues; to the one due tax, the tax; tribute to whom tribute is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.” Romans 13:7

In many cases someone’s good deeds are used as a justification for their evil behavior. You’ve perhaps seen this before. It’s amazing how much “grace” the adulterous and greedy evangelist (e.g.-Todd Bentley) gets from other “leaders” in the body. Why does he get such preferential treatment? Because he “wins the lost” or because he was “instrumental in leading a revival”. But the greater question is, what exactly was he winning the lost to; If not the Gospel that requires holiness and purity? He’s leading a revival of what? Adultery & Immorality in the church?

You see these mega church pastors (e.g.-Eddie Long) that I guess are given a pass to seduce and sexually violate teenage boys. Why? “Because they do so much good in the community!” Where is it in the Bible that you are allowed to buy little boys expensive gifts with church offerings, take them on lavish “ministry” trips in order to seduce and perform all kinds of homosexual horror on teenage boys? But according to spineless, compromised DEVILS (e.g.-Creflo Dollar) he just “had a wreck” but “he has insurance” and “Jesus paid the premium!”

I guess I missed that passage in the Bible where homosexual pedophilia perpetrated by leaders in the church gets a pass.

LIFE LESSON:

It's like David Baker said, "Some believers are 'Coupon Christians' with a 'Discount Jesus'!"

July 27th - Proverbs 27: Let Another Praise You

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” – Proverbs 27:2

Humility seems to be a lost art these days. When someone excels at most any endeavor today, they feel that it is their personal responsibility to publish this news to the rest of the world. Now, this isn’t a problem to folks that have settled for mediocrity in their lives, but it can become a major problem for folks that have let God transform them into someone truly remarkable. In truth, the call of God on our lives is a HIGH call. We were meant for greatness!

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14

Many believers overreact and they seem to think the solution to a lack of humility is for NO ONE to have anything to be proud of and an almost forced mediocrity ensues. If NO ONE succeeds, then no one has any chance to be proud. Some churches basically worship ignorance and poverty, celebrating people’s lack of proficiency. We do it in songs that celebrate struggle and a culture that celebrates failure.

This IS NOT humility.

Maybe you’ve heard it at YOUR church? “Well, I lost my job, my house was foreclosed on, my car was repossessed and my wife left me… but PRAISE THE LORD, I’VE GOT THE VICTORY!” Umm, no you don’t. You my friend are a loser and you need JESUS to make you a winner!

In our church, we CELEBRATE those who achieve success in ANY endeavor. Whether it is scoring a big account that means LOTS of money, someone that graduates college with honors, or if someone sees a major miracle or leads someone to Jesus, we are the first to celebrate people that are exceptional. When someone achieves something great, it’s OUR responsibility to praise them and laud their achievements, since they aren’t permitted to sing their own praises. People need recognition for their successes and we need to be the ones giving it to them! Let’s not force them praise themselves!

If you struggle praising others for their achievements, perhaps due to jealousy, then you might have a poverty mindset. Poverty says that there is a limited supply and there isn’t enough to go around. Poverty says that if Person A is achieving something, then they are holding Person B back in some way! We are not called to have a poverty mindset; we’re called to have an abundance mentality! God is a God of MORE than enough and we need to become more like HIM.

LIFE LESSON:

I’d pat you on the back, but your hand is in the way!

July 26th – Proverbs 26: Worse Than a Fool?

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 26:12

I have spent a considerable amount of time here detailing the plight of the “fool”. To date I have some 130 posts on Proverbs, most of them in some way having to do with being a fool, not being a fool, etc. The total destruction that comes to a fool’s health, wealth and relationships because of their foolish behavior is truly staggering. In truth, the fool has a tough road to hoe and it’s in our best interest to avoid foolish behavior.

Yet this proverb tells us that there is something worse than being a fool. This proverb tells us that there is more hope for a fool than for a man that is wise in his own eyes! In the King James, the Bible uses the word “conceit” to describe the man that is wise in his own eyes. It means;

Conceit - favorable opinion; especially : excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue.

So what the Bible is telling us is that there is MORE hope for a foolish person than for one who has a bloated sense of their own self-importance. There is a greater chance for repentance, grace and mercy on someone that acts foolishly than someone who has an “excessive appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue”.

That’s scary!

I have met people like this. They are the kind that always believes they are right, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. These are people that are above instruction, correction or rebuke in their own minds. They see themselves as the teachers and benefactors of this earth; almost as if the world is graced with their presence. I have had people like this tell me that they have nothing to learn from their pastors/leaders at a church service on Sunday morning, all while their lives are an utter mess!

This mentality does seem to be on the rise in the church today in our culture of cheap grace and lax morality. With the expansion of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, everyone is a sage! You have total bums, living in their Mom’s basement and incapable of providing for themselves dispensing their YouTube “wisdom” full time. If they understood their ACTUAL importance or self-worth (Nill), they would shut up and get their life together.

Now more than ever, it’s important that we KNOW people, NOT according to what they say, but according to their fruit (or lack thereof).

“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” – Matthew 7:20

LIFE LESSON:

Better a fool that knows he’s a fool than a conceited idiot that thinks he’s the “dogs bollocks”.

July 25th – Proverbs 25: A Trustworthy Messenger

“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.” – Proverbs 25:13

Several years ago, I didn’t really understand this passage; I guess I just wrote it off for a piece of wisdom only applicable “back in the old days”. Yet today it makes all the sense in the world. I think that may have something to do with what I have been given to say. God has given our church and our ministry a message. We have something to say.

A messenger is just a carrier of a message. His job is to take a message from the King and deliver it to the intended audience. When you think about it, all believers are messengers. We have been given a message from our King. We will be judged in eternity in part on how faithfully we represented our King and how faithfully we communicated HIS message. When we communicate what we have to say to others, the word spreads. When someone who hears what we have to say and then in turn misrepresents what we have to say, we have a problem.

I preach the Gospel to unbelievers on a regular basis. It’s part of my lifestyle. By FAR, the #1 problem we have in sharing the Gospel with unbelievers is not that they have never heard the message, but the messengers that have brought them the message in the past were unfaithful. The either didn’t faithfully represent the King or His message. Think about it, how many businesses are ruined by unfaithful employees or churches reputations destroyed by the unfaithful behavior of her congregants?

In the context of our ministry, I have spent considerable time and energy clarifying things said by messengers who aren’t trustworthy. This happens as people that are exposed to what we have said go running around and misrepresent our message to others. It’s maddening. People who I don’t even know have formed these impenetrable judgments against us based on inaccurate information. Almost 100% of the time, if they give me a few minutes I am able to convince them that I am not the monster some bitter, petty person swears I am.

On the flip side, when we have people that faithfully represent what we have to say to others, it’s VERY refreshing. There are few things more exciting than when someone hears what you have to say, takes it and then faithfully represents it to others. Folks like that I consider my friends.

I wonder if the Lord feels the same way?

LIFE LESSON:

Be a trustworthy messenger. Both to the Lord and anyone you represent, from your boss to your pastor.

July 22nd – Proverbs 22: A Good Name

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” – Proverbs 22:1

Our name is who we are. The essence of who we are and what we do is contained within our name and our actions here on earth determine how our name is received. We are nothing without our word. If people don’t believe us when we speak, then we have lost everything!

Let’s do an exercise to illustrate the point:

ENRON

What do you think of when I say Enron? Prior to October 2001, Enron was seen as a strong business and excellent company to invest in. When the accounting scandal broke in October 2001, instantly their name became a synonym for corporate greed and a case study for all that is wrong with capitalism. How about,

OJ SIMPSON

When “The Juice” is mentioned, very few would think of his amazing accomplishments in college and professional football. Most everyone will remember OJ as being the one famously acquitted for a murder most of the world is SURE he committed. In the church, we could say,

JIMMY SWAGGART

When I say that, few would think of the amazing anointing once on that man’s life. Few would even recount the evangelistic power that he once walked in. Most will remember the scandal with him and a local prostitute and his tearful televised repentance of “I have sinned!”

The list could go on and on, but the reality is that our names are absolutely invaluable and contain the fruit of our life here on earth. Take the name,

JESUS

In His life on earth, Jesus demonstrated a supreme level of obedience, even unto the death. His ACTIONS procured for Him a name that’s above EVERY name.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8

It’s HIS name that will cause EVERY knee to bow and EVERY tongue to confess.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11

LIFE LESSON:

Protect your good name more than you would protect all the wealth of your household, without it, you are NOTHING.

July 21st – Proverbs 21: Preparing For Victory

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” – Proverbs 21:31

This is a very familiar scripture to many. I personally love this scripture because it shows us two things: Our responsibility to PREPARE for victory and God’s ability to produce VICTORY. Many believers don’t understand this concept at all. We’ll look at three different types of believers, two of which DON’T experience victory and the third being the one we want to be like.

MR. SPIRITUAL

Many believers are so “spiritual” that they make no natural provision for victory. Sadly these believers are always experiencing defeat, while claiming the victory that belongs to them, but eludes them! Take the believer that needs a job. MR. SPIRITUAL will pray, stand in faith, declare and proclaim the new job, yet many times will make no natural provision for the new job. When I say natural provision in this context I am talking about doing things like, writing out a resume, looking and applying for positions, going to interviews. Should an “opportunity” some to them, they find themselves prayed up but unprepared. Sometimes prayer alone is not enough! Working in faith and with diligence in agreement with our prayers is vital!

I have met MR. SPIRITUAL and they have told me in beautiful, flowery language about their passion for missions and the prophecies spoken over them to work for the Lord overseas. My question is ALWAYS the same: “Do you have a passport?” If the answer is “No” I know they won’t be going anytime soon. Silly Christian, actions working together WITH faith is where it’s at.

MR NATURAL

This person is ALL hard work and doesn’t give God two seconds to work on their behalf. They work their fingers to the bone to achieve victory, whether it is in finances, ministry or whatever they do. The problem is that they are trying to accomplish a supernatural lifestyle through natural means… BUT IT WON’T WORK!

This has been my tendency in the past. When I needed money I would go out there and get it! I’d get up early, prepare the day, pursue the business, work the business and collapse in bed at the end of the day, exhausted but BROKE! Why?? Because God would never let me prosper in my own strength! It wasn’t until I learned to tether my natural activity to prayer, humility and the supernatural that I started to receive supernatural provision.

MR. BELIEVER

The proper recipe for breakthrough and victory in the life of the believer is faith working together WITH our actions.

“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” – James 2:21,22

Abraham BELIEVED God AND offered his son as a sacrifice. His faith AND actions worked TOGETHER to make him the Father of Faith. The believer that needs a new job will pray AND prepare a resume. The believer that feels calls to missions will pray for God to open a door overseas AND get a passport. The Bible is clear; it’s not unspiritual to do natural activity when it’s connected to our consciousness of a supernatural God. It’s unspiritual to NOT work according to our faith, leaving everything to God.

LIFE LESSON:

Real faith WORKS.