Superiority

 

Superiority

1 Corinthians 1: ²¹ For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. ²² Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. ²³ As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; ²⁴ but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

 

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“Let me go and teach ‘those’ people about the Bible” was my thought. I had freshly taken another class at a well known Bible institute and I was headed on my first missions trip. When I arrived a man who walked 20 miles to hear me spoke about the Bible in ways I was unfamiliar. He ended up teaching me more than I taught anyone on that trip.

 

• There have been times when I thought “my” knowledge was superior.
• There have been times when I thought “I” had more wisdom than others.
• There have been times when I thought “If only a miracle would happen in front of people who do not believe, then ‘they’ would believe.”

 

Paul explains the false belief in human wisdom. He knew that some of the church leaders would scoff at the message of JESUS being the Messiah. He also knew that some scientific leaders would scoff at JESUS because of the popular belief in their knowledge. BUT GOD has something else to say.

 

• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without question.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without needing to prove HIS power.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without thinking I am smarter than HIM or HIS humans HE created.

 

Superiority may come from insecurity. I mean, when I want to be heard, I may study something and try to be the ‘best’ at that subject to prove to other humans I am superior in ‘my’ industry. BUT GOD laughs at ‘my’ knowledge. When I think ‘I’ am superior, I never ask myself, “What if I am wrong?” or “What if I should not be heard because my heart is wrong?”

 

Superiority takes over and makes me not see JESUS in my life when I should. I may judge someone or label ‘that’ person incorrectly, never admitting that I am not GOD and cannot see what is in a person’s heart. Only GOD is wise. I am glad I am not superior and admit I need GOD.

 

• Are you trying to prove yourself to people?
• Do you feel inferior to some and superior to others?
• Will you drop your labels you place on others and look to GOD for HIS wisdom today?

VIP

VIP

Acts 19: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

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Being a “handler” was an important role. I had to put a schedule together that included picking up the very important person (VIP) from the airport, feeding him his favorite meal, getting him checked into the hotel and walking him through his itinerary for the remainder of the day. It was going to be a long day.

• There were times when I dedicated a lot of time for a VIP.
• There were times when I spent hours preparing for a VIP.
• There were times when I went over every detail with a group to make sure I was prepared for the VIP.

Paul went to Ephesus and met some disciples. He asked them if they received the HOLY SPIRIT when they believed. “Who?” they implied. Paul explained that by believing in JESUS, they would receive the HOLY SPIRIT. Up until then, they were simply doing good for people as John the Baptist’ message was adhered to strictly.

• GOD wants me to confess that I need JESUS.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS so I can receive the HOLY SPIRIT.
• GOD wants me to make disciples of JESUS by telling people about HIS power.

Being nice as an example is wonderful, but not enough. According to JESUS, even evil people do nice things. GOD wants the name of JESUS to be spoken without shame. HE then send a VIP to live inside me, namely the HOLY SPIRIT.

This powerful being guides me when I am lost, comforts me when I down and begs for my forgiveness in groans I cannot understand when I am sinful.“ The HOLY SPIRIT deserves to be thanked and prepared for every day. I am grateful JESUS sent me the HOLY SPIRIT to be with me forever.

• Do you treat people special because of their title or status?
• Do you follow, admire and prepare for certain VIP’s?
• Will you take a moment to treat the HOLY SPIRIT with reverence today, knowing JESUS has all authority and sent HIM to live inside you as your guide and comforter?

Significance

Significance

Acts 18: ¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

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“He’s not playing right!” I protested. I mean, everyone knows you are supposed to put the blocks in the dump truck, then dump them on the floor and start over. This person wanted to kick the blocks. What sense did that make? The teacher came over and listened to both of us.

• There have been people in my life who listened to me.
• There have been people in my life who did not trivialize what I was saying.
• There have been people in my life who treated my concerns as significant.

Gallio was proconsul, so the Jews brought Paul to him in an accusatory way. Gallio scoffed at their anger over Paul’s confession that JESUS was and is GOD. He felt their argument was insignificant so he said “Settle the matter yourselves.”

• GOD wants me to stand firm on my faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to know HE is the Most High.
• GOD wants me to speak about JESUS being the most significant choice of life.

Significance in GOD has been watered down by the world. The enemy’s tactic is to fool humans to seek significance within themselves. BUT GOD wants something different. GOD wants me to have unstoppable purpose that teaches people about JESUS.

People may scoff at the name of JESUS, but I know that by believing in HIM, even speaking HIS name brings power beyond measure. HIS word does not go out void, rather it will prosper and accomplish what it was intended to do. My significance is through JESUS, who is the Most High.

• Are you seeking to make a name of yourself?
• Do you shy away from speaking the name of JESUS?
• Will you open your mouth and profess JESUS as LORD so people can believe in HIS Word today?

Cause Alignment

Cause Alignment

John 6: ⁶⁰ Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

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“Never will I go in that store again” I said in anger. The service was rude and they had out of date baby food. I told several people to avoid this store. I made this a “mini-cause.” I liked the reaction from those I told as they vowed never to shop there. I wonder what other wrongs “I” should be point out to “the people.”

• It felt pretty good being listened to.
• It felt pretty good providing information and being heard.
• It felt pretty good being the center of attention, having people listen and follow “my” instructions.

The crowd of JESUS followers wanted a much easier message. When they heard what JESUS had to say, some of them began to murmur. HE didn’t have political promises, nor did HE promise riches. JESUS told them to “eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood” from a spiritual sense. These words were too hard to understand.

• GOD wants me to ask HIM for clarity so I can have a great relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM in spirit, not with logic.
• GOD wants me to gain full understanding of HIS ways by observing what HE does in my life and others.

Having a cause can feel quite good, but some causes can be a distraction from speaking about JESUS. The focus of saving something or feeding something or teaching something is hard wired in many people. GOD wants me to take this desire to “save” something and point it to bringing HIS people to HIM.

JESUS said something important, “No one can come to ME unless it has been granted to him by MY FATHER.” This statement enables me to seek those who GOD has given the ability to seek HIM. GOD knows HIS people and HE gives, even a sinner like me, the ability to bring people back to HIM. This is the only cause worth joining.

• What causes are clouding your day?
• What important information, while useful, is getting in the way of you telling people about JESUS?
• Will you align your cause to what GOD wants you to say about HIS SON today?

Too Important

Matthew 19: ¹³ Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

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Prepping for the meeting was difficult. I only had fifteen minutes with the president of the company and I had to make every minute worth it. “Maybe I will be ‘too important’ to meet with people for long stretches of time someday.” I thought to myself.

• I sought to make a name for myself.
• I wanted to be “important” to other people.
• I desired to be in the exclusive crowd.

Exclusion is great when I am in the “in crowd.” I mean when I am getting the fringe benefits that others aren’t, it feels wonderful, so much so that I craved more. BUT GOD wants me to act differently.

• GOD wants me to welcome people with open arms.
• GOD wants me to make time for people who cannot do for themselves.
• GOD wants me to be available for the little children.

The disciples were trying to make JESUS exclusive to “important” people. These little kids had nothing to offer and JESUS could heal people back from the dead so the disciples shooed them away. JESUS illustrates how open I should be.

HE wants me to make time for people and not see levels or classes of humans. In fact, GOD wants me to make others more important than I make myself. The more I grow others, the more GOD grows me.

• Are you trying to be important?
• Do you want to exclude people away from you or the group you are in?
• Can you stop trying to be important and point people to the ONE who is, namely JESUS?

Titles May Mean Trouble

Esther 1: ¹⁰ On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— ¹¹ to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. ¹² But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

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After years of scratching and clawing my way up, I had finally reached the top! I could finally make some decisions and get things done. I called a meeting of my entire staff so I could meet everyone and give them my high level plan.

One of my employees refused to come to the meeting. I brushed this absence off until she refused to come to my next gathering. I then wanted to get rid of her. I approached her and asked, about the absences. Turns out she was the only one who was supporting a large number of systems and my meetings conflicted with her support.

• Sometimes titles give me an ego.
• Sometimes titles blind me to what’s going on.
• Sometimes titles make me believe I am important.

It seems like titles have made me think people should react to me in a special way. Titles like VP, Senior Director, Manager, Husband or even Dad commanded some level of respect and I craved it. BUT GOD wants me to see something different.

• GOD is the most high so I should look to HIM for my power
• GOD is the being I get my power from and titles are meaningless.
• GOD became a human, giving up HIS title of GOD just to die for me and is now raised up above all with the highest title.

Titles seem to ruin my humility. I do not mean I should not have a title or become a pushover when I have one, rather I should accept whatever title I have as a gift from GOD and treat it with the humility HE has bestowed on me.

• Do you demand respect and are not getting it?
• Are you frustrated with the people who are supposed to be following you?
• Can you point your life to GOD instead of yourself?
• Can you humble yourself before the only being who deserves a title, namely JESUS?