Almost all the self help books that one reads today, there is a theme which would point one toward a greater sense of self-esteem as the key to success. We are urged to develop our sense of pride in who we are. Whatever point of success, we pat ourselves on the back and say "Attaboy, you deserved the promotion for working so hard. Or, "good job, look at me Lord. Look what I have done for you." Particularly, this happens during moments of prosperity; when the blessings are plenty and the trials are diminished. The same was true of the journey of the Israelite Nation in the Old Testament. We need not to look at these scriptures and say "Why did they grumble and fall down so much?" Instead, we might want to look at these scriptures and say, "Wow, looks like me" and be encouraged by God’s Grace in dealing with them. We need to learn from their recorded mistakes so that we might learn to see the pitfalls and perhaps avoid some of them. I would dare to say that sin is a result of lack in faith in God and results from our taking our eyes off of Him and placing them elsewhere. Pride is one issue that causes us to take our eyes off of God–and causes us to look to ourselves; which is a disastrous move. Whenever I put my faith in me, I am following a fool.
Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
As the Israelite Nation was about to cross over Jordan to their promised land, Moses warned them. Deuteronomy 8: 11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God,…
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full…
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, …17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power
Paul realized this. He had been given great revelations regarding the gospel and was the one who wrote the largest portion of the New Testament through his letters to the churches.
2 Corinthians 12: 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
So for all of you seeking to find self-exalting, prosperity seeking religion; I have little to offer you, except the same warnings Moses gave the Israelite Nation–"Beware that you forget not the Lord thy God." The counterfeit Joys you seek will leave you empty and brokenhearted in the end. The only true Joy can be found in a relationship with God, our Creator. Neither are we to wallow in our guilt becoming ineffective for God–but that we will discuss tomorrow as I help to give you the keys to learning how to as Paul "12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LbHd6eZrgk&list=UU42mNOLo78vBCpPh34HSUTw&index=4
When I First Came to Know Him
When I first came to know him
So many years ago
I vowed that I would serve him
With heart and mind and soul
Then I found that in my strength
I would but only fail
Then He came and He told me
As we walked down life’s trail
1st chorus
I’ll be your strength when you are weary
And your hope when skies are gray
I’ll be your faith when yours is failing
And your light on each dark day
I’ll be the love your lonely heart
When it’s breaking in despair
I’ll be all in all your everything
If you look to me in prayer
I strove on in my strength
And strayed so very far
Until my life was broken
And sin had left it’s scar
Then I cried, Oh, my Father
How deeply I had failed
Then He came and He held me
And His love prevailed
2nd Chorus
Now He’s my strength when I am weary
And my hope when skies are gray
He is my faith when mine is failing
And my light on each dark day
He is the love to my lonely heart
When it’s breaking in despair
He is all in all my everything
When I look to him in prayer
Now if you have strayed from
Or never knew His love
Then turn your eyes toward Jesus
And seek Him from above
He will take all your brokenness
And fill it with Himself
He will take all your sin away
And fill each empty shelf.
3rd Chorus
He’ll be your strength when you are weary
And your hope when skies are gray
He’ll be your faith when yours is failing
And your light on each dark day
He’ll be the love to your lonely heart
When it’s breaking in despair
He’ll be all in all your everything
If you look to Him in prayer