Growing Closer to God pt. 19
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Humility Vs Religion
Humility Vs Religion
Pride is a tough subject. Pride leads many people down the false road of religion. We find the Paul, while he was Saul, exercised in pride. He knew the law, he spent his time studying the law. He obeyed the law and in his obedience set himself above God. Many things are done in the name of Christ that aren’t of Christ. Teh early crusades. Wars were waged in the name of Christ, however they were truly about expanding ones influence and power.
The biggest hurdle we face as Christians is:
Not to use God, but to be used by God
Not to use God, but to be used by God
Many use God. We go to him when in trouble, we come to church when it’s convenient and comfortable. We serve where we like instead of where we are called. I came by this statement this week in one of my readings.
Many leave churches when they are not fed instead of believing God and being led. Pride cuts out what God wants to do in your life. Instead of serving God, God begins to be yet another thing that is meant to serve us.
This is where we are in our Journey of the book of Romans.
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans
Christ will either let you fail or make you succeed.
Christ will either let you fail or make you succeed.
But the secret to success in Christ is how we view ourselves in light of Christ. Paul is telling the Roman church that there are many Jews who believe salvation can be obtained. If we believe salvation can be obtained we put ourselves about God. On that which is stronger can save and give grace. If we can earn our salvation as the Jews supposed through the law then we can rise above God and obtain perfection.
Because what’s greater—Something that is perfect or something that obtained perfection?
Put another way who would you have more respect for A trust fund baby given their wealth or someone who picked themselves up out of the dirt and brought to themselves many riches?
Many fail because of their incorrect view of Christ. They either see salvation as something that can be obtained through works or something at the very least achievable, but that is the beauty of grace. The fact that we can neither obtain it or achieve it and yet it is given to us.
“ ‘This is what the Lord says:
The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;
the strong should not boast in his strength;
the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.
But the one who boasts should boast in this:
that he understands and knows me—
that I am the Lord, showing faithful love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth,
for I delight in these things.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
In order to understand this we must look at
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:
Many state that Paul’s thorn had to be something physical, but if you look carefully into the Greek we find that his thorn isn’t sickness. It would be silly if every time I prayed for more of the power of God in my life I came down with the flu or magical arthritis took over my body.
Asthenia: means weakness.
Asthenia: means weakness.
The word used for infirmities is Asthenia, the same word Paul uses for weakness. Now in bible language when things are repeated it typically means it’s important.
The reason the Jews were failing to obtain salvation wasn’t because they weren’t chosen, but because they weren’t humble enough.
I have watched as my kids struggle to do many things. I have watched them practice until they could tie their own shoes. I have watched them struggle through reading and spelling. I have wanted to help them, but knew that they would become better if left to struggle.
However, I also watched my kids struggle to get things off of shelves or reach the TV. These things I do not let them struggle with because they have no power to make themselves grow. It just happens—it’s out of their control. Eventually my child will ask—can you grab this form me? I don’t say to them keep trying or work harder and you can reach it I get up, use my own height to grab what they cannot reach.
This is true in our Christian faith. There are things God allows us to struggle with. The only way to grow in faith is practice having faith. As I watch churches grow you see this in the leadership teams. One church needed faith to pay the bills. Eventually they grew and they no longer need faith to pay the everyday bills, until God tells them to write a substantial check to missions. Now they need more faith to execute this bigger task. That’s growing in faith—if you struggle through it you can become more proficient in it.
However, like our height we can not struggle through grace. My kids cannot force themselves to grow, just as you cannot force God to forgive your sins. You cannot work hard enough. You cannot give enough. While you may grow in your faith through work and giving you cannot grow in grace. It’s actually the opposite. The more like Christ we become through the potters wheel we talked about last week the less grace we require.
But here is the catch. I have found that once I overcome something and no longer need grace in that area of my life God decides to use my other weaknesses to show his power. On this side of heaven I will never be without limitations. It’s why we created ladders. You will never be tall enough to reach everything no matter how tall you get—things will always be out of your reach.
You maybe able to to reach more than others—as with the case of Paul-He had faith I have yet to see in anyone else, but he still had weaknesses as well. If you are waiting to be perfect to be used you might as well wait for a unicorn to get you to heaven.
Satan’s greatest downfall was his pride and thinking he could achieve power.
Our greatest power is in the words
By admitting we
I Can’t
I Can’t
I hear coaches, trainers, and motivation speakers preach against the words I can’t. I believe it’s because can’t is a biblical word. It takes more humility to admit that you can’t do something than to tell yourself over and over that you can and fail repeatedly.
I can’t save you—shoot I can’t save myself. If you came to church looking for me to save your marriage, your life, your job I will fail and let you down. But I can point you to someone who can. When people come to me for counseling htere isn’t anything I can do or say that will help them. That’s why I believe most secular therapists fail or rely on pills. When you come to me for counseling the best I can do is point you to scripture. Then it’s up to you to allow God to work that weak area of your life until he has strengthened it.
That’s what happens when I see a trainer. He doesn’t make me stronger. His physical presense, his yelling, and hype doesn’t get me to lift any more than I did yesterday. He shows me where I am weak and gives me the proper tools to work my weakness out.
God wants to work your weakness out. Weakness isn’t of God. The thorn in Paul wasn’t given to him by God. God allowed it, but he didn’t do it. He allowed it so Paul would rely on Christ to help him strengthen that area of his life. Just as God doesn’t want you to remain weak. If he wanted to you remain weak he wouldn’t have given you grace.
I believe Christians have a half truth idea about grace. Grace is the forgiveness of sins, but if it stopped there we would remain weak infants in the faith. But grace is power. Power that gives you the ability to do what God has called you to.
When I bench press typically in order to grow muscle you bench more than you can handle. That’s why we have a spotter. A spotter is not only to make sure you don’t kill yourself, but they are also there to give their strength when yours drains out. a good spotter knows how to increase his help to get you to finish the repetitions you are on. By doing this he knows that over time you will need less and less of his strength to push the weight. However, a good spotter won’t let you stay in a place where you are able to handle all the weight yourself. Just as you reach the point where you don’t need his help he ads more weight.
If I let my pride get in the way I will never increase because I will only lift what I can—never pushing myself.
If I humble myself I will admit I can’t lift the burden alone and I will grow.
Which will you be?