We live in a world and era that consistently promotes ourselves. Our culture has trained our society to cherish and love the desires of our heart that promote ourselves and promise a hint of happiness. We are constantly surrounded by materialistic things and lustful temptations with millions of paid advertisements to entice us to become a better person. We are tricked into thinking, “If I can just get that item, widget, clothing, drug, new toy, more money, and so on,” that these things will make us a better person by removing the emptiness or depression we may be feeling. Our mindset has become: “we want it now…we cannot live without it!”
As we live this way, we are continuously exalting and promoting ourselves, where being humble or having humility is not in our vocabulary. This steady state of exaltation produces a proud and arrogance mentality about us, where we become less compassionate towards others and care ONLY for ourselves. It’s ALL about me, myself, and I. My, my, mine, me, me…
Apart from God, our heavenly Creator, there was a very powerful being (arc angel) that was created for worshipping ONLY God the Father, but his ego, pride, and arrogance corrupted him into exalting and worshipping himself. Lucifer wanted to be like God and desired worship from others. He wanted to have his own throne like the Most-High God (Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:12-19). We also see Lucifer, as Satan, and we know his end and final fate (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10) as disclosed in the scriptures. Ezekiel 28:15-19 (AMP):
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness and evil were found in you. “Through the abundance of your commerce you were internally filled with lawlessness and violence, and you sinned; Therefore I have cast you out as a profane and unholy thing from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. “Your heart was proud and arrogant because of your beauty; you destroyed your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I lay you before kings, that they might look at you. “You profaned your sanctuaries by the great quantity of your sins and the enormity of your guilt, by the unrighteousness of your trade. Therefore I have brought forth a fire from your midst; it has consumed you, and I have reduced you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who look at you. “All the peoples (nations) who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible and terrifying end and will forever cease to be.” ”
This is why God’s Word gives several scriptures to teach us to be humble instead of being proud and haughty like our enemy, the dragon. There are many Bible passages, and some are listed here that instruct us to exalt God in Christ while being humble:
Isaiah 5:16 (AMP), “But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in justice, and God, the Holy One, will show Himself holy in righteousness [through His righteous judgments].”
Psalms 46:10 (NKJV), “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 57:5 (NKJV), “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.”
Psalms 138:6 (AMP), “Though the LORD is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.”
Proverbs 3:34 (AMP), “Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance].”
Luke 14:11 (NKJV), “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ ”
Ephesians 4:1-2 (AMP), “…live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in unselfish love.”
James 4:6 (AMP), “But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD and HAUGHTY, BUT [continually] GIVES [the gift of] GRACE TO THE HUMBLE [who turn away from self-righteousness].’ ”
James 4:10 (AMP), “Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”
1 Peter 5:6 (AMP), “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time.”
As Lucifer become Satan, he was able to deceive and persuade a third of heaven’s angels to follow him in this rebellion against God, His Throne, and against His ultimate plan (Revelation 12:3-4). Satan, the serpent, opposed God’s plan and everything God stood for from the beginning. His first deception on earth caused Adam and Eve to be expelled from the perfect Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Also, Satan and his fallen angels were kicked out of heaven (or soon will be kicked out after they lose the war in heaven), just as Adam and Eve were banished from God’s Garden. Because of one sin of disobedience committed by Adam and Eve against God’s instruction, all humans were cursed to one day experience death (Genesis 2:17). We are all sinners in need of a Savior (Romans 6:23). We would have all been doomed without any hope if God had not intervened with His overwhelming faithful love towards us (John 3:16-21).
Because of this devastating event, God had to save us from sin. He sent us a worthy Savior, His ONLY Son, Jesus, to save us from eternal condemnation. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (AMP):
But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming.
Jesus tells us that hell was created for Satan and his falling angels. God did NOT intend NOR create the lake of fire for us as stated in Matthew 25:41 (AMP), “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons).” God desires for all to be saved through His Son, Jesus, as we read in 1 Timothy 2:4 (AMP), “who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.”
So, who is Jesus talking about when he says, “…to those on His left…?” Jesus is talking about all of Satan’s followers which includes the human race who have and who continuously reject, mock, and scoff at the one true Living God of the universe and His Son, Jesus. As Jesus is our worthy Savior and Great Shepherd, and at the great judgement day, He will place His sheep (His Followers) on His right side and the followers of the enemy, the goats, will be placed on His left side. Matthew 25: 31-33(AMP): “ ‘But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].”
Stated likewise by the prophet Ezekiel is revealed in Ezekiel 34:17 (AMP), “And as for you, My flock, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats [between the righteous and the unrighteous].” We will not be able to escape God’s great judgement day. All will stand before the Lord and give an account for what has been done in this life while on earth, whether righteous or unrighteous. Even all of the followers of Jesus will be righteously judged along with the unbelievers, where Jesus will stand up for His sheep and clothe them with righteousness (white robes, Revelation 7:13). All will be judged by Christ as Paul reveals this in Romans 14:10-12 (NKJV), “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Explained another way is where Jesus has been given all authority by God the Father to judge everyone as stated in Acts 10:42 (AMP), “…He is the One who has been appointed and ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.” God will judge all (Satan, falling angels, demons, Antichrist, False Prophet, Death, Hades, all followers of Satan / unbelievers of Christ (goats), and all followers of Christ (His sheep) through Christ as disclosed in Romans 2:16 (AMP), “…God will judge the secrets [all the hidden thoughts and concealed sins] of men through Christ Jesus.”
Stated in like manner is in Matthew 16:27 (AMP), “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angels, and THEN HE WILL REPAY EACH ONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-23(AMP):
After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power. For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be abolished and put to an end is death. For HE (the Father) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS (Christ’s) FEET. But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son]. However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life].
We will be judged according to God’s Word and His righteousness. This will include whether we exalted the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and His Holy Spirit) or whether we exalted ourselves, or whether we showed love and compassion towards others for Christ and His Gospel, or for everything we said or did in the body, and so on…This judgement includes the followers of Christ (believers / His sheep) as disclosed in 2 Corinthians 5:10 (AMP), “For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].”
Jesus has been given all authority by God the Father in heaven and over the earth (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 11:27, Matthew 28:18, Luke 1:32-33, Luke 10:22, Romans 14:10-12, Acts 10:42). Jesus has the power to forgive sins and is our worthy salvation as long as we totally trust in Him as our Lord and Savior as revealed in John 3:35-36 (AMP), “The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand. He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.’ ”
If we are living for the world then we are guilty of having a spirit of haughtiness, arrogance, pride, and self-righteousness. We cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the Church as we read in 1 John 2:15-17 (AMP):
Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.
As Jesus knows our hearts and no one can fool Him, He phrases these as explained above in trying to live for both the world and for God, as “hypocrites”, as detailed in Matthew 15:8-9 (NKJV), “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Jesus also discloses that if this is us that He will vomit us out of Him in Revelation 3:15-16 (AMP), “ ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].”
This type of living and way of thinking makes us an enemy of God as revealed in James 4:4 (AMP), “Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” We cannot serve two masters as Jesus explains in Matthew 6:24 (AMP), “ ‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” We must be “ALL-in” for Christ, or we are NOT in at all. We cannot commit to Christ partially or half-way. We must put our total trust in and submission to Him as our Lord and Savior.
Our greatest commandments are that we must put Him first above everything else and love our neighbor as we love ourself as disclosed in Mark 12:29-31 (AMP), “ ‘…The first and most important one is: ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (life), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND (thought, understanding), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ This is the second: ‘YOU SHALL [unselfishly] LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’ ”
How can we expect to have a relationship with God in Christ if we put ourselves above Him as our idol of pride, arrogance, haughty, self-importance, conceited, egotistical, lusts of the world, being without love and compassion for others, and so on…? Or how can we have a genuine relationship with Him if we do NOT obey His will and commandments from His Word? Matthew 7:21 (NKJV): “ ‘Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
How can you have a relationship with anyone if you never talk to them? We must pray to God the Father through Christ Jesus daily while studying His Word!
The way we can exalt God in Christ over and above ourselves is to continually offer up our praise and worship, and obedience to Him. Psalms 100:4-5 (NKJV): “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”
We were created to love and serve Him as children of God (Job 38:7, Psalms 63:1-7, Isaiah 43:21, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Revelation 4:11) where His Holy Spirit is to dwell in us, and we must continuously exalt God in Christ! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AMP): “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”
As stated in the Mandalorian TV Series, “This is the way!” This is the true way! John 8:32 (AMP): “And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].’ ” This is the ONLY way! (John 14:6)!
Watch this inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – Jesus Fulfilled All OT Prophecies. Watch another inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – God Has Always Been. Watch another inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – Be Filled With The Holy Spirit.
Do you know where you will spend eternity after you die on earth? Will Jesus be your Lord and Savior or your eternal judge – John 3:15-21, Romans 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1? Jesus says He is the narrow gate to heaven where it is difficult to find and only a few will enter by it where many will enter the easy, wide and broad gate that leads to Hell and destruction – Matthew 7:13-14.
Will you experience the second eternal death (spiritual death) – Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 21:8? Do you know for sure that you are written in the eternal Lamb’s Book of Life – Revelation 3:5, Revelation 20:12-15? The place called Hell is NOT a myth and is very real and an extremely scary place – Watch this Video!
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