In my study this morning, I read about Nebuchadnezzar glorifying himself and having to live as if he were a wild animal, his grandson Belshazzar, who gloried himself and false gods while using the Holy utensils and cups of the Temple of God, and the satraps and rulers during Darius the Mede’s reign who tried to get Daniel killed because Daniel stuck to his integrity. In the New testament, I read about Jesus humbling the Pharisees, who gloried in themselves, chose the choice positions at the table, and who constantly built themselves up. These men gloried in themselves and were humbled, with most of them being killed after (only Nebuchadnezzar was restored). This morning, I realized two things: God has all things in hand (we focus too much on politics, as God holds the heart of all kings and politicians); and, when we glory in ourselves, we will be humbled, sometimes, fatally so.
There are far too many ministries out there trying to build themselves up. They want to be the “premier ministry” and seek to draw other Christians into their ministry, program, or congregation. This misses the point completely. The Church is not built by building up congregations. And to try and lure believers in to a congregation, if they are going to a Bible believing church, is akin to sheep rustling and speaks more to the insecurity of the ministry lead than the work of the Kingdom. Too many want to say “look what I have built” instead of “look at what Jesus has done.”
Loved ones, seek to serve God. Seek the lost. If you glory in yourself, you will be humbled, and lose. Life is brief. What we build will be taken over by someone else. In everything, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Make “your will be done” your anthem. Don’t build a ministry, reach the lost. Spread the Gospel. There is a world lost without Christ. Let there be unity in the Church to reach the Lost for Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:1-4:8
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
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