Posted on May 9, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“One day Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; listen to me, you wives of Lamech. I have killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me. If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!” – Genesis 4:23-24 (NLT)
Last time I was with you I had been discussing competition, division, and performing in front of an audience. And if you were inclined to read all the way through, you would have noticed a quote from C. S. Lewis. He used a word that was missing from my discussion but today we’re gonna add it into the mix, because it is most likely the root-cause of all aggressive competition, every clean-cut division, and is demanding the audience to affirm achievement. It’s a “P” word and it has nothing to do with any of the fruits of the Spirit, however, it has the power to cause them to spoil. The word, pride.
Mankind’s introduction to pride came through something so simple… a piece of fruit, that wasn’t allowed to be touched let alone eaten. Hey! Wait a minute did God really say not to touch and eat it? Well let’s go back to the original instructions for a moment. “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Gen 2:16b-17) Now you can read into that all ya want, but I think it’s pretty clear. However, when the adversary shows up and asks, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Gen 3:1b) Eve’s response goes like this…
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” (Genesis 3:2-3) Now God’s Word is God’s Word, but it also recorded Eve’s words. Apparently, she thought it best to extend God’s command or to exaggerate the consequences and she doesn’t even name the tree. This was all the opening the adversary needed to plant his seed of doubt into Gods created beings. It’s this moment where the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life kicked in… “You will not surely die…you’ll be like God.” Will I now? Now look at me.
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” — Isaiah 59:1-2
Too bad pride survived The Flood, we wouldn’t have to deal with it, but maybe there’s a lesson or two in it that God wants to teach us? First thing we need to understand is that Hell, Lucifer, Satan, or any other name attached to this fallen one, was seen falling from the presence of YHVH by Messiah (Luke 10:18). Obviously, something went amiss and the prophet Ezekiel records it as such, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15) In an instant, that dude was separated from his Creator…never sat well with him after that.
Second thing is that same iniquity can be found in you. You may think those 5 “I will’s” are meant for the adversary, BUT they are also found in you (and me). They come at those times when we least expect it. Like when we wanna win a game, or want your team to win The Game. When we want to make sure our opponent has just enough strength to tap out or utter “I quit.” When we make videos and put them out in various social media platforms so we can earn our “likes.” Maybe like a little ole’ bass guitarist who just wants to be a Big Rock Star. I’d also might say like a Baptist preacher pounding on the pulpit screaming “REPENT, THE END IS NIGH,” but I think we still need them (maybe by the dozen’s the way things are going these days).
Andrew Murray wrote a powerful little book called Humility. I read it a few years back and I have often wondered how much of its advice did I take? If there is anything that can take on competition, division, and pride, its humility. It’s the meek things, not the weak things, that really displays the fruits of the Spirit. I recently bumped into a bass player, who’s more advanced than I am, who gave me the impression he has a Christian value system without announcing it.
I was right (had to ask him) and he had this advice, “Be a Rock Star on stage. Be humble off stage. Be thankful people come hear you play music.” This translates into, be what God created you to be, be humbled by the privilege to do so, be thankful that people recognize you because of it. Ultimately humility wins the day. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.
Think About This: “Only he who lives by the forgiveness of his sin in Jesus Christ will rightly think of himself.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 33, 36, 39, 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
