Yesterday was a humbling day, to say the least. I received an extended text message from a brother in Christ prior to going to work that read:
“…in a place where two ways met-Mark 11:4-lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations…-2 Corinthians 12:7. The Lord said to ask you ‘what are you praying?’ it is a rhetorical question that you need to answer-Matthew 5:20-to brush it off is to be arrogant-1 Peter 5:6. Do as the Word says and follow the Spirit and your way shall be made well.”
As I meditated on the scriptures and asked the Holy Spirit to makes all things clear, the picture that was painted was not a pretty one. God began to show where I have been arrogant in my thoughts and actions and how I “thought more highly of myself than I ought”. I did not have time to get quiet before the Lord and deal with these things due to work but it never left my mind. I still had to teach the youth that evening and I had most of the message together. As I went through the day one line from Jason Upton’s Dying Star kept repeating in my head, “you’re full of pride”.
After getting off work, I stopped by the house and then headed straight to the church to pray and prepare. As I laid on the altar, it was extremely difficult to pray and found myself laying in mostly silence. As service began, I felt partially confident in the word I was to deliver to the youth. (that’s how I feel every Tuesday and rely on the Spirit to teach through me) but tonight was different. My demeanor was quiet most of the day due to the above text and what God had revealed so far but it was like I just cut on a switch prior to teaching and I was able to teach as if nothing was going on. In my mind the message went well, I hit my points, had good examples, good conclusion. At one point in my message I was listening to myself teach and realized there was no life my word. It was like Sampson in his assumption that he would just shake off the ropes as before but this time didn’t realize the Spirit had departed.
“He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Judges 16:20
So there I was teaching a message that could only makes sense when backed by the Holy Spirit and He was not there.
We rarely finish before the adults but on this night we did so I was able to catch the end of pastor’s message and that service. As he was concluding his message the atmosphere began to shift. During this shift I clearly heard the Lord speak to me and say, “I don’t need you.” Then what happened next was his sign. In the recent past I had thought of everything that wasn’t going on that I thought should be going on and thought I might be the one to bring those things. Well God confirmed his word that He doesn’t need me by manifesting ALL of those things in that one moment, from the prophetic word, prophetic song, deliverance, to liberty in the atmosphere. It was all manifested right before me and He assured me that I had nothing to do with it.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“Now I, Emmanuel, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God desires to use us to have a Jesus-like impact in this earth but know and understand that he doesn’t HAVE to use YOU. Just as King Saul was replaced because he began to care more about the praise of men and God, we too can be replaced if we lose focus of what truly matters. Let my lesson be your lesson. Humble yourself before God so that he does not have to and then he will exalt you in due time. Although no one else knew what was going on, I choose to expose it because I believe that I’m not the only one who has overlooked the issue of pride, no matter how subtle it may seem.
