THE
ENCOURAGER
November 18, 2009
Issue
1
Welcome to our first
re-issue of "THE
ENCOURAGER"! We
will come out approximately 1 issue every 3-5 weeks.
We will cover many subjects in the coming issues, all with the purpose of
being an ENCOURAGEMENT to those who read it. Though some subjects may not seem
like an ENCOURAGEMENT at the time, they will prove necessary, if heeded, as they
may save you hurt and pain in the coming weeks, months and years of your
ministry.
Today’s subject is one that I feel is so essential to successful ministry
that, if not dealt with, could have devastating consequences.
Today’s devotion deals with PRIDE. Please keep an open heart as I pray it will
help you in your current and future ministry. Daily, we must guard against this
enemy of our life and ministry.
Today’s devotion:
PRIDE – GET RID OF
IT!
Main Scriptures:
Wherefore let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs
16:18
There are various areas that are often the downfall of ministers and PRIDE is at
the top of the list!
I have seen national and local ministries that have had a “spirit of pride”,
so to speak.
In some of these ministries it is SO obvious I just wonder that if they don’t
repent of PRIDE, how long will it be until the fall of their ministry. They will
more than likely fall, as pride is a destructive foundation. One that God will
not put up with.
I would like to share from my own life:
There
was a time years ago that I used to brag on MY great testimony. I was saved at
15 and had a quite radical salvation experience, and by 16, I knew I had a call
to the ministry. By age 23 I was pastoring a small church. Of course, at that
point in my life I thought I had a lot to boast about in the form of a
testimony. Testimony or not, I was boasting on Jim being such a great Christian
with great accomplishments. But too much glory was going to Jim (though
ignorantly). I didn’t mean to be in pride, but I was. Then down came my life
and testimony. I believe I gave the devil a foothold through pride (amongst
other things) into my life. I also believe God needed to put me through His
refining fire. I ended up having some devil-orchestrated things happen in my
life, but also some GOD things happened to refine me. Let me tell you, it was
not a fun time! But some changes were very necessary. When the dust settled, I
had a blown testimony, as far as spiritual perfection, and am now in a position
of saying that regarding my testimony I have messed things up - BUT GOD is LORD
of ALL! My testimony NOW is JESUS and JESUS alone. I am what I am by the GRACE
of GOD not by Jim’s great accomplishments, they mean NOTHING! I love my
testimony as it is PRIDE-free, as there is nothing to brag or boast about, and I
KNOW all that JESUS does with and through me is because of HIS GRACE!
The
Apostle Paul counted all HIS accomplishments as dung (rubbish, refuse)!!! Philippians
3:8
I do and will continue to strive to live a Godly life free from pride. As
II Corinthians 10:17-18 says, “But he that glorieth (boasts), let him glory
(boast) in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom
the Lord commendeth”.
If pride is even a remote issue in your heart, please deal with it. If it has
been dealt with, then continue to keep it out of your life.
As I close this first issue of "THE ENCOURAGER". LORD, help all who have read it to be encouraged to
deal with PRIDE or to continue to keep it out of their life and ministry. We are
nothing apart from YOU. LORD, may we walk humbly before you for you resist the
PROUD, but give GRACE to the HUMBLE (James 4:6, I Peter 5:5). Thank you, LORD, for all who have joined “THE
ENCOURAGER” and may it
minister life to them. Be with them in their ministries. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!