09/09/2017
Do you claim the glory of God for yourself? When doing great things you have been called and gifted to do, do you puff out your chest and swagger as if they were about you? We are tempted as men and women of the world to claim rights over God's work when it moves through us into the physical world, but we must defeat that inclination lest we be humbled.
“"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 ESV
I once knew a man who led praise during worship. The Lord gave that talent bountifully to him without any formal education... it was a gift. However, over the years this man lost sight of who really led the praise, and a certain pride entered into him which caused him to become conceited rather than self-effacing. In the end, the musical worship was taken from him... not by others, but by his own pride. A situation arose that required an apology, but he could not give it. God used his own intransigence, hubris, and sense of self-importance to remove him. The man's pride in what belonged to God prompted him to walk away rather than to humble himself before the Lord. He had lost sight of the source of his gift, and came to commend himself and seek the glory of men rather than to seek the commendation of God. He had begun to deflect the flow of God's deserved glory to himself.
“Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.”
John 8:50 ESV
We are all tempted to do this when we are granted gifts by God. Those who pray healing for others are tempted to see themselves as healers rather than the conduits of God's healing. There are pastors who have their alter calls responded to by many, and begin to believe that their skill in the pulpit brought them souls ... not the Holy Spirit's move in the hearts of those sinners. Ladies deliver meals to the sick and shut-ins, and begin to accept the praise for the work they originally set out to do for God. All of these examples rob God of His rightful glory, and are the result of our misdirected pride and claiming what is not ours.
“Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'”
John 8:54 ESV
I pray with two other elders every Monday night. We are intercessors and many people come for prayer. God works miracles before our very eyes, but the miracles are indeed God's. We pray and God works... all we do is obey Him in our prayer. The healer is God, the comforter is God, the redeemer is God, the one who casts out demons is God... the intercessor merely lifts these needs up before Him, but the temptation to claim a piece of His glory is very real and requires much humbling prayer in our own closets to ward off.
Has God allowed you to work on His behalf? Have you done some task, whether large or small, for the kingdom and people thank you for it, or praise you before others and you let it stand? Have you been tempted to receive God's glory and bowed under the pressure of pride or self-indulgence? If so then you are in danger. Do you say "praise be to God" and not mean it with all your heart? If so you are in danger. If these things are true then drop to your knees in prayer and ask forgiveness. Make it known that the glory is God's. Don't let the innocent transference of God's accomplishments go without redirecting it back to Him. Don't accept the work of the Holy Spirit as your own, or the Living Water of Jesus Christ as yours to pour out.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
Psalms 115:1 ESV
The psalmist who wrote this was inspired of God, and he also wrote a warning to go with it as well. He tells us to praise the Lord and not be silent... lest we be dead.
“The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!”
Psalms 115:17-18 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those things you call me to do and the many gifts that you provide so that they might be accomplished. I thank you for my voice, my arms, legs, and every part of me that is used by you for your glory. Holy Father stand with me and protect me against the dark one as he tempts me with pride and the lie that tells me I am in some way responsible for your great deeds. Jesus, lead me, and show me how to maintain the humility required to serve our Heavenly Father. Let me praise Him with all my heart and give Him the glory completely; not holding any mite of it for myself. Help me Lord Jesus to distinguish between my will and the will of the Father. Teach me Dear Savior to say as you said... "Yet not my will, but yours be done." Then, in the completion of His miracles, and other tasks, let all praise and glory be His alone.
“May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalms 104:31-34 ESV
Rich Forbes