The Prideland! (Nehemiah 3:13)

Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.

THE STUDY:

           Today we are going to look at the next gate to be repaired and that is the Valley Gate. If you remember, the Valley Gate is where Nehemiah’s nighttime inspection started and ended when he first arrived. Hanun is from the town of Zanoah which is about thirteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Hanun’s name is very interesting; it means “Favored.”

          The Valley Gate opened up into the Hinnom Valley which is known to be the area where all the garbage was disposed of. This surely suggests humility—a willingness to take a lowly place so that the Lord may be exalted.

                   

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding that no matter what your status in society may be: Mayor of the town or garbage man, you are needed for the work of the Kingdom.

APPLICATION:

          Pride is a characteristic found in every fallen creature, who really have nothing to be proud of; for “What do you have that you did not receive?” (I Cor 4:7) Even in connection with service for the Lord, how this unholy thing creeps in, leading one servant to be jealous of another, instead of catching the Master’s voice as He says, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”^[1]

          One of the commentators states: Every Christian needs a “valley gate,” for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5–6). It is only as we yield to Christ and serve others that we can truly enter into the fullness of the life He has for us (Phil. 2:1–11).^[2]

          Today, don’t let pride raise its ugly head! Remember, it’s not about being first, right, or on top! It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you and in you so that His will be done. Pride clogs up the flow of the Holy Spirit. Let us not miss out on seeing what only God can do today because of PRIDE!

Let’s move out of the Prideland and into the presence of God!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Ironside, H. A. (1913). Notes on the Book of Nehemiah (39). New York: Loizeaux Bros.

^[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Determined. “Be” Commentary Series (43). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME! (Jude 16 Part 2)

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. 

THE STUDY:

          Yesterday we talked about how these false teachers complained about the restrictions God’s rules and laws placed on their freedom to behave as they wanted. Today we are going to look at the second half of this passage: they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.    It means literally, “of excessive size, puffed up, swollen.”  Thus, the expression could mean the false teachers use excessive or puffed up words about themselves. But the expression could also convey a sense of arrogance and haughtiness against God.

          The false teachers’ flattery probably expressed itself in their willingness to teach whatever their audience wanted to hear. Claiming spiritual enlightenment, the intruders cast aside traditional Christian moral restraint. They smoothly flattered their hearers with the morally lax message they longed to hear. They did this to win favor with those members of the community on whose generosity they depended for financial support. Jude predicted that this exploitive and self-serving behavior would reap certain condemnation.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that arrogance and/or pride causes one to seek personal gain at the expense of others. This can resonate a sense of superiority, but more importantly it can be detrimental to one’s salvation.

CONCLUSION:

           If we are saying things to promote a personal cause or boast ourselves for others to see, we are no better than these false teachers. But if our words and actions are to glorify God then we don’t have to worry about eternity. Let today be a day we spend more time talking about Jesus and what He is doing in our life and less time talking about ourselves. When it comes down to it, IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (286). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 2:16 (Part 3)

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:16 (Part 3)

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          John lists the third tendency in words that cannot be translated easily. Translators provide a number of equally valid versions. Here are some representatives:

“The pride of life” (KJV, NKJV, RSV)

“The boastful pride of life” (NASB)

“All the glamour of its life” (NEB)

“The life of empty show” (NAB)

“Pride in possessions” (ESV)

“The boasting of what [man] has and does” (NIV)

The reason for these numerous variations lies in two Greek words: “boast” and “life.” The first word means the boasting of a braggart or impostor (compare James 4:16). This boasting may even approach the point of arrogant violence. The second denotes life with respect to actions and possessions. The person who brags about his deeds and goods expresses “lust for advantage and status.”^[1]

          What I tend to find in a person who boast about what he or she has materially is a person who is insecure about themselves. They find their identity in the material things they have and fill or replace that which is missing inside their heart. As a believer we know what is missing; Jesus. Finding contentment in Christ fills the void that has been missing since the fall of man. We cannot replace that with the world. If we try to do this, John tells us we are not from the Father but ….. from the world.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding this morning that the void that has been in our hearts and lives for all these many years can only be filled with the original occupant, Jesus Christ. Nothing else will suffice.

CONCLUSION:

          Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid excesses of the flesh. Moody once illustrated this truth as follows: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to show that victory in the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but rather by being filled with the Spirit.

          My prayer for you today is that you not try and fill that void in your life with material things of this world but with the original occupant of that void, Jesus Christ!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (272). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.