11/01/11

Proud in the imagination of their hearts

Luke 1:51 - He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.


In this beautiful prayer of Mary; she declares some of the most amazing characteristics of God. In today's message the Lord gives us one such from this prayer that is of Him bringing down the proud by His majestic works.

There is a very, very beautiful thought put up by Mary, 'God had scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts by the mighty works of His hands'. This term 'proud in the imagination of their hearts' is the most beautiful and perfect term for those who nurture pride.

The definition of pride is someone who considers himself more than what he really is. Therefore a proud person is great in his own imagination. Knowing who you are and what you are is not called being proud but being self aware and this does not go against being humble.

Pride means putting yourself ahead of one's self; humility does not mean putting yourself last but humility means putting others ahead of you. In humility you do not put yourself down nor consider yourself nothing, for that will be like insulting the One who created you.

Let me give an example if God has blessed you with a good voice you should use it for the purpose to glorify Him or make life better for your fellow persons. But when you sing to glorify yourself and start to think you are great because of your voice then you are letting pride get into you. For what is giving to you is given by God and not something you made.

If a person cannot breathe to live without the ability which God has given, can that person take credit for anything? It is only in one's imagination that the person can think he or she is great.

Also not using that voice at all even for the purpose God has given is also like insulting God by rejecting the beautiful thing which God has given, making it as worthless.

Everything in us and those given to us has purpose and that purpose should be towards Him, His glory and for His people.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we thank You for making us what we are. You have blessed us with many abilities some which we have yet not discovered. Help us Lord to know who we are and our purpose in You. Help us to use ourselves for You and for your purpose. Help us by the Truth kill the spirit of pride...

This prayer we make in your Mighty Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
James 4:5-6
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

1 Peter 4:10-11
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


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