TO BEING EXALTED AND TO BEING HUMBLED – THERE’S GOD’S FACTOR CHECK AND BALANCE: AND IT’S BY THE SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT!
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last you have renewed your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned about me before, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have LEARNED to be CONTENT [and SELF-SUFFICIENT through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] REGARDLESS of my circumstances. 12 I know HOW TO GET ALONG and LIVE HUMBLY [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have LEARNED the secret [of facing life], whether WELL-FED or GOING HUNGRY, whether having an ABUNDANCE or being in NEED. 13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am SELF-SUFFICIENT in Christ’s SUFFICIENCY; I am READY for anything and EQUAL to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] . . . 19 And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every NEED according to His RICHES in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:10-13, 19.
May I begin by saying that the Believer’s act of having the spirit of CONTENTMENT doesn’t mean STAGNANCY. God wants us to prosper and do well in LIFE and GODLINESS, but not at the expense of our godly lives and purpose, and with His enabling power [endowment and enduement] in the grace. He endows us with His enabling grace to help us fulfill purpose. And for His awesome love towards us, when He finds us in any tendency to derail from faith in the grace, He pulls the plug, not necessarily to harming us but to put us back to order and decency, in a manner that we don’t derail but in check, and we don’t waste His given resources to accomplish His given assignment as we do life and live godly in the grace. [2 Peter 1:1-4; 3 John 1:2; Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Ephesians 1:11-12; Acts 4:30, 33].
We can see parallel in our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ while in humanity; and in living to fulfil purpose as being instructed by Father God in advancing the redemption cause of God’s Kingdom and to keeping the devil and cohorts at bay, He was obedient and humble to ensure and assure the assigned purpose was accomplished accordingly [1 John 3:8; John 18:37; Luke 1:1-11, 14, 16-20; Hebrews 5:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11].
To ABOUND and to be ABASED is the balancing equation in the grace, for an efficient and effective living, with THE SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT, to make a meaningful impact in the life of a Purposeful Believer. For our God is not in the business of exalting any who goes about to forget the entrusted mission and purpose on earth; for the believing one of God is empowered with purpose to fulfil on the behalf of the heavens as a representative, otherwise an ambassador in the grace [2 Corinthians 5:17].
And in the same scenario as above, God is not out empowering us with purpose and to undermine us to degradation at the same time; He knows His worth in you, and not out to humiliate you, so as to make you hate and regret being His child. He is a good and faithful, true and sure God, whose earnest expectation is that none should perish; and ensuring and assuring us that our expectations of Him will come to fruition in every measure of doing life and living godly in the grace. So, in being ABASED, He’s humbling us to save us from ourselves and the enemy and cohorts that can work against your faith in the grace. For certainly, He has begun a good work of His grace in us, and He’s determined to bring it to reality and fulfilling. Hence, to ABOUND and to be ABASED, His love and cares change not. He’s working out for our good to balance life in the grace with the spirit of contentment.
“The Lord is NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING TO US-WARD, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to REPENTANCE” 2 Peter 3:9.
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. 18 For surely there is an end; AND THINE EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF. 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.” Proverbs 23:17-19.
“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, AND THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF” Proverbs 24:13-14.
“I am CONVINCED and CONFIDENT of this very thing, that He who has BEGUN A GOOD WORK in you will [continue to] PERFECT and COMPLETE it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]” Philippians 1:6/Amplified.
God’s exaltation of the Believers is of RIGHTEOUSNESS and for RIGHTEOUSNESS, meaning, having the right standing of God, in Christ JESUS in whatever betide us. And in His terms, He does EXALT; and when and while derailing from His terms, it results to SIN and sinful living, thereby creating rooms and avenues for one to become proud and arrogant in behaviours, which reproaches before God – meaning, it humiliates, thereafter brings one down and possibly destroys one, just as it did to Satan, once called Lucifer. [Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14]. The Believers of God in Christ Jesus, is justified to abound in the grace increasingly, meaning more and more, as one who has been declared righteous to access God in the grace and to have a stand of exaltation, accordingly as written:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” 2 Corinthians 9:8.
“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also” 2 Corinthians 8:7.
God’s grace abounds to bring you through righteousness to a place of exaltation [being exalted] as in these but not limited scriptural writs:
- God’s Righteousness Exalts: Proverbs 14:34.
- God will exalt all with right standing, irrespective: Acts 10:34-35.
- The Kingdom of God is of righteousness and for righteousness: Romans 14:17-18.
- We are to reign in life in the grace through righteousness: Romans 5:17-21.
I want to reiterate, that there’s the place of being ABASED in the grace, because God doesn’t want to lose you and such measures helps to curtail us; hence while in EXALTED places, He won’t tolerate arrogance and proud behaviour, because as humans, there is the tendency to forget the purpose of His gifting [endowment and enduement] upon us, as it’s often spoken in the mentorship and leadership forum, essentially and especially to the men folks leaders, to see the need to avoid the control and dominance over you, by any of these three letters – MPW [meaning, Money, Power and Women] in your life, in order for you to go far in places with God in the grace:
- M [Money] – Having an excessive Money than you need to function in the grace, can ruin your faith, if you are not disciplined and prudent enough in the grace to understand the reasons for such given custody – for a lack of purpose bring about abuse of usage for the kingdom cause and the good of humanity – [1 Timothy 6:6-10 (1-10)].
- P – [Power] Position of power can ruin your faith where pride and arrogance take hold. Where, instead of being a leader to raise to posterity and enhance the good of others, you become dominant and controlling that people become subjects of subjugation for power [position] drunkenness. Abuse of opportunities given by God results in being abased in the grace for scriptural discipline. [Acts 12:20-24].
- And W – [Women] – There’s tendency to have an unhealthy dealings, meaning abuse of opportunity by men, with the women otherwise female folks; and if there’s no self-discipline for oneself as Job attributes in Job 31:1 and Apostle Paul attributes to live in self-caution and self-examination, in order to attain mastery in accordance to the scripture of 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; for if one is not discipline, it’s important to know ahead, that you are a dead living man waiting for when it will happen. Know of truth that women [female folks] are not evil or agent of evils; they are God’s creation and are of gracious goodness if you don’t cross your boundaries. They hate to be humiliated and insulted and abused. Their quietness, loyalty, and sobriety must never be taken for stupidity, foolishness, and naivety. If you mess them up, they will zero you down, no matter how much you play the game of dominance and control.
Herein are some scriptural thoughts but not limited, where opportunities were abused by those given, meaning, they otherwise misappropriated opportunity, instead of being utilised to the advancing of God’s Kingdom intent for the good of humanity as been given with such rare opportunity to exercise but they failed as many do today. This is to caution you when you are abounding in matters of riches and position and such like; for without God’s purpose with the given opportunity any will equally fail too:
- When a Believer thinks gain is godliness: 1 Timothy 6:3-10, 17-19.
- When enriched as a Ruler/Leader without empathy and humanity: Luke 18:18-30.
- When you are selfish and self-centred, and hoard abundance like a fool: Luke 12:13-21.
- When as a boundless entitlement waster as the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-24, 15-31.
- When as a learned scholar and spiritual person but can’t fathom the needy as in the Good Samaritan record: Luke 10:25-37 [25-29, 30-37].
THE SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT is God’s wisdom to checkmate the believing one in the grace: So, for our God to balance faith and commitment to our wellbeing in the Kingdom, there’s the safeguard towards the opportunity being given to us, as we do life and life godly in the grace; for an excessive opportunities of being in an EXALTED position otherwise ABOUNDING, there’s the God’s factor to curtail in place, to help the Believer from failing; that guardrail is the spirit of CONTENTMENT, that need to kick in as a defacto except one has gone away from the faith.
The measure of contentment in our uncontrolled and excessiveness with ABUNDANCE, is to being HUMBLED, meaning to be ABASED. For to being humbled is to help the Believing one of God in Christ Jesus, to evaluate, take stock, and know that, sufficiency in life is of God’s making to self-making. For He is the God of our total supply, the El-Shaddai God, the All-sufficient God, the God that’s MORE than enough. The God that supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus stead and not by the world economy; Apostle Paul acclaimed and testified to God’s supplies in his own experiences, wherein he did recommend accordingly to every believing one of God in Christ Jesus, to follow suit in the grace. Amen.
- Father God is the good, great and faithful supplier of our all-sufficiency in Christ Jesus according to His glorious economy and not ours in measures: Philippians 4:19.
God, by giving us abundance is for a cause and purpose. For in every purpose, He provides power, and the enabling grace to make it fruitful [come to fruition]. The total essence is to serve for the good of others through His kingdom set principles in greatness and exaltation [Galatians 5:13; Matthew 20:20-29]. And unfaithfulness to every little opportunity affects bigger opportunities that may await our progressive onward and upward trajectory with Him in the grace. Hence, it’s imperative that we take note of these factors but not limited:
- That Faithfulness – is a hallmark of Stewardship: 2 Corinthians 4:1-2.
- That we are CALLED to a FAITHFUL Fellowship as God is: 1 Corinthians 1:9.
- That our being FAITHFUL in little opportunity speaks much with God for our EXALTATION and ENTHRONEMENT: Luke 16:10-12.
I want to remind you again that within the scriptural context of discussion, that to be ABASED is not punishment. It’s not demotion. It’s not degradation. It’s a place of being HUMBLED in the grace in order to get your attention and make you ready and focused, to the next placement with God; for Apostle Paul preparation and enabling to travel and see Caesar and those around him, and to preach the Gospel to such level of people, in such high levels of authority needed something extra.
And that something extra, becomes the penetrable assets and means, which was built up while Apostle Paul was there in the prison like Joseph of old, to see Pharaoh and be a Prime Minister in EGYPT; Apostle Paul while there in prison, he learnt what it means to be ABASED as he has tested before to ABOUND, thereby ensuring the essence of the spirit of contentment. Not STAGNANCY but an all trusting moment of SOBERNESS and LOWLY being humbled for the next phase, that will enable him to see Caesar. Hence, he could boast of having fought the good fight of faith and fulfilled his called mission on earth, and to be qualified to enter and earn his place and blessedness in the Father’s kingdom in Christ Jesus stead without a shadow of doubt, as written:
“. . . . 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry [PURPOSE]. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:1-8/Emphasis Mine.
So, to be ABASED is a call for HUMILITY that leads to EXALTATION in the grace. For there’s a NO place for arrogance and being proudly in hearts and in life, in the kingdom purpose of Father God, and in Christ Jesus’ stead, for any of His children in the grace. Hence, humility is an essence to be ABASED to greatness:
- Humility speaks for exaltation: James 4:5-6, 10.
- Humility exalts: 1 Peter 5:5-7.
- Riches goes with Humility under God: Proverbs 22:4 [Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12].
Therefore, stop thinking that your challenges are always satanic and demonic all the time because of your current challenges. It’s unfortunate to be a new creation in Christ Jesus, meaning, to be in new relationship and fellowship with Father God, while still in relationship with your ex’s, Satan, the devil and cohorts. For in every little thing, you think and talk about your ex’s Satan and cohorts, and as if they are responsible for whatever and involved in your day to day living.
You call in his name during the causes of almost every PRAYERS for anything. You are becoming too conscious and always answering to the thought-call of your ex’s Satan and cohorts, that will hinder prayers and rob you of staying focused and in concentrations, in your newly found and established relationship with God, which is aimed for you to fulfil purpose with Him – especially in order to know and understand His know-how principles of dealing with you specifically, from the general dealings to all.
It’s time to be intentional and pragmatic to KEEP AT BAY, YOUR EX’S, I mean Satan and cohorts, so that your new relationship and fellowship with God in Christ Jesus as new creation, might thrive and prosper in the grace. You can’t be in communication and communion with God, and on each occasion your ex’s presence have to be mentioned as if you are entangled and inseparable, while you yet claimed to be in a new dawn of the new creation bond.
There are no couples on the face of the earth, in any form of relationship, that wants to hear of their other partner talking of their ex’s as a subject in any discussion; such atmosphere of continuous recalling of one’s ex’s in any subject can’t produce any form of a healthy living and peaceful atmosphere in a relationship. That relationship of answering ex’s phone calls and daily mentioning of his presences without check and balance will jeopardise the newly found relationship and there’s no chance it will see the light of the day with time. And will rob any of knowing when God is at work by the challenges about to make a better you in Him.
You need to live in the consciousness that the newborn has no past, so is the New Creation of God in Christ Jesus. If you understand this, you will end up living daily joyfully, godly and thereby pleasing God in fellowship; and pleasing God in the newfound relationship will help to keep your Ex’s, satan and cohorts at bay. And while your ex’s, who is and the supposedly enemy of your faith will be kept at bay, you can then live free in the spirit of grace, effortlessly and without sweat in the grace and be more bonded with Father God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of freedom from your ex’s.
Living outside the boxes of your ex’s will deliver you from all the PRAYERS that involves his presence acknowledgement as if he matters MORE to you than your new relationship of God that requires no strange company and any form of indoctrination and sectarian holds on you [2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Proverbs 16:7; Hebrews 11:6].
Today, even now, know that living in your new found relationship and fellowship consciousness doesn’t mean you are not aware of the works and vices of your ex’s, Satan and cohorts activities; just know that he’s not the factor to define your today and tomorrow, hence no more nursing of his distractions. For if you give your ex’s an attention, overtime he will give you directions which will eventually affect you, in enjoying your newfound relationship and fellowship with Father God in Christ Jesus.
“If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive [that one]; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of [and with the approval of] Christ, [11] to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not IGNORANT of his SCHEMES [DEVICES]” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11/Amplified.
It’s time to start looking up to Jesus to enjoy your newly found relationship with Father God through fellowship and then have a new mindset of transformation towards purposeful journey in the kingdom to enable you balance life in the grace without distortion and adulteration by these but not limited:
- Looking unto Jesus: Hebrews 12:1-2.
- Ensuring the Mind of Christ – Obedience to purpose and humility: Philippians 2:1-11; for we have the mind Christ: 1 Corinthians 2:16.
- Learning of the humility principle as a Son in humanity: Hebrews 5:1-11.
I pray that this writ will be a blessing to you in every aspect, in order to enjoy God’s blessedness in Christ Jesus, and you will experience what it takes and makes to be abased and abound with the spirit of contentment in EXALTATION AND HUMILITY.
Blessed regards.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be CONTENT. [12] I know both how to be ABASED, and I know how to ABOUND: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me . . . [19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:10-13, 19.
“Let your CONVERSATION [CONDUCT] be without COVETOUSNESS; and be CONTENT with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear What man shall do unto me” Hebrews 13:5-6
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with HUMILITY: for God RESISTETH THE PROUD, and GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. [6] HUMBLE yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may EXALT you in due time: [7] casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” 1 Peter 5:5-7.
“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. [7] SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will FLEE from you” James 4:5-7.
“. . . [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:1-11.
“. . . [4] And NO MAN TAKETH THIS HONOUR UNTO HIMSELF, but he that is CALLED of God, as was Aaron. [5] So also Christ GLORIFIED NOT HIMSELF to be made an high priest; but He that said unto him, Thou art my Son, Today have I begotten thee. [6] As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchisedec. [7] Who in the DAYS OF HIS FLESH, when he had offered up PRAYERS and SUPPLICATIONS with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; [8] though he were a Son, yet LEARNED He OBEDIENCE by the things which He SUFFERED; [10] called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec” Hebrews 5:1-10.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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