Something Greater

Scornful or Humble? "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor." Proverbs 3:34 (ESV) SCORNERS: lis (to make mouths at, to scoff, to interpret or intercede) HUMBLE: anav (depressed in mind or circumstances, saintly); from ana (to depress) FAVOR: hen (graciousness, kindness, favor, beauty); from hanan (to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, implore) The word for scorn is to make mouths at , to exaggerate the sound or appearance of someone for the purpose of insult or shame. Scorners of God exaggerate or twist His Words, turning His truth into a joke or example of shame , bringing others to laughter and preventing them from taking God seriously. God allows the scorner to mock...more, God returns the scornful behavior back towards the mocker, describing truths even more incredible and incomprehensible to the scornful mind. To be humble is to be depressed, to consider oneself to be without strength, influence...

Only Human "Why do people try to gain salvation through their own merit, rather than accept God's righteousness through Jesus Christ? How strong a role does guilt play in this?" This was the question posed to me. Here is my response. From the beginning, angels and humans have inclined toward rejection of God as their ultimate Authority. God told Adam and Eve that they had for their food every plant in all the earth and every tree of the garden, except one. The serpent deceived Eve, pretending, without actually lying, to believe that God had forbade them any tree in the garden. The serpent's argument was that God's authority over them was arbitrary and unfair. The serpent opened a door into rebellion, making it appear good and delightful and wise, and Eve walked through that door. (Genesis 3:1-6) Adam was beside Eve all this time. He knew that the serpent was pretending. Adam knew that the serpent was usurping authority over God, but he also knew that t...

Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." James 3:14-16 (ESV) Bitterness and selfishness are two inescapable evidences of a heart that is controlled by Satan . Satan is able to influence and deceive human hearts , appealing to their natural self-love, making them believe that their carnal, selfish desires are paramount, above the needs and concerns of any other person, including the God Almighty Who created and sustains them by His general mercy. Appeals for assistance from others and opportunities for self-advancement all are filtered by the natural man's filter, often producing a false appearance of an attack or a threat to the natural man's desires. The demon-control...