In our last topic we saw "haughtiness" as the beginning of another series of areas of "pride" that Revelation 18:4-8 speaks of, along with that of 2Corinthians 6:11-7:1. Revelation 18 narrows down the field of our observation and our focus of whom GOD is calling His spiritual people out from among. So I will by way of reminder look at Revelation 18:4-8 now:
Revelation 18:4-8 "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and GOD has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.' For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the LORD God who has judged her."
Our next area is spiritual "conceit" which carries a warning as the means of expressing it.
Spiritual Conceit,
Proverbs 3:7 of 1-12; 26:5 of 1-12 "'My son, do not forget My teaching, but let your heart keep My commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of GOD and man. Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear (revere and reverence; this is noted as being personal in the ancient Hebrew context of H3372 by H853) the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth (H1952, a looking toward something continually) and with the firstfruits (H7225, first beginning of the day) of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom HE loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.'"
Proverbs 26:5, 12 of 1-12 "Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
Isaiah 5:21 of 18-23 "Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: "Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!" Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!"
Romans 12:16 of 14-13:7 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, (Proverbs 20:22, 24:29) "'never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of GOD, for it is written (by Moses in Deuteronomy 32:35; then in Psalm 94:1), 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the LORD.' To the contrary (Proverbs 25:21-2), 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'" Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from GOD, and those that exist have been instituted by GOD. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what GOD has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the One Who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive His approval, for he is GOD's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of GOD, an avenger who carries out GOD's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid GOD's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of GOD, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."
1Corinthians 8:2 of 1-3 "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. For if anyone loves GOD, he is known (G1097, more than a casual acquaintance with, to have a clear perception) of GOD."
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