C.A.C LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 11, 2023 : TOPIC – WEAPON OF SELF-DESTRUCTION (1)
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Friday, August 11, 2023
TOPIC: WEAPON OF SELF-DESTRUCTION (1)
MEMORISE
Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD And what is Aaron that you complain against him? (Numbers 16:11)
READ: Numbers 16:8-19
[8]. Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi:
[9]. Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them;
[10]. and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?
[11]. Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?”
[12]. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up!
[13]. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us?
[14]. Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”
[15]. Then Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”
[16]. And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the Lord—you and they, as well as Aaron.
[17]. Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.”
[18]. So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
[19]. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.
EXPOSITION
Spiritual high-mindedness is one of the weapons of self-destruction common among Christians and more pronounced among Gospel preachers everywhere. To be high-minded, spiritually speaking, is to exercise a pretentious highly characterised moral principle and feelings that are nothing but archaic arrogance or haughtiness. And what were Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders of the congregation crying about in Num. 16:1-3? They wanted the priesthood office and Aaron’s title too! Moses warned them against self-destruction (v. 11).
High-mindedness is the selfish and self-destroying pursuit of empty glory (Matt. 23:5-6). It is a provocation of an envious and bitter spirit of rivalry in oneself because of the gifts and grace recognised in others that pushes one to want to frustrate such (cf. 1 Sam. 18:8- 11,17). Often, a high-minded person is characterised by an unhealthy stand-out personality among the crowd, a gleaning for compliments and rewards by means of self-promotion, enjoying flattery, and the display of unwillingness to acknowledge his ignorance, inability, limitations, faults, weaknesses, and sins. Instead, he prefers the pursuance of such a public performance for recognition and applause, a holding to the preferential seat at the top, doing all things except serving in unseen or menial ways (Prov. 27:2). Do all, or any of these speak of you-these devil’s bait, or weapon of self-destruction? Beloved, search yourself (2 Cor. 13:5). Mortify them with true repentance, and forsake them. Any professing believer in Christ having such high-mindedness has no place in His kingdom (2 Cor. 8.8- 9: Php. 25-11).
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 633
1. Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin
Each victory will help you some other to Win
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue.
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through,
Chorus:
Ask the Saviour to help you
Comfort, strengthen and keep you.
He is willing to aid you
He will carry you through.
2. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain
God’s name hold in reverence, not take it in vain,
Be thoughtful and earnest, kind hearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
3. To him that o’er cometh, God giveth a crown.
Through faith we shall conquer,
though often cast down,
He who is our Saviour, our strength will renew
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord my God, deliver me from the clutches of self- destruction.
2. Pray vehemently against the spirit of pride/arrogance in your life.
3. Help leaders you know to pray against the self-destroying spirit of pride.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 19:11-24:6