It was so good to see you, Kristine and those beautiful girls! I wish the game would have turned out better, but just a few minutes in your home and you know what is MOST important! The word for this week is "abased". We see it in these three verses in the New Testament:
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. KJV
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. KJV
Phil 4:12 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. KJV
This is the Greek word "tapeinoo". Strong's Concordance says: to depress, to humiliate. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to make low, bring low, to bring to a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances, to assign a lower rank to. In Matthew and in Luke it is basically saying that we should never try to elevate ourselves, but allow HIM to do so. When WE try to "make a name for ourselves", we will end up losing that elevated position and it could be heartbreaking! When we do what we do for the right reasons and motives, to be obedient to what God has called us to, then HE will "make a name for us" and we will find favor and blessing wherever we go! In Philippians we see that Paul is not moved by his circumstances. He trusts the Word of God, and the promises in it, over any circumstance or situation. His confidence is in the God of the Bible, so he will do the same things whether he is living in the blessings or living in the 'waiting' time of the blessing manifestation! There is one more verse that has this Greek word in it that explains how WE can do this! The verse is Philippians 2:8 and "tapeinoo" is translated "humbled":
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. KJV
JESUS made Himself of low degree by becoming sin so that He could forever release us from the penalty OF sin! And, in keeping with Matthew 23:12 and Luke 8:14, above, when JESUS did this, then God was able to lift Him up and exalt Him above everyone and everything! Look at Philippians 2:9-11:
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. KJV
So, while we wait for the manifestation of the promises of God, we KNOW how to be immoveable in every situation, KNOWING that HE is working behind the scenes to bring it to pass! This is the heart attitude that always results in VICTORY! While doing this, we remind ourselves of the times when God has come through for us before, getting our mindset back on faith and power and off of feeling anxious and worried. Here is the only song on the new Hillsong UNITED CD (Wonder) that we haven't used so far, and it pertains perfectly to our word for this week! It's called "Splinter and Stones":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
