"In days past, men and women who knew what it was to walk in the fear of the Lord had, as a basis for their lives, the concept of God as 'high and exalted.' However intimate their communion with God, they were gripped by the fact that God was high and lifted up. Why is it that in the modern-day Church we do not meet many of this ilk?" - Selwyn Hughes
The Scriptures clearly tell you as a believer in Ephesians 4:27 - "Neither give place to the devil." That means that you are never to give "the devil" room...yield to him...give way to him...or give him the advantage.
Although, in the context of this verse of Scripture, Paul was talking about "giving place to the devil" through anger, we can see throughout the Scriptures a number of other ways that this can happen.
For the purpose of this message today, look at Diotrephes in 3 John 9. It is said of him - "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not."
Diotrephes was an aspiring man. This led him to claim rights which he did not have and assume authority not given to him. It was fairly evident among those who knew him that he loved to be first...to be at the head of all things...to rule...and to lord it over others.
Actually, whether he realized it or not, his ambitious, lordly, and governing spirit caused him to "give place to the devil" in his life.
Now, let's look at another example in the church today where the devil is "given place."
You will find that there are some in the Body of Christ who are esteemed for one thing and some for another. For example, some are distinguished for their wealth, while others are exalted for their intelligence, wisdom, great faith, strength, bravery, skills, talents, abilities, etc. In the case of preachers, they are recognized for their knowledge of the Word and ability to deliver the message God gives them under a powerful anointing - with signs following.
Sad to say, some of the people of God have gone so far as to place their Pastor, Leader, or favorite Preacher or Teacher on a pedestal of some sort. And, in so doing, they have "given place to the devil."
In Colossians 1:18, the Apostle Paul strictly stated of Jesus - "And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."
There is only One Who is "first" in rank, dignity, honor, and power. He has the "pre-eminence" over the universe. "He is the head of the body, the church." He is the Author and Restorer of "all things." The supremacy belongs to Him "in all things" - over all creatures and in everything. Hence, He is to have the "pre-eminence" in your hearts and homes. And His Name is Jesus!
The Biblical illustrator had this to say on this matter - "There are many who are very dear to us on earth and in heaven; but who has the pre-eminence? 'Unto you that believe He (Jesus) is precious.' 'He is the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.' "
The Biblical Illustrator also added this comment - "Only one conspicuous man in the world of literature has been blind to His excellency - Voltaire; but Rousseau, another great skeptic wrote, 'If the life and death of Socrates be those of a saint, the life and death of Jesus are those of a God.' Napoleon I, the old Roman, back again in the Christian centuries, said, 'I know men, Jesus was not a man."
"...but who has the preeminence?"
In this age of Humanistic Psychology when the church is bombarded by the philosophy that says that people are basically good...emphasizes the personal worth of the individual...focuses on his potential...stresses the importance of self-actualization and the individual's dignity, worth, and capacity...rejects the supernatural ...and ignores man's sinfulness and deserving judgment - the church must constantly ask this question -
"...but who has the preeminence" in our midst? Is it man or is it God?
Perhaps the blame can be laid partially on humanistic psychology creeping into the church, but one thing is for sure, the words of A.W. Tozer ring true for our day and time - "The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men."
What seemingly has happened is that God has been "lowered" and man has been "exalted." Man's "needs" have taken top-priority over God's desires and will. Hence, many congregations gather with the main focus on - "What is in this for me?" - rather than - "How can I minister to God today?"
In her attempt to bring God down to her level, the church - generally speaking - has lost her sense of God's transcendence - His distinctness and separateness. She has lost her sense of Him being not only above her, but far above her. Even though He is nearer than the breath she breathes, He is also a God Who is high and exalted. These two truths were never meant to be contradictory but complimentary.
Read what Selwyn Hughes had to say on this - "When we lose our sense of God's transcendence, then a hundred different ills arise within us...To truly worship God, we need to see that we are worshiping Someone Who is not only above us, but far above us. He is the Creator - we are merely creatures."
Even though God is immanent and dwells in the lives of those who have repented of sin, He is still transcendent - uniquely exalted above all creation. To see Him in this way inspires adoration and true worship.
Isaiah 6:1 tells us that He is "high and lifted up." This is a phrase that has come to be affiliated with God in His glory on His throne. It says of His Person that He is "high" and exalted above all creatures. It also speaks of His throne being "high and lifted up" above all competition and contradiction.
Isaiah 57:15 calls Him "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity." This title reveals that He and He alone is the most exalted Being in the universe - being so far above all creatures of all ranks.
None can compare to Him. He is "high" and exalted in Himself - transcending thought. He is "the lofty One" in that He is the absolute Lord of His creatures - towering above all.
The Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913 defined "lofty" as - "lifted high up, having great height, elevated in character, rank, and dignity, exalted, noble, stately, majestic."
Jesus alone is "the high and lofty One" - meaning that He is high above the earth and the nations of it...higher than the kings of it...higher than the heavens and the angels there...and higher than the highest.
Psalm 97:9 says of Him - "For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods."
Psalm 83:18 adds - "That men may know that Thou, Whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."
The Biblical Illustrator offered this comment - "The age in which we live is frequently characterized as an age of unbelief. Certainly it is an age in which much unbelief comes to the front, aggressively..."
Coke's Commentary on the Whole Bible added - "Men must know at last that the Lord Omnipotent reigneth..."
We ask you as a child of God - Who are you worshiping - man or God?
If God, what kind of concept do you have of Him?
However intimate your communion with Him, have you kept Him as He truly is - "high and lifted up"..."high above all the earth"..."exalted far above all gods"..."the most high over all the earth"...and "the high and lofty One"?
The Church desperately needs a fresh vision of God's transcendence. When she receives it, she will experience the glory of God - like never before - for then Jesus will truly be given His rightful "pre-eminence" "in all things."
Never forget what A.W. Tozer had said - "...a low view of God is the underlying cause of many of our problems..."
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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