Don't be a "Great Man of God".

A mini-sermon by Rev. C. Emerson Strain

Don't be a great, "man of God". Just be a faithful Christian and let God establish His greatness in you. It is an easy trap of vanity to seek greatness. It can be worse for the soul than drunkenness or sin.

It can be worse than sin because if a person fell into sinful practices, at least they would know in their heart that it is wrong. But a person lifted up into vanity of his own greatness will justify himself to greater "greatness".

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortiononers, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give thithes of all that I posess. Luke 18:10-12

Notice, he wasn't praying to God, but to himself. God already knows the condition of your heart.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13

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. Luke 18:14

Even the disciples had this personal battle to fight. In the book of Mark we find that the disciples tried to cast a foul spirit out of a child without success.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. Mark 9:25-26

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out? Mark 9:28

Amazing, they were more concerned about their power and abilities, than they were about the child.

And he (Jesus) said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29

Now I can see the disciples going out and trying to "out fast" one another. Fasting does not cast out foul spirits, forty days of fasting does not yield out forty foul spirits. Fasting humbles a person's spirit and brings them to understand that all power comes from God. Even later in the scriptures we see that this problem had not been exposed for the true weakness of the disciple's fleshly nature.

And he (Jesus) came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? Mark 9:33

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. Mark 9:34

The truth comes out! Now, you would think that this would "enlightened" the disciples to be more understanding of each other, but just a few more scriptures latter, the vanity and pride of the flesh appears again.

And John answered him, saying Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. Mark 9:38

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. Mark 9:39-41

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. Mark 9:42

It is still a prevalent thought even today. "They" are not a part of our denomination. "They" didn't get baptized in our Church. "They" don't go to our Church. . . . . . .

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soerly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Rom 12:3

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Rom 12:5

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